How to Save Money Buying Tile Online

Joining a Mailing List

Choose an online home improvement store. Many online home improvement stores have mailing lists you can sign up for that could help you save money on tile. You can check the website for a mailing list, or type into a search engine the name of the store and the words “mailing list.” If you sign up for the mailing list, the store will send you newsletters, discount codes, and notify you when sales are happening. If you aren’t sure the store has a mailing list, you can call or email the store to ask about it.

Enter your email address. Once you’ve located the mailing list, you will need to sign up for it. Typically, you will just need to enter your email address. Some mailing lists may also require you to enter your name, date of birth, and address. Do not give away information you don’t feeling comfortable sharing—like your social security number.

Wait to receive discount codes and sale announcements. The amount of emails you receive varies from store to store. Some stores may send you an email once a day, while others may send out newsletters once a month. Open each email you receive from the store to check for discounts and sales that you could take advantage of to save money on tile.

Using Rebates

Choose an online home improvement store with a rebate center. Some big chain home improvement stores, like Lowes, have a rebate program. Essentially, the store will offer rebates on selected items. This means that you will receive money back on an item you’ve purchased after you purchase it. Check to see if the store you plan to order your tile from has a rebate program.

Check daily for promoted rebates. Typically, there won’t be a rebate offered for every available item online. The selected items with a rebate deal will often change daily. Check the website every day to see if the tile you’re interested in is being offered with a rebate.

Fill out a rebate form. Once you’ve found the tile with a rebate deal, go ahead and purchase it. Then, you will need to fill out an online rebate form. The rebate form will vary depending on the store, but usually, you will need to provide your personal information, the sales date, and the product you purchased.

Wait for your rebate to be validated. The rebate form will typically need to be approved. The amount of time it takes varies from store to store. You will often be provided with a tracking number to check the status of your form. Once it it has been approved, you will be mailed a visa card, check, or something similar. If your form is rejected, email or call customer service to ask why.

Applying for a Store Credit Card

Choose a credit card. There are several online home improvement stores that offer their own credit cards—like Home Depot and Lowes. Typically, you can choose to apply for a consumer card. Some stores will also offer credit cards specifically for large projects or for a commercial business. Decide which credit card is most fitting for you. If you’re ordering tile for a room in your home, it is best to go with a consumer credit card.

Apply for the credit card. You will need to enter your personal information, such as name, address, date of birth, and financial information. A credit check will happen after you enter your information and then you will receive an acceptance or rejection. Typically, the acceptance or rejection will be given immediately after the credit check is complete. If you aren’t sure about the outcome, you can also check if your pre-qualify before applying.

Purchase the tile with your credit card. Find the tile you want to order on the online store and proceed to checkout. Enter your store credit card information and pay. You may receive a 5% discount for the purchase when you use a store credit card.

Pay off the tile within 6 months to avoid interest. With many store credit cards, you will receive free financing as long as you pay off the balance within 6 months to a year. The length of free financing depends on the company. If you do not pay off the balance within the specified amount of time, you will be required to pay interest.

Redeem cash back points. Check the terms and conditions to see if your credit card has a cash back rewards program. Once you’ve acquired a certain amount of points, you can redeem your points and receive cash back. The cash back will be sent to you in the form of a visa card or check.

Receive discount and special offers. Having a store credit card will automatically qualify you for discounts and special offers. You may receive notice of these offers by mail or email. In some cases you will need to use the credit card to receive a discount, but often you can use any method of payment you’d like.

Purchasing with a Rewards Credit Card

Sign up for a card or check your credit card for rewards. If you already have a credit card, check to see if there is a rewards program associated with it. Some credit cards will offer a certain percentage, often around 2 to 5% cash-back, on a purchase. Make sure your credit card allows cash-back for all purchases. If you don’t have a cash back credit card, look into applying for one. Some credit cards only give cash-back on certain purchases—like gas and restaurants. A credit card is not for everyone. Consider the advantages and your personal credit before applying for one.

Use the cash-back credit card for your purchase. Once you’ve verified that your credit card allows cash-back on all purchases, use the card to purchase your tile online. You don’t have to do anything to use the cash-back feature, as it is automatic with the credit card. Use your credit card as you would for any other online purchase.

Pay off your credit card balance. Make sure to pay off the entire balance you receive on your credit card bill. The cash-back feature is often worthless if you don’t pay off your credit card bill every month. This is because the interest will cancel out the cash-back points you’ve received from your tile purchase.

Receive cash back. Typically, you will be able to redeem the cash-back option once you’ve earned a certain amount of points. Check your credit card terms to see how many points are required to redeem the cash and when the points expire. Then, use your points for a purchase on whatever you desire—like a gift, food, or even towards another home improvement project. Make sure to use the cash-back points before they expire or they will be useless.