If you spend any time online you’re probably doing a little online shopping. Why bother going to the store when you can do everything from the comfort of your own home?
Unlike local stores, with online shops there are no circulars to peruse for deals and savings. Instead, you must be a little savvy and know the tips and tricks of finding the best deal.
Fortunately, I’m here to help with that.
Keep Items in Your Online Shopping Cart
Retailers know that when you put something in an online shopping cart, you’re likely in the mood to buy. There are programs in place to track and go after those who abandon their shopping cart. It will start out as a reminder or two, but eventually they’ll send you something to sweeten the deal. Remember, the goal of any retailer is to close the sale. If they must give an extra 10-percent off to push you over that edge, then better for you. This shopping hack requires a little bit of patience, but the end result is well worth the wait.
Know When to Shop
Everyone understands that when it comes to sales, timing is everything. There are certain times of the year when online stores have sales, such as Cyber Monday, prior to or following holidays, etc. There are seasonal items you can save on—for example, warm clothing as the temperatures start to fall.
But what about other sales? Most online stores have newsletters you can sign up for on their website. These newsletters not only tell you when big sales are happening, but often offer rebates and coupons exclusively for subscribers. Also, retailers tend to have special deals on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Find a Coupon Code
The internet is awash with codes to save money during online shopping. When you check out, you input the code and it takes additional money off, or you can get cash back. The key, of course, is knowing how to find these codes. There are web browser extensions, such as Honey, that track down these codes and provide them to subscribers. Browser extensions, including Butterfly, give you cash back on your purchases from online retailers. You can also track retailers on social media to find exclusive codes for followers and fans. You can find Amazon coupons online, which will save you a lot of money. Get in the habit of checking for coupons before making any major online purchases.
Eliminate Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic pricing is when retailers suddenly change pricing based on area demand, your browsing and spending patterns, etc. E-commerce is all about information gathering. For example, you may find an item on sale for $30 one day, but the next the price is doubled because they tracked you using cookies. Terrible and sneaky, right?
Fortunately, you can foil dynamic pricing by clearing your browser cache, logging out of Google and social media accounts and using an incognito browser setting. You may find the price drops drastically.
Where You Shop Matters
Shoppers may be loyal to brands far more than they are specific stores. If you’re looking for designer brands at rock bottom prices, then shop at websites that buy items in bulk and then sell them at discounted price. Websites such Overstock.com and Marshall always have an eclectic array of goods at low prices. They buy up as much as they can at a substantial discount and pass those savings onto the consumer.
We all love shopping, but don’t get stuck paying full price when you can take advantage of so many shopping hacks. We all want to save money, and following these tips and tricks can keep a little extra green in your pocket.
About The Author
Nicole Gutierrez loves saving money. Having lived in (the overpriced city of) Vancouver for many years, her favourite pastime is hunting for deals and tools that will help her save up for her travels and/or next shopping trip 🙂
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