It is believed that by 2021, the e-commerce share of the total global retail sales will be as high as 17.5%. Although traditional stores with physical locations will dominate, it is undeniable that online shops are catching up. After all, it is more convenient for shoppers to buy the things they need online and wait for it to be delivered right in front of their footsteps.
If you are one of the many people hooked into online shopping, read on and learn from some of the hacks that we will be sharing. By keeping these things in mind, you will not only enjoy convenience, but you can also realize significant savings. For sure, it will make you love online shopping even more!
Read Reviews
One of the first things that you should do is to read reviews that are available online. You can learn from the real-life experiences of other people. Also, read about the specific product that you wish to buy. For instance, if you are buying a new laptop, read online reviews about the brand and model that you are eyeing to be sure that it is suited for your needs. One of the best websites worth checking out is Best Reviews.
Get Rid of the Pricing Trap
You can outwit the dynamic pricing trap that is often implemented by online shops. Often, the price is dictated based on your location or shopping behavior. If you always shop online, chances are, you might see higher prices. With this, to get rid of biased pricing, some of the best things that you can do include clearing your browsing history, using incognito mode, or accessing a localized version of a website.
Shop on the Right Day
Believe it or not, there are some days when it is better to shop compared to other days. In one article from Lifehacker, it has been suggested that the best days to shop for the best savings would be November and January after the holidays. The article also recommended avoiding shopping in March as the discounts are dismal. More so, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the best days. Sundays can also be promising.
Look for Coupons
If you are an avid shopper, for sure, you will agree with me when I say that coupons are lifesavers! Even when you are shopping online, you can use digital coupons. There are dedicated sites where you can see various legitimate coupon codes that you can use to enjoy discounted prices. You can even use multiple codes at a time! Also, you can create multiple email addresses so that you can receive more coupon codes. This isn’t illegal! It is being a smart shopper!
Sign-Up for Newsletters
Most online stores, especially the ones from the big brands, will have an email newsletter. Subscribing to this will help you to be in the know when it comes to the latest price drops. Often, they send out emails to everyone on their list to inform customers of ongoing promotions. This way, you will be amongst the first to know when there is an ongoing sale.
Pick Up in Store
Now, you might think that this draws out the convenience in online shopping. Yes, that could be the case. However, if the store is nearby or if you plan to drop by in the area soon, this can be a good way to save. This is because you no longer have to pay for the shipping or delivery charges since you will pick the item by yourself. Otherwise, when you are shopping online, look for those that are bundled with free shipping. This can help you to save a lot.
Take Note of the Free Shipping Day
Once a year, there is a national free shipping day, an unofficial holiday for all the shopaholics. This is the best day of the year to shop in bulk and save a lot since the shipping costs will be free. This year, it will be on December 14. Just check for the stores with such an offer so you will know where to shop. Best of all, most of these stores will provide a guarantee that you will receive your orders in time for Christmas.
Use the Live Chat Feature
If the online store has a chatbot, do not hesitate to use this feature to haggle. Now, this may not work all the time. In fact, most of the time, it may be ineffective. But, there is no harm in trying, right? You might just be lucky to score huge discounts after initiating a conversation with the live chatbot.
Get Social
Take the time to check out the social media pages of the store from where you are buying. Chances are, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Here, they might offer an exclusive coupon or discount codes that can help you save. They also often advertise their latest promotions exclusively on these channels.
Take Advantage of Rewards
Many of the big-name online stores will offer loyalty or reward programs. They work in different ways, but in most cases, you will receive points every time you spend. These points, when accumulated, can be as good as cash discounts. In some cases, members can also be given advance access to promos or special deals.
Leave Products in Your Cart
This is one trick that works in some stores. All that you have to do is to shop today but do not make the payment yet. Just leave the products in your cart for one to two days. This will also prevent you from making an impulse decision. Once you are sure that you really want to purchase the products, check the cart again. Look at your email for possible discount codes. Bed Bath & Beyond and Macy’s are some of the stores where this trick can work.
Compare Prices
At the end of the day, the most important is perhaps to be patient. Meaning, you should not immediately purchase the product that you see from the first online store. You should check for the same product in about three to five more online shops to see how their prices are different. Google has a feature wherein you can easily see the prices from other retailers by just typing the name of the product in the search tab.
