It’s not easy navigating the world of deal-hunting, online or otherwise. With the world getting more connected, the downside of having easier access to everything is that it makes it easier for companies to analyze and profile your spending habits as well. This way, they can employ sly marketing tactics that will persuade you to purchase their products and services.
While it’s tempting to buy premium items for your family, taking the time to learn where to find great discounts will quickly turn the tide in your favor. Any kind of hunting is a battle of wits. As a modern wife, you should arm yourself with a vast array of tips and tricks when searching for the best deals possible.
Here’s how you can save money by learning these online shopping tips:
1. Compare Prices
A good habit to learn when shopping is comparing the prices offered. An item that’s offered in an online store might have a discounted price at a physical store near you. Some research and a couple of phone calls can be the solution for you to save on groceries and other purchases.
While browsing online marketplaces, a good tip is to search the retailer’s original website before making a purchase. These sites often offer price cuts by buying directly from their websites or offer codes that apply to their online marketplace.
Another alternative is to search for websites that gather online discount codes in one place. These websites make it easier to know if something is being offered or to find vouchers for things like a Farfetch UAE Promo Code and the like.
Moreover, the comparisons don’t have to stop there. While you may have your preferred brands, comparing prices between your favorite store and its competitors can be eye-opening. It can be surprising to see how much the price disparity can be between them for basically the same item being sold.
2. Beware Of Dynamic Pricing
Something all modern shoppers must be aware of is the dynamic pricing trap and how to avoid it. This is a strategy used by online retailers to change the prices of items depending on factors like user spending habits and location. This means that items can be sold at higher prices to some while lower to others.
As you visit different online stores, retailers are able to record your preferences and purchase history through cookies stored on your browser. They can determine specific user price points on the data collected from you.
Fortunately, avoiding dynamic pricing can be done with a few steps:
- Delete your internet search history and cookies.
- Log out of all your accounts.
- Use incognito mode when browsing.
By following these steps, you reduce or erase your digital footprint, which helps you circumvent the dynamic pricing trap.
3. Keep Items In Your Cart
Another trick up your sleeve as an online shopper is holding your items in your cart for a few days. Aside from saving yourself from a possible impulse purchase, you gain the chance to receive discount codes from the retailer.
Retailers want to close a sale as fast as possible. If they see items stagnating in your cart, they can be inclined to send you offers to entice you to push through with the purchase. The more items in your cart, the bigger the chances are to receive discounts.
Although it’s not always an assurance, filling your cart a few days ahead and waiting can make things very favorable for you.
4. Maximize Your Online Presence
The internet has made being closer to your favorite brands easier than ever. Companies increase their visibility and public image by engaging directly with customers. It is during these interactions that they often give out promo codes and coupons to use.
Adding them on social media and joining email listings can give you access to exclusive offers. They also sometimes send out invites to surveys or satisfaction ratings which reward you as well.
A good tip to remember when joining email listings is to arrange your email inbox. Set your email in a way that filters promotional messages into their own category. This makes separating possible spam and emails containing codes easier for you.
5. Stack Coupons Strategically
Collecting coupons can be a very worthwhile endeavor, and whenever retailers allow it, stacking them together can score massive savings on a shopping trip. But knowing how to stack them is the key.
An example of this is when you have a coupon that takes 15% off and one that takes USD$5 off. By using simple logic, it’s always better to use the percent coupon first, followed by the flat amount discount to maximize the savings you make.
Furthermore, when you have coupons that have expired, a simple call to customer service can help revive them. While it mostly depends on company policy, customer service representatives usually offer coupon reimbursements if they fall within a few days of expiration.
6. Price-Drop Refunds
One pet peeve of every online shopper is seeing an item you bought a few days ago, now selling for half the price. While it can take you by surprise, you can always try to avail of price-drop refunds should this happen.
While policies like these are at the retailer’s discretion, a simple phone call or private message can end with money back in your hand. Just remember your online etiquette when speaking to representatives.
If you are afraid of jumping the gun and buying an item before it’s at its maximum discount, use a shopping app like Honey to get price drop notifications so you know you are getting the best price before you checkout.
Conclusion
While companies have some pretty clever marketing ideas, the modern wife can also prove to be much savvier than they get credit for. As long as you’re armed with knowledge and a bit of planning, saving money while shopping soon becomes a breeze.
