At this point in the digital age, 75% of us have made at least one purchase online. Many of us do more of our shopping online than we do in person!
The appeal of online shopping extends beyond convenience. All of us want to know that we’re smart with our money, and online shopping gives us the time and the options to find a great deal before we buy.
If you’re new to online shopping, you may wonder how you can get in on the action. The best place to start? Here is the Guide to effective discount usage on Amazon and other eCommerce websites.
We’ve got a great guide for every online shopper, so keep reading to unlock the secrets to easy online bargain hunting!
Online Shopping Red Flags
Bargain hunting is a great way to save some extra cash on both your essentials and your treats, but don’t be fooled. There are websites and distributors out there that want to take you for a ride and it’s important to avoid the bargain-hunting trap.
What do these traps look like?
For starters, hidden fees can make a reasonably priced item way more expensive. When it comes to online shopping, those hidden fees tend to come right at the end when your shipping costs are calculated. If shipping costs more than the product, itself, it’s time to walk away.
There’s also the “too good to be true” trap. If a deal seems too good to be true (and some are even advertised as such), it probably is. Big-ticket items on sale for only a few dollars may not be what they seem and you could end up with a knock-off, low-quality product that isn’t worth the box it arrives in.
How to Find Deals on Amazon and Other Sites
Now that you know what to avoid, let’s talk about what to look for. We’ve listed some of the easiest and most efficient ways to save big next time you hit those online shops.
Look Into Memberships
Some eCommerce platforms offer memberships, some of which are better than others. If a membership comes with its own monthly or annual fee, you’re going to want to think about how often you’ll use it. Paying for a membership that won’t bring you real savings defeats the purpose!
Make sure you understand what a membership can do for you. For example, subscribing to Amazon Prime gets you free expedited shipping on thousands of products and grants you access to things like Amazon’s deals of the day. If you know that you’ll order over $100 worth of products from Amazon every year, their membership is likely worth the fee.
Outsource Your Search for Savings
There are plenty of platforms out there that are designed to save you money and time. There are some serious money-saving experts out there who will track down coupons, sales, and discount codes and compile all of that information for you.
For example, take a look at this website that made a whole list of toilet paper in stock online and at a discounted rate. Scrolling through websites like these for the products you’re looking to buy can bring you up to speed on every deal in the online shopping world on any given day!
Buy Discount Gift Cards
A lot of our favorite retailers have an online presence now, which means that you can find just about any brand available on the web. Make a list of the retailers and eCommerce sites you shop with most.
Then, do a quick search to see if any of them are offering discounted gift cards. In other words, see if you can find a gift card for, say, $100 that’s currently selling for $50. It may seem like a strange way to shop, but you’d be surprised at how many brands and retailers do sell discounted gift cards, especially around the holiday season.
Get Around Dynamic Pricing
Have you ever heard of dynamic pricing? It’s a sneaky way that eCommerce sites can alter the price of a product based on things like your zipcode and your search history.
How do you get around getting charged for things that are out of your control? Before you start your online shopping, clear your browsing history, clear any cookies that have latched onto your browser, and sign out of your social media accounts. Then, start a private browsing session (aka “Incognito Mode”) and shop under the radar of dynamic pricing.
Follow Your Favorite Brands
Social media has been a game changer for brands and they’re eager for your attention. Head to your social media accounts and search for any brands you regularly shop with. Give them a “Like,” a “Friend,” or a “Follow.”
Check-in with these accounts on a regular basis, especially any time you know you’re looking to purchase some of their products. As an incentive to stay in tune with their marketing tactics, brands tend to offer special deals through their social media. They may put discount codes in their captions or allow you to enter raffles for their products by interacting with their content.
Plus, following a brand’s social media is an easy way to stay on top of any sales they’re offering.
Shop Smart and Save Big Bucks
Shopping online is a great way to make better, more informed decisions from the convenience of your own home. Learning how to find deals on Amazon and other eCommerce sites is a great way to shop smart and save a ton of money.
Are you looking for more ways to improve your shopping experience online and in person? Take a look at our shopping section for more content on how to be the savviest shopper you can be.
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