Faster, more practical and often cheaper, shopping on the internet has become a habit, even a real reflex for many of us. From high-tech equipment to food shopping to clothing shopping, everything goes there. However, contrary to what people would have us believe, buying on the internet is not always so financially interesting. From exaggerated shipping costs to false bargains, buying online actually has many pitfalls to avoid. Do not panic ! There is no inevitability of being “cheated” when shopping online! We have done a little overview for you tips and advice for buying cheaper on the internet and help you do it real good deals.
1. Compare different prices
One of the great advantages of online, unlike shopping in stores, is being able to compare prices without having to leave your sofa. So why deprive yourself of it! Before embarking on a purchase, do not forget to do a Google search to get an overview of best prices at the moment for this much awaited article. Note the prices of the items themselves, but also the differences in shipping costs. Once this is done, take a look at the e-commerce website of the brand in question. Brands regularly offer additional benefits on their e-shops. Finally, if you feel like it, a quick trip around town to compare the “store price” compared to the online price will reinforce your decision and the interest in buying this product or not on the internet.
2. Avoid the pitfalls of comparators
Beware, not all price comparison sites are actually as objective as they claim to be… The prices they offer, far from being universal, are calculated based on a number of parameters concerning you. Your location (the standard of living in your country of residence) and the usual amounts and frequencies of your online purchases are all personal data that these sites list to offer you “tailor-made” prices. So, unless you want to take the time to erase all your traces (browsing history, cookies, etc.), run away!
3. Sign up for loyalty programs
Loyalty cards and newsletter subscriptions remain current means of save money online. Thus, numerous discounts will be offered to you throughout the year thanks to your loyalty. And if you are tired of being overwhelmed by advertising emails, creating an email address dedicated to newsletters will be a good solution and will give you better visibility of reductions, which you can later benefit from when you are ready to embark on a purchase.
4. Go hunting for promotion codes and discount coupons
If you want to increase the number of “good deals”, you can start by opening different mailboxes in order to receive discount vouchers from loyalty programs several times, and thus be able to accumulate them. Another tip would be to consult specialized sites which bring together numerous discount vouchers and promotional codes valid at different merchants. Likewise, using social networks will allow you to learn about current discounts on the merchant and/or brand page.
5. Use your discounts intelligently
Once you have all your discount vouchers and promo codes in hand, you probably think you can throw yourself headlong into your purchases… Think again! You still need to know how to use them intelligently. So, if you benefit from a percentage reduction AND a gift certificate for the same purchase, enter the reduction code first in order to see the percentage applied to the majority of the amount. It is only by using the gift voucher later that you will optimize the reductions you benefit from.
6. Limit shipping costs
Before any purchase, it is good to worry about the price of the item itself, but also the related shipping costs to the purchase in question. Knowing that these vary extremely from one site to another and that they can significantly modify the final price of your purchase, it is not being fussy to pay attention to them! Preferring local sites will be a good start to limit shipping costs. In addition, some sites offer these from a certain purchase amount. But in addition to the delivery costs, it will also be important to find out the amount corresponding to a possible return of the item, this being sometimes free.
7. Buy at the right time
There is not only a right way to buy online, but also a right time! Indeed, for certain items such as high-tech equipment (for certain brands) and plane tickets, prices will vary significantly depending on the day of the week. So your plane tickets will be much cheaper on Sunday. On the contrary, for the rest of your purchases, good deals days will mainly be at the start of the week. It should be noted that there is also a good time of day to make certain purchases (transport). However, this being very difficult to spot on your own, it may be practical to download a program which analyzes price fluctuations on different sites and which will notify you when prices are at their lowest.
8. Leave items in your “basket”
Often overlooked, this tip can allow you to receive unexpected offers on the items concerned. To take advantage of this, you must start by creating an account on the merchant site by entering your email address, so that the site can contact you again. Once connected to your newly created account, all you have to do is put the desired items in your shopping “basket”, then close your browser, without logging out of your account. Which will make you a potential customer and will often encourage the site to offer you a reduction by email in order to conclude the sale with you.
9. Take advantage of the generosity of customer service
Whether you realize at the time of your purchase that your discount voucher has expired two days earlier or you notice a markdown on the site the day after your purchase, have the reflex to call the site’s customer service. Indeed, a simple request to customer service will hopefully get you a refund equal to the amount of the discount you missed.
10. Have the right credit card
Depending on the bank offers and the particularities of each credit card, choose the right credit card. credit will give you access to many advantages for your online purchases. Some notably offer reimbursement programs, such as the Gold card for example.