Shops on the high street are constantly struggling for custom these days, and that is not just because of the tough economic environment but also because of the savings that can be offered online.
There are many different methods for making the most of online savings. Online shops and businesses know this and realize that millions of people use online shopping. So, they focus most of their efforts on ensuring consumers are greeted with the best prices.
Below are nine different ways you can save on the net and maximize your savings.
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Shopping Around
Remember, thousands of outlets are offering deals, and all of them are trying to compete with their nearest rivals. Therefore, if you look around, you will likely see the same products for different prices, especially if you take advantage of Google and its shopping comparison capabilities.
Typing the product you are after into Google’s engine will bring up all of the outlets that sell it, and you will be able to see and compare all the different prices. However, look at the websites themselves before committing; the lowest price might be with a website that is not very efficient and might take weeks to deliver your goods.
Deal watching
Keep an eye on the various deals available; some may be ending soon, so if you come across a deal that has been around for a few weeks, there will likely be another one incoming, and it could very well be better than the current one.
This is a good thing to do if the current deal does not appeal to you; do not let this discourage you from the site. Like the above, just hold on to see what the next one offers.
Think about using online currency
Everyone knows someone who has been a victim of online fraud after having card details or similar stolen and used on the net. However, there is a method that allows details to be kept anonymous if you use Ukash secure payments, where all you use to buy products and services are online vouchers that you have paid for beforehand.
This allows you peace of mind that none of your details are being exchanged in what will be a secure payment system, and you will not lose money. It also allows you to cap your spending, as you can only spend the amount you have put on the voucher and no more.
Read the product reviews
You will find numerous reviews of the product you are currently after on Amazon and Play.com. These are not to be dismissed, as they can often be very informative and give you information that you would usually only find out if you bought the product and used it yourself.
This would help you save money if you bought a product, did not like it, and could not send it back for a refund. Upon reading the reviews, you might find out that it might not be as good as you hoped and would, therefore, look for a similar product elsewhere.
Look to online coupon services
Online web coupons allow you to purchase top products for less than the official price. This is done through discount codes, physical coupons to use in shops, or links to other discounts on brand websites.
Registering with related sites is usually free, and they will keep you updated on the latest offers.
Compare Prices Before You Buy
The temptation to click and order something because it says it will ship super fast or that only a little is left in stock may be strong. But if you are hasty through this process, you are likely to spend more money than you need to. Instead, take a minute or so and check out several comparison sites. Google Shopping, PriceGrabber, and CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon products) make it easy to price compare.
These tools not only inform you of where the product is sold cheaper, but some of them offer historical price data so you can see if the current price is a good deal or if you should wait for the sale.
Drop Cart for Special Discounts
It sounds odd, but occasionally, leaving things in your cart can save you some money. Retailers mainly use abandoned cart emails to bring customers back to complete the transaction. Chances are you will receive an email if you filled out your cart but did not check out; otherwise, you will likely receive some kind of special discount.
Here is how it works: after you leave the site, the store’s marketing system determines that you did not finalize your purchase. They then send another email within a day or two with a promo code to get you to return and complete your transaction.
Time Your Purchases for Maximum Savings
Also, timing is everything when saving money online. At some point in the year, there are significant sales events. Black Fridays, Cyber Mondays, back-to-school seasonal sales, and the end of each year’s clearance sales are the prime times when one can find discounted goods on everything from electronics to apparel.
But you do not have to wait for those big sale days if you are not in a hurry. Most merchants have end-of-season sales to sell out old stock and bring in new inventory. Many online retailers also host midweek flash sales that frequently fall on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Catch these under-the-radar but great sales, too.
Use Loyalty Programs and Credit Card Rewards
Many Internet retailers have a loyalty program that would save a lot of money in the long run. With every purchase, you earn points that you can redeem for discounts or free products. And some loyalty programs even give you early access to sales, exclusive discounts, or gifts.
But first, apart from your loyalty programs that happen store by store, you can also redeem points with a rewards-based credit card for most online purchases. Many credit cards offer cashback or points for every dollar spent, which can be used as statement credits, travel, or gift cards.
Extra Tips for Online Savings
While the five methods above will definitely save you some serious cash, here are a few bonus tips to really stretch that savings even further:
New customer discounts: Sites offer many types of first-time discounts for new customers. If you have shopped from them before, register with a new email address to take advantage of this.
Use virtual credit cards: Some credit card companies or apps allow you to create temporary card numbers. This can be used when signing up for free trials, so you are guaranteed that you will not be charged automatically at the end of a free trial.
Keep an eye out for shipping prices: Most online shoppers may save a significant amount on shipping costs. If you order something that does not reach the free shipping threshold, you may want to buy a small item that you might have otherwise bought sometime in the near future to meet the free shipping threshold and thus avoid paying for shipping.
Conclusion
Convenience is one of the reasons people shop online. However, it becomes very easy to overspend if you do not keep an eye on it. Here are five strategies that will save big without losing the convenience of online shopping: use coupons, compare prices, time your purchases, use loyalty programs, and abandon your cart on purpose.
So the next time you go shopping online, remind yourself of these saving tips to add some extra pockets to your savings. Not only will your wallet be grateful, but you will feel even better knowing you got the best deal possible!
