The online shopping sector had been gaining traction for quite some time now and the Covid-19 pandemic added further impetus to its growth. As people were restricted within the four walls of their home, they had to order essentials using different e-commerce platforms. While our world is going to gain an edge over the virus in days to come, this paradigm shift in buying behavior in favor of online shopping is going to remain intact. Keeping such things in mind, we are now going to take you through some common tips which can come to your aid while shopping online by adding to your savings.
Shop On The Right Day
Splurging on online shopping might seem like a lucrative proposition on a lazy Sunday afternoon. However, browsing around different retailers won’t yield positive results as online stores usually roll out big deals and discounts on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. As per Airlines Reporting Corporation, Sunday is the perfect time for bagging cheap airline tickets, whereas Monday is the most expensive day of the week. This data was published after analyzing around 130 million international and domestic flights over a span of 19 months. Online stores like Rather Be Shopping offer windfall deals on the purchase of desktop and laptop computers from retailers like Hewlett-Packard and Dell Home every Tuesday alongside special coupons. Bookworms get a special treat on Saturdays as Barnes & Noble and Amazon launch multiple books on sale. This is targeted at readers whose weekends stand incomplete without a fine read.
Circumvent The Trap Of Dynamic Pricing
Dynamic pricing refers to a clever strategy followed by online sellers wherein they alter prices as per customers' location, their spending patterns, browsing history, and current product demand. This is why an airfare which might have been dirt cheap a few days before can suddenly undergo a 30% hike just the next day. This technique is known as dynamic pricing, and it has grown more sophisticated over time. As a result, retailers can easily gain knowledge on your price point and even flash higher prices. For gaining an upper hand over dynamic pricing, you need to follow these below mentioned tips:
- Select localized website versions rather than allowing your website to redirect you to US websites.
- Clear your cookies and browsing history repeatedly.
- Opt for anonymous browsing through the Tor browser or switch into incognito mode.
- Log out from your Facebook, Google Plus, and similar accounts.
- Get better airfare deals by selecting less developed countries as your Home.
Seek Out Price-Drop Refunds
We often purchase products from online stores only to visit the portal one day after and notice that the same item is being offered at a discounted sale price. While this might be frustrating for most users, did you know that many companies refund users for price differences when contacted within a limited time span? Online shopping giant Amazon issues refunds to users if price differences are notified to them within seven calendar days starting from the delivery date. Numerous credit card companies like Citi® Double Cash Card, Barclaycard Arrival Plus™, or World Elite Mastercard® also offer price protection by refunding the difference when notified within a stipulated time period.
Strategically Use Multiple Coupon Codes
Often online portals allow users to combine multiple promos and coupon codes during checkout. You need to be cautious with its application, i.e., the order in which these codes are applied. Suppose you get a Kohl's coupon code for $10 and a promo code for 20% discount, then you should primarily apply the 20% promo code and then dig into greater savings using the $10 discount coupon. Online retailers give away single use coupons to premium customers. You can sign up to their newsletter using multiple email accounts to increase your savings.
Benefit Out Of Smart Reward Programs
Different apps and portals give out special bonuses to users on simply browsing product catalogs or doing paid online surveys. Bonuses can even be exchanged for special discounts or gift cards for adding to your savings meter. You can take the example of Amazon Rewards Visa card which offers a sign-up bonus of 50 dollars and 3 points for every dollar spent.
Run Price Comparisons
If you don’t want to overpay, then it is best to compare deals from different e-commerce merchants. You can install browser add-ons like the Swagbutton for pulling the price of the same product from different portals automatically for saving your valuable time. They even send smart notifications regarding the cheapest portal to buy and the availability of coupons.
Final Words
Following these above-mentioned tips can help you avail the best of deals the next time you shop online. Alongside, you can leave back products in your cart as retailers hate nothing more than unclosed deals and will surely send in extra coupons for retaining customers.