Shoutout to all the shopaholics out there: Have you ever been in a situation where you had to regret your decision of going on a shopping spree?
Looking at those maxed-out credit cards might have given you mini anxiety attacks. If yes, then these incredible hacks can help you become a savvy online shopper.
Let’s be honest, online shopping has a unique charm to it. The idea behind it was to save time and energy from visiting those physical stores. And now it has come a really long way.
Thanks to e-commerce, from purchasing apparel and cosmetics to furniture and electronics, you can get anything online today. In fact, in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak, and the world was incomplete lockdown, online stores did their best to deliver essentials to their customers.
Unless you are a multimillionaire, you can’t go on a shopping spree without a plan. But there’s a way out to purchase whatever you like without breaking your bank. Yes, that’s possible.
Also, there is nothing like too much shopping when you are smart enough to handle your spree. Read on to know about some incredible hacks for a seamless shopping spree.
- Connect with your favorite brand on social media
Did you know that the renowned gadget brand Apple accounted for more than 90% of the online sales in the past years? Yes, just imagine fulfilling your dream of getting a new iPad at a reasonable price. Sounds interesting. Right?
So, if you are loyal to a certain brand, make sure you follow their social media accounts. Many brands provide exclusive sales offers or seasonal discounts just for their Instagram and Facebook fans. It would also be a smart move to subscribe to the newsletters or avail of the text service of your favorite stores.
This way, you’ll always be in a loop with your brands and their offers. Yeah! You might start getting multiple messages but look at the upside; you’ll jump the queue by availing of the limited period deals as soon as you get the mails or texts.
Plus, you can always use the unsubscribe option if it starts bothering you.
- Use Coupon codes and loyalty cards
Coupons and promo codes have certainly changed the whole dynamics of the shopping game. Not to mention that they are one of the best ways to avail hefty discounts on the market price.
Have you ever noticed that after you add things to your cart, and if by chance you don’t make the purchase, the retailers start targeting you with notifications and emails? It’s one of the marketing strategies they use to entice their potential customers to make the final payment. That’s exactly what you can use to get some coupons from the retailers.
You can also use the loyalty discounts brands offer to their regular customers. According to a recent survey, more than 82.4% of consumers are more likely to shop from stores with a loyalty scheme.
Obviously, who doesn’t want to feel rewarded by their favorite brand? But you might be loyal to multiple retailers, due to which you might have several loyalty cards. Thanks to technology and apps, you can add your loyalty cards in one place and avail of discounts whenever you like. So, use your brand loyalty to your advantage and enjoy the perks.
And if you want to go a bit out of your way to get coupons, discounts, and gift cards, you can always buy them at a nominal price to spruce up your savings.
- Make your purchases in bulk
Purchasing stuff in bulk is always going to have several benefits. From free shipping to discounts, retailers really go out of their way to reward their customers who make their purchases in bulk. This way, you end up buying more for a really nominal price. That’s the dream.
Suppose you are planning to start the Harry Potter Series. In that case, you’ll have to purchase seven books to finish the series.
So, instead of buying one book at a time, you can go for a complete box set to own all the books at a low price.
In fact, you can always go for combo packs to avail better deals. For instance, if you plan to purchase makeup products, opting for combo packs can help you with more products at a lower price. Meaning you might get an eyeliner with a compact.
- Beware of scams
You might have come across some deals that feel too good to be true. Some brands go for such incredible hefty discounts to clear their stock. But there are some anti-social elements out there who use such tactics to lay a trap for their victims. For instance, some phishing websites might ask you to add your credit card number to get a free iPad. Such activities are generally identified as scams and can lead to identity theft.
Resist the temptation to pay for something that promises you expensive gifts. Even if you get impressed with some deals, make sure that you research the website and make the final payment after you are done with the authentication.
A phishing website could have awkward and suspicious page formatting and numerous spelling mistakes. Also, before making any purchase take a closer look at the customer reviews, and half of your work is already done.
And last but definitely not least, don’t fall prey to spam emails claiming to be from known brands. They offer free gifts in return for money or your personal details. They could also infect your phone or computer with viruses.
A piece of advice: Also, make sure you clear your cookies and browser history after online window-shopping to steer clear of price hikes. Some retailers use your browser history against you by offering the products you like at a higher price.
If you want to be extra safe, you can always use the incognito mode for window shopping to remove any traces of your former searches.
To sum it all up!
Online shopping has its own perks and challenges. But with little preparation and information, you can avail of great deals without breaking your bank and falling prey to scams. So, the next time you go for your online shopping spree, don’t forget to use the tips mentioned above for making budget-friendly purchases.
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