Finding Lower Prices Online: Everything You Need to Know
Guest post by Jolene Chambers
No matter what time of year it is, it’s always a shopping season online. Nothing beats the incredible selection you can find on retailers like Amazon, Swappa, Asos, and all the other great options. Best of all, you can do it all from the comfort of your couch. You don’t have to wait in long lines, navigate traffic, or even change out of your pajamas.
But how do you get the best deals? Here’s a list of the top strategies used by smart customers. You can use them individually or try combinations to save even more.
Without further ado, here are the best ways to find cheaper deals online.
#1 | Promo Codes
Promo codes are the coupons of the 21st century. Instead of clipping out newspapers, you can find great deals by cruising around the internet.
You can try to google the promo code you want to find, for example, “Enterprise Car Rental Promo.” Sometimes it works, but many retailers often shut down promo codes once too many people use them. You need to be quick and keep an eye out on promo code sites.
Another good option is using a browser extension like Honey. Honey searches the web for you and automatically puts a promo code in at checkout. You’re not going to find amazing deals too often, but you should save between 1-10% of most purchases.
#2 | Beat Dynamic Pricing
Have you ever noticed that the price of something going up after you’ve already viewed it once or twice? Even more so, when you put something in your shopping cart? This is dynamic pricing. Retailers set prices based on your search history, zip code, whether you use a mobile or desktop device, and other factors.
But there are ways you can beat dynamic pricing. First, clear your internet history and cookies. Then sign out of social accounts or switch to private browsing. It will help you save some cash.
You can also take your savings to the next level when you use a VPN. With a VPN, you can change your geo-location by connecting to a VPN server in a different country. It is the best way to find incredible deals on everything from hotels and airfare to software and even monthly subscriptions. More information here: https://nordvpn.com/servers/
For example, did you know the cost of Apple Music in India was $1.43 a month compared to $9.99 in the US? And that’s only one of many places you can save some serious cash. All you have to do is change VPN server locations to see the different deals around the world.
#3 | Take Advantage of Membership Trials
Almost every online retailer and the streaming platform has a trial period ranging from 30-90 days. After that, you have to pay a monthly membership fee. Use these periods to take advantage of free shipping, member discounts, and other perks.
After all, you have nothing to lose. But be sure to set a reminder to cancel the subscription before it charges your card.
As a bonus, many sites offer to extend the subscription for another week or more if you decide to cancel. What’s more, after a certain amount of time, you may be eligible for another free trial membership. Amazon Prime gives people one free trial month per year.
Some people even go the extra mile and take advantage of different email addresses and payment methods. But that’s for you to decide how much effort you put to maximise the number of free trials you can get.
#4 | Gift Cards
The majority give or get Gift cards as a present. But there’s no reason you can’t use them to treat yourself. Gift Cards can come with all sorts of deals like extra savings or a coupon for the person who purchases the gift card. There are many different ways you can use gift cards to maximise your deals.
Shoe retailer DSW had an excellent gift card promotion during Fall 2019. You could receive a free $10 or $25 bonus card when you buy a $50 or $100 DSW gift card online or in-store. If you bought these cards for yourself, in a way, you were receiving a 20-25% discount for your purchase.
You can also buy discounted gift cards from platforms like Raise and CardCash. That’s where people sell unwanted gift cards. And if you think it’s unusual buying a used gift card from a stranger online, go to your nearest Costco. They’re getting in on this business too!
#5 | Get Social
Most people love that shopping online requires no social energy. You browse around at your own pace, put things in your shopping cart, and sometimes never finish a purchase. But if you’re willing to get a little social though, you can save some cash.
The easiest method is engaging with the chat boxes that pop up while you’re online shopping. All you have to do is ask if there are any exclusive sales or promo codes available. You’ll be surprised at what you can get.
Likewise, follow your favourite retailers on social media. They may have flash sales and other ways for you to save on your favourite products. Don’t get tempted into too many impulse purchases, though.
Saving Big in the Online World
There are about 5.6 million online retailers in the world. So at any given time, you can find some incredible deals. Take your time, do your research, and use these tested strategies. Not only will you find your favorite products but also save big on them too.
