There’s no reason to pay more for the privilege of shopping in your pajama pants while supervising the kids. Shopping online is a convenience. But, it shouldn’t come at a higher price than driving to a brick-and-mortar retailer. Here are three ways you can get the same great deals you see in the stores and save money shopping online.
1. Search for Your Products
It’s enticing to click on the featured items — especially when the words “On Sale” or “Low Price” accompany the link. But, be careful about slipping the front-page specials into your virtual shopping cart.
Look out for “things like endcaps and so-called “everyday low prices” that look like sales but really aren’t,” explained Alan Henry, a blogger for Lifehacker. The blatant bargains may not be as cheap as other similar items on the website. Search for the product. Don’t let the website take you to what it thinks you want to buy. You know those endcaps in the grocery store that boast a sale on ketchup, but later you find a more inexpensive option in the condiments section? Yep, online retailers use that same alluring sales technique.
2. Codes and Coupons
Much like shopping in-store, websites also offer a way to get deep discounts. Instead of snipping coupons out of the newspaper, search for online discount codes to save money shopping online. These magic combinations of numbers and letters translate into a set dollar amount or percentage off of your entire purchase. Some codes offer free shipping, a bonus gift or even a buy-one, get-one option.
Just don’t fall into an online coupon-code trap. You should never have to pay for a coupon code or give out personal details to view a code, advises Elaine Roxane Winter with the Better Business Bureau. Simply use a search engine to look up the name of product followed by the words “coupon code”, and voila! You’re on your way to online savings.
3. Know the Sales
Before going on a shopping spree, do your homework. Sign-up for email lists with your favorite online retailers. Know the current promotions.
“I would tell anyone who wants to save a few bucks shopping online to make sure they read their store’s circular before they order online, and make sure they get the same discounts on their online orders as they would if they were shopping in the store,” recommends Henry.
Most online retailers have a 1-800 customer service number or live chat to assist during online purchases. It doesn’t hurt to ask for the sales you’ve seen in printed ads or e-mails when they aren’t visible on the website. No company wants to miss out on a sale. A $10 savings on a new pair of jeans makes the clothing affordable for you, and barely hits the company’s bottom line — all while satisfying a customer. You have nothing to lose by asking for the deals offered in-store.