Shopping online has revolutionized the way consumers purchase their goods. In this generation’s fast-paced, always on-the-go society, people tend to choose what’s practical, effortless, and time saving – foregoing the traditional shopping experience of physically going to a mall and browsing through products and instead choosing the convenience of just sitting in front of a computer at home and buying to their heart’s content!
But still, it’s not enough to just simply shop online. Remember the practical trick of doing groceries on a full stomach so you won’t be tempted to buy unnecessary stuff? Just like with the traditional way of shopping, there are tips and tricks you’ll need to be a savvy online shopper, hacks that will save you time, money and effort. And so, here are our top 6 online shopping hacks that you definitely need to know before you go online shopping!
#1 – WAIT FOR CYBER MONDAY
For fashion items, it’s best to wait for Cyber Monday to splurge all you want! Compared to Thanksgiving and Black Friday online sales, Cyber Mondays generally offer up the largest selection of items, with up to 50% more promos and deals on shoes, clothing and accessories. With that said, Cyber Mondays are a fashionista’s online haven!
#2 – SALES CAN BE DECEIVING, DO YOUR RESEARCH!
Don’t be deceived by those large, red S-A-L-E banners displayed on sites! Some sites hike up the prices of their items before a sale to make it look like you are saving more money, when you actually aren’t. Do your research first! Get on Google and search for the particular item and brand the site has on sale, and you might find out that it’s not that much of a steal on sale at all!
While you’re doing your research, do some price comparison to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. You can get on PriceGrabber, Shopping.com, or The Find to compare product prices, or go to aggregate shopping sites like Findoo, ShopStyle or Polyvore and discover a few sites selling the same item at different prices.
We know our eyes are naturally drawn to those big bold SALE letters but it’s better to try and resist the temptation to shop right away, to first do your research, and save more money in the long run.
#3 – USE THE STORE’S SEARCH FILTERS
Before browsing through the store’s offerings, make sure to set the shop’s search filters first on your preferred style, color, size and budget. Doing so will avoid the frustration you might feel on finding an item you really like, only to find out it won’t fit you, or your budget! Save yourself the heartbreak and use those filters!
#4 – CHAT WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE
Annoyed by those customer service chat boxes that keep popping up while you’re browsing through a site? Don’t be – they can be your friend! Don’t hesitate to chat them up and ask for discount or promo codes! More often than not, they have insider access to deals and promos not yet published online, so they will be more than willing to share those codes to get a sale!
Also, do not forget to check your favorite brand’s Twitter and Facebook pages for those precious promos and deals! Brands are often active and promote their wares on their social media sites, so like and follow them to get access to juicy deals!
#5 – USE YOUR CREDIT CARD
Using your credit card for online shopping can be quite risky, especially with cases of fraudulent card uses everywhere, but it is actually safer than you might think! Since most banks offer purchase protection nowadays, using your credit card is more practical and safer than say, using a debit card or PayPal.
Retailers will have an easier time processing your credit card payments than with debit cards, which will require you to give out your bank account information. Not only that, purchases can also help you score rewards with your credit cards. And to top it off – returning items and getting refunds are absolutely less of a hassle compared to debit cards.
#6 – FREE SHIPPING AND RETURNS IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Make it a point to shop only from sites that offer free shipping both ways. That way, you can order an item you want in different sizes so you can guarantee that it will fit you perfectly. Buy the little black dress you want in two different sizes, choose the right fit when the items get shipped to you, and return the other size for free.
Easy peasy, isn’t it? Just remember to make it a habit to read the return policies of shopping sites.
For women, shopping is an exciting and pleasurable experience, and while some of us don’t need to worry about budget and other concerns, most of us do and so these shopping hacks are here to help you become more seasoned, savvy and efficient in the art of online shopping! Happy shopping, ladies!
