Online shopping has taken off in a BIG way recently. Statistics continually show an increase in e-commerce sales, while those of bricks and mortar stores drop.
Fashion retailing isn’t immune to this trend, with free returns making it increasingly appealing to try things on in the comfort of your own home, with access to all your own accessories, than in a drafty shop changing room.
But how do you make sure you’re getting the best deal possible when you shop online? In reality it’s probably even easier than on the High Street, but here’s 3 quick tips to make sure you get the best value possible
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Search for voucher codes
This is a method I use a lot. Whether I’m ordering pizza or buying shoes I always make sure I’ve checked for discount codes. Promotional Codes (who kindly sponsored this post to enable me to buy shoes, or pay my gas bill, whatever) have a huge selection of codes, including a specific Fashion section.
Just because YOU haven’t had the email offering you 10% off everything doesn’t mean someone, somewhere doesn’t have it and it’s handily ended up on one of these aggregator sites for all to find. You can also see the history of their discount codes, so if it looks like your chosen store dishes out codes like sweeties you might want to hang on a week or so, just in case.
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Compare the Meerkat
Or not, because that famous one is for Car Insurance and I want to buy frocks.
Shopping comparison websites abound though, but I generally find the best thing to do is just put what you’re looking for into Google and then check out their “shopping” results. I’m currently looking for some Hot Sticks so I can (allegedly, according to Flamingo Amy) create alluring vintage waves. By searching in this way I found prices ranging from £22 to £35 for the same product (sadly the £22 place is “temporarily out of stock” so I’m waiting!)
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Look Second Hand
Once I walked past the window of Karen Millen and fell madly in love with a dress. So I looked on eBay and found someone selling one for about 25% of the original price. I didn’t buy it, because I found another one I like more while hunting, but that’s not the point!
If there is a specific dress/pair of trousers/jumper you want then search the proliferation of online shopping and swapping sites to see if it’s popped up there. There’s several of these listed on my Shops I Love page.
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Check for Cash Back
If you’ve exhausted all other avenues and you have to pay full price for something you still might be able to get some money back. Cash Back sites like Greasy Palm (also on my Shops I Love page!) can earn you a few % back on whatever you spend with selected shops. They only pay out when you reach a certain level of earnings, but if you shop online regularly you’ll find it soon adds up and you can earn on things like hotel stays and takeaways as well.
So there it is. My top 4 ways to get that elusive bargain online.
Do you have any great tips for hunting online bargains?
Photo by Jorge Franganillo
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{ 4 comments }
Great tips. Especially the one about searching for voucher codes.
.-= Sherin´s last blog ..Rose Print & Sequins =-.
Very helful, thanks! I am not a big online shopper but since I moved to the country online shopping is a more convenient way for me…in most cases it is cheaper, too.
.-= Alice´s last blog ..Country Chick =-.
These are some great tips! I tend to Google whatever I’m looking for first, because sometimes I can find a really good deal at a smaller online retailer. I also keep a lot of saved searches on Ebay.
Great tips, I use http://www.frugfrug.com
There are a lot of great tips and money saving sites on it!