Only a few online shoppers are able to grab good deals and make savings. It is not necessary that each time you want to shop online; you’re offered the best price and get the product you wish to buy. There are a few things you should keep in mind to grab the best online deals.
Shop Incognito
The shopping websites offer different prices based on location, browsing history, and previous shopping. When you log in they recognize you as an old customer and change the prices accordingly. Discounts and rewards are only offered to new customers.
By shopping incognito either by opening a private window or by continuously clearing the browsing history and cookies you can overcome this. Another trick can be applied i.e. using multiple e-mail IDs or phones of different family members to avail ‘first user’ or ‘new customer’ discounts.
For Coupon Codes, Add Browser Extensions
Some browser extensions such as BuyHatke, ShopSmart, AfterCoupon India and MakkhiChoose automatically scan for discounts and coupon codes. You can apply these just before checking out on the e-commerce websites. You don’t need to manually check various websites for discount coupons. Few sites offer price alerts and price comparison options.
Always Check Price Comparison Sites and Set Price Alerts
The price comparison websites and mobile apps are available to compare and zero in on the lowest prices possible in real time. Few examples of websites serving this purpose are MySmartPrice, CompareRaja, PriceDekho, BuyHatke, and Smartprix. When you shop for a product, a pop-up message will appear indicating the lowest price and you can select it.
There are websites available where you can compare specific products or services, such as mobile phones, hotels, electronic gadgets, etc. Some websites offer price alerts through e-mail or push notifications on sites. They inform about the fall in prices as and when happen. Sites like BuyHatke provides the product’s price history which lets you know about the best time to buy.
Check the Discount and Coupon Sites
You can install browser extensions for coupon codes, or check websites or download apps offering discounts and coupon codes. There are sites such as CouponDunia, CouponzGuru, Sportsbet Promotions, GreatBuyz, FreeCouponIndia, MyTokri and Oneindia which offers coupons on a variety of products and services.
The deals can be viewed based either on product categories or online stores and apps such as Myntra, Flipkart, Amazon, Jabong, Goibibo, Swiggy, and Yatra. Apart from coupons, you can avail gift cards, special deals, and other offers. Some apps offering discounts and coupons are GrabOn, Nearbuy, CouponDunia, BlueBook, and DesiDime.
Use Cashback Apps and Sites
Download cashback apps like GoPaisa, Crownit, Nearbuy, Tapzo, and MagicPin to maximize savings while shopping. With the app, you can shop on the main online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Jabong, TataCLiQ, etc. It also offers coupons, discounts and other deals.
The app can be used at restaurants, salons, spas, and grocery stores. There are cashback websites also such as TopCashback, CashKaro, PaisaWapas, Sitaphal, and Cash2Kart.
Abandon the Shopping Cart
‘Shopping cart abandonment’ is a well-known strategy used to get rebates while shopping in an online store. Load your shopping cart with products and leave the site without making payment. The idea is to make the website remind you about the pending sale after a few days and try to make you buy the products by offering a discount or give a freebie.
Remember not every site will react or offer you a deal but at least you can give it a try.
Tracking Brands on Social Media and Use of Apps
Those who are very picky about brands or stores can start following them on social media. Brands and stores have dedicated pages on Facebook and Twitter. They put up flash sales or post alerts about discounts there first. Take for example the airlines like Jet, IndiGo and Vistara post flash sales and discounts on social media. Sites also have dedicated ‘Deals’ or ‘Discount’ pages. The shopping sites like Amazon and Flipkart also offer higher discounts on apps.
Using Mobile Wallets and Credit Cards
Recently Flipkart and Mastercard tied up offering ‘Priceless Surprises’ during the online sale. Just like this most of the co-branded credit and debit cards offer nice deals on dining, flight bookings, and many other services all year long. Similarly, if you shop via mobile wallets like Paytm, PayUmoney, MobiKwik, Citrus, ICICI Pockets, and SBI Buddy, you get good discounts and cashback offers.
Online shopping is easier, time saving and cheaper. But be careful that you crack the best deal using the tips we have given. Happy Shopping!!!
