Online shopping has really changed the way most of us shop these days. Savvy shoppers can sniff out the best deal in record time, and the online shopping boom is practically a dream come true. Instead of buying an item off the rack, the more internet-savvy shoppers are turning to online shopping hacks to hunt down the best bargains. For example, did you know you could use online shopping tools to do price comparisons before you make a purchase? Or that you can get cash rebates when you shop online?
Products sold online can be much cheaper than the same product in the brick-and-mortar retail store for one simple reason: Online shops don’t have to pay rental or hire sales staff, this in turn minimises the cost of their operations. The cost savings are then passed on to consumers, which means we get more bang for our buck when we shop online.
The popularity of online shops also means more shops, more competitive pricing, and access to products that aren’t always available in local shops. So how do we navigate through the maze of enticing online promotions and beautifully designed web pages? Here are some essential online shopping hacks for you.
Getting familiar with brands and getting connected with them
The first step to becoming an experienced online bargain-hunter would be familiarising yourself with the bigger online shops and their sales. For fashion and beauty, big names like ZALORA and Luxola are very popular in the Southeast Asian market. Beyond selling their own house brands, ZALORA and Luxola carry other international brands, which means you can even fill your cart with labels that aren’t found in Singapore. For electronics, Lazada is a good bet, offering you great bargains on your electronic gadgets which can be many times cheaper than physical stores.
Image via zalora.sg
As these brands localise themselves for the Southeast Asian market, they understand the kiasu mentality of Singaporean shoppers – only buy things on sale, and never fork out more than you should. This is why online stores offer frequent sales and timed-sales where special discount codes are released for use for a limited time only. Prices dip to an all-time low, and it is a nervous palm-sweating rush against time to grab the best deals offered.
This is why it is good to sign up for mailing lists because you’ll informed of the best deals when they come! There was once the people at Lazada offered an $18 off promotion with no minimum spending mistakenly instead of an 18% off promotion. They took down the sale hurriedly, but many smart shoppers beat them to it, paying no more than $1-$2 dollars for their gadgets!
Bulk buying is the best way to go
Another tip is to combine orders with family and friends to get free shipping. Most online retailers charge for shipping unless you purchase over a certain amount and what you’re eyeing may not meet the quota. Huddling over a laptop together to exclaim over dresses and such can make for a very enjoyable evening after work and dinner. Shipping can be more expensive for non-local sites so let your loved ones in on all the online deals!
An unrelated but quick date idea – consider doing an online shopping date with your other half. Decide on a budget, sit down at separate computers for one to two hours together, and surf the net to find surprise gifts. When the gifts deliver a couple of weeks later, you guys can trade surprises. These gifts can range from anything cute to geeky to the downright kinky depending on your tastes!
Cashback
Many credit cards and cashback sites give you cash rebates when you shop online. How cashback sites like ShopBack works is that these sites earn commission from the retailers when you shop through them, and they split some of the commission with you to keep you coming back for more. So let’s say you spy a bag on ZALORA for $100, and they offer 6 per cent cashback, you will be rebated with $6 in your cashback account after you have made the purchase. This rebate can be cashed out into your bank account, but many shoppers do tend to let it accumulate because there’s something satisfying about watching the money go up!
The OCBC365 card gives you 3 per cent rebate for your online purchases, while the OCBC Frank card gives you 6 per cent rebate with a cap of $60 rebate for your monthly online purchases. Citibank, ANZ and American Express all have slightly different cashback schemes that cover both online and physical purchases. These are worth checking out too.
Expensive bargains
The term “expensive bargains” may sound like an oxymoron, but what we are asking you to do is to consider buying luxury online. If the designer bag you’ve been eyeing is out of your budget at the boutique, trawl the internet for it. Online prices usually beat the boutique hands down and online luxury stores even have sales, which is unheard of for high-end luxury. We’re talking about up to 70 per cent off for past season items, brand new. That’s definitely very substantial savings for an investment bag. Try the American sites Shopbop and Bluefly. You’ll be getting your arm candy for much less than its actual retail price so you need not worry about having to eat instant noodles for weeks after your purchase.
So the next time you want to get something, think about looking to the internet for it. From groceries to fashion to household appliances, pretty much everything can be found online. Just give it a try.
