Online shopping is definitely becoming popular, and with the ease and convenience, many people prefer here over shopping in store. It’s also easier to save money, and if you enjoy getting deals and great discounts, use these tips involving coupon codes as you shop online.
Shop Smart to Avoid the Traps of Dynamic Pricing
“Dynamic pricing” is a strategy that many merchants use online. You’ll see different prices due to a wide range of factors, from your zip code or location, to your browsing history, to how much you’ve looked at a similar product. If you’ve ever found a great product for a low price, then shown your friend and the price is higher, this is dynamic pricing at work. In order to ensure you’re getting the low price you deserve, you can do several things, including making sure you’re always logged out of your social media accounts (Facebook, email, Google+); clearing your browsing history, and clearing your cookies; shopping in incognito mode; and using versions of the website that are localized rather than for the US in general.
Be Smart about the Way You Use Several Coupon Codes
It’s very common to be allowed to use more than one coupon code at once as you shop, and you can combine separate promo codes or coupons once you reach checkout. The trick to getting the most from these coupons is to use them in a specific order. If you have a % discount, and a coupon for a specific amount, use the % first; for example, you’ll want to take 20% off your entire order first, then receive $10 off that reduced amount.
Use the Smart Reward Programs That Are Available
If you have a smartphone, you have lots of apps at your fingertips that offer cash back and other great bonuses that you can redeem if you do certain things or buy specific products. For example, you can earn money back on certain items, complete surveys for rewards, and even simply watch videos; sometimes, you don’t even have to buy something to earn rewards. Take advantage of these to score more as you shop–you’ll often find access to discounts and early opportunities.
Make Sure Your Emails are Organized
Although it’s easy to sign up for tons of coupon sites, promotions, and newsletters, you need to make sure you’re actually looking at these and can wade through all the information to find savings. You can sign up for something such as Unroll.me, an add-on that sends everything to you in one email each day with the subscriptions you prefer, so your email is less cluttered. There are other such plugins available that will help you organize.
Get More Coupons with Multiple Emails
It’s one of the oldest tricks, but it still works: you can help yourself earn more savings by signing up for promotions and newsletters with more than one email account. While you might not be able to use a coupon code more than once per purchase, you’ll get twice or even three times the access to special deals.
