Going into a regular store and asking for a discount is something that people do, but unless it’s independent, you’re unlikely to get money off. It’s not at the discretion of the manager. And even if it was, margins in many brick-and-mortar outlets are slim. A lot simply can’t offer big savings.
It’s a different story online, though. E-commerce businesses tend to have lower overheads and bigger margins. They’re also able to source a lot of goods in bulk, meaning that there are savings to be had.
In this post, we take a look at why paying the full asking price online isn’t usually required.
You Can Use Coupon Apps
Here’s a little secret from the world of economics: sellers always want to charge the maximum price that consumers are willing to pay. Economists call it “price discrimination” and it just means charging a different price for every customer so they can get the most money.
Usually, price discrimination doesn’t work in practice. Customers can find out that other people paid less.
However, price discrimination still operates in the world of coupons. Sellers know that some people – like those of us who are frugal – will always look for a bargain. That’s why they issue coupons and give people a chance to enter a code at checkout. They know that most people will pay full price, but if they want to get business from savers, they need to offer some additional perks.
These days, you don’t have to trawl through dubious websites to get coupons. You can simply install apps into your browser which search for codes automatically for you. Honey is a good example, but there are many others out there.
These apps save you time, which lets you spend more time earning or enjoying your family life.
You Can Get Cashback Via Affiliates
Online, affiliates get paid money by e-commerce companies to forward people to their products. Affiliates, however, will sometimes offer you cashback whenever you buy a product they link to. It’s their way of saying thank you and encouraging you to continue using their site.
Let’s say, for instance, you need something from the pharmacy. You can use affiliates for Walgreens cashback, meaning that you’ll get a kickback for any purchase you make.
It sounds a little complicated, but once you get the hang of it, it’s similar to most other cashback schemes.
You Can Always Buy In Bulk
Online retailers love it when people buy in bulk. It’s why so many companies, including Amazon, offer discounts for multiple purchases of the same product.
When it comes to buying in bulk, you have to choose your battles. Does it make sense to bulk order your earrings or fresh vegetables? No. But does it make sense to order dried foods and toiletries in bulk? Almost certainly.
Buying in bulk saves you anywhere between 5 and 40 percent, depending on the product. It’s worth doing if you have a large storage space in your home and you don’t mind parting with more cash upfront.
I buy online 9 times out of 10. I save money by doing that not only for the reasons stated but it keeps me from buying items I don’t need. My splurge items tend to cost so much more than what I need.