But when you’re dealing with 2 million faceless merchants, you have to be careful. You may think you’ve found a bargain, but then you’ll find the same item for significantly less. Some of these digital storefronts are misleading, as are their wares. Here are three little-known tactics that many shoppers find useful, which can both boost your savings and safeguard your satisfaction.
1. Price tracking tools
In brick-and-mortar stores, many shoppers don’t take the price tag at face value. We assume that there’s a deeper discount than the one advertised. We find an expensive outfit, we frown at the label, and we turn to the salesperson. “I shop here a lot,” we say. “Can I get another 10 percent off?” This kind of haggling becomes even more important when you’re buying a big-ticket item like a refrigerator or car. You might like the price, but when the dealer doesn’t offer you free shipping or a complimentary warranty, you say you’re going to walk out. These are both common tactics among seasoned shoppers. Of course, that’s a little tougher to do when you’re shopping online. You can’t easily find a customer service rep. Fortunately, there are loads of price-tracking tools online, like CamelCamelCamel and Keepa. Or, better yet, set up an alert for something you want to buy. CamelCamelCamel and other price trackers will let you know when the price drops.
2. Spot fake reviews
You think to yourself, “Wow, I can get that whole set of power tools for $40! And people are raving about them!” But when those power tools arrive, they’re a shoddy product that easily wears out. Your bargain has turned into a complete waste of time and money. But how can you possibly distinguish a real review from a fake one? As it turns out, there are websites to help spot a fake review, namely ReviewMeta or FakeSpot.
3. Automatically apply coupons
Like I said earlier, there always seems to be one more discount you can get when shopping. In the digital world, you can often find these discounts through a web extension like Honey. What other deals can you find online? Be sure to listen or download my podcasts, or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts.
More from Komando.com
One mistake people make using public Wi-Fi that lets everyone see their files Save BIG on Back to School gear with this insider trick How to see if your computer needs a security patch
