How to bag the best online deals

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Everyone wants to think they’re getting a great deal when they make a purchase, whether they shop online, or in a traditional bricks and mortar shop. But with Internet shopping gaining popularity year after year, you are probably more likely to be able to bag the very best deals online.

Photo Source: autoliquidator.com
Photo Source: autoliquidator.com

This is great news for anyone who is fed up with the hassle of walking endlessly from shop to shop checking and comparing prices.  The Internet takes care of this entire process for you at the touch of a button.

However, with so many online shops and comparison sites to choose from, how can you be really sure you’re bagging the best deal for your bucks?  Whether you’re shopping around for the best energy prices, or looking to compare Australian car insurance quotes there are a number of ways you can be confident that you haven’t paid more than you should have.

The first price isn’t always the best price

It’s a common misconception that the price a product is as advertised. In today’s competitive world, retailers are becoming sensitive to the power of the consumer and aware that if a price isn’t right their potential online customer will simply vanish through the virtual door in search of a better deal elsewhere.

In fact, an average of 40-45% of a shops entire stock is sold at a discounted rate over the course of a year – why wait for the product you want to be put on sale when thousands of other people will snap it up? Be brave and contact the retailer to ask for a discount of special deal today.

This could be money off the purchase price, free delivery, or a discount on future orders.  Be creative with your negotiations with the retailer.

Compare comparison sites

Comparison sites are designed to compare the goods and services from a range of providers, allowing the customer to decide which deal is best according to their circumstances.

However, it’s important to remember that no two comparison sites are the same and will probably return very different results – even when you provide them with exactly the same information.

Try checking 2 or 3 different comparison sites before making a final decision.

Have a checklist

Sometimes when a deal looks too good to be true, it’s because it is!  Some retailers are employing a number of clever tactics to make a price seem lower than it really is in order to reel you in, only to add on a number of hidden ‘extras’ at checkout stage that you may not notice.

The following checklist should help you avoid this:

  • Double check the cost breakdown at checkout stage before entering any payment details
  • Make sure the product is genuine and has a warranty
  • Check the site is safe and secure.  Does it display the padlock icon and does the web address begin with HTTPS
  • If the site is unknown to you, do your research first.  Check online reviews and consumer complaint forums
  • Make sure you receive a welcome email after registering with the online retailer
  • Read the description of the product carefully first to make sure it is EXACTLY what you’re looking for.

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