Impulse shopping? Never heard of it. A recent survey by Slickdeals shows that many people who stay at home for extended periods of time tend to splurge on random purchases online. While the novel coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot of shopping habits, one thing that has remained consistent is people are still willing to spend. However, before you put a dent in your bank account, here are five ways to score online deals during the coronavirus pandemic.
1. Shop sites with already discounted products: HookandHuntAZ.com is Arizona’s best kept online secret. The site has a ton of name brand products at heavily discounted prices including designer handbags, top-of-the-line home furnishings, outdoor and camping gear, home electronics, lawn equipment and even kid-friendly gadgets like electric scooters.
2. Use a coupon code: Try to make it a habit to always search for coupon codes before purchasing an item. Several websites such as RetailMeNot or Coupons.com provide codes that can easily take up to 20 percent off the total checkout price. Once you locate a code, simply copy it to your computer and add it to the coupon code box in the checkout area.
3. Find freebies: Secret Facebook groups like Sweet Deals, Glitches and Freebies or Julie Jules Tells You What The DEAL Is are both great resources to find free goods and services. From prescription eyeglasses to discounted splash pads, Facebook groups are an amazing go-to when it comes to saving money.
4. Buy discounted gift cards: Websites such as Raise and CardCash sell gift cards at a reduced rate so you can save some serious cash. Whether you are looking to save on your next meal, a dream vacation, or a new kitchen, you can find gift cards to save money everywhere you shop. Remember, planning is key when it comes to buying discounted gift cards. For example, if you know you are going to be Christmas shopping soon, make sure to buy a discounted gift card to the store you will be shopping at. And Voilà! You just saved 10 to 15 percent off your Christmas shopping this year.
5. Watch out for fake reviews: It is always a good idea to review an item before making a purchase, but some reviews are not trustworthy. Fake reviewers appear to be normal customers but are users who have been paid to write positive things about a product or service. This fake review could then lead you to buy something that is not at all what it appears to be. A couple of tips to spot a genuine review include:
• Reading the comments: If the comments look suspicious then you know something is off. For example, if someone leaves a comment about a bike and says its ‘life-changing’ or ‘flawless’ then it is probably a fake review.
• Flood of five-star reviews: If a product has multiple five-star reviews in a short space of time, then it is probably fake.
The best piece of advice to follow when finding online deals, is to do your research. A quick Google search of what you are looking for can go a long way when it comes to saving money in your wallet.
Mary Hampton is the founder of HookandHuntAZ.com.
