Online shopping during pandemic: How to find the best deals

The COVID-19 pandemic didn't only change the way people live and interact with others. It also caused a major financial setback for many people, regardless of their job or source of income.

Now more than ever, every penny counts. With the advent of online shopping, shoppers hope to find the best offers that can help them save money.

Steal the best deals

Thanks to the emergence of electronic commerce or e-Commerce, shopping can now be done from the comfort of your own home.

In this era where the virus is still vividly present, nothing can be scarier than going out to shop when you know you might get infected at any time. Today, you can find and buy anything online.

However, that doesn't mean you'll just purchase the first thing you see on your smartphone or computer.

You need to put in more effort so you can find the best deals when shopping online. Signing up for free memberships and email alerts will help in making sure you're updated whenever an online sales event is coming.

You'll get notified via email or text if great deals are on their way. Be sure to check your email regularly so you won't miss out on a good bargain.

Some websites offer catalogues of different products you can buy at discounted prices. You should be in the know of websites such as I Like Sales if you're from Australia.

If you're planning to buy anything, check the catalogues first if there are online coupons and discount codes that you can use.

Know The Best Days To Go Online Shopping

If you're not in a hurry to buy and receive the products, hold off for a second and see if you can find the best days to shop in certain stores in your area.

Deals and discounts often roll out in several stores from Wednesdays to Fridays, while Sundays are the best day to purchase airline tickets.

You can also save up for major sale events that may happen only a few times a year, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

In some countries like Canada and Australia, there's also the much-awaited Boxing Day Sale on every December 26. Be sure to mark your calendar and save money so you can score a great deal when the event comes.

Warehouse stores and membership clubs also allot certain days or dates in a month where their prices drop for most products.

As mentioned, it's best to subscribe to their email list so you can always receive updates regarding sale events and price drops.

Also, it's a good idea to follow them on social media because that's where they usually announce special promos and bargains.

Negotiate through price matching

If you haven't tried it before, price matching is a good way to score the best deals when online shopping.

If you're browsing through a web shop and you've seen a particular item that's way more expensive than the usual price at other stores, you can let them know and see if they're willing to match the price. It pays to know the current market prices of most items that you regularly buy.

Don't underestimate the power of free shipping

Stretching out a dollar isn't an exaggeration these days, especially amid the pandemic. Saving on shipping fees can mean a lot already and free shipping is even more delightful.

Plan your purchases so you can maximise free shipping vouchers. Some stores require a minimum amount of purchase for you to avail of their free shipping offering, so it's best to schedule your shopping days to make use of that deal.

There'll also be times when stores and online shopping sites would send out random free shipping vouchers throughout the year.

Don't waste them and always pay attention to the allotted period that you can redeem them. Imagine if you're able to save at least twice from shipping fees, that could amount to something already.

Takeaways

Online shopping during a pandemic may have changed in several ways, but for the most part, it's almost some sort of a therapeutic mechanism that people have learned to get their way around.

But of course, given the financial struggles that a lot of consumers have been experiencing, it's a great idea to maximise the best deals when buying things online.

First subscribe to the email lists of different retailers and stores. You can also score discount codes and free shipping vouchers if you know where to look for them.

Additionally, knowing the best time of the year to shop will also save you a lot of money. When applicable, try price matching on items that you want to buy.

These are some helpful tips that you can try to get the best bargains as you add more items to your cart.