With festivities kicking in, online marketplaces like Flipkart, Amazon, Myntra, Nykaa, Jabong and Shop Clues are all geared up to help you fill your homes and closets with the best of goodies from the best of brands. Be it the new One +5 or an iPhone 7, Samsung’s 18-inch LED monitor or Panasonic’s 40-inch full HD LED TV, a MAC lipstick or The Body Shop’s skin care range, these e-portals offer the best of brands with a minimum discount of 15 -20 percent.
After demonetization and Modi’s GST gamble hitting the market and our pockets, these deals are worth a try. If you have been living under a rock and not shopped online yet, buying some of your preferred brands online might be the best idea this year because of all the wonderful deals you can enjoy. Ecommerce sales for retail goods are growing at an unimaginable pace because of the deals and discounts that customers enjoy. There are no two ways about it. The only challenge is to find the right deals, without falling for false promises. Along with good discounts, online shopping portals offer additional advantages like cashback on certain credit cards, 0 percent interest on EMI and more. At least now with all of the mid-season, semi-annual and festive sales, you don’t have to break the bank to give a makeover to your house or your wardrobe.
However, if you tend to get confused with the overload of information out there, owing to the extensive product range, numerous deals, discounts and hidden terms & conditions, we are happy to help.
Some simple tips to shop smartly this festive season
- Look up the reputation
With numerous online portals floating in the marketplace, it is important to know where to shop. Make sure the website you plan to shop has a good reputation. Find this with the help of Google user reviews. In the tech-savvy world that we live in, social media platforms are also buzzing with reviews posted by shoppers. Check the credibility of the shopping site and buy products only of the brands you know of. It is best not to purchase products solely on the basis of attractive discounts, cashbacks and attractive images.
- Plastic money or COD?
Although Cash on Delivery might seem like a safe bet for new shoppers, swiping your debit/credit card has its own benefits. During the sale season, these websites along with partner banks offer great discounts and other benefits if the payment is done through a registered card. A lot of online shopping portals run cashback offers in tie up with various banks, which comes as a pleasant surprise in the bank account. Plastic money is also good because you can accumulate points which can be used for future purchases.
Caution remains the key when you shop with plastic money. It can trap you in a vicious circle, ruin your finances and take away all future Diwalis with it. So spend wisely and repay the bank on time.
- Read the fine lines
A smart shopper tries to browse through different websites to check availability and prices. It is also good to read the product descriptions and reviews posted by customers who have purchased and used the same product. This is also a good way to do a price comparison to get the best deal during these festive sales. For instance, Apple iPhone 7 on Flipkart costs Rs. 39,999, while on Amazon it’s priced at Rs. 46,999.
- Be patient
Stay away from making impulsive purchases just because of discounts and offers so you don’t burn your pocket. It is best to first decide what you actually want and avoid buying products you don’t really need. This will help you benefit from the Diwali sales, instead of being weighed down by it.
- Watch out for hidden charges
Whilst placing your final order, check the shipping cost that is being charged. All these websites offer free shipping once your amount totals to a certain purchase value.
- Don’t discount the ‘coupon codes’
Although you don’t want to be disturbed by numerous promotional mail and messages from these websites on an everyday basis, in order to get coupon codes and promotional discounts, it is good to subscribe for them. These portals keep running promotional offers and codes that can be used on different products offered on their website.
We hope these tips will you make better purchases this festive season without burning a hole in your pocket.
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