Online shopping and ordering gimmicks....

Cilleena

Do things like free shipping if you spend X amount get you when you were only looking at one thing? Or percent off sales if you order by X date?

I am an almost exclusive online shopper due to store scarcity in my area. I feel like I get scammed a lot because it's hard to pass up a 45% off deal. You know when you think, why not buy a few more things since it's 45% off. Or the hardest one for me to resist is the free shipping for ordering a certain amount when I only planned on buying one thing and it doesn't meet the requirement. If I was standing in the store, it would be so much easier to just buy one thing and go.

Do you capitalize on such "deals" or is it a scam like it seems? What game plan do you use with online ordering?

13 years ago

Shopping

10 replies

Latest reply was from Jenn

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I stalk things... I know the deals that often come up in the places I shop online. Boden is a classic example. I try to order when it's 15% off + free shipping and returns to try things. Otherwise I'm very strict with myself and don't get fooled by the offers - if it's that much off, it's normally because it hasn't sold well for good reasons!

Now is a good time to buy because there are lots of discounts so I just wait.

On the other hand, if you factor in time spent shopping on foot and transport etc the postage becomes more reasonable comparatively so if I am really keen I just pay full price and accept I may have to return it.

13 years ago

mamaKate

Veteran

I play the game right back at them and order stuff that I may want but probably just end up returning. I pre-calculate whether the deal is still worth it if I have to spend $X to return an item (for those places that don't offer free shipping on returns). Their jedi mind tricks don't work on you!

13 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I take advantages of those offers, but I live in the area where there are plenty of stores so there is no problem returning something in the store for free. Often I would add either a small practical item ( like socks) or something I want to try even tough I might not end up keeping just tog et the free shipping.

13 years ago

Becky

Veteran

I try to be wise about such offers and take advantage of them if there really is something else I can use to achieve free shipping, but I won't order something just to put me over the magic amount. I know which stores offer such things as free shipping for exchanges (vs. returns, which I have to pay shipping for), and will exchange for things I know I'll use (like Nordstrom and the BP camis).

13 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I will add items to get free shipping, if there are items I want anyway. If I need a few things to push me to free shipping numbers, I usually look at basics that I stock up on anyway such as socks, bras, hose, etc.

13 years ago

cciele

Veteran

I try to shop only at places with free shipping and free returns, or free shipping and instore returns. I sometimes order extra stuff to hit the free shipping limit, and then return what I don't need in the store. Usually it's items in multiple sizes though.

But like many a shopper, I'm a sucker for X% off sales -- especially if it's greater than 50% off. That holds true online and in store I'm really trying to retrain myself though, and go for quality/filling holes in my closet rather than buying an item because it's a great deal.

13 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Hmm i guess i try to just keep my eyes open for the "right" deals. But i'm also pretty frugal. If i'm on a shopping ban i try to immediately delete any emails i get from stores to avoid temptation. Deals i keep my eyes out for is free shipping on any amount and extra %off on clearance/sales items

I'm not really fond of get $off when you spend $ or free shipping when you spend $50 or whatever unless i plan it out. It's not something that makes me want to randomly put more things in my cart.

Also i try to remember to go through ebates first!

13 years ago

Cilleena

Veteran

Oh, I'm terrible about using Ebates. I always forget.

Brilliant idea on ordering multiple sizes! Why didn't I think of that? I am between sizes at the moment and this will be perfect to get me to free shipping. Hopefully, they have the multiple sizes.

13 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Be careful ordering things you're going to return to qualify for promotions. That works some places, but I was reading Boden's policies the other day, and they included this gem:

"And when returning goods which you bought using a discount or offer, we will adjust the refund accordingly to reflect any failure to meet the original requirements for a discount/offer, as that discount or offer will no longer apply. "

8 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Just saw this was a 4-year-old zombie thread. Oh well. My comment still applies.

8 years ago

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