There are some great opportunities in Australia to get a discount online, if you know where to look. And no, I’m not talking about eBay! Here are my tips outlining where online shopping can deliver value (and sometimes cash in your pocket) in these unsettling financial times.
1. Coupons and discount vouchers
Coupons are ALWAYS the first place to start. More and more Australian merchants are launching discount coupons to stimulate interest and sales for their businesses. You can use a site designed specifically for posting discount codes or you can use the trusty Google.
2. Offer Forums
These are great places to stay on top of the latest and greatest deals. The best deals forums have an easy to use voucher search. Look for a friendly active community where members submit bids. Lobbying on a forum that is dominated by selfish traders is not the best place to start.
3. Price comparison websites
If you have a particular item in mind, price comparison sites can be a valuable resource, listing the price of an item at multiple stores. One thing to keep in mind is that these sites may not be a “true” representation of the “best buy.” Many of the price comparison sites will only list a select number of merchants who offer a commission on each sale.
4. Check websites
These sites can also be a very helpful resource. As with price comparison sites, bias can creep into the equation if the ‘reviewer’ receives a commission. Always check multiple review sites and be careful if the reviews you read are very similar. Remember, deal forums can also be an invaluable resource for personal consumer insights.
5. Refund Sites
Cash back sites are a fairly new phenomenon in Australia, even though they are a ‘tour de force’ in the UK and US markets. These sites change the way traditional internet advertising works. If you click on a banner ad on a site and make a purchase, not many people realize that the site where you first saw the ad receives a commission on that sale. Instead of pocketing the payment, cash-back sites return the money to the consumer.
Some things to keep in mind when using these types of sites:
Beware of ‘rewards’ or ‘points’ sites that only return a fraction of the commission received.
6. Delivery fees
I wanted to mention shipping rates here to make sure people know that there can be a big difference in prices when it comes to shipping in Australia. Some merchants will compensate for losses on a ‘good deal’ with an exorbitant delivery/handling fee. So always check shipping rates before you buy, and free shipping coupons are your friend.
7. Price Match Policies
Many of the larger stores now offer price matching. Basically, if you find the item you want in another store, take a price test, check that the item is in stock, and request a price match. Several stores will even lower the price again (although usually by a nominal figure, eg only 5% of the price difference).
Happy shopping!
