top 10 ways to make sure you've got the best deal online
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Top 10 Ways To Make Sure You Get The Best Deal Online

There are loads of factors to consider when buying online and if you’re getting to the checkout without a promo code, cashback, price match, or some kind of reward, then you’re doing something wrong. I’ve put together the top 10 ways to make sure you get the best deal online before you click that Buy Now button, to make sure you’ve got the best deal.

1) Referral & Promo Codes

Hundreds of retailers and services offer discounts if you know a friend that already uses the retailer, so it’s worth searching and asking around for referral codes or refer a friend links. (Ahem- self-plug) -The Referral guy UK currently has over 150 referral codes but there are loads more out there. There are also thousands of promo code websites out there, with Voucher Codes being my personal favourite – which also seems the most consistent for updating codes.

2) CamelCamelCamel

If you shop with Amazon often this one is essential. CamelCamelCamel allows you to search for a product that’s on Amazon (either by search, the barcode, or pasting in the Amazon link) and it shows you how much the product has been in the past. It tracks years of price history. So you can make sure you’re actually getting a good deal.

3) Install Honey on your browser

This is one of the simplest ways to make sure you get the best promo code with ease while you’re online shopping. Read my post here on how it works and how to get a signup bonus too!

4) ePoints

ePoints works with thousands of retailers to get you an exclusive price often up to 20%. See my page here for more details on how ePoints works. They make their money through subscription packages and commission but do however have a free trial of the premium service which is easy to cancel.

5) HotUKDeals

HotUKDeals has saved me thousands over the years (and probably helped me to spend a few thousand more that I wasn’t planning on spending!). It’s a user-discovered deal site where people vote a deal hot or cold. If you’re making a considered purchase, it’s worth searching on HotUKDeals to see if a deal has already been posted. Or you can set up an alert for when a deal is spotted for that particular product or keyword that you set up an alert for. Great site, 10/10.

6) Price comparison Sites

These kinds of sites have fallen from popularity recently. Often what happens is customers search for a product on Google, scroll through the suggested retailers at the top, and think they’re getting the best deal through Google Shopping. However, there are often cheaper deals out there. I personally recommend PriceSpy and PriceRunner, but there are loads out there that crawl the web for the best price. I would recommend comparing google shopping and comparison sites to see if there are savings to be made.

7) Cashback Sites

Think of Cashback sites as like a delayed promotional code. You sign up to sites like TopCashback and Quidco. Then when you’re logged in, search for the retailer you’re planning to shop with. You then follow their link and the cashback site tracks your purchase.

In the T&C’s it will tell you how long it should take to get the cashback, so be sure to have a good read to make sure you get your dosh back. Sometimes you can get between 10-20% back on whatever you spend so definitely worth doing.

8) Wait until Friday!

Most retailers put their promotions live on a Friday, so if you’re looking mid-week and not seeing any good deals, wait a few days. As you may have noticed, the best deals seem to be towards the end of the month (when retailers are looking to hit sales targets) and also around pay-day, when customers have the cash to splash.

9) Leave a product in your basket

If you’re not in a hurry, add a product to your basket and leave it there for a day or two. Make sure you’re signed up and logged in though so that the retailer knows who to contact. More often than not, their algorithm is set up to ping you an email offering a discount if you finish off your order.

10) Sign up to the retailer newsletter

When there are no discount or referral codes around, this method is often the last-ditch attempt. Usually, it’s the standard 10% off that most retailers offer, but it’s worth doing if you are making an expensive purchase and there are no other offers around.

Bonus – BA eStore Portal

The British Airways executive eStore works in a similar way to cashback sites, except you earn Avios points instead of cashback. Avios can be put towards cheaper flights, business class upgrades, and things like hotel stays and car rentals. Take a look at my article on the BA Amex card for more info on how to earn even more points when using the BA American express credit card referral code to maximize the stash of Avios you earn.

Other airlines like Virgin and cruise ships brands also have their own shopping portals, so it’s worth searching around to see which is best for you and how you travel. Also, it’s worth checking if your other utility services have an app or portal for saving money, much like how Vodafone has the VeryMe rewards app with exclusive discounts.

If you take all actions into consideration, you’ll be sure to get the best deal out there. Sleeping easy, knowing you’ve got the most bang for your buck ( or quid!). If you found the top 10 ways to make sure you get the best deal online helpful or if there are any other sites you find useful or methods for getting a better deal, let us know in the comments.

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