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Shopping is a massive money generator for each and every economy in the world. We all shop in some way or another, either for necessities or pure pleasure (like my Nexus Tablet!). I am not a fan of going shopping on a regular basis because I don’t like to spend money without knowing what it’s for and why it is leaving my wallet. I am glad that my wife is not a shopper. It makes our relationship really easy and carefree. As we shop, shouldn’t we make sure that we are getting the best deal with each and every purchase? I want to share with you my number one shopping tip, whether it be online or in the store.
My career allows me to work with many of the large retailers out there. While I only deal with their online activities, I have learned a few secrets that enable me to make sure I am getting the best deal possible. My number one shopping tip is……
Don’t let sales dictate your purchase!
That’s right, that is my shopping tip. We all shop with emotion, but that sometimes clouds our rational judgement. Just because an item is on sale, doesn’t mean that you are actually saving money, does it? Nope!
Since we don’t go shopping at the same stores and look for the same items each and every day, we cannot follow the price changes. It would be irrational to think that you feasibly could. This is the reason why retailers have the power when using a “sale”. They can slowly increase the price as the lead up to their published sale date and then can mark down the price. Here is an example of what I am talking about, which happens to be a true story (I am not going to divulge the store).
I went shopping for a quick dry shirt that I could wear at work during the summer. I love quick dry shirts because I sweat in the summer and regular polo shirts are a nightmare. Here is the breakdown of prices that I encountered.
1st trip: $19.99
2nd trip: $21.99
3rd trip: $26.99
4th trip: $39.99 (On Sale for $21.99 with a discount of 45%)
This was in a span of over a month. I waited that long because I was not in need of the shirt and was looking for the right color, but did you see what they did here? Technically, the first trip was the best deal, but it wasn’t on sale. By the time that the sale came around, they used the manufactured suggested retail price (MSRP) to calculate their sale price of $21.99. They showed me that it was 45% off with big and bold letters. If I hadn’t been tracking this product, then I would have thought that I was getting a deal, but in actuality, I was paying more than what the price was before. This is how a sale tricks you.
Not every sale is an actual sale. Retailers can use different prices to make their sale calculations look more enticing. I mean isn’t it their job to keep you buying? There are scores of people at each company that figure out which sales are the best and how to market them. Look at what happened when JCPenny decided to stop sales and just show their everyday price.
People love sales, even if they are not real discounts. It is the idea of saving money that keeps people buying. If I were you, then I would just stop, show down, and then take your time to research.
If you stop following sales, then you can really take the time to research the product you want. I like to check Amazon when I have a chance, use discount coupons with any online/in-store purchase, sleep on my decision, and compare prices with the RedLaser app when I am in the store. This enables me to make sure that I am getting the best deal possible on each and every purchase. This has worked for me for many years.
Don’t forget about checking out Mobile coupons.
So, that is my number one shopping tip. Don’t fall victim to the marketing machine and make sure the sale is an actual sale. What do you do in order to save money when you shop? Do you get excited about “sales”? I want to hear from you below!
In the spirit of shopping, I am co-hosting an awesome $500 giveaway! Just enter in the widget below for your chance to win. I mean, it’s free…..
Sale image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
About Grayson
I normally shop with the emotion anger. Anger at all the slow people in the isles that won’t move out of my way so I can leave the shops.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..The First Child: Opportunities for Savings
I like it Glen, I think I do the same thing.
Sales are what get me. I think it’s important to know what products you need/want and then track the price. Of course, it’s hard to find motivation to do this unless it’s a bigger purchase. That’s crazy that the 45% off price was right around what you had been paying! There definitely are some crappy “sales” out there, especially on clothes.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..$500 Cash Giveaway – Save Money with Coupon Codes
They get my wife and then she justifies it to me by saying that she saved x amount, but then I tell her that she didn’t need to buy it. You are not saving when you didn’t plan on purchasing it.
This might be considered cheap instead of frugal but I tend to buy most of my clothes at Kohls. Usually from the 70% off rack, then I use my Kohls’ card (which I pay off during my next bill paying session) to get an additional 30% off. My favorite dress shirts are from Arrow and they are typically a bit more expensive. The last few Arrow shirts I’ve bought at Kohl’s have cost me less than $15. Here’s an extra tip for other Kohls shoppers out there. When my wife and I get our hands on a 30% off coupon, we take a picture of it with our smartphone. So far, Kohls has accepted that for all of the purchases we have made.
Jose recently posted..The Challenge – Changing Your Blogs Domain
I buy most of my clothes at Kohls as well, but they are good at creating sales just like any other company. They just installed new digital price signs that show the percentage much bigger than the price. Good sales tactic! I don’t mind Kohls and think that I still get a bargain there, but you have to be careful no matter where you shop.
I agree 100%. The key to not paying too much is knowing what the real value of the item on sale is. Armed with that information you should be able to recognize a true deal when you see one.
Jose recently posted..7 Tips for setting Financial Goals in 2013
We avoid sales as well Grayson. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but it works. You might say something is 10% off which is great, but you still have to fork over the other 90%. Not to mention the fact that advertisers are keenly aware of how to separate us from out money. My wife is not a shopper either and for that I am immensely grateful!
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Giveaway: An Online Shopping Tool for Frugal Shoppers
I always try to go shopping with a list so I don’t get pressured into buying things I don’t need because they are a “good deal” or on sale. If you’re not paying attention it easy to get suckered in. Glad to be co-hosting the giveaway with you.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..How to Spend Too Much This Valentine’s Day
Lists are so important. My wife is good at getting “suckered” in by sales.
I think there are times you shouldn’t buy something just because it’s on sale and there are times you should buy something just because it’s on sale. For instance, your example of clothing sales is spot on, but if you’re doing grocery shopping, I absolutely think you should have some flexibility in your shopping list to get items that are on sale. I do this with fruits, veggies, and meats – I don’t go in with a set plan to get peaches, asparagus, and ribeyes, instead I get whatever fruits, vegetables, and meats are on sale. It’s not too hard to track the prices of groceries since you go shopping for them so frequently.
Gen Y Finance Journey recently posted..Can You Reach Early Financial Independence if You’re Not an Entrepreneur?
That is a great point. I don’t let a sale dictate my shopping, but I am also flexible when it comes to shopping, especially with groceries. I put things on my list like bbq sauce and I will pick up the one that is on sale as long as the price per ounce is the best deal.
I’ve learned how to decipher which “sale” is truly a sale–I work hard not to get suckered into those “gotta have now” moments!
The Happy Homeowner recently posted..Saving Money While Shopping…And a $500 Giveaway!
That is a good skill to have.
Wow marketing people are so good. Usually I check prices online, I don’t have a smartphone but always know roughly how much what I need costs. In Guatemala things are expensive so I compare with US price plus 15% (not full shipping and customs, I try to have someone bring it over).
Yeah, you always gotta wonder when you see a good sale whether or not the product already has a huge mark-up and then the so called sale price is really just the price it should have been in the first place. I worked in retail and it was super interesting to see the invoices for the clothes and to see the actual price that the store paid for the clothes. Many men’s dress shirts for example only cost the store $4 but were selling for $50.
Tackling Our Debt recently posted..Inexpensive, Fun Ways to Express Your Love on Valentine’s Day
That’s a great tip Grayson. I often wonder when a sale is really a sale. I mean just because something says it’s on sale doesn’t really mean it’s any less that it normally is.
One way I like to buy stuff especially when it comes to close is to buy it right at the end of the season. For example my wife just bought a new winter coat for my daughter because the price was so cheap versus buying it at the beginning of next winter when prices will be much higher.
Chris @ Stumble Forward recently posted..The Amazon Price Change – Plus A $500 Giveaway
I think many stores have a perpetual sale, so you feel like you are getting a good deal.I like sales, but only if they are true discounts and only if it was something I would have bought anyway.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..Using Coupons to Save Money-$500 Giveaway
Sales can be quite misleading! I try to just have a sense of what a “good” price is, then stock up when I need more of it. Even for clothes or shoes, I don’t usually shop sales. I wait until I need to replace something, then look for the best price.