Think you know where all the online bargins are? Think again...

 

Whether you’re completely sold on online shopping or you dabble in the occasional web buy, there’s one certainty about the “add to cart” experience — and that is: there are plenty of bargains to be found.

From daily deals sites to private shopping clubs, there are so many “up to 70 per cent off” emails arriving in the average bargain hunter’s inbox each day that seasoned shoppers are becoming relatively numbed to words (SALE!) that were once music to their ears... that is until they get a whiff of another bargain!

Such is the thrill of the hunt that we’re never tired of hearing about more chances to save money shopping online. And so without further ado, let us introduce to you a newcomer on the bargain shopping scene — Grays Outlet — which we're sure will tickly your bargain bone a much as the Boxing Day sales. 

An extension of the well known auction site Grays Online, Grays Outlet is Australia’s first online outlet centre, offering a huge range of discounted products by brands you know and love (but which you would prefer not to buy at full retail price!).

You can find up to 70 per cent off the RRP on everything from cosmetics to kitchen appliances, clothing, footwear, wine and fragrances from top labels.

Our first browse of the site revealed some great bargains, such as Mossimo dress for $34.95 (a saving of 56 per cent off the RRP) and a 75mL bottle of Diesel Plus Masculine Eau de Toilette for 80 per cent of its usual retail price — at the time of writing down to a miniscule $4.95. Kids don’t miss out either, with average savings on toys being up around 57 per cent. We also spotted brands such as Calvin Klein, Diana Ferrari, Panasonic and Dell.

The site is super easy to navigate and offers something for everyone with consumer, commercial and industrial products available. Now excuse us while we avoid the Christmas sale crowds and cash in on some excellent online bargains...

 

 
By Kelly Stock

You’ve heard that shopping online can save you thousands, but where do you find those savings and how can you get the most out of the countless internet deals, online stores and web applications?

And what about retail stores — how can you make sure you find the cheapest prices every time?

Why Pay Retail? — a new book by one of eBay Australia’s top strategy execs Todd Alexander — has got the answers to these questions, and then some.

Written in concise easy-to-understand language, the book provides a snapshot of the current online shopping and retail world specifically for Australian consumers, and is packed with information on how to save money shopping online, using smartphone applications and in traditional retail stores.

Both seasoned bargain shoppers and those new to the game will learn new money-saving shopping tricks from this book.

Covering most of the major and current players in the online shopping market, Why Pay Retail? looks at how to get the most out of shopping clubs and group-buying sites, as well as mobile applications that let you compare prices on your phone while you’re in store.

As well as online bargain-shopping techniques such as signing up to e-newsletters and registering on group deal websites, it also offers tips for face-to-face negotiations with shop assistants in retail stores, which is something many people struggle with.

There is a chapter dedicated to how you can make the most out of eBay shopping; search strategies for finding the best bargains on Google (ever heard of Google “shopping”?), and the most effective ways to find and share bargains with friends and family through social networking sites.

Alexander also shows readers how to shop online safely. A big concern for many Australians is identity theft, but in recounting his personal experience of identity theft and offering some great tips on how to stay as safe as possible online the author helps readers dodge those web shopping traps.

Why Pay Retail? is an informative and up-to-date shopping guide that equips you with all the knowledge you need to get the most out of bargain shopping online and in retail stores. An essential read for money-savvy shoppers!

WIN A COPY OF WHY PAY RETAIL?

We have 5 copies of Why Pay Retail? to give away! Simply let us know your best bargain shopping tip for your chance to win. Comment below or bargainguru@universalmagazines.com.au

Follow these easy tips to ensure you buy the right pieces for the right price.

Investment portfolio
We’ve all heard this advice a million times but once more may make the difference: for a truly efficient wardrobe buy investment pieces that promise longevity and versatility. Once you’ve invested in a structured jacket or blazer, well-fitting jeans, an A-line skirt, crisp white shirt, wear-anywhere dress and black woollen cardigan, you can brighten up your outfits with an array of colourful accessories.

Accessorise
For most women, the first thing we notice on a girlfriend is her accessories: her jewellery, shoes, bag or scarf. It is these pieces that make or break an outfit, giving it a unique appeal either way. Scour op shops for a one-off bargain or hit the accessories racks of chain stores such as Sportsgirl, Diva, Dotti and Equip.

Plan ahead
To save money, figure out which pieces you actually need for your lifestyle and then scope out the sales to find them. That way you will avoid having a closet full of clothes that you only wear once. Scrutinise your wardrobe and make a list of what is missing. Begin by visiting the websites of your favourite stores, or the brands most likely to carry what you need. Online shopping is also your chance to compare prices and secure the best deal.

Shop often
Many of us went on shopping hiatus during the global financial crisis to avoid the credit crunch. When it came time to replenish our wardrobes, however, we had forgotten how to shop! If you shop often — even if you don’t need to actually buy anything — you'll have an informed idea of what's available and on trend.

The occasional splurge
Though I risk the wrath of the bargain shopping gods by suggesting this, if one super special item catches your eye don’t be afraid to treat yourself. A classic bag, glamorous pair of shoes or designer pair of sunnies will uplift any outfit and is therefore worth the investment. On the rare occasion that you do break the bargain barrier, make sure you consider all the essential shopping points such as wearability, cost per wear and versatility to ensure your purchase is wise.

What are your bargain shopping rules? Comment on this post or email bsgm@universalmagazines.com.au

Daily deals have momentarily taken over my world. Along with doubling my inbox’s waistline, they’ve added a host of new bargain-priced temptations to my wish list of “one-day-only!” specials from private online sales clubs, retail stores and shopping centres — all begging me to buy them, day in and day out. Not that that’s a bad thing ... I love bargains as much as the people you see camped out the front of department stores before Boxing Day. But are daily deals really all they’re cracked up to be?

The daily deal craze has swooped Australia this year, with around a dozen websites now offering experiences and goodies to their subscribers every day that — because of their ingenious group-buying concept or limited product availability — are much cheaper than the normal going rate. The concept, which started with the company Groupon in the US, works like this: local businesses make an offer on their product, pricing it at sometimes up to 70 per cent off recommended retail and, once a certain number of people agree to purchase the offer, the deal is “activated” and whoever wants to buy it can enjoy the deal.

Most daily deals websites focus on pampering, entertainment and active/leisure experiences — from discounted horse-riding adventures to salsa dancing lessons, facials and fancy dinners. While I’ve been tempted by these offers of cheap manicures, discount teeth-whitening treatments and accommodation packages, I’m yet to purchase a “deal of the day”. And, before I do, I’m curious to know whether some of these deals really deliver the on the promise of a full-retail-price experience for half (or lower than half) the original cost. Do you get what you don’t pay for?

Case in point: A friend of mine recently bought a hair treatment through a daily deals website, which amazingly included a hair cut, colour, foils, conditioning treatment and blow-dry at a reputable inner-city salon — all valued at $350 — for just $99. My friend (let’s call her Britney) thought she was in for the royal treatment at a third of the cost, but it didn’t turn out that way. During the session, Britney felt she wasn’t treated like a full-price-paying customer. She says she was rushed through the process without thorough consultation from the hair stylist and left feeling like her $99 — even though she had supposedly saved $250 — was a waste of money.

Of course, with some daily deals the offers are more clear-cut, such as half-price gelato or 60 per cent off the price of theatre tickets. But since many offers are hosted by small- to medium-sized local businesses that may not be used to such an influx of customers, the room for dropping the ball in terms of quality of service and the customer experience increases.

Buying a bargain shouldn’t mean you have to compromise on quality; and if the quality is diminished somehow, the consumer should be informed before they make the purchase.

The moral of the story? Before jumping on a deal or if you’re concerned about product standard, do your research. Check the supplier, read reviews, make use of the daily deals website’s social networking avenues to talk about the offers and the experiences they deliver. Alternatively, you can throw caution to the wind — which is how daily deals websites are meant to be enjoyed — and have a great night out for a fraction of the price. Just don’t sweat the small stuff. Ten-course degustation dinner for $35, anyone?

What have you bought from a daily deals website and was it a good experience? Did you feel you were treated differently from customers paying full price? If you buy a bargain deal, do customers have the right to complain if it doesn’t meet expectations?

Comment below, or email bargainguru@universalmagazines.com.au

Daily deals websites in Australia

www.dealsextra.com.au
www.jumponit.com
www.cudo.com.au 
www.ourdeal.com.au
www.allthedeals.com.au
www.scoopon.com.au
www.spreets.com.au
www.ouffer.com
www.catchoftheday.com.au
www.ourdeal.com.au
www.livingsocial.com (coming soon)

I am considering buying a pair of heavily discounted jeans online, and while I’m not baulking at the price (they're a steal — discounted from $180 to $75) the $10 postage fee has got me thinking: what if they don’t fit? What if the style doesn’t suit my shape? Of course, I can send them back, but is it worth it?

Is it a better “bargain” to take the risk of them not fitting and wear the postage fee (plus the extra postage cost and inconvenience of returning them) or to drive to a mall or jeans-laden shopping district and spend half a day trying on denim to find the perfectly-fitting pair, knowing that no money has gone to waste?

Considering I don’t particularly enjoy trying on jeans (it’s such a rigmarole to strip off your pants time after time and squeeze into those super-stiff-with-newness strides!) the answer is more or less staring me in the face. Paying for postage is paying for convenience of having the jeans ushered straight to your home for you to try on in front of your own private tell-it-like-it-is bedroom mirror.

I also figure that I probably wouldn’t be able to find as good a bargain in-store, and I’d end up spending that $10 anyway on parking and a food court lunch.

But what if the first pair doesn’t fit, and then the second and third pairs of jeans don’t fit either? Then I’m up to around $50 in debt with nothing to show for it. Maybe I should find a store that stocks this brand and style, try them on, then buy online. But by then the sale could be over!

It's all a matter of weighing up your priorities against convenience and cost. I think in this case I will "add to cart"... 

Do you always make sure you try on clothes in-store before buying them online? Or are you willing to take the pay-for-postage risk? Have you ever bought and sent back clothing items more than once, and was it worth it?

Comment below or email bargainguru@universalmagazines.com.au

We all know there’s a goldmine of online discount stores on the web, but there’s also a handful of website gems that can help you save even more money as you shop. Here is a bunch of my favourite online bargain shopping resources:

Coupon codes

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: never purchase something online without first searching online for a coupon code. There’s often a better deal out there that’s just a coupon code away. Simply enter the store name and the words “coupon code” into Google and see what comes up. Or conduct a search on Retail Me Not (www.retailmenot.com). The codes with the highest success rate are the most reliable. Another site that lists coupon codes as well as vouchers, deals and freebies is OzBargain (www.ozbargain.com.au). Follow them on Twitter and Facebook to hear about the latest deals.

Best price

There’s nothing better than knowing you got the best price on a great-quality product. The website Getprice (www.getprice.com.au) is a convenient way to compare costs of a range of products — from computers to clothing and kids’ toys, so you can find the lowest price. Shopbot (www.shopbot.com.au) does the same kind of thing. Then there are more specialised “best price” websites such as Zuji (www.zuji.com.au), which scans airline carriers, hotels and travel agencies for the best flights and accommodation prices. Trust me — these websites save you hours of phone calls and shop visits to find the best deal.

Cash back

Did you think that by buying online you were cutting out the “middle man” and all the costs that went with him? Well, that’s sometimes true, but there is still often extra cash passing hands in many online transactions that would be better off being in your wallet. Enter: MoneyBackCo (www.moneybackco.com.au) — a website that pays what’s known as “referral money” (the money earned by a website to “refer” shoppers onto purchasing from another website) back to you, the customer. There is an annual fee of $10, but this could quickly be redeemed, depending on how often you shop online. Our advice is to inspect MoneyBackCo’s lists of merchants, and if you think you would make a number of purchases from these web stores per year, it could be worth it. You’d just have to remember to make purchases through MoneyBackCo (ie log into their website first then buy your product via their website) to ensure you get the money back. We spotted some good merchants, including StrawberryNet, iSubscribe, Perfume Empire, Zodee and travel companies such as Qantas and Expedia.

Catalogues

I am lucky (or cursed?) that I live within close proximity to three major grocery stores, and three major shopping malls in Sydney. So how do I decide where I’m going to shop each week? If time is on my side, I’ll scan the catalogues on Lasoo (www.lasoo.com.au), which conveniently sources all the catalogue specials of the week from major retailers, from food to homewares and electrical goods. Just spotted a special on Lindt dark chocolate selling for $1.75 a block at Coles. Toodooloo!

Bulk buy — minus the bulk

I was very excited when I heard about the US website Get Grouby (www.getgrouby.com), which allows people to make bulk-buy savings without having to deal with the bulk. That is, you can nominate to purchase a product via Get Grouby, then wait for a group of people to do the same. Once there are enough people in your group to make the purchase, the product is yours at bulk-buy price, but split between the people in your group. Thankfully, there are websites in Australia that offer the same kind of service. Our Deal (www.ourdeal.com.au) gives you collective buying power on a range of things to eat, see and do in your city, with savings of up to 70 per cent. OfferMe (www.offerme.com.au) also has a Group Buy service, with categories ranging from technology to travel and some fashion and accessories. Both websites look impressive, and each service gives you the ability to tell all your friends about your prospective purchase using the integrated social networking tools — the aim being to get enough people on board your bulk-buy so you can all enjoy the discount!

What’s your favourite online resource that helps you save money when shopping? Comment below or email bargainguru@universalmagazines.com.au