Dose of Prose
Sometimes we shop because we want to, other times it’s because we have to. Whether you’re buying online or in person, it’s safe to say that everyone wants their experience to be a positive one. I love shopping (in any capacity) but after taking some Marketing classes and living a minimalist lifestyle for almost a year, the way in which I consume things has completely changed. My eyes have been opened to the world of consumerism.
I am now more conscious about my own personal buyer behavior, and from a business perspective, I have a better understanding of the strategies that companies use to influence that behavior. I love catching a sale, negotiating a better price and just the overall feeling of getting a good deal. I mean, who doesn’t? In today’s post, I want to highlight 4 ways you can get the most bang for your buck every single time you shop. There’s always an overwhelming amount of options around us, which can be stimulating but also distracting. By incorporating these methods into your shopping habits, you’ll be able to shop smarter (not harder) and overall, become a more conscious consumer.
What I paid: $100
How to Always Get a Good Deal
1) PLAY the Marketing Funnel game.
I recently finished a graduate school course on Marketing Insights and Consumer Relationships where I learned all about the research, data, tactics, methods and strategies businesses use to build their brand and develop relationships with customers. There’s something called a Marketing Funnel, which is basically a system that describes the steps that companies take to attract and convert potential customers into loyal clients.
If you’ve ever purchased something -literally anything- you’ve 99% experienced the funnel before. For example, have you ever searched something into google and a few minutes later, seen an advertisement for whatever it was you were shopping for? How about those times when you’re online shopping…you leave some items in your shopping cart and minutes later receive an email from the company you were shopping from offering you some type of discount? Think about the colors and layouts of your favorite stores and restaurants. Take a look at where items are placed on shelves in grocery markets. Do you remember the songs/jingles of certain commercials or the joy you feel when you hear the ‘dun dun’ as soon as you turn on Netflix? This is the power of Marketing.
I could go on and on about this, but the point I’m making here is, every single thing around you that you consumer has a purpose. Companies are tracking your lifestyle, your behavior and your sensory, all to reel you into their funnel so that you can buy products/services from them. They’ll even have you focus on the high prices of items, so that when other items go on ‘sale,’ you’ll think it’s soooo cheap and be more wiling to buy it. Yes, this runs deep folks.
Maybe you knew about this funnel already, maybe you had no idea. Either way, the key here is be aware of it and play the marketing funnel game to your advantage. Here’s what you can do:
- Abandon your online shopping cart and clear your cookies.
Start shopping online and then leave it be for a couple days. The brand will realize you’re contemplating a purchase and will follow up with a discount for you to use. The same goes for new customers. If a company suspects you’re new, they’ll offer you a discount. Use a different browser specifically for shopping and clear your cookies every time you shop. Trust me, it works!
- Don’t be fooled by free shipping.
Just because shipping is free, that doesn’t mean the item you’re purchasing itself is discounted. Compare the total cost of items you buy before you jump on the free shipping bandwagon.
- Try shopping in different zip codes.
The cost of living is much higher in certain states and even certain districts than others. Brands know this, and use this information to charge you more if they know you can afford it. Next time you’re on vacation, visiting family or in a different area that might be considered ‘less affluent,’ compare pricing, start shopping and use your new zip code to get a better deal.
2) IDENTIFY why you want/need the product or service.
Let’s say you want to get a new pair of shoes. Why do you want those shoes? Who/what influenced you to want to get shoes? How much do you want to pay for the shoes? What type of shoe do you want? From what brand? What occasion will you wear the shoes?
Take a deep dive into truly understanding why you want or need whatever product or service you’re about to invest in. This will prevent you from doing any sort of impulse buying where you may miss out on getting the best deal. Whenever I purchase something, especially if I know it’s going to be a big purchase, I take a step back and do my due diligence. I look up reviews, photos, compare and contrast different brands, visualize how much I’m going to use the product/service, etc. I do this because of what I mentioned earlier about the overwhelming amount of options that are available. If you don’t have an idea beforehand of what you want and why you want it, you’re going to be distracted and end up either not getting what you originally wanted or settling for less than what you deserve (Ooo, that sentence doesn’t just apply to shopping either). Identify your ‘why’ for what you buy and I guarantee your shopping experience will be so much better.
3) ASK questions.
I think 2020 has revealed a lot for people. And from my own personal observations, it seems that consumers are becoming more conscious about ethically consuming and brands are becoming more transparent about how they’re making their products. But at the end of the day, you can’t read anybody else’s mind. If you want to score the best deals every time, don’t be afraid to ask questions (both to yourself and the brand you’re shopping with). If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. Here’s some questions to get you started:
- Is this item seasonal?
Usually companies have holiday sales or they put items on sale once it’s out of season. If you’re not sure what the timeline for this sale is, just ask. No sense in paying the full price now when you won’t have to later.
- Do you do price matching? / Is this your best price?
Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate! I’ve asked about price matching before and have saved some coins doing this! If you find a better deal for an item online, just show it to the store manager and ask if they will match the price. Most of the time, they will. If you see an item that appears damaged, ask if they can knock some dollars off. Or, just flat out ask if there’s anything they can do to make this item you want to purchase a lower price than the current price. The worst they can say is no, but most of the time, the answer will be yes. Thank me later.
- I am XYZ. Are there any discounts I qualify for?
I am not above using a student discount and my Dad loves to ask about senior citizen discounts. There’s so many perks/benefits that come with being a part of certain organizations, such as the military or AAA. Use it or lose it!
4) FOLLOW your favorite brands.
If you are loyal to a brand, you’ll be rewarded! To stay on top of new deals and sales that are going on, follow your favorite brands on social media and sign up for their email list. If you find yourself frequently shopping at a particular place, check out their loyalty program. It’s a two way street – brands want your money, but you want their product/service and if you show continuous support, they’ll show it right back. Who doesn’t love free things?
You can always get the best deal by being aware of the marketing funnel, tracking your consumer behavior, asking questions and staying up-to-date with your favorite brands. Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, that’s because it is. Whether you love shopping or you hate it, I hope that this blog post will help improve your experience as a consumer. If you like hearing about the business side of why companies do the things they do and want more insights on this, leave a comment and let me know what corporate topic you want me to discuss next. Have you spotted any sales lately? Drop those too. I don’t shop as much as I used to, but I’ll never pass down a good deal when I see one.
