How far would you go to find discounts or for a bargain?
From trawling through forums to signing up to newsletters, how savvy online shoppers are stopping at nothing for discounts
· Average Brit spends two and half hours every week shopping online
· To save cash, savvy shoppers are contacting social media teams for discounts or writing letters of complaint before actually receiving goods
· Estimated 16m of us will trawl though forums before making purchases
The rise of online shopping is empowering consumers to become serial bargain-hunters with many now stopping at nothing to secure a discount.
In a study by online marketplace Flubit.com, two thirds of people (60%) admitted to regularly searching for discount codes before buying items online. Meanwhile, an estimated two million people have written a letter of complaint before actually receiving goods to secure a freebee or discount on a future purchase.
Online shopping has given consumers far more choice and Brits are spending an increasing amount of time browsing for goods on the internet. Flubit research has found that the average person spends around two and a half hours a week shopping online, with one in three (34%) regularly doing so during work hours.
The trend has led to a growing awareness among consumers about how to secure the best deals, with an estimated three million people now visiting companies’ Facebook pages to ask their social teams for discounts.
Other common techniques for finding a bargain include signing up to newsletters to receive one-off discounts and searching for money-saving tips on forums, with one in three people (34%) saying they had done both. A further 8% say that they have emailed the company they are buying goods from to secure a better deal.
What are the most popular methods for bagging a bargain?
Method for saving money on purchase followed by % of UK adults who have attempted it
Searched for a discount code before paying at the online check-out
60%
Searched for the product on eBay to see if it’s cheaper
50%
Signed up to a newsletter for a one-off discount
35%
Searched money-saving forums for tips
34%
Asked a friend or family member to get a student discount
13%
Emailed the company to try securing a better offer
8%
Visited the Facebook page to ask the company’s social team for a discount
6%
Written a letter of complaint in advance just to get a discount
4%
Flubit spokesperson Tia Saunders said: “Today’s consumers are extremely savvy when it comes to securing the best prices for products and are unlikely to make a purchase without due diligence. The rise of online shopping has given customers better choice, placing more power in their hands, while social media has rightly given them a louder voice.”
“At Flubit, our business relies on this growing demand for a bargain, which is why we go direct to retailers to ensure we beat Amazon’s price.”
It’s important to check the credit score of consumers before offering credit. Those with a bad credit score may benefit from a “savings club” where they pay weekly until the big shop in December
Martina Mercer
Connect with Martina MercerMartina Mercer is an award winning copywriter and digital marketer. She specialises in psychology delivering marketing that identifies consumer profiles and connects customers with brands. As an expert in proximity marketing, Martina is one of the only experienced beacon marketers in the UK highlighting her commitment to developing her skills in an ever changing consumer focused world.
