The best coupons & discounts
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Save with online vouchers: How to make shopping even cheaper
You've gone overboard with online shopping again, and now your shopping cart is displaying a borderline amount that makes you want to close the shop as quickly as possible. Stop! Save yourself that and treat yourself to an online voucher! They are not only extremely popular but also an easy way to score great discounts on your favorite products.
But where can you actually find these vouchers, and what different types are there? We have summarized for you what you should pay attention to when shopping and whether saving with online vouchers is really worth it.
When is it worth shopping with online vouchers?
You know how it goes: a new email lands in your inbox and you receive an amazing voucher code for some product. You're currently reading an exciting blog post, and at the end of the text, you're encouraged to make a purchase with an online voucher. Or you're browsing through online shops, and in every window, colorful discounts are blinking at you.
You rightly ask yourself: Is it worth it?
The business is booming, and in some countries, "couponing" has become a real hobby, whether it's about groceries and everyday products or big purchases.
In general:
Online vouchers are a simple and great way to save money. If you only shop online for small amounts, they will only save you a very small amount of money. However, if you're planning to make expensive purchases or shop online regularly, you can save a significant sum thanks to targeted searches for online vouchers.
However, you should keep in mind: It's not a good idea to shop just for the sake of saving. This often happens, for example, when an online voucher is tied to a minimum order value, and even though we don't actually need anything else, we still add two or three items to the shopping cart to be able to redeem the code. It's better to save yourself that!
Furthermore, it's important that you pay attention to your security when shopping online. Unfortunately, fake vouchers are also used to lure customers into dubious shops. Therefore, it's better to rely on well-known retailers that regularly offer vouchers, such as eBay, Amazon.
We'll tell you how to recognize reputable shops and how to ensure security in our blog article:
What different types of online vouchers are there?
Everyone has seen them at some point and may have even used them – voucher codes are sometimes thrown at us by online shops. There's always some reason to offer a fantastic-sounding discount. We'll give you an overview of the most commonly offered online vouchers.
New customer discount
A voucher that is very often offered by shops is the new customer discount. And it is exactly what the name suggests: a one-time saving when you buy something from a shop for the first time and haven't been registered before.
Of course, the supposed bargain should entice you to shop there for the first time – whether it's a 20% discount granted via a voucher code or a specific amount automatically deducted from your shopping cart at the end. Some merchants even offer free shipping for a certain period of time (for example, a year) to new customers.
First-time buyers usually get a good deal here, but of course, they shouldn't just shop recklessly. Here's the rule: compare the prices of your items in the shopping cart and especially check if the new customer discount is tied to a minimum order value. The counterpart to this is the discount for existing customers, which is often granted for long-term loyalty.
Voucher for Newsletter Registration
Newsletters often end up in the spam folder and are not exactly popular mail, but they can still be worthwhile sometimes. Specifically, when your favorite shop not only sends you exciting information and news but also rewards you with a coupon code for signing up.
After you have subscribed to the newsletter on the website, you will receive your personal coupon code in a separate email. This code is usually valid only once for a certain period of time and is tied to a minimum order value.
If you lose interest in the newsletter at some point, you can simply unsubscribe. However, newsletters often also inform you about additional discounts (usually referred to as "exclusive") that are not or are only published on the shop's website later.
Cashback Vouchers
With cashback, you receive actual money back after your purchase. Cashback offers are less common in online shops, but they do occasionally occur, especially in electronics stores.
This is how it works:
You purchase a specific promotional item at the regular price, for example, a notebook, a printer, or a smartphone. Then, there is usually an online form or a promotional website where you need to enter some data and provide proof that you have indeed made a purchase.
Often, a picture of your receipt is also required. Once the short application is completed, it doesn't take long for the cashback amount to be credited to your account.
Cashback often offers great savings, but the whole process is a bit more involved than simply entering a coupon code when shopping online.
Discounts on special days and seasonal occasions
Black Friday, Christmas, Prime Day, shop birthdays, the start of the gardening season - there is always some occasion to offer great discounts. If you want to save, you should keep an eye out during these events and see if your favorite shop is participating. Often, there are discounts on specific product categories, sale offers, or even the entire range.
Special event days like Black Friday are particularly popular, and shops often work towards them throughout the year. We'll show you in our how-to guide how to avoid falling into the bargain trap and only snag good deals using our price comparison tool.
Discount promotions on specific product categories
When it slowly starts getting warm outside, no one needs thick sweaters anymore. This also applies to online shops that naturally want to get rid of their merchandise on sale so that they can fill their warehouses with summer goods. But regardless of the season, discounts often apply to specific product categories.
20 percent off makeup, 30 percent off household appliances, 10 percent off Smart Home products – you'll probably be bombarded with such discount promotions when you look at the most well-known online shops. You usually get them on specific occasions – for example, coupon codes for flowers on Valentine's Day or smartphone bargains on Black Friday.
The quantity discounts
"Buy 3, pay for 2" or "20% off for 5 items or more" - we are familiar with such offers in supermarkets, but they are also common in online shopping. Primarily, these deals can be found in fashion and jewelry, games, DVDs, or books.
If the selection is large and you find a corresponding number of promotional products that interest you, it's a great deal for you and your wallet. Usually, the price of the cheapest product in the shopping cart is deducted, and often a coupon code is required. You can find the respective terms and conditions directly on the online shop.
Free shipping
For free shipping, there is usually an online coupon that you can enter during the payment process in the shopping cart. Depending on the store, shipping may also be automatically waived if you have reached a certain minimum order value. The latter naturally provides a small incentive to buy a little more in order to avoid delivery costs.
Important!
Note: Free shipping does not apply to most freight items and often only applies to delivery in certain (EU) countries. Always pay attention to the exact promotional details when placing your order.
You can take advantage of free shipping, but it's usually not a huge bargain with only four or five euros saved. Many shops already offer free shipping on their deliveries in general.
How do I find the right voucher for my online purchase?
Finding vouchers is child's play since they are presented to us as advertisements in many shops. But who doesn't know the feeling? When you're in the mood for shopping and really need them, they're nowhere to be found. Save yourself the trouble!
Here's a very simple trick to get good results: simply enter the name of the shop and the word "voucher" on Google, and you'll find various results.
However, you can also specifically look for your favorite vouchers on different portals. So save yourself the hassle of clicking around for a long time and give it a try!
Voucher portals: How do they work?
Voucher portals specialize in this particular e-commerce business: They provide you with an overview of various online vouchers, so you don't have to search for them for a long time. On these websites, you have the chance to get discounts from your favorite shops at a glance and search for them specifically. Additionally, they usually display the most popular vouchers to inspire you while shopping.
The portal receives a commission from the respective merchant for each referral. So, if many customers use the codes from the portals, everyone benefits from this business: the merchant gets more visitors and more revenue, the voucher website receives a commission, and we can save money. It's a win-win-win situation! ;-)
You can redeem the vouchers as follows:
By clicking on the offer, you will receive the discount code, which you can easily copy. After that, you will be redirected to the shop, where you can shop extensively, and then enter the copied code again at the end of the ordering process.
After entering the code, the discount will be deducted from your shopping cart, and you will get your purchase at a bargain price.
Before shopping: Check vouchers!
No matter if it's a new customer discount, cashback, or summer sale - in most cases, online vouchers bring a smile to bargain hunters' faces. Especially for larger purchases or products from popular online shops, it's worth taking a targeted look at our price comparison or a voucher portal. Often, some vouchers can even be combined, resulting in even greater savings.
FAQ
How do I get the best deal?
Buy a swimsuit in winter? That was almost impossible 50 years ago. Today, we can buy everything online at any time and have it sent to our home for fitting. But if you're smart, you buy at the right time and can save good money.
When is the right time for deals?
So should I buy my swimsuit in the peak season, in the summer? No, because the best time to buy fashion is right after the peak season, during the summer sale. Why is that? Retailers know very well that sales are highest during the peak season, and anything that didn't cross the counter then should quickly leave the warehouse towards the end of the summer to keep storage costs down over the winter. Therefore, the products are first somewhat reduced and up to 50-70% discount you can get, if you are lucky on your swimsuit.
Also all other seasonal products you buy best directly after the main season at the sale. That would be from the grill to winter sports accessories to Christmas decorations really a wide range of products. Here you can save money and do the retailer a favor.
Disadvantage of the clearance sale?
Of course, this tactic also has disadvantages. You may no longer have the entire selection of products available and have to settle for a smaller selection.
Black Friday?
The name "Black Friday" comes from the USA. It refers to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which falls every year on the last Thursday in November. The so-called Black Friday is considered the prelude to the Christmas business and attracts with incredible deals, discounts and offers. It's true: many Americans take the day off and go on an extreme shopping spree.
Black Friday is traditionally followed by Cyber Monday.
Originally, this Monday was the online response to Black Friday, which was initially only held in brick-and-mortar stores. Nowadays, the boundaries are blurred and you can store on and offline on both days.
The consequence of Black Friday and Cyber Monday? That's right, now there's Black Week.
In recent years, stores started their offers earlier and earlier, driving themselves up to a real discount battle. Roughly, you can say that the Black Week offers start on the Monday before Black Friday and end with Cyber Monday. However, it is worth keeping your eyes open a few days in advance.
So what to do if there is no sale, no Black Friday, no Valentine's Day and no Christmas business coming up? But you really want to buy a product and it would be great to get it cheaper.
Compare the prices
You can enter the exact product name in your search engine and you will surely end up on special portals that have already made the effort and researched price comparisons.
Amazon also lists product comparisons. Here, different retailers and or Amazon offer the products at different prices. Probably a seller has ordered a larger number of these products or too much in stock and can therefore offer cheaper. However, be sure to pay attention to the delivery costs, these can relativize price differences again.
You can find a similar principle at eBay. You can also find and compare your product on eBay and Amazon. On eBay you can also buy products by bidding. Here you have to estimate how much the product should cost and only go up to your price limit.
A special offer can be found at Groupon. There you can find groups of products on certain days with significant discounts. Especially services and, for example, restaurant vouchers are offered here at low prices. Why? On the one hand it concerns a relatively favorable advertisement for smaller enterprises or an entrepreneur has surplus and would like to sell this as fast as possible.
So here it is, you can acquire real bargains if you are patient and not looking for a specific product.
Groupon also offers you "Up to 15% off your first deal": just enter code "Hello" and get 15% extra on local deals.
First-time order or newsletter benefits
A very hot tip for bargain hunters: pay attention to whether a discount is possible for a first order or subscription to the newsletter. Sometimes you can save 5%, 10,-Euro or even the shipping costs. This option is offered by almost all online retailers, from online pharmacies to home improvement stores. You don't find a hint on the site? Then just ask.
Does the product have to be new?
This tip may not apply to all product groups. Books, clothing and even electronic goods do not always have to be new. Dare to buy second-hand. There are several second-hand platforms and here you are sure to buy seriously. You like reading books and love to hold one in your hands? With digital books you have no joy. Wonderful! Buy used books and sell them again after reading. This way, you're not only acting sustainably, you're also conserving resources, you're saving money, and you don't need to keep the books with you.
Are there vendors that don't offer deals or codes?
Yes. There are retailers who calculate their prices tightly and therefore do not offer discounts on a regular basis. These are usually high-end, unseasonal products.
A new luxury box spring bed has no particular season and is produced specifically according to sales. The retailer does not have high storage costs, which would be a reason for an urgent sale. Especially for a product that should be very durable and therefore must be really high quality, you can well do without bargain hunting. Such a purchase should rather be particularly considered, you should take your time for the selection of the ideal product, because then you have a long time joy with your high-quality product. You are better off with the shopping event of the year, which has also found its way into Europe in recent years.
Away from seasons and holidays
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