Enjoy Free Shipping
It's all too easy to get caught up in sale madness and spend far too much money on stuff you don't really need. But with some planning (and a healthy dose of self-control) you can hit the shops with less stress and bag a bargain on the things you actually need.
Make a plan
Many retailers release their sale prices ahead of time (for example Boxing Day sales prices may come out on Christmas afternoon) so you can get a head start before you hit the shops.
Check retailers' social media pages and sign up to newsletters so you get the inside scoop on sales. Make a list and check it twice so you have a clear idea of what you want to buy and where.
Shopping centres are designed to maximise the chances of you parting with your hard-earned money. If you go in knowing exactly what you're after, you're far less likely to make an impulse purchase you might later regret.
Do your homework
If you're planning on buying a big-ticket item, check out how it performed in product reviews first.
Set a budget
It's hard to not buy all the shiny things you see on sale, but if you set a budget up-front, you'll save yourself from buying things you don't need. If you can, try not to use your credit card or payment schemes like Afterpay. The last thing you want is to end up with financial 'debt lag'.
Compare products and prices
Just because something is on sale doesn't mean it's the best deal.
A 20% discount in-store might seem like a good deal, but you'll be kicking yourself if you later find out that you could have bought it cheaper elsewhere. (This is particularly true of discounted mattresses.)
If you have a smartphone, check prices from other retailers while you're in the shop to make sure you're actually bagging a bargain.
Consider an alternative brand or model
With some products, you pay a premium for the brand name, but a lesser-known brand might perform just as well. Consider whether you need the latest model. Last year's model may have most or all of the same features, at a greatly reduced price.
Avoid expensive add-ons
If you've snapped up a bargain-priced TV, don't undo your hard work by paying a premium for pricey accessories or unnecessary extended warranties.
If you can, hold off on buying accessories like HDMI cables from the store and try to find them cheaper online instead. Or ask the retailer if they'll bundle the accessories with the TV for a cheaper price to secure the sale.
Haggle
Even when things are on sale, you may be able to negotiate a cheaper price – particularly for big-ticket items like whitegoods and TVs. And if you can pay in cash, you may be able to get a lower price on the day.
Some retailers offer price matching, so find out which ones do and use that to your advantage. But read the fine print: some retailers don't price match during sales season.
Push back against pushy salespeople
No matter how attractive an offer may seem or how persistent a retailer is, don't fall for the hard sell. You could end up with something you don't need or want, or worse – a dodgy product.
To avoid being pressured into an impulse purchase, it pays to learn how to handle pushy salespeople.
Check store policies in advance (and keep the box) While retailers must provide a remedy (refund, replacement or repair) for a faulty product, they're under no obligation to refund or exchange for change-of-mind purchases.
But many retailers do, so if you're not 100% sure your grandma will love those fluoro-yellow sneakers you've bought her, check the store's returns policy. Keep the box and the receipt in case you do change your mind.
But if you're returning a product because it's faulty, you don't need the original packaging.
If you have any questions about our products, feel free to call us at 02 888 10 333 and we will be happy to assist you.