A 2015 study by Business Insider found that one in four mobile shoppers in the U.S. is over the age of 65. These Web-savvy seniors grew up in an age of war rations and clipping coupons, but may not have any insight into ways to save money while shopping online. Here are some tips to share with your older loved one:
Know your discount days
Lifehacker noted that each industry and business has its own special day to roll out discounts. Your older friend or relative may have heard that airfare is cheaper on Tuesdays, for example. This is actually true of many businesses. Rather-Be-Shopping shared the following list of days corresponding with different online purchases:
Use online coupons
When you visit a retailer’s website, the company doesn’t always post upfront discount information. Instead, have your older loved one search coupon sites like retailmenot.com or couponcraze.com. These online aggregators pull together sale information for big box stores like Target and Walmart as well as smaller specialty shops like Bath and Body Works.
Sign up for email lists
Whether shopping at huge online retailers like Amazon or purchasing handmade goods from Etsy, these websites and sellers offer email lists. Your loved one may save big bucks by signing up to receive periodic emails. These messages contain sale information that is often released to preferred buyers before it is made public. These are especially helpful around the holidays as many retailers offer huge online discounts to anyone on their email list. Just be sure the senior selects his or her preferred message frequency – some sites bombard consumers with daily discounts and it quickly becomes annoying.
Look on social media
Facebook and Instagram aren’t just a place for millennials to share their selfies. These days, retailers are making major marketing moves by offering exclusive savings via the social media platforms. Seniors may benefit from checking the profiles of their favorite online stores before making a big purchase as they may notice savings they wouldn’t otherwise receive. Many smaller sellers, like those on Etsy, offer discount codes in their profile bios or in posts for periodic sales.
Watch out for shipping
We’ve all loaded a digital shopping cart and then watched the total purchase cost go up $10 or even $20 due to shipping and handling costs. This can make online shopping more expensive than going to the store. Make sure your senior loved one knows to look for free or reduced shipping. Also check with the store to see if it offers free shipping on returns. Items like shoes and clothes may not fit, and the cost of sending them back can be a waste of money.
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