I’m sure by now you’ve heard of group-buying or daily deal sites. These sites are great ways to save big on entertainment, relaxation, gifts, restaurants and more. You can also end up spending more than you bargained for, and the deals can end up being duds. You can also end up spending more than you bargained for, and the deals can end up being duds. So how will you know if you are really getting the most our of a daily deals site? Check out these 3 tips before you buy:
- Hidden Fees: Make sure to check in the fine print if shipping is included or not. If shipping is not included, consider it as part of your overall cost. Then determine if the deal is still worth grabbing.
- Now or Later: A great perk about vouchers are their long expiration dates. Many times you’ll have up to a year or longer to actually use your voucher once you purchase. This is great for planning things ahead of time.
- You said how much? If there is a voucher for $100 worth of clothing for only $50, that sounds like a great deal. But if you go browse around the store and all the shirts are $90 – $125 each, then you would have to ask yourself, “would I regularly spend $50 for one piece of clothing?” I know I wouldn’t. This 50% off deal would ultimately be 5 times the amount of money I will typically spend on my usual purchases, and so it’s definitely not a deal.
So remember to check for high shipping costs and check the cost of the items available for purchase. I’m a huge fan of daily deal sites, but don’t get too wrapped up in the daily deals and end up going over your spending budget, just because it’s a good deal.
Gina Lincicum says
These are great points! I have been burned before by #3, so now if I’m not familiar with the store or online shop, I check it out thoroughly before buying the daily deal.