Shopping Expert: 5 Warning Signs a Holiday 'Deal' Isn't Actually Saving You Money
During the holidays, most retailers roll out sales and promotions to tempt you to buy from them — but not all of these are actually bargains. Shoppers know it, too, as a recent RetailMeNot survey found 61% of them question holiday promotional claims.
"Most shoppers can spot a weak deal faster than they think," said Stephanie Carls, retail insights expert at RetailMeNot. "In RetailMeNot’s Q4 survey, 79% said they’re at least somewhat confident they can tell whether a holiday promotion is a good deal."
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If you're unsure whether you are getting a worthy discount or not, look for these warning signs that an offer isn't as good as it seems.
1. The 'Original' Price Appears Inflated
You might be drawn in by a big discount off the "original" price, but that doesn't mean much if that price was inflated.
"Some 'original' prices have never met a customer," Carls said. "If an item rarely sells at its list price, 40% off that price doesn’t tell you much."
Among shoppers in the RetailMeNot survey who doubt holiday offers, the most common reason was an original price that looked inflated.
"Amazon says its Alexa shopping tools now show up to a year of price history, and price-tracking sites do the same for other retailers, so you can see what the item has sold for over the past few months," Carls noted.
2. The Exact Product Model Is Exclusive to One Retailer
Some TVs and electronics sold as holiday doorbusters are made for that sale, with a model number only one retailer carries and sometimes fewer features than the version sold the rest of the year.
"If the model number looks like a Wi-Fi password, see whether anyone else sells it," Carls said. "Without the same model at another store, there’s nothing to compare the price to, and the spec sheet will tell you whether you’re looking at the regular version."
3. The 'Limited-Time' Offer Keeps Coming Back
Retailers will often say a sale is “ending soon” to pressure you to buy, but this doesn't mean you won't be able to get the same savings at a future sale.
"Retailers rerun the same promotions all season, and a countdown clock is designed to get you to decide quickly," Carls said. "If you saw the same price three weeks ago, you’ll probably see it again. That clock will be back next weekend, looking just as urgent."
If you're uncertain whether a holiday sale is worth it, take away the countdown clock and discount badge and ask yourself whether you'd still buy the item at that price. If the answer is yes, Carls said, it's probably a genuinely good deal.
4. You Must Spend More Money To Unlock the Discount
A “spend $100, get $20 off” offer only saves you money if you were already going to spend $100.
"If you only needed $70 worth of items and added another $30 just to unlock the discount, you’re spending $80 instead of $70," Carls said. "The receipt may say you saved $20, but you still spent $10 more than you planned."
5. The Deal Comes With a Final-Sale Policy
Be wary of buying anything final sale if you plan to give it as a gift.
"Final-sale items and restocking fees change what a deal is worth, especially for gifts," Carls said. "A final-sale gift is a bet that you guessed right. Shipping counts, too, so compare the real final price with everything included."
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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