79% of U.S. consumers shop online, up from just 22% back in 2000. Since then, the online shopping world has grown and there are now a number of ways to buy cheap clothes online.
From apps to email listings, the rules of discount shopping has changed and there are plenty of ways to save on your next buy.
1. Use a Discount App to Buy Cheap Clothes Online
Does it seem like you’re always missing out on a sale or notice a discount code when it’s too late? There’s an app for that. Leave it to those clever techies to bring you countless discount and freebie codes at a push of a button.
Some apps like Honey or RetailMeNot even let you select your favorite stores and will alert you when a new discount code has been uploaded. Codes can cover anything from “buy one get one free” to free shipping.
These apps will have you shopping online like a pro in no time!
2. Sign Up for Email Listings
If you’re all about the discounts and don’t mind the extra spam, we suggest signing up to be on your favorite store’s email listings. Whenever a store has a new sale or discount going on, their email blasts allow their loyal customers to be the first people to know.
In addition to knowing about sales first, email subscribers often get discount codes and sale opportunities no one else has access to. Some stores will even email you special coupons on your birthday.
3. Use a Subscription Box
Sometimes the best clothing deals come in the form of a subscription box. As these services have gained traction, brands have found new and interesting ways to offer discounts through subscription clothing services.
If you are the type that likes to change up their clothes on a regular basis, then sites like Stitch Fix and Rent the Runway are perfect for you. These sites allow you to borrow clothing and only pay for what you decide to keep, typically for a minimal monthly fee. It’s like having an unlimited closet show up at your doorstep each month.
4. Buy Through an Online Consignment Store
Thrift stores are the ideal place to find a one-of-a-kind look at a quarter of the price. Now you can experience the same savings high online by visiting a consignment website.
Consignment websites like thredUp or Swap.com allow you to participate in a couple of different ways. You can send your old clothes in and get money towards new purchases or you can choose to shop from what others have turned in. You’ll be surprised what you can find in near-perfect condition without having to pay retail prices.
5. Take the Survey
Ever have the option at the end of a customer service call to complete a survey? Have you ever received an email asking you to complete one? Chances are if you’re like most people you choose to skip them.
Trust us, you’re going to want to start taking them.
Not only do these surveys take only minutes to complete, but the stores will often reward you for your time with a 10%-15% off coupon. Not to mention the feedback you give is going towards making your favorite stores even better. We call that a win-win!
6. Compare Prices
When you’re shopping in real life, you usually have only a few options to choose from to compare prices. On the internet, there are thousands of websites offering the same product, but there’s no way you can visit each one to compare. These businesses are counting on that and will often sell products for higher prices because they have a better search ranking and attract more traffic.
Fortunately, services like this company are designed to allow you to compare prices from thousands of stores in seconds.
7. Know the Right Days to Shop
Just like when buying an airline ticket, if you want the best prices while shopping online you’ll want to shop on specific days. The majority of online discounts happen on Tuesdays and Fridays, especially around Thanksgiving.
You can also save money by paying attention to the months as well. The most online discounts happen in November, with January as a close second.
If possible, try to also shop with younger companies. The less time an online business has been open the more discounts they tend to offer.
8. Check the “Sale” Section
Just like your favorite real-life store, the majority of online stores have a “sale” section conveniently marked at the top of their web page. However, while physical stores tend to put products that didn’t sell well on sale, online stores will typically try to get rid of what’s no longer in season.
This can be particularly beneficial to you if you live in a place where the weather is consistent. For example, if you live in a hot climate like Arizona, you can take advantage of swimsuit sales when the rest of the country is preparing to go into winter.
9. Abandon Your Shopping Cart
Abandoned shopping carts are a major concern to online retailers, as they happen at an alarming rate. Fortunately, you can benefit off of this problem. Just fill up your cart, abandon it, and wait.
Since retailers genuinely want you to come back to finish your purchase many of them will offer you a discount to pick up where you left off.
10. Pick It Up in Store
Sometimes it’s not the actual price of the product, but the price of having it shipped to your home that makes it pricey. A clever way around this is to opt for “in-store pick up”.
It will typically take about as much time as if you were having it delivered to your home and the delivery price will be a fraction of the cost (if not free).
11. Follow Social Media
Following your favorite brands on social media is a great way to stay in the know of upcoming sales or discounts. Sometimes the brand will even sell products directly from their social media page, making it easier than ever to buy and save.
Carve Out Your Style
Whether you choose to scour the thrift shops or buy cheap clothes online, anything will look good as long as you wear it with your own unique flair and style.
If you’re still working on a look you love, we invite you to dive into our style section for tips and tricks to help you pull your closet together.
