New + updated
Do you feel exhausted at the thought of checking multiple offers for one purchase? We get it – we’re lazy shoppers too! There are billions of products available online from millions of retailers. So, when and where do you decide to click on the buy button? Everyone loves a good deal, but how do you know if you’re getting one? This is where comparison shopping comes in!
In this guide ahead, we’ll explain what comparison shopping is, and why it’s important to compare and shop. We’ll also explore 7 insider hacks to find the best deals online for anything that you want!
What is Comparison Shopping?
If it wasn’t obvious already, comparison shopping is comparing different sellers to evaluate which one is offering the best deal.
As a buyer, you want to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth – and possibly saving money too!
The compare and shop process is empowering. As a consumer, it helps you make buying decisions that are well thought out rather than on impulse. Let’s take a quick look below at more reasons comparison shopping is so great!
Why Comparison Shopping Is Important
- First, comparison shopping puts you in charge of your money. You get to choose where you want to purchase from, and which seller offers you the best value for your money. All the data is collected for you by a powerful price comparison tool like Carrot!
- Once you get into the habit of comparison shopping, you’ll realize how much time and money you’re saving.
- Finally, did you know that you can influence the demand and supply of products through your purchase history? For example, if you love Aeropostale’s super-comfy sweatpants, the online retailer will stock up more depending on the demand!
Related: 5 Chrome Extensions For Shopping That Will Help You Save A Ton of Time & Money
7 Hacks to Master the Art of Comparison Shopping
1. Find the Right Price Comparison Tool (Psst…it’s Carrot)
If you’re comparison shopping without a price comparison tool, you’ll quickly become exhausted from spending time on research alone.
Therefore, when you’re comparing shopping prices, you need a powerful tool that will pull the latest data from the web. With Carrot, you can bid adieu to tedious research and switching back and forth between a number of tabs!
The handy price comparison tool informs you when a price has dropped so you can get the best deal on whatever you’ve wish-listed.
Related: The Best Days To Shop: A Comprehensive Guide to 2022’s Upcoming Sales
2. Prioritize Product Value and the Features You Care About
The price of the product is one of the most crucial deciding factors while making purchases, but it isn’t the only one. If you’re looking to buy a new smartphone, there will be a marked difference between one that’s for $100 and another for $1,000.
In this case, it’s important to evaluate the key features available and how they impact the cost.
Sometimes the more expensive option is a better value if it has more of the features you want.
3. Don’t Compare Chalk to Cheese (Or Apples to Oranges)
There are usually hundreds or even thousands of individual models in a single product category. For example, two similar-looking electric shavers from the same manufacturer may have different features.
Did you know that even a different color in the same product category can affect the price point?
Make sure that you check the manufacturer model numbers, and not the retailer’s model number or product identification number. This way, you’ll avoid comparing nonidentical products.
4. Make Lists to Stay Organized
Do you shop by occasion? Do you prefer sorting through products according to different categories? Carrot collects all of your items from different websites that you’ve added to several carts – like a digital fairy godmother!
You can make custom guides to sort through all the products you want to buy now or in the near future. For example, in the screenshot, you can see 4 different collections – Magazines, Technology, Household, and Beauty, with items that have been added.
Whichever way you choose to organize your shopping, it’s always better to make lists so that you can review them later.
5. More Isn’t Always Better
Remember, in 2020 when supermarket shelves had been wiped clean off toilet paper rolls? People were buying 20 rolls per household!
Sure, you might get a great wholesale price for tens of toilet paper rolls. However, will you really use all of them soon?
In this scenario, it’s best to balance impulse with function. When you’re comparison shopping, always pause to evaluate whether you actually need the large quantities of the product, or if you’re just buying them because the deal is irresistible.
Related: 6 Cheap Online Grocery Shopping Stores To Help You Save Money and Live Healthier in 2022
6. Check Unit Prices
Did you know you can save money on household goods and groceries by checking the unit price? Essentially, the unit price tells you how much something costs per ounce, pound, or any other unit of measurement.
Therefore, reviewing the unit price helps you to compare prices more accurately. This way, you know exactly how much you’re spending!
7. Sometimes Generic is Better than Branded Names
In the virtual world of sponsored ads and branded promotions, we all get a little swayed by seductive marketing. Nonetheless, if you want to embrace the compare and shop process to save more money, it’s worth researching and testing generic brands.
For example, some products taste the same regardless of whether they are name brands or not. But,The difference in price can amount to as much as 50 percent!
Want to get more bang for your buck? Paper products, dairy products, and canned goods are good examples of items that you can usually find cheaper generic brand alternatives.
Become a Smart Shopper Today!
There are many ways to become a great shopper. Comparison shopping is one, and the Carrot extension is another. These insider shopping hacks will help you to compare products and review prices from different sellers and using the Carrot extension allows you to do it at lightning speed. So, from now on, you have the upper hand whenever you shop online. Because with the Carrot, you’ll never have to bother with loads of tabs of research again!
