MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry warns shoppers about finding true deals in the January sales – and what could be a scam
The January sales are traditionally one of the best times of year to save money on products. But if you’re not careful, you could get sucked into buying things you don’t need, won’t use, or that even simply don’t arrive if scammers trick you.
Here’s how to make sure you’re saving money and getting true bargains in the January sales this year.
Shop seasonal for next year
One of the few things you can guarantee are genuine bargains are Christmas items in January. Non consumables can be purchased at up to 90% discount and stored until next year.
Wrapping paper, decorations, and Christmas cards are popular items for savvy money savers to get hold of. You can also pick up consumables like Christmas chocolate, alcohol, and biscuits at discounted prices to keep your January looking tasty on a budget.
Consider exchanges instead of returns
If you’ve received a Christmas gift that doesn’t quite suit you but there is something you want from the same shop, consider asking for an exchange.
This works in your favour for two reasons. First, you might find a product you’ve had your eye on newly discounted in the sale, but the refund credit price will be the price paid for your gift. So you could luck out to get a great shop credit or exchange value. Second, a shop is more likely to offer an exchange or credit for gifts that you don’t have a receipt for. While they don’t have to take a return without proof of purchase, many retailers relax their policies in the first few weeks of January to allow for returned gifts.
Use a price tracker
When you’re shopping online, make sure you use a price tracker like CamelCamelCamel before you buy. This will show you the price history of items to make sure that it hasn’t been falsely inflated before the sale to look like a better bargain than it really is.
Under trading laws, an item must be available at a higher advertised price at least 30 days prior to the sale price. Using a tracker can help you find out if retailers have inflated the price in the month or so prior to the sale to make the standard retail price look like a bargain.
Sign up to cashback sites for exclusive discounts
One way to make sure you get a great deal in the January sales is to shop via a cashback website. Check for the unique discount codes on the site before you go to the retailer, as this can be stacked with getting cashback on your purchase.
Consider shopping around, too. Look for discount codes online and compare to the total cashback and stackable discount code – as sometimes, you can save more with a separate code instead of going through the cashback website.
Check out group buying sites like Groupon and Wowcher too, as they will often have genuine deals in the New Year. These deals include purchasing a discount code. For example, you might pay £5 to get a voucher for a £15 discount at a retailer, which nets you a £10 discount. These can often be used like gift cards, so you can stack them with other online codes for a bigger reduction, too.
Avoid buying on social media shops
Go to the main website of a retailer and never buy from a social media advert. They are rife with scammers particularly at this time of year, so it’s important you do your due diligence. You will either pay for a product you never receive, or you’ll be sent an imitation item that is poorly made and could even be a health and safety hazard.
Google the retailer to find consumer reviews and the correct website. Clicking a link on social media can look legitimate, but a single letter different in a URL or a redirected URL can take you to a scam site.
Be wary of returns policies
Make sure you know the return policy on sale items for the retailer. Anything purchased online falls under distance selling rules, so you have a right to return within 14 days of receipt for a full refund.
But items bought in the shop don’t have to be refunded if you have changed your mind. You can, however, return items within 30 days if it is faulty and not fit for purpose. At this time of year, you might find more items than usual discounted in ‘everything must go’ bins or shelves because they are damaged. If you buy something because it has a damage price, you can’t return it for being faulty for the same thing it is listed as damaged for.
Get in the know
Sign up to your favourite retailer websites and deals newsletters to make sure you get details about any exclusive promotions straight from a legitimate source. This will give you buying confidence to make sure you’re not accidentally scammed by a too-good-to-be-true price.
- Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com . However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.
