Tips for fashionable savings this Cyber Monday

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday right around the corner, we’re all trying to find out what deals our favourite retailers will have to offer. Typically, you can find discounts of around 50% with the majority of retailers however, some brands do offer higher savings. There are a number of ways to make sure you’re finding the best savings available and below, we’re going to break down a few of these for you.  

Which fashion retailers are participating in Cyber Monday

While we can't list every retailer, we know from previous years that several retailers have offered superb discounts on Cyber Monday. Nike, Secret Sales New Look, Zara, Mango, John Lewis and ASOS have all seen bargains galore. In fact, this year, ASOS have said they are...

Compare prices between retailers

It's easy to assume Cyber Monday provides us with the cheapest price. But that's not always the case. It's possible that the best price was earlier in the year, or the same item is sold elsewhere for less. 

Jump on the price comparison sites to see if you get the best deal. We often do this when looking for tech bargains but you can do it for fashion too! If you're a fan of well-known brands I would say price comparison sites are essential when getting the best price - and that's sound advice all year round. Check out PriceSpy, PriceRunner, Kelkoo, and if shopping with Amazon - CamelCamelCamel.

Sign up to receive brand newsletters

Keeping up with everything your favourite brands have to offer can feel overwhelming at times but signing up for their newsletters can be a great way to stay up to date, especially on the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Most fashion retailers have some kind of newsletter or emailing list you can sign up for which will tell you about the latest product releases, sales, and the most exclusive deals and discounts. This is the best way to receive the latest information regarding a brand’s Cyber Monday event (especially sale extensions which are becoming more popular). 

Pay with a credit card or PayPal

Unfortunately, during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there is an influx of scams that catch thousands of people out every year. Thankfully, there are a few ways to protect yourself whilst still enjoying the insane savings out there. 

If you’re looking at purchasing some big-ticket items, using a credit card instead of a debit card will offer a necessary layer of protection. HSBC’s ‘Credit cards vs debit cards’ article tells us that this is because “Your card provider is jointly liable with the retailer so, if the goods are faulty or the company goes bust, you’re entitled to claim your money back.” According to Section 75 of the Consumer Act, this could apply to orders between £100 to £30,000. 

Alternatively, PayPal is also a great way to shop with security. According to Tim Parker from Investopedia, “The PayPal Purchase Protection policy ensures that users are reimbursed in full, including shipping costs, if a product purchased online using PayPal arrives and is “significantly different from its description”.’ Using PayPal can ensure that, should a Cyber Monday scam catch you out, you will be able to claim your money back without too much difficulty. 

Set up online accounts prior to your shop

There are loads of deals available during the Cyber Monday sales and prior preparation will help you to enjoy them stress-free. To create an easy Cyber Monday shopping experience, make sure you create accounts with your favourite brands and retailers a few days before the sales begin. Doing this will not only make placing your orders quick and easy but it will also grant you perks such as easy tracking and returns should you require it. Several brands also offer ‘New Customer discounts’ when you create an account. These promo codes can be used in conjunction with some Cyber Monday promotions but check the terms and conditions regarding this. 

Beware of Cyber Monday scams

There are a lot of online scams these days, especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The are three scams that are commonly found during these sales events; being aware of them will help you to be safe online and save money whilst you’re at it.

Purchasing scams are possibly the most common. This is a fairly simple scam but it catches out a lot of people; this is when you purchase an item that never arrives. The good news is, if you pay using a credit card or PayPal, you may be able to claim your money back. 

The next most common scam is known as a phishing scam. Usually, this would mean you would receive a ‘Problem with your delivery’ email. These types of emails normally demand some form of payment to ‘re-deliver’ your package. It’s important to note that most if not all delivery companies (including Royal Mail) will not charge you for redelivery should you miss its original arrival. Fake delivery notifications (received via email or text message) work in the same vain as a phishing scam and should be avoided at all costs.