Here are some warning signs Ramhold advised to beware of so you don’t end up getting fooled into buying something you don’t really want or need — or ends up being a waste of money.
Discounts Are Super High
Ramhold said that it can’t hurt to check out these types of sales. However, if the deep discounts are for a store that has mostly pricey items, she said it could be a red flag.
“If an email is promising up to 80% off its worth, take a quick look but also be prepared for the best discounts to be on a very limited selection of items. Most of the time, these discounts won’t comprise the majority of the promotion and the number is meant to lure shoppers in, but very often it may turn out to be disappointing. Go in with little to no expectations and if it turns out to be a great one, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Promotions Are Stacked on Top of Each Other
“This isn’t like taking an extra 20% to 30% off via a coupon code in a modest sale that’s already discounting items to 40% or something like that,” said Ramhold. “More like if you see absurdly high discounts (80%-90% off) along with free shipping and bonus gifts … it’s best to be cautious. Odds are good that if this is coming from a reputable retailer, there’s going to be a lot of fine print and restrictions attached to the event, so it won’t be as easy as saving 90% on a sweater — and getting free shipping — and snagging a free gift worth another $30.”
Significant Discounts Only Apply to Certain Models
“Specifically, exclusive model numbers that may have been created for a certain holiday — like a Black Friday exclusive on a streaming media player or TV. Discounts on those are notoriously hard to track to see when you’re getting a good deal, so this to me suggests the deal isn’t as great as it seems,” Ramhold explained.
The Sale Includes Store Credits That Force You To Shop Again
Ramhold said that one of the best examples of this is Kohl’s Cash. “And to be fair, if you’re a regular Kohl’s shopper, these discounts can be well worth it,” she said. “But if you rarely (or never) shop at Kohl’s, this kind of thing can lure you in with the promise of a good deal, but it’s only going to actually be worth your time if you end up using the Kohl’s Cash.”
Vague Offers That Require You To ‘Add To Cart’
Ramhold said these vague offers are usually not rock-bottom deals that’ll make your jaw drop. “Instead, it’s a tactic to make shoppers think something is amazing, and because they have to hide the price, it must be like the best one available, so you should definitely buy it right now, right away. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case and if you do a little research, you can find out relatively quickly that it’s often not the first time that product has dropped to that price.”
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