The festive season brings a deluge of special offers and discounts on everything from apparel to gadgets, and cars to houses. Here’s how to hunt for the best deals.
Start The Hunt
Don’t wait for the deals to pop up on your screens. Instead, proactively browse through the different websites for the best deal on offer. For instance, you may get better deals on company websites as compared to those on e-commerce websites or vice-versa. So, if you have been planning to buy a car or looking to paint your house, check the websites of your favourite car brands and paint companies and compare prices.
Do note that some retailers and even e-commerce platforms offer significant discounts on products that have been in their inventory for a long time. By comparing prices across different websites and stores, you can discover variations in price tags and uncover additional discount offers.
Explore ONDC
Consider exploring the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform for buying products, such as apparel, gadgets or even for ordering food. It will connect you with local sellers offering unique products that may not be readily available at the same price range at an e-commerce seller.
Says Anand Kumar Bajaj, founder, managing director and CEO of PayNearby, a fintech platform, which partners with ONDC, “Through ONDC, buyers can access deals through numerous apps, which makes it a go-to destination for seeking the best festive deals.”
Try ‘Discount’ Apps
Some apps also offer coupons and cashbacks. They aggregate special offers from various sellers, thus allowing you to view major discount offers from the market. They also offer cashback and coupon codes for extra discounts. CashKaro, for instance, compiles special offers from various sellers, and gives a cashback for every purchase. “Once you have earned `250 or more as confirmed cashback/rewards, you can transfer this to your bank account or redeem as gift cards,” CashKaro says on its website.
But do not go on buying spree just because of the discounts. Only buy what you actually need.
Leverage Card offers
Says Bani Saluja, chief marketing officer, American Express: “At this time of the year one often makes high-value purchases and, hence, it is important to keep in mind if such spends can help you cross a spend milestone and earn bonus points or vouchers on your card.”
As almost every brand rolls out special offers during the festive season, keep an eye on these promotional programs. Says Saluja: “While taking advantage of these offers, do not overlook your loyalty programs, especially those tied to your credit cards.”
Some e-commerce platforms offer tie-ups with specific cards; check these out too. Says Abhijit Chakravorty, managing director and CEO, SBI Card: “Card issuers regularly roll out exciting offers for customers on their card spends. During the upcoming festive season, customers should analyse credit card features such as shopping benefits, credit limit, reward points etc.” It is also a good time to redeem reward points.
No-Cost EMI Options
Keep an eye out for no-cost equated monthly instalment (EMI) offers during the festive season. These usually allow you to split the cost of your purchase into interest-free instalments of up to 24 months. Says Pallav Jain, founder and CEO, ShopSe, a digital EMI fintech marketplace: “Consumers should first assess their financial health and repayment feasibility before selecting a pay-later product. It is also imperative to check the offer transparency to avoid any hidden charges or heavy interest rates.”
But don’t forget to check the processing fee and other costs. Says Ashish Tiwari, chief marketing officer, of consumer finance provider Home Credit India, “These could be convenience charges or tenure extension charges. Ensure that the retailer and financing partner are reputable and transparent in their dealings.”