Master the Art of Online Shopping: Genius Hacks for Smarter Deals
Image Credit: AI
Online shopping tips talk a lot about coupon codes and cashback apps. The hacks and tips you find in this article, however, are something special-tailor-made for savvy shoppers, these tips bring more value to your shopping pockets each time.
1. Look for “Less Popular” Categories for Hidden Discounts: The retailers would put all their attention on high-demand categories while providing huge discounts on less-visited ones.
India: Amazon and Flipkart have a niche section such as “Warehouse Clearance” or “Everyday Essentials” that people usually ignore.
Global: Sites like Etsy and AliExpress keep the discounts hidden in the “Last Chance” or “Under $10” categories.
2. Bookmark the “Secret” Discount URLs: Some platforms host pages for exclusive offers that are hard to find from the main site.
India: Amazon India: amazon.in/offers
Flipkart: flipkart.com/offers/deals-of-the-day
Global: ASOS: asos.com/outlet
Zara: Seasonal sales often appear on subpages during early sale phases
3. Reverse Image Search for Better Deals: If you’ve fallen in love with a product on one site, use a reverse image search to find the same item at a lower price elsewhere. Use Google Lens or TinEye to upload a product image.
India-Specific Tip: Many products on Myntra or Ajio have the same designs as local wholesale sellers on Meesho or Club Factory.
Global Hack: Popular marketplaces like AliExpress and eBay often sell similar or identical items at wholesale prices.
4. Trick Search Filters: Retailers prefer expensive options by default. Follow these tips to find better deals:
- Sort “Low to High”: Always start your search by sorting items by price.
- Use Generic Terms: Instead of just typing “designer handbag,” type “leather tote bag” and try similar searches to find non-branded, high-quality options.
- India-Specific: Search for “smartphone case” instead of “iPhone 14 Pro case” on Flipkart to get affordable prices.
- Global Tip: On Amazon US, generic searches like “Bluetooth earbuds” often unveil hidden gems from lesser-known brands.
5. Leverage Regional Price Differences: Some e-commerce platforms charge different prices depending on the location of the user.
India: Sometimes, platforms like Flipkart offer discounts in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as there is less demand.
Global Hack: Browse Amazon US, UK, or Germany with VPNs to compare prices. Stores such as Shein or Farfetch are known to have cheaper prices if you access them from a low-GDP country.
6. Apply Multiple Coupon Codes with Browser Extensions: People apply one coupon code in most cases, but do you know you can stack codes in specific cases?
India: Ajio and Myntra usually allow you to combine store-level coupons with bank offers
(credit/debit cards).
Global: Use browser extensions like Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) to find overlapping coupon codes for retailers like Macy’s or Target.
7. Set Alerts for Sold-Out Items: Many of the most in-demand products get restocked quietly, and most shoppers miss them.
India: Flipkart’s “Notify Me” feature does exceptionally well on electronics and limited-edition products. Ajio’s “Back in Stock” alerts grab trendy fashion at discounted rates.
Global: Zara’s Wishlist: Save out-of-stock items on your wishlist to get notified the moment they are restocked. Use third-party services such as “NowInStock.net” for alerts on products like gaming consoles and electronics.
8. Shop Internationally Without Paying Import Fees: If you want to shop globally but avoid import fees.
India Hack: Use parcel forwarding services like ShopandShip or Shiprocket to get products shipped to India at reduced customs.
Global Tip: Companies like MyUS and Stackry aggregate shipments, thus saving you money on international shipping.
9. Take Advantage of “Abandoned Cart Discounts” Like a Pro: Most retailers entice you back with discounts if you leave items in your cart. Here’s how to maximize this- add expensive items to your cart but don’t checkout. Wait for 2-3 days. Services like Nykaa or Ajio from India or ASOS or Adidas internationally send a reminder with a discount of 10%-20% to convince you to finalize your order.
10. Utilize First-time User Discounts as many times as you can: Make many accounts using multiple emails to utilize first-time user offers as much as possible.
India: Swiggy, Myntra, and Big Basket have really amazing perks on first order.
Global: Uber Eats and HelloFresh offers region-specific discounts to new users, and these can be recovered through account recycling.
11. Buy Gift Cards at a Discount: Gift cards usually sell at below face value.
India: Zingoy and Paytm First platforms sell discounted gift cards for Flipkart, Amazon, and Myntra.
Global: Buy discounted gift cards from retailers like Walmart, Sephora, or Nike through Raise or GiftCardGranny.
12. Join Niche Facebook Groups and Telegram Channels: Communities often find out about hidden deals before apps do.
India: Check out the exclusive offers available on Telegram channels like “DesiDime Deals” or “India Free Stuff”.
Global: Participate in Facebook groups like “Couponing for Beginners” or subreddit communities like “r/Deals” or “r/Frugal”.
13. Time Your Purchases Strategically: E-commerce platforms have predictable discount patterns.
India: Shopping between 11 PM and 2 AM on Flipkart or Amazon increases your chances of grabbing
lightning deals.
Global: Use apps like Clockify to track global sale start times for Black Friday, Singles’ Day, or Boxing Day.
14. Shop Direct from Manufacturers: Skip the middleman to save big.
India: For electronics, brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Realme offer lower prices on their official websites than on Amazon or Flipkart.
Global: Buy directly from websites like Dell or HP instead of relying on third-party retailers.
Final Thoughts
These hacks aren’t your average shopping tips. They are powerful strategies that help you shop smarter. When you blend lesser-known tricks like manipulating search filters, using VPNs, and creating abandoned cart alerts, you’ll find the deals most shoppers miss. Start smart shopping today!
-Prasanthi Arra is a Patent Agent and avid writer with a focus on Intellectual Property Rights, women’s education, and teen and women’s mental health.
