Shopping Tips
Below you can find advice and several links on how to effectivley shop by price matching, general advice to consider when shopping online or in person and advice on buying/renting branded clothes as well as taking care of them
Price Matching
How does price matching work?
Price matching, also referred to as a price guarantee,
is a policy set by some retailers that stipulates if you
find the same item at a lower cost, they'll match or beat
the price.
Depending on the retailer, price matching can be requested
online or in-store, typically before you make the
purchase. If you've already purchased the item in
question, some stores may refund the difference
(sometimes in the form of a store credit) if you find a
lower price elsewhere within a certain amount of time.
The most important thing to remember is that each store
has its own price matching qualification criteria, so it’s
important to read the terms carefully. Here are some general
tips for successful price matching:
1. Make sure items are identical
Right down to the bar code, make sure you’re comparing apples
to apples before invoking a store’s price matching policy.
2. Keep it local
In some cases, the lower-priced item needs to be available
in the same geographic area as the store where you’re
trying to price match.
3. Be prepared to show proof
Merchants won’t take your word for it; you’ll need proof
of the competitor’s lower price via a physical flyer or
a digital record (such as an online flyer or website price).
4. Expect certain sales to be excluded
Stores may exclude holiday sales from their price match
guarantee. Clearance items, free stuff (like buy-one-get-one)
, as-is and demo models, and other special promotions don’t
usually qualify either.
5. Check the in-stock status
The competitor’s lower-priced item may need to be in stock
(locally) to qualify.
6. Know that online-only retailers work differently
Brick-and-mortar stores may not be willing to match the
price of an online-only retailer (the inverse may also be
true). Also, items on sites like Amazon or eBay rarely qualify.
Link: 6 Price Matching Tips to Help You Save Big
Buying Online vs. Buying In Person
Buying Online
Here are some important factors that characterize the online shopping experience:
• Customers use a computer or mobile device and must have a reliable internet connection.
• Customers can’t see, smell, touch or try the product themselves.
• Customers rely heavily on the photos and descriptions the e-commerce store has posted on its website.
• Customers can buy online from nearly anywhere but must wait for the seller to ship the item to them.
• There is little or no human interaction during the entire buying process.
Buying in Person
Shopping at a brick-and-mortar store involves different considerations:
• Customers must drive (or otherwise transport themselves) to the store, creating an inconvenience
• Customers can bring the products home immediately.
• Customers experience the product and store environment with all of their senses – for example, by viewing demonstrations, tasting samples or trying products.
• Customers can interact with sales staff and ask questions.
• Customers can make shopping a social event with friends.
Link: Retail or E-tail? Buying Online vs. Buying in Person
Where to buy/rent branded clothes at the best price and most sustainably?
8 best clothes rental services for every type of occasion
The best fashion rental services in the UK are:
Best overall – Hurr Collective, Hurrcollective.com
Best for designer dresses – Rotaro.co.uk
Best for accessories – Cocoon Club, Cocoon.club
Best peer-to-peer service – By Rotation, Byrotation.com
Best for designers – My Wardrobe HQ, Mywardrobehq.com
Best affordable service – Hirestreet, Hirestreetuk.com
Best for basics – Baukjen, Baukjen.com
Best for buying pre-loved clothing – Endless Wardrobe, Endlesswardrobe.com
The RealReal
The RealReal, Inc. is a online marketplace for users to buy and sell luxury goods that are
authenticated by experts. It has more than 34 million members, and has sold nearly 36 million
items as of Sept. 30, 2023.
Link: RealReal Website