To discount shop or not to discount shop, that is the question.......
When discount sites first launched, I wasn't sure if they were going to be akin to huge discount warehouses with too much unattractive stock and very very low prices. Basically a poor shopping experience with average quality items that most of us would never have bought under normal circumstances.
But overtime a number of quality discount e-stores have launched that offer genuine great discounts on leading brands. You can find sites that specialise in luxury brands and others that focus on everyday contemporary products. Some of them are member driven sites and others are open to anyone....
The trick is finding the right discount site that suits your shopping style.
Five guidelines from shopper Concierge on shopping the right discount e-stores:
- Find the discount e-store that sells the brands and style that you like .... some are cheap but conversely others are high end luxury brands . Check the range of sales before signing up, make sure they sell products you would actually buy.
- Review their communication style, some fill your inbox with clutter that you never read other show you content that you are actually interested in.
- To get the best from the site, shop as soon as the offer is live, the popular sizes often go quickly leaving you feeling that you always miss out. Check what time the sales start each day, and review the upcoming sales before they go live
- Don't buy something you don't need, later it will only make you feel like you wasted your money
- Check the refund policy... because of the discount some don't offer great returns
Shopper Concierge recommends you check out our five favourite discount e-stores:
1. The Outnet:
The luxury discount store, The Outnet is sale outlet of the infamous Net-a-porter luxury retailer. They offer up to 70% off items and you can get a great deal. The prices are still not cheap but if Net-a-porter is slightly out of reach, The Outlet can make it slightly in reach. They offer the same high quality service as Net-a-porter and they have maintain a premium feel to the shopping experience. One challenge is that the popular sizes run out really quickly so you need to shop the site regularly to get the best deals as they don't tell you in advance what is coming up.
Temple & Webster is a discount home wares site, and the best thing about this members only sale outlet is that they have delivered a truly premium experience so that you don't even feel like you are in a discount site. The claim to want to inspire their customers and we definitely agree that they achieve this. They range mostly boutique home wares brands at great prices. They are not the bottom of the barrel in pricing but rather a good discount on a high quality product. They get the communication style right and we highly recommend becoming a member if you are refurbishing the house. A word of warning, some of the items are so beautiful you may end up buying things you don't need.
HauteLook is the Discount Fashion e-store aligned with the Nordstrom department store in the US. On any given day they have a huge number of sales across Womens, Mens, Kids, Home and Beauty. They range well known and not so well known contemporary brands and therefore have a much cheaper price point that The Outnet. It is a members only site as well with the daily email which tells what will go on sale the next day, which helps you avoid missing out on something you really want. Sales start at 8am Pacific time which is again a huge benefit as many international sites work on the northern hemisphere timing meaning that Australians often get the sale last. Make sure you check the shipping cost on this one.
This is the one of the original discount e-shops to launch in Australia and now has been going a number of years and has developed a lot since launch. They offer you $10 off when joining to incentivise you to get shopping straight away. Inviting your friends to join gets you more money off. They offer Women's, mens, kids and living contemporary brands at very reasonable prices. They also have an "outlet" section which is the serious cheap clearing house for all types of products from dishwashing liquid to dresses for those who are very focused on price.
When you go to this site you will immediately be struck with offers galore... nothing over $25 or 48 hour sale frenzy. It is all about price, which will suit those looking for a red hot bargain across the categories of womens, mens, kids, beauty, home & Living. You get $20 off for inviting a friend. Where the other sites create a premium shopping experience this site feels like you are walking into the boxing day sale at Myers.... chaotic, like sales are. This is all OK if you want to shop a serious sale with low low prices. You can become a VIP member of the site for $100 a year and shop sales earlier than anyone else, as well as getting access to additional exclusives. The site is also available in chinese
So different strokes depending on what you are looking for, we hope one of them takes your fancy
Shop On!
