"Up to 80% off" "Black November" "Bambika this Krisi" "Save big" "Huge discounts"
It's very hard to miss the sale signs at the end of the year and that's exactly the point, you're supposed to see all of them and BUY! BUY! BUY!
I would define myself as an avid shopper.
In case, you are wondering if you also qualify to be called an avid shopper, here are some quick tell-tale signs:
You would describe shopping as fun and exciting, not frustrating and tiring.
You don't often go to the shop with a list of items to buy and even if you do, you have to look around just for the sake of it.
You have a long wish list of items you plan to buy one day, but no matter how much you buy, the list just keeps growing.
The thought of making a purchase gives you an adrenaline rush, even if you don't end up buying anything.
One thing that makes the shopping experience even better are discounts and sales because, then, I can buy even more with the same amount of money.
As much as I would love to buy whatever I want, whenever I want- pesa si otas! Translation: I just don't have that kind of money. So, nothing brings me greater joy than sales seasons, especially year-end sales.
Unfortunately, making smart purchases with the big red discount signs in front of you is not as simple as it seems. I learnt this the hard way
Luckily, you have a pro who is happy to share 4 tips to maximize on sales seasons so that you can buy the things you want and need.
1. Observe the trends & plan ahead
The best thing about massive discounts and offers is that they tend to come around the same time each year.
Unlike finding a single, funny, interesting, financially-secure and presentable Nairobi man, there are enough discounts and offers available for everyone throughout the year.
End-year sales, mid-year sales, back-to-school discounts and holiday sales are almost always guaranteed- especially by the big retail stores here in Kenya. Smaller stores and brands aren't far behind.
When you look at the trends, you will observe that some items such as electronics almost always make it to the list of discounted items offered by stores while other items are only on discount at certain periods of time such as exercise books and stationery just before schools reopen.
This means that you can start to save money well ahead of time.
Be careful! Not everything is as it seems. There are businesses in the US that have been accused and even found guilty of advertising fake discounts to attract buyers. So, you might think that you're saving money when you actually aren't saving a shilling.
Which brings me to my next point.
2. If the deal is too good think twice
Caveat emptor is a common law doctrine that places the burden on buyers to reasonably examine property before making a purchase. A buyer who fails to meet this burden is unable to recover for defects in the product that would have been discovered had this burden been met. The phrase “caveat emptor” is Latin for “let the buyer beware.” Source: Cornell Law School
So, you've been eyeing that dress, that pair of shoes or that appliance from a particular store and now it's on sale at 80% off.
You're excited and you want to pay for it IMMEDIATELY. If you don't have the money on you, you are ready to beg, borrow and sell a kidney because they said that you should ‘Hurry while stocks last!’ and that it's ‘a limited-time offer’ and ‘First come, first served’
It is at this particular moment that I STRONGLY advise you to take a pause and ask yourself the following questions:
Am I certain of the quality of the products sold by this store?
Would I buy this item if it was not on offer?
Is the discount legitimate?
If you still really want to buy the item(s) after you've answered these three questions, then with my blessing, go ahead and make the purchase.
3. Terms and conditions apply!
I hereby acknowledge that I have read and understood the terms and conditions as provided.
Sign here_________
The terms and conditions are usually in the smallest font and on the last page of the document or a long list with huge paragraphs on your phone or computer, which is meant to discourage you from reading them before you sign and make the payment.
PLEASE make sure you read them, or at the very least, ask the shop attendant about their policies on exchanges, returns and warranties for items purchased during a sale. If you're buying from an online store for the first time, you could also avoid paying for the item(s) before delivery and inspection.
Sometimes, even this is not enough because not all stores have these policies and even if they do, not all of them will honour the policies. Other stores might require you to pay for the item(s) before it's delivered to you.
So, how do you make sure you don't lose your money?
4. Reviews, reviews, reviews
Reviews are an amazing tool for the anxious. the skeptics and anyone who just doesn't want value to lose their hard-earned money. I'm guessing that that's most of us.
Reviews are one thing. Reliable and informative reviews are something else.
There are three channels that I always go to for reviews. That I know will give me the information I need to make a decision.
a. Friends & family. I usually start with asking people around me if they have interacted with the store or know someone who has. If they've heard/seen anything positive or negative like a Tweet or something on social media that could give me some guidance.
When I can find the information I need through my close circles, my anxieties are immediately relieved.
But I find this method can take up a lot of time. After asking and asking, if I can't find the information I need from my friends and family, I'm left exactly where I started.
b. Google. Trusty Google makes it faster to find the information I need. But even Google reviews doesn't always come through. Especially, not for stores in Kenya. Definitely not for online stores.
If the business is not registered on Google, then, you won't find a Google review nor can you leave a review of that business.
c. Honest Reviews KE. With a long and rich list of reviews of Kenyan businesses on our platform, consumers in Kenya have easy access to information they need and can trust to make better decisions. We have also created an easy form for anyone who would like to share their experience.
Did you find these tips to be helpful in helping you thrive this year-end sales season?
Do you have any more tips and tricks that work for you.
Let us know in the comment section below.
Best review site. Check also, medium.com/@honestreviews1122
honestreviews1122.blogspot.com