SHOPPING SPECIAL...SHOP ONLINE

SHOP ONLINE…..Control/Save

WHY BURN FUEL DRIVING TO A STORE WHEN EVERYTHING YOU NEED CAN COME HOME FOR NOTHING?

ALMOST EVERY shopping website offers free home delivery and cash on delivery. So why spend on parking and fuel? Let the mall come to you. Just ask for items to be delivered to your office if you’re never at home.
Websites offer better discounts and have deals around the year. The Shoppers Stop website is still on ‘sale’ right now, with up to 51 per cent off on lots of stuff.
Shopping online is faster, since you’re not trawling a crowded mall on a precious free weekend. Look for links that say Sale, Offers, Value, Deals, etc, to find discounts. Flipkart always has a sale on; I’ve bulk bought my favourite Khadi soaps when they went on sale, saving R10 on each one.
Several American department stores let you shop from India – prices appear in rupees, you can browse within your price bracket, calculate your exact shipping costs and discounts are deeper than similar Indian brands. On the Bloomingdales site, we noticed a discounted Michael Kors dress for under
R4,000 and a frilly Nanette Lepore bikini that was just R1,500 with a measly $10 for express shipping. ASOS ships for free. Saks Fifth Avenue has Elie Tahari men’s jeans for under R3,000 and designer linen shirts for R2,500. Why look like a Zara clone now?
Stuff that doesn’t need trial is the safest. Men don’t try on socks or belts before they buy. Books, groceries and handbags are one-size-fits-all. Choose from online avatars of traditional stores (Crossword, Big Bazaar, Fabindia, Croma, Hypercity, Cotton World), multibrand stores selling items at MRP (Jabong, Myntra), and websites dedicated to designer sales (Fashionandyou, 99labels, Brandsvillage, Strawberrynet, etc) or the Indian Amazon (Junglee).
Like a particular brand? Do everything you can to make sure they know it. Sign up for email newsletters, put yourself on their text alerts list, like them on Facebook and follow their tweets. Brands save their best rewards and freebies for regulars and fans, so you’ll get advance notice of sales, be allowed to browse the stuff a day in advance, get free shipping and be privy to their awesome one-day flash sales. On September 21-22, Facebook told me that Kiehls was offering a free lip balm with any purchase at their Khan Market, New Delhi store. The L’Occitane online store had a one-day sale recently that offered 50 per cent off on certain products. Beauty brands also throw in several free samples when you buy online.
Full-price is for last minute shoppers and idiots. Want a weekend trip, spa sessions, lunch, brunch and high tea, or Superman boxer shorts? Check out Snapdeal, Dealsandyou and Crazeal for lower rates. I’ve enjoyed countless massages ( R600), got my car shampooed and waxed at home ( R600), and directed friends to a weekend break at a five star resort ( R5,500 including all meals and one free massage). It’s a world wide web of possibilities – so move that mouse and get shopping.

• – Mignonne Dsouza HT1210114