9 Common Shopping Myths That Won’t Go Anywhere
Can You Really Save On Sales Tax By Shopping Online? Is everyone really rushing to the store for a new big screen TV for the Super Bowl? These shopping considerations are widespread and are often pushed by advertisers to try to get you into stores. But are these old chestnuts hiding any truth?
This post was originally published in Deal News .
Let’s look at nine of the most common shopping myths to separate fact from fiction.
You should always buy in bulk
When faced with large packaging and small packaging of the same product, budget shoppers often choose the larger of the two for a bulk discount. Unfortunately, while you can get great deals by buying in bulk, this is not always the case. If you want to know if you are getting a good price, do the math: how much are you paying per unit or per ounce? You may be surprised to find that smaller bags can be just as economical as larger ones.
You don’t need to pay sales tax when you shop online
While some retailers sell products online without collecting government sales tax, this is not always the case. Even large online brands like Amazon sometimes levy sales taxes, which makes paying taxes, even online, almost inevitable.
“Today, this myth is reduced to a mixture of misinformation and misunderstanding,” – he said Ryan O’Donnell, director of marketing at Avalara, engaged in the development of software for tax sales . “While it is true that online shoppers can search and find tax-free shopping options, in most cases this results in the seller not collecting sales tax.”
Sports fans are buying new TVs just for the Super Bowl
Another myth fueled by the hype around the big event is the idea that everyone is rushing to buy the biggest big screen they can afford, before the Super Bowl. But when we surveyed our readers, most TV buyers said they bought their TV in November or December , probably taking advantage of Christmas sales to close TV deals . Every two months of the year, including on the eve of Super Bowl Sunday, TV sales were fairly evenly distributed.
Black Friday is the best day to shop
Sorry Black Friday fans, but that’s not always the case. Black Friday has some of the best deals of the year, but only on certain foods – for others, you might be better off shopping on Thanksgiving or Cyber Monday . Do not get carried away with the rush of shopping for the holidays so that you forget to think if you are a good buy or just a good buy.
After Christmas, sales are no match for holiday shopping.
While this may not always be considered the “best” time to shop, the week after Christmas usually has great deals. After shoppers no longer face tight deadlines for giving gifts, retailers are using big discounts to get them to stores where shoppers can get rid of their holiday inventory. And like other types of holidays, some of those post-Christmas sales actually start before Christmas .
Retailers always clean up old stock in January
While it is true that retailers are keen to dispose of old obsolete stock when new products are released, not all products have clear release schedules. Consider cars that have new models every year. It is natural to assume that in January 2016 dealers wanted to get rid of the 2015 models. But in fact, the 2016 models were released in the fall, and by January these models were probably long gone.
Many products do not have such a seasonal schedule at all, making it difficult to decide when to shop. That’s why we keep you updated on the best purchases every month !
If it’s on sale, buy
Not all sales are created equal. You’ve probably noticed that in some stores, especially department stores, things seem to be constantly on sale at a discount. This could be because the store can afford to incur losses on items to do business, or because the “sell” price is based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), which is unrealistically high.
In any case, when products are always on sale, the selling price is really just the retail price under a different name. Be careful with these items, which are always on sale: check the price to make sure you’re getting a great deal.
Outlet stores have the best prices
Retailers suggest they offer big discounts on branded merchandise, with labels that say you pay $ 100 for what sells for $ 300 at the flagship store. However, by some estimates, over 85% of in-store merchandise was made specifically for these stores using cheaper materials and designs. While this can provide a great value for money, keep in mind that you are not getting the value the tag offers. On top of everything , the sale of conventional retailers can sometimes exceed the retail price .
The cheapest seller is always the best
Let’s philosophize for a moment: is the best price always the best deal? A recent study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin Business School suggests that buyers take into account a seller’s reputation as well as their prices. Experienced buyers will think twice before buying from a less reputable seller.
Is this seller not honoring the price? Out of stock? Lots of extra shipping fees? It’s always best to pay a little more and shop without headaches.
Are you falling for these 9 shopping myths? | Deals news