How to save money on online ordering when you can't find a coupon or promo code

This is hardly a  failsafe method of saving money, but it's happened to me often enough that I feel it's worth sharing.

What do you do when you'd like to buy something online, but don't have a promo code or discount coupon for that particular vendor?

Well, the first thing you do, of course, is drop me a line or post the request on the Cheapskate Facebook wall, or both.  Posting it on Facebook is a great idea, because even if I can't help you out, maybe some other Cheapskate readers can.

If I can't find a promo code for the vendor and you'd really like to make the purchase, here's an idea.  Sign into the website; in other words, create a user account there and then watch your email.  More often than not, you'll receive a "thank you for joining our membership" email along with a promo code just for joining.

But sometimes not.  And what if you've already got a user account there?

So here's another, last-resort idea that sometimes works for me.  Create or sign into your user account, select the item that you want, and add it to your shopping cart.  Go through the checkout process almost until the end, right up to the confirmation screen, then STOP.

Walk slowly away from your computer.

Seriously, just leave the item in your cart and go about your business using a different browser window, and keep an eye on your email again.  More often than not, the company's ecommerce software will be able to detect that you were about to make a purchase and since you've signed in, they will be able to contact you.  About a day later, they might send you an email saying "Did you forget something?  Complete your order and we'll give you 15% off with this code."  A quick search through my email tells me that this has happened to me (accidentally) with Lands End, Newegg, Ross-Simons, Domestications, Brylane Home, Crocs and Vistaprint.

This method assumes that you don't need the item right away and can wait it out for at least a day.  Again, it's not a sure thing, but if you are out of options and don't like to buy anything at full price, it's certainly worth a shot.

(And parenthetically, I don't need to remind you that the easiest absolutely-no-brainer way to save money on online shopping is to click through a safe, cash-back company first, yes?  Shop at Home is definitely my favorite.   Not a member of Shop at Home yet?   Click here to join for free, and get $5 just for signing up.  Not only are they a reliable company, but they will match any better cash-back offer that you find by 110%.)

Good luck trying this last-resort method and let me know if you have some success with hard-to-find promo codes.

Pin It