5 Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Tips to Beat the Holiday Rush

Recollect you can't avoid the shopping frenzy of the holiday flavour? You might exist one of those shoppers who want to wait to capitalize on holiday sales to get that big screen TV you have your heart set on or you might be the king or queen of procrastinating and prefer to wait until the last minute to accomplish things on your list. Either way, with preparation, you tin can better your shopping efficiency and effectiveness so that you tin better fulfill your wish lists. As with other errands, it's key to do your homework before heading out and then you tin save time, coin, and your sanity. These five last-minute holiday shopping hacks volition aid you get through the frenzy of this holiday shopping flavour:

Compare prices before going to the store

'Tis the flavor for holiday shopping, but don't leave the house unless you're prepared considering malls and stores will be packed. First, write downwards the items y'all want to buy and utilize your smartphone as a price-comparison tool. Mobile apps similar Amazon Price Check, Shelfbucks, and ShopSavvy let you lot compare prices on thousands of products. And many retailers will lower their cost to match a competitor'south, so evidence them (on your phone).

Secondly, consider using coupon apps such as Ibotta, SavingStar, and Checkout 51. Printable coupon sites found online include Coupons.com and SmartSource. If shipping costs counterbalance on your mind, sign upward for a xxx-day trial of Amazon Prime number, which offers free two-mean solar day aircraft on eligible items.

Guarantee your access to limited items

The retail manufacture is implementing diverse practices to amend their customers' ownership experiences, then take advantage. For example, Best Buy, and other big retailers, are issuing color-coded tickets to ensure that customers get the products they came for. Cheque out your retailer's website and impress these tickets so you won't waste material fourth dimension staring at "Sold Out" signs. And call the store in advance to see if a certain product is available. Some outlets will permit you lot reserve an detail if you lot give them your information.

Preparation is cardinal, or you could exit the parking lot with aught in tow. According to a 2015 study by Box Technologies, more than than one-3rd (38 percent) of UK shoppers leave the shop empty-handed because of long checkout lines, and 24 percentage of respondents said 5 minutes is as long as they are prepared to look before leaving without purchasing anything.

Digitize your transactions

Swiping at the counter makes checkout much faster and more convenient. If you're a cardholder, consider using mobile payment engineering, such every bit Apple Pay or Capital One Wallet, to digitize your transactions. These payment technologies are designed to make beginning-to-end shopping a seamless and integrated experience. A mobile wallet avoids a paper trail of receipts, souvenir cards, and warranty cards that tin easily get lost in the holiday shuffle, and conversely, a digital trail facilitates product returns, refunds, gift exchanges and other transactions more than easily.

A written report by Upper-case letter One finds that well-nigh half (48 percent) of mobile wallet users programme to make at least ane gift purchase through this technology — reflecting the growing adoption of mobile wallet. Capital One's version helps shoppers go instant purchase notifications on their mobile device the moment their credit card is used, lock their card through their phone, as well as, digitize receipts and multiple gift cards at one fourth dimension.

Experts predict that mobile wallet will see record utilise this holiday season. It offers better security and retailers can store loyalty rewards and other enticements on your smartphone. Mobile accounts for over one-half (56 pct) of online store visits during the 2016 holidays, according to Adobe Digital Insights.

Get help from shopping assistants

Target, Kohl's, and Walmart are a few retailers who are providing "vacation helpers" to help customers with shopping tasks, such as looking for related items and comparing like products. In-store helpers tin can also go back to the aisles to fetch forgotten goods as the customer waits at the checkout line.

Store assistants are helpful in multiplying your shopping efficiency. While there are other considerations in choosing which retailer you lot'll patronize, you should telephone call a store and see if they offer assistance to shoppers. When a store is crowded, frustrations tin run high. A Box Technologies survey finds that 38 pct of shoppers go out the store empty-handed if they wait nine minutes or longer at the checkout line.

Protect yourself from scams

ACI Worldwide predicts that online fraud attempts during this holiday season volition rise by 43 percentage in the United states of america. The FBI recommends creating long passwords to protect your digital accounts from hackers. Experts suggest multi-give-and-take passwords such as "mycatisfurry" or "mywifelakersfan" that involve facts about your daily life that only you would know.

And be weary of gift carte du jour scams, which get more than common the closer information technology is to Christmas Eve. Souvenir cards are an alluring target for fraudsters because they tin be easily resold. Ask the retailer if they have security measures involving gift cards, such as Pivot numbers, scratch-off labels, magnetic strips, and activation of the carte du jour when the gift recipient redeems it (as opposed to immediately activating the card when the client buys information technology).

Holiday shopping is annihilation but jolly. Merely with training, you lot can overcome the rush and brand fulfilling your wish lists a more enjoyable experience.

Featured photograph credit: Picjumbo via picjumbo.com

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Source: https://www.lifehack.org/504558/5-last-minute-holiday-shopping-tips-beat-the-holiday-rush

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