Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder, Martin Lewis, has shared a tip which could help save up to 20% off purchases when shopping online.
He shared the sneaky trick on This Morning, explaining to viewers that abandoning your shopping cart and returning to it later can often mean you get vouchers sent by email encouraging you back to complete your purchase.
Martin said: "So if you have a membership of the store that you shop at - you need an account to make this work - you go in, you put in what you want to buy and then you don't complete the transaction. Walk away."
He adds: "They often email you and say, 'you looked at this. Would you like to buy it? Here's 10% off to help you complete the transaction. Here's 20% off to help complete the transaction'.
Recommended reading:
- Tried and tested: The dehumidifier that beat mould, damp and cut my bills
- The 14p change that halves indoor clothes drying time and saves up to £374 a year
- Review: Lakeland heated blankets and throws from 2p an hour
"I would normally Wait 48 hours. I did a big survey on this last year, Argos, Curry's. Morrisons, lots of other stores are doing this.
"Chris got in touch with me -Thornton's Chocolates did this. 'I left my basket, and they sent me a 10% code, and the day after, after they offered me free delivery' .
"You still have time to play the abandoned basket trick, put your stuff in, walk away for a couple of days, as long as you're still in the free delivery period, see whether they offer you anything."
Other viewers responded to say that they too had tried the trick. One posted on X to call it "sneaky" but others said: "I do this often. Has worked recently with Mint Velvet, jigsaw, Harrods, and Cos ( I didn’t make the purchases but still got the offers) up to 20% off."
Another agreed: "I do this with everything I buy just in case they offer a discount, some send reminder emails like River Island, Yours, Argos, with discounts it's always worth a try. Like if you've got to buy a gift in Jan try it now, it's the impulse buying they rely on for you to pay full £."
Another was less impressed, but agreed it would work: "That’s a 10 yr+ old hack… Works with pretty much anyone. Got to love cookies."
Share