Why waiting to buy could save you money

(InvestigateTV) — Nine out of 10 Americans are now waiting for a sale before making an online purchase, according to a new CouponFollow survey, as rising prices push shoppers to stretch every dollar.

The survey of 1,000 people also found 61% are willing to hold out a month or longer before buying.

One strategy shoppers are using involves loading an online cart, walking away and waiting for a discount to arrive. Kyle James, a writer for ConsumerAffairs, said some retailers send follow-up emails to shoppers who leave items unpurchased.

“A lot of times it triggers an internal email sent to you — could be just a few hours later, it could be the next day,” James said. “It says, ‘Hey, we noticed you still have things in your cart, here’s a promotion.’ It could be 15 to 20 percent or free shipping, or just a sale price and actually lower the price of the item.”

James said the tactic is designed to entice shoppers to complete the purchase. He said it may not be worth the wait for small purchases, but for bigger items like electronics, power tools or furniture, patience could lead to a lower price for those who do not need the item immediately.

James also recommends searching for a coupon code before checking out, along with using cash-back apps.

“There’s cash back apps. TopCashback is a good one. Ibotta’s a really good one for grocery stores,” James said. “If you sign up for these apps, you can actually scan your receipt after you shop and get money back.”

James said signing up for store rewards programs can also lead to savings for repeat shoppers. He added apps like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel can be used to track Amazon prices, which fluctuate frequently.

James said spending a few extra minutes on research before buying could translate into real savings.