The coronavirus pandemic has sparked a global rise in online shopping as it accelerated digital adoption and caused a shift in consumer attitudes.
The first surge in online shopping occurred in March 2020, when authorities introduced stay-at-home orders due to the virus outbreak, but data shows that spending patterns may continue to shift.
According to consulting firm RedSeer, the e-tail market in the United Arab Emirates is expected to grow at an annual rate of more than 20% from $8.5 billion in 2021 to about $19 billion in 2025.
Abhishek Rajput, Associate Consultant at RedSeer, said this growth will be driven by improved consumer experience and improved online purchasing behavior.
More UAE consumers made online purchases last year compared to 2020, according to a March report by EZDubai, an e-commerce zone in southern Dubai, and Euromonitor International. About 75% of those surveyed say they will shop online in 2021.
The expansion of e-commerce in the region is driven by strong internet penetration, high digital device ownership, rising income, improved logistics, and the presence of global players in the market, says the report.
We asked experts to suggest tips for consumers to get the best deals when shopping online.
Use price tracking and discount coupon comparison sites
According to Haneen Dabain, co-founder of UAE price comparison portal Pricena.com, the price comparison website shows the prices of goods at various retail outlets.
“To see if a purchase is a good deal, check a product’s price history or set up price drop alerts to notify you when prices change,” she says.
“Make a conscious effort not to buy anything without a Coupon Code. There are multiple websites where you can get Coupon Codes for shops in the United Arab Emirates. I recommend that you do.”
For the travel industry, platforms such as Trivago aggregate data from many websites to provide users with economical pricing options and availability for hotels and flights, said a UAE retail industry expert. says Ritesh Mohan, who is home.
Google Shopping Ads also offer price comparisons on most sites, he says.
Some options like Microsoft Edge (a built-in algorithmic tool) and Google Shopping often offer comparative deals based on search feeds, says assistant professor of marketing at Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. Jyothsna Singh said.
These help sign up for deals on the products you plan to buy online and give you some choices, she says.
buy off-season products
Winter clothes, especially fall and winter clothes, are expensive. But prices for these products could be much more affordable with bundled giveaways during the off-season, he said.
The reverse psychology of seasonal buying behavior can create anomalies in your favor, she says.
wait and shop on the right day
Most outlets announce discounts on weekdays. Davain recommends resisting the urge to shop online on weekends and checking for deals during the week.
“Seasonal sales such as Black Friday and Dubai Summer Surprise also offer great savings,” she says.
“Mark your calendars and make a list of what you want to buy this year. Keep an eye out for products to get the best savings. Don’t forget to stick to your spending budget.”
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More and more brands are looking to build their own online presence. So some of the best deals are available online, according to his partner Sandeep Ganediwalla, managing Middle East and North Africa at consultancy RedSeer.
Consumers can also find deals on social media through influencers on TikTok and Instagram, he says, so they check them all the time.
Consider buying from newer or smaller shops
Look for small but trustworthy stores instead of only shopping from big name internet retailers. They’re probably lowering the price of their products to compete with the big players, Davein said.
And customer care support at smaller outlets is probably more personalized, easier and faster, whether it’s requesting a discount or making a warranty claim on a product, she says.
“Smaller offline players are using hyperlocal services like Instashop and Careem to engage online shoppers, who can offer long-tail commodity deals,” said Ganediwalla. .
Sign up for the Loyalty Program
Loyalty programs often have special deals, even on online platforms, according to Ganediwala.
Consumers have to use multiple email addresses to sign up for promotions, Dabain said.
“The best promo codes are usually only used once per customer. This way you can use the discount code to make multiple purchases. Just use a different account to place the order.” ‘ she says.
According to Mohan, today every online retailer and retailer wants to build a community of loyal customers who provide opportunities for shoppers.
“The challenge for e-commerce retailers today is breaking the consumer perception that online goods are often discounted,” he says.
“As competition in the e-commerce space increases, it becomes harder to balance promotional items with full-price items. is not.”
leave cart
Dabain said many online retailers don’t want customers to leave items in their shopping carts instead of shopping.
“Make sure you’re signed into your account, add items to your cart, then wait a few days,” she says.
“Many retailers will try to keep you by tracking cart abandonment and sending cart reminder emails along with discount codes to complete purchases.”
Abandoning your cart can also help you stop making impulse purchases, Davain says.
Online shopping locally for the holidays
International travelers can take advantage of foreign exchange rates to shop locally online or buy international brands at lower prices in the countries they visit, Singh said.
“For example, if you live in the Eastern Hemisphere, many brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Bebe can be very expensive, but when you land in your home country, the United States, the same brands can be bought much cheaper and traded online. can be done, it’s more attractive,” she says.
“Of course, you might feel uncomfortable scheduling deliveries or putting off shopping until your trip, but if you can, this might be worth the deal.”
Outsmart dynamic pricing
Dynamic pricing, also known as surge pricing or demand pricing, Davain said, is a technology that has advanced to the point where online retailers can instantly change the price of goods based on supply and demand.
These retailers are fully aware of your price range, your search history, whether you’re buying on a mobile device or laptop, and a myriad of other aspects built into their dynamic pricing models.
“They may offer a higher price than others who buy online for less.
“Please clear your browser cookies or shop in a private window to avoid markups. [incognito mode]Try this out and see if it saves you money. “
Updated: Aug 29, 2022, 4:03 AM
