If the mere thought of making shopping list, fighting the crowd and spending lots of bucks make you lose the happy grin, then do not worry there is a tool for making your holiday shopping easy: Your Smartphone. A research revealed that 68% of the people plan to use their Smartphone to help them shop. Some people still do not use this wonder gadget to help them with shopping. For them here are some ways you can use your Smartphone in the best way to save time, money and your peace of mind while shopping.
Make a list: You can make a shopping list easily on your smart phone. Make of use of the apps like “The Christmas List” which allows you to create lists that are password protected, track your expenditure and also email the lists. Making a list on your smart phone can keep your shopping under control and stay within your budget.
Corral your coupons: You get a lot of coupons during holidays and save big amount of money with them, however, it can be hard to organize them. When such is the situation use the app “SnipSnap” with which you can snap the pictures of the coupons and store them in your phone. This way you will have no problem even when you forget carrying paper coupons with you when you go shopping.
Find your way to the mall: Many shoppers find it more comfortable sitting at home watching TV rather than driving themselves to another mall. It can be tiring to drive to different malls for different things. For them is the app “FastMall” which helps users find a mall which has all the stores for the things they want to buy. This app provides the way from one store to the other, nearest bathroom location, reminds where you car is parked. This app provides you with all the info at one place in a quick and convenient manner. App like “Target” offers users store maps.
Check if the product you want to buy is in stock: Want to buy a LED TV or a new Laptop, check if it is in stock or not before you drive all the way to the store. Use apps like “Best Buy” or “Target” to see if the product is in stock at the store you are planning to buy from. If you have a iPhone, use app “TalkTo” to text to a business and the TalkTo representative will check if the product is in stock or not for you and informs you through text message.
Get Personalized deals: Stores are competing neck to neck with online retailers for attracting customers. Use the app “Foursquare” to get deals and recommendations specially personalized for you when you walk in to the store. You can also sign up with the retailers you like and receive texts and offers on products in their store. These mobile specific deals are real value to the customers that can be used in holiday shopping.
Improve your Negotiating Power: when you go shopping and find a product that your kid or husband wants you to buy, take your phone out and check its price online if you get it for any lesser amount, before you add the product in your cart. Use the app “RedLaser” and scan the bar code of the product and check its price from online retailer. If you find a better deal then show it your sales associate and bargain for matching price. When you prove that the product is available for a lower price, they will have a reason to sell the product to you for a lower cost.
Get Information on the product: It is hard to find a sales associate to question about the product while you are shopping, it is harder to do so in festive season when the store is full of customers. Then use the retailer’s app to get info on the product. A research shows that half the owners of smart phone use them to get product info during shopping.
Entertain Kids: Before you get set to shop, load your smart phone with apps that will keep your little ones occupied in case they get restless while you are shopping seriously. Use the app “Caught being good” which is positive reinforcement app which encourages children to behave good.
Avoid Long Lines: You can make mobile payments now. This method is still new but retailers are experimenting with it. They walk around the line asking if any customers want to pay through their mobile. This way you can avoiding staying in the line for hours. Some retailers are even allowing customers to scan the QR code and they will send the item through shipping and so avoid big lines. “Target” is offering this on 20 popular toys of the season, however you need to first download the app.
Holiday season has stores filled with people and shopping during such times can be stressful, but technology can come to your rescue. Smartphone saves users time, money and provides comfortable shopping experience.
