Every customer nowadays has that sinking feeling when they just spent $200 on something during a sale, and then they wonder with regret with regret that why they bought it which makes them feel sad. That's buyer's remorse, and it's awful.
We've all been there and with big sales like the amazon prime day deals soon happening in Australia this October, I want to help you avoid that terrible feeling and buy something you’d truly love at the best discounted prices.
What Is a Buyer's Remorse?
Buyer's remorse isn't just about money but that emotional crash you feel after buying something you didn't really need. It's when the excitement dies down and reality hits hard.
You feel guilty, stupid and wonder what your partner will say. You check your bank account three times hoping the number changed.
The worst part? Online sales make this so much easier to happen. Everything looks amazing. The countdown timers are ticking. "Only 3 left in stock!" Your heart races. Your finger hovers over "Buy Now." and you buy it without even thinking about the fact that you don’t need it.
Why Do We Fall For Sales Every Single Time?
Our brains aren't designed for online shopping. When you see "70% OFF" in bright red letters, your brain releases dopamine. That's the same chemical that makes you feel good when you eat chocolate or feeling happiness.
The fancy products you see out there make you want to try them.
The experts behind Amazon Prime Sale in Australia know exactly what buttons to push. They've spent millions figuring out how to make you click "buy."
Their countdown timers create panic. The "limited stock" warnings make you fear missing out and the "customers also bought" section makes you think you need five more things. It's designed this way on purpose to hit the customer's psychology.
However, you're not weak for falling for this but rather you're human and your brain is doing what it was programmed to do.
The 24-Hour Rule That Actually Works
This is the single best trick I've ever learned, and I'm giving it to you from the bottom of my heart because it has saved me hundreds of dollars.
You should wait 24 hours before buying anything over $50. And surely you’ll get that FOMO feeling that the sale is ending in 6 hours or the deal will disappear!
But if it's a good deal today, similar deals will come back. You can always use an Amazon coupon code or discount codes for thousands of stores in Australia to get almost the same deal or at least the best price any time. Sales are constant and happen throughout the year.
So here's what you do instead. Add the item to your cart and then close the app or website and then go do something else like anything. Maybe watch a show or take a walk. Just sleep on it.
What I do whenever I have these impulse buy desires is that I delay it. I always say “I’ll think more about it” and then put it off.
Then, when you come back tomorrow, ask yourself: "Do I still feel excited about this?" If the answer is "meh," you just saved yourself from buyer's remorse. If you still really want it, then maybe it's worth buying or you might want to give one extra day or a week to it.
The truth is, most of the things we buy during sales, we forget about within 24 hours. That "amazing" deal on a bread maker? Tomorrow, you'll remember you barely eat bread.
Ask Yourself These Three Honest Questions
Before you buy anything during a hot sale, stop and ask yourself these questions. Be honest with yourself:
1. Will I actually use this in the next month?
Don’t think that you might use it someday or “I could use it if I start that hobby." Think about: Will you, really use this in the next 30 days (about 4 and a half weeks)?
If the answer is no, don't buy it. You shouldn’t care if it's 80% off. A discount on something you won't use is still wasting money.
2. Would I buy this if it wasn't on sale?
This is huge. If this exact item was full price tomorrow, would you still want it? Or do you only want it because it says "SALE" in red letters?
Sometimes during Amazon Prime Day shopping events in Australia, I see people buying things they'd never even looked at before, just because the discount looks good. That's not smart shopping but just spending money.
3. Do I already own something that does this job?
You have to be really honest with yourself. How many phone chargers do you own? How many water bottles? How many "organizational solutions" are now just cluttering your space?
We buy duplicates all the time during sales. We think "but this one is better!" Is it though? Or does your current one work just fine?
The weird thing about us customers is that we’d try to buy that shiny better and latest product in the market even though the one we have just works completely fine.
Wrap Up
Disciplining yourself to not buy something that you don’t need doesn’t mean you should stop you from enjoying sales or getting good deals. Sales can be fun and saving money feels great. But buyer's remorse feels terrible, and I genuinely don't want you to experience it.
So instead make a list of things you really want and have been planning and find the best deal for that product or the best Amazon offer code from our coupon provider website, Revounts.
So, the next time you're hovering over that "Buy Now" button for the product you don’t need during a hot sale, remember this: the best purchase is often the one you don't make.
And for doing this, your future self will thank you. Your bank account will thank you. And that awful 2 AM stomach-sinking feeling will stay away. Because at the end of the day, the stuff we own should make our lives better, not fill us with regret.
