Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, has unveiled a clever shopping basket technique that some major retailers like Argos, Currys, and Morrisons reportedly dislike. Speaking on This Morning with presenter Dermot O’Leary, Lewis explained how simply abandoning your online shopping basket can lead to significant discounts.
When asked about basket abandonment, Martin explained the process: “First, you need to have an account with the store you’re shopping at. Then, you select the items you want to buy and add them to your basket, but don’t complete the purchase.”
Dermot responded, “Oh, they hate that! You just walk away?” Co-host Christine Lampard added, “They bombard you with emails afterwards.”
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Martin confirmed this tactic often triggers follow-up emails from retailers, sometimes offering discounts to encourage you to complete your order. “They might send a 10% off code, then possibly 20% off, to tempt you back and finish the transaction,” he said, advising shoppers to wait around 48 hours after abandoning the basket.
He shared survey results from last year showing retailers like Argos, Currys, Morrisons, and others routinely use this method. For instance, a viewer named Chris reported that Thornton’s Chocolates sent a 10% discount code after a basket was abandoned, followed by a free delivery offer the next day.
Martin highlighted that timing is crucial: “Do this trick now, before delivery charges sneak in closer to Christmas. If you act soon, while free delivery is still available, you can potentially save a lot.”
Viewers on social media have echoed Lewis’s advice. Sylvia commented on Instagram, “Do this all the time. They almost always offer a discount a couple of days later.” Another viewer shared, “I used this for a Dell laptop and got a 5% discount the next day.”
In summary, setting up an account, adding items to your basket, then walking away without completing checkout can be a simple yet effective way to secure additional discounts from many leading retailers.