PRIMARK is a bargain favourite on the high street, but there are more ways to save on your spending.
You might have been doing your clothes shopping all wrong this whole time – but don’t worry, we’ve come up with four tricks to get more bang for your buck.
Primark is known for its cheap deals and bargains
The budget fashion retailer has been going since the 60s, and there’s over 188 stores in the UK for keen shoppers to visit.
If they want to find the very best deals though, they’ll have to keep an eye out for ‘secret’ sales whilst they’re there, plus opportunities to haggle, and more.
We’ve narrowed down some of these ways to bag a bargain, so you can make the most out of your next shop.
But remember it’s not a bargain unless you were planning on buying it anyway.
It also might be worth shopping around a bit before splashing out – other retailers could have similar products on sale that are even cheaper.
To help, you can use price comparison tools like Google Shopping to find a better offer.
For now though, here’s how you can bag a Primark bargain:
‘Secret’ sales
Primark fans always know to dive in the bargain rail if they’re after money-off products in-store, but there could be ‘secret’ sale items lurking around the rest of the store and throughout the year.
Leanne, who works in Birmingham’s Primark, shared her tips on finding the best deals.
She ecommended heading to the store first thing.
She says: “Early in the morning is the best time to come and shop.
“We open at 8am on weekdays so from then until 11am are the quietest hours.
“Sunday mornings are also relatively quiet.
“Shopping in the morning is also best as we get our new stock in overnight, meaning customers who get there early can get their hands on our latest products first.
“If they’re very popular, sometimes we will have sold out by lunchtime and new shipments won’t arrive until the following day.
“We get deliveries of new stock daily which we put out onto the shop floor before opening, and we will also move stock around to keep the space fun, fresh and interesting to inspire our customers with new ideas and new looks.
“Customers should also look out for the red signs on the rails if they want to find discounted items.”
Bigger flagship stores in particular will always have an influx of stock, so as new items come in, older products taking up space might be heavily discounted.
Look for jumpers in the summer and shorts and dresses in the winter as they’re out of season and likely to be discounted.
Don’t ask, don’t get
Don’t be afraid to outright ask for discounts. The worst staff can say is no.
Typically if you pick up an item with a defect or foundation mark or similar, you can simply ask for a discount – just explain it’s not quite up to scratch.
Ex Primark employees have revealed to HOAR in the past that it can be pretty standard practice for branches to offer 10% off a damaged or faulty item.
But keep in mind that if they do this, it often makes the item non-refundable so if you won’t be able to change your mind and return it to get your money back.
It’s also not guaranteed to work and you might not be able to get the item cheaper.
It’ll be up to the manager’s discretion, but don’t ask, and you definitely won’t get.
Unfortunately Primark doesn’t offer staff discount, so worker’s don’t get automatic deals either.
That looks familiar…
Primark’s budget garments are a cheap way to refresh your wardrobe with plenty of items from its exclusive range.
But the store can be a great place to look for a cheaper version of something you’ve seen elsewhere too.
Fans have spotted that plenty of items from the retailer that pose a striking resemblance to other pricier products on the market.
Pick up a cheaper dupe and your friends might not even be able to tell the difference.
One fan found a product in Primark that is “exactly like” a Charlotte Tilbury staple.
The beauty fan first shared the Eyes to Mesmerise Champagne dupe, which is a long-lasting cream eyeshadow and usually costs around £26, compared to Primark’s £2.50 version.
She then followed this by showing off the Iconic Illuminator dupe, which usually costs £32.
This is liquid highlighter drops with intense, shimmering pigments and only costs £5.
The beauty fan then reveals a NARS foundation dupe which usually costs around £37.
The skincare foundation in Primark only costs £6.
She then revealed another Charlotte Tilbury cream blush dupe which costs £4.50, compared to a £30 version from Charlotte Tilbury.
Buy online
If you don’t want to face rummaging through Primark’s bargain bins or stand in the long snaking queues, you could just walk out the door and order online instead.
The only problem is, Primark doesn’t let you order online – though you can browse its products.
But savvy shoppers could head to Amazon instead – as the online giant stocks plenty of Primark’s products.
That means you could get some of the same goodies at their low price sent straight to your door, and if you are an Amazon Prime member, benefit from free delivery too.
You could also have a look at what sellers on Depop or Vinted are charging for second hand Primark goods.
A lot of the time you’ll find that sellers flog barely worn Primark clothes at half their full price so it’s a good way to get the same products for less.
But sometimes they might hike the price too – especially if it’s something in high demand, or has sold-out – so keep that in mind while you’re shopping online.
New website
Primark has launched a new website, allowing shoppers to check stock levels at their local stores for the first time ever.
This means you can browse online and make sure you head to a branch that has the style and size you need.
There are thousands more products displayed on its website now, too, so you can get a better look at the current collections.
More product information is available, including fabrics and materials.
It is planning to roll out more features in the coming months, including customer accounts, a newsletter, and the ability to create a wish list.
However, fans of the budget retailer still won’t be able to buy online.
Primark might not be the only place you could score a better bargain – you could have been doing your Tesco shopping all wrong too – but don’t worry we’ve got all the tips you need to know.
The same goes for retail giant Ikea – we reveal how to make your cash go further on furniture from the brand.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
