Online shopping is always an exciting and enjoyable experience. But imagine the doors to some stores are closed to you. It happens when some stores restrict access to users from one or another country because of political or economic reasons. But if you have to accept the closed doors offline, there are many ways to get around the restrictions online.
Furthermore, different pricing policies are applied in online shops, and what happens is that they charge differently depending on the users’ location and browsing history. Saving money during shopping with the help of VPNs is such a smart idea that more and more people are beginning to take advantage of it. Let’s explore how it works.
8 benefits why people use VPN for shopping online
1. Getting regional discounts.
Many e-commerce websites charge their prices based on the geographical location of their customers. For instance, sometimes in one country, a product may be seen at a less expensive price compared to another. This could be because of a country’s local pricing strategies, differences in currency, or special offers. Now, by using a VPN, you’ll switch to a country where the product is cheap and purchase it at that lower price.
Some websites offer special promotions, discounts, or coupons available only in specific countries. Changing your virtual location by turning on a VPN lets you access these offers, even if you’re not physically located in the area. This might be very useful during Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales events.
2. Avoiding dynamic pricing.
Some e-commerce sites dynamically change prices based on your previous clicks on their webpage and other information, like location or time of day. If you have been looking at something over time, then the website will just jack up the price because they know you are interested. Here is where a VPN can help, changing your perceived location and cleaning up your cookies to have a clean slate and a fair chance at buying at the best possible price.
3. Protection from bank card fraud.
Cybercriminals apply several methods of phishing or skimming to gain access to sensitive information about your bank cards. Later, they can use this data to make some illegal transactions or simply steal your money. However, by applying a VPN, you make it impossible for cybercriminals to get access to your banking data without risking losing their money.
4. Anonymity and security.
A VPN ensures the anonymity and security of your personal data in case of online purchases. This becomes more important when connecting through public, unsecured Wi-Fi networks as the chances of a cyberattack in such cases are really high. If you are on an unsecured WiFi network, anything that you will enter—no matter how secure the website is—can be spied on. Patient hackers might have connected to the very same network and would be waiting for the opportunity to attack and steal data from users like you.
That’s why experts strongly advise against logging into your banking applications or your payment wallets, including PayPal and Skrill when going out and about using public networks without a free VPN installed on your mobile. On the go and in a rush to complete an online purchase? Don’t forget your VPN and stay safe using public Wi-Fi.
5. Booking cheaper flights and hotels.
Airlines and hotel booking sites are notorious for adjusting prices based on where you’re booking from. A VPN lets you compare prices from different virtual locations, often revealing cheaper options. For instance, booking a flight or hotel from a country with a lower average income might show you a lower price than booking from a wealthier country.
6. Avoiding sales tax.
Online shopping in some states can be paired with high sales tax. By using a VPN, you can shop from a virtual location where these taxes don’t exist, and you might save quite a lot of money on the items you are buying. It will be nice if you can find a delivery agent company that will help deliver your goods from places of purchase to where you are actually located.
7. Save on shipping.
Sometimes, depending on your location, the cost of shipping goods differs significantly. Using a VPN will let you find those stores and marketplaces that have really cheap or even free shipping for some countries. That can become possible since changing your virtual location opens access to more online marketplaces, which is very important when ordering something from abroad.
8. No currency conversion fees.
You may be charged extra fees for currency conversions while shopping from international websites if your payment method is in another currency. You can avoid these conversion charges simply by using a VPN to shop for the same currency as your form of payment. This becomes very helpful in the case of large purchases where even a little difference in the rate of exchange makes all the difference in savings.
Tips for using a VPN for online shopping
1. Check the terms of use.
Some online stores and marketplaces may block users who use a VPN. Before you change your location, read the terms of use to avoid any problems.
2. Use a reliable VPN service.
Choose a reputable VPN service that does not keep logs of your activity and provides fast connection speeds. This is important for the security of your personal data and comfortable Internet use.
3. Compare prices manually.
Changing your region via a VPN does not always lead to lower prices. Sometimes prices can be even higher, so it’s a good idea to compare prices manually by connecting to servers in different countries.
4. Consider additional costs.
When you buy goods abroad through a VPN, you may incur additional shipping costs or customs duties. Make sure that these costs do not reduce your savings.
Using a VPN to save money on shopping can be effective. It’s important to do your research and compare prices across different locations. The key is to be smart about how and when you use your VPN for shopping, turning it into a handy tool for stretching your budget a little further.
