Whether it’s a flashy new smart TV or a simple, smart accessory for your wardrobe, shopping is one of life’s best guilty pleasures – and since the pandemic began last year, more and more of that shopping, from the biggest to the smallest purchases, has moved online.
But for shoppers in the North West, it hasn’t all been all been plain sailing, with many less than satisfied by their digital retail experiences.
Perhaps most disappointing of all is the lack of good ways for shoppers to save online. If you’re used to hunting for bargains, you’ve probably noticed that online retailers tend to charge more than they do in person. Worse still, the biggest coupon and discount sites often offer very few online deals, and some deals are region locked, excluding local shoppers. Meanwhile, cashback, a popular solution that gives shoppers some of their money back in exchange for custom, often takes months to give back only a few quid.
To solve these problems, a browser extension – and soon to be launched new app using smart tech – will automatically apply discounts to online shopping. Disco has partnered with the biggest brands to finally, make online shopping more affordable.
Disco’s Head of PR Egor Antonov explained their goal in ambitious terms: “Daring to disrupt the traditional cashback and coupon services, while boosting consumer confidence about making the ‘right’ shopping decisions, Disco’s magicians are creating a breathtaking new world of instant savings”.
But it’s worth taking a closer look to understand just how this all works – and what it might mean for the region’s shoppers.
Take the stress out of shopping with Disco’s browser extension and soon to be launched app
(Image: Firmbee.com)
Ho w does it work for customers?
From the shopper’s point of view, everything appears pretty simple. After downloading Disco to your internet browser, like Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox, a green button will appear on the checkout of all partner websites. This seemingly ‘magic’ button will offer shoppers the chance to buy the same products for less money, no questions asked.
From summer dresses at New Look to garden furniture at B&Q, purchases big and small become discounted without the need to spend hours online looking for discount codes or vouchers. Best of all, the savings apply across the UK, with no regional locks or exceptions.
How do they make it happen?
The trick underlying Disco is a smart-tech reimagining of the old cashback model. Shops offer money back to shoppers for the same reason that they hold sales – it helps them get more buyers. However, by offering “cashback” and promising shoppers that they’ll give back some of their money later, brands are able to hold onto the money for a month or two longer, helping them pay their bills. Unfortunately, that means waiting ages if you’re a shopper, and trusting an unknown cashback company to give your money back.
Instead, Disco uses smart tech to automatically calculate a discount for shoppers at checkout. They’ve partnered with the biggest and most trusted brands, helping them replace their months-long cashback offering with a one-click saving system.
Is it safe?
Disco’s other advantage is making saving money online a much safer experience. On the one hand, as anyone who’s shopped online knows, coupon and discount sites are often full of viruses and fake codes. The other option, cashback, lacks trusted brands, and the sites that do provide a good service can be small and difficult to trace. Some cashback sites are not based in the UK or EU, and it can be difficult to know whether they’re following rigorous data protection standards.
Disco, meanwhile, follows the highest data protection standards, and works with the biggest brands in Scotland to make saving money online feel secure.
Where can I sign up?
If you’re interested in downloading Disco, you can find a link to the browser extension ( https://bit.ly/ManchesterDisco ). Follow on Facebook or Instagram for exclusive deals of up to 70% off!
