A B&M shopper has revealed nine steps you should take in order to get money off at the discount retailer.
Matt Konopielko from Wrexham shared his wisdom with the members of B&M Scanner and Other Bargains on Facebook.
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He revealed a list of criteria that wannabe bargain hunters should keep in mind when they visit the budget store.
The post racked up a lot of attention with other discount-seekers as 100 users commented in agreement, or with their own tips and experiences to share under the post.
Matt said to The Sun: “Saving money is most important, as the price of everything – fuel, bills, daily shopping – is going up.”
Along with many Brits, he is feeling the pinch from hiked gas bills as well as rising food and fuel costs, which have added hundreds to household bills in recent weeks.
B&M already has low prices that can help shoppers stay in budget when picking up essentials and household goodies.
Plus, we’ve spotted a number of sales the retailer has hosted recently that slash those costs even further.
Other shoppers have even likened the cheaper products to more expensive Dunelm ranges, calling the B&M dupes a bargain match.
But the sky’s the limit, as some would say, so the expert deal finder has come up with ways you can squeeze a few more pennies off the price of your shop.
He said: “Some of the bargains I’ll keep for myself, some will be great for Christmas presents.
“Everything else will be sold on at car boots, to help me with bills.”
Matt shared his tips last week, as many grateful shoppers pledged to use them next time they hit the shops.
The nine steps that Matt revealed you should take are as follows:
1. Check the barcodes
Matt revealed that the same product might have different barcodes.
Sometimes that’s because the item has been reduced more than once, so you’ll want to be sure you know what the cheapest and current price is.
He said it’s best to check all of them to get the best price, and you can do this easily with the B&M scanner app.
Otherwise you might find you overlook certain bargains simply because you’ve looked up an old or incorrect price.
2. Play the waiting game
If a product already been reduced, Matt has said that if is not sold in few weeks, it will likely be reduced again soon.
He used the example of a Huawei watch that he’d come across, which started off at £25 before being reduced to £20.
It then saw another £5 reduction down to £15, before being slashed again to the current price of £10.
Optimists might hope the price will be slashed even further, so if you’re brave enough to play the waiting game, you could bag the best bargains.
Don’t wait too long though, as most bargains are subject to availability and can sell out fast.
3. Check for white stickers
Matt also revealed how you should look for items with a white reduction sticker on.
This means they will have a certain amount slashed off the price shown on the label.
However, if the new price of the white sticker doesn’t show up on your B&M scanner app, or you don’t already have the app, you’ll have to do a bit of maths to figure out the new price of the item you’re after.
The reduction should be automatically applied at the tills though.
4. Don’t ignore the error message
Matt explained that if you get an “error item not found” message come up on your scanner app, the product will usually be one set discount price as a result.
This will usually mean it’s just 10p, but there is the chance that this will vary on certain items.
The best thing you can do is check with a member of staff to confirm the new price before you get a nasty shock at the checkouts if it doesn’t happen to be one to fit this criteria.
5. Shop out of season
We’ve already revealed bargains at other retailers that shoppers can nab when they’re out of season and demand has calmed down.
Matt seconds this strategy, as he explained how to look for products at end of the season.
He said the best time to look for gardening products is in September, and Christmas goodies will be discounted the most in January.
It’s simply because not as many people will want to buy these things after the event that they surround has been and gone, and usually the store is making way for new stock to fill its place.
6. Scan random products
Matt’s advice also noted to scan random products.
He said: “You might be surprised at what you can find. I got ten £30 xbox controllers for £1.”
Although if you want to avoid going over budget, you shouldn’t buy something just because it has been marked down.
If there’s something in particular you have your heart set on though, it is a good practice to scan, just on the off chance it has been reduced.
7. Follow Facebook groups
The B&M Scanner and Other Bargains Facebook group is a prime example of where best to find bargains, as Matt himself was able to share his own tips and tricks with the community.
He said you can watch out for what other people post and look for same item.
We’ve found bargain hunters galore on the site before, including one shopper who managed to bag a massive garden furniture and accessories haul worth £180 for £27.
It also might inspire you to check out new shops that you might not have tried visiting before, once you’ve heard the rave reviews.
But he did air a caution for users not to get jealous or make nasty comments, as it puts others off from using the forum and disadvantages everyone as a result.
8. Be nice to the staff
Another tip that might be more under the radar for some shoppers is to simply be nice to the B&M staff.
If you manage to get in their good books they might tell you if something is reduced.
Matt’s managed to turn on the charm before and bag a few bargains in the process.
Of course, this isn’t guaranteed to win you any discounts, but there’s no harm in trying.
9. Don’t dismiss faulty or damaged items
Spotting a beat up box lurking at the back of the shelf doesn’t mean it’s a write-off.
If you see a product with damaged box, you could ask the supervisor or manager for reduction.
Matt said that most often they will give you a better price, but it’s not guaranteed.
If it’s only the box that’s damaged too, you’ll still be able to nab a premium product at a lower cost, though this could influence the decision to give you a discount in the first place if the item itself isn’t damaged.
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