Price matching has become a popular policy among many retailers, both online and offline. It‘s a way for stores to remain competitive and attract customers by guaranteeing they won‘t find a lower price elsewhere. But does the leading online fashion retailer ASOS offer price matching? And if not, what are some other ways shoppers can get the best deals and discounts on their trendy clothes, shoes and accessories?
In this expert guide, we‘ll dive deep into ASOS‘ pricing and promotions to arm you with everything you need to know to shop smart and save big. Plus, we‘ll compare how ASOS stacks up against other popular online fashion retailers and share some insider tips for stretching your style budget further. Let‘s get started!
What Exactly Is Price Matching?
First, let‘s make sure we‘re all on the same page about what price matching means. In basic terms, price matching is when a retailer agrees to match a lower advertised price from a competitor on the exact same item. So if you see a specific pair of jeans selling for less on another site, you can show the lower price to the original retailer and they will match that price, ensuring you get the best available deal.
Price matching provides peace of mind and convenience for shoppers. It removes the need to comparison shop across multiple sites yourself. You can buy with confidence knowing you‘re automatically getting the lowest price the store can offer. This builds trust and loyalty between retailers and customers.
However, price matching policies often come with certain terms and conditions. The product usually has to be identical (same size, color, model number, etc.), currently in stock and available from an approved competitor. Many stores also exclude items on sale, clearance, rebate, bundle deals or special promotions from price matching. So it‘s important to read the fine print.
What Is ASOS‘ Official Policy on Price Matching?
Now that we know how price matching works in general, let‘s focus specifically on ASOS. According to their website, ASOS does NOT offer price matching on any items, either against other retailers or even against their own prices if they change after you make a purchase.
Here is the official policy from the ASOS Help page:
"We work hard to make sure we offer the best price we can. However, we don‘t price match against other retailers. From time to time we may run promotions where we match or beat prices at other selected retailers, in which case we‘ll always make the terms clear in our promotional materials."
The policy goes on to state:
"Prices on our website may increase or decrease – we‘re always making sure we give you the best price we can. If you buy something from us and then notice that the price has gone down, we‘re afraid that we can‘t refund you the difference."
Reasons Behind the Policy
So why doesn‘t ASOS price match when so many other retailers do these days? There are a few potential factors behind this policy choice:
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Constantly shifting prices – As a massive global online retailer, ASOS is monitoring competitor pricing, new collection releases, regional trends, stock levels, consumer demand and more on a 24/7 basis. Their sophisticated algorithms make real-time adjustments to ensure they stay both competitive and profitable. Trying to manually price match on top of this would be an administrative nightmare.
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Brand positioning – ASOS aims to be a trendsetting fashion authority, not necessarily the cheapest option. They curate styles from a mix of over 850 brands along with their own labels, serving as a one-stop shop for a certain hip aesthetic. Maybe they‘re banking on customers valuing the ease, choice and vibe of ASOS more than getting the absolute rock bottom price.
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Membership perks – Rather than reactively price matching, ASOS tries to proactively provide value to loyal customers in the form of an annual delivery pass, exclusive early access to sales, special discount codes, etc. This keeps people in the ASOS ecosystem rather than hopping around to different sites.
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Encouraging full-price sales – At the end of the day, ASOS wants to train customers to feel confident buying at the listed price as soon as they see something they like, rather than hesitating in hopes of a lower price later. While they may lose a few shoppers to competitors, they‘re likely making up for it in higher margins from those who buy anyway.
How Does ASOS Compare to Competitors?
Of course, ASOS isn‘t the only online fashion game in town. With the rise of ecommerce, there are more and more options for finding cute clothes and accessories with just a few clicks or swipes. Some of ASOS‘ biggest competitors include:
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boohoo: Like ASOS, boohoo is a hip and trendy online retailer based in the UK. Howeverbohoo also does NOT offer any price matching. Their prices are dynamic and fluctuate regularly in response to market conditions and strategic promotions.
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Shein: This Chinese fast fashion brand has taken the world by storm in recent years thanks to unbelievably low prices and thousands of new style drops weekly. However, perhaps unsurprisingly given their prices are already rock bottom, Shein also does not offer any price matching policy currently.
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Missguided: This UK retailer is known for affordable and sexy fashion aimed at younger women. While they do not have an explicit price match guarantee, they do offer a 20% student discount as well as regular limited time coupon codes and sales.
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PrettyLittleThing: Owned by boohoo, this brand also targets the junior and young adult crowd with inexpensive, flirty outfits. They have a Deals page featuring constant markdowns but no formal price matching policy.
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Forever 21: Once a ubiquitous mall staple, Forever 21 has shifted more to online sales in recent years after some financial struggles. But even with a focus on value, their website does not mention price matching as a policy.
So in short, while price matching is increasingly common for brick-and-mortar retailers trying to keep up with online rivals, most of the major online fast fashion brands are not offering price matching themselves. The low prices and endless selection are meant to stand on their own for attracting customers. Let‘s be real, ain‘t nobody got time to try to prove a crop top is 3 pence cheaper on the other side of the internet.
Other Ways to Save Money on ASOS
Just because ASOS doesn‘t price match doesn‘t mean you can‘t still score some killer deals though! On the contrary, there are plenty of ways to be a smart and savvy ASOS shopper that can add up to big savings over time:
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Shop the sales – ASOS has frequent sitewide sales for events like Black Friday and Boxing Day where you can find a wide array of items for up to 70% off. These are great opportunities to stock up on basics, try a new trend or refresh your wardrobe on a budget.
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Visit the Outlet – The ASOS Outlet features a regularly updated selection of over 10,000 items at 30-60% off, including past-season pieces from top brands and ASOS house labels. It‘s like having a secret extra sale section to explore!
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Buy multipacks – For things like socks, underwear, basic tees and accessories, keep an eye out for multipack bundles. You can often get better per-unit prices by purchasing these items in sets of 2-5 instead of individually.
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Look for discount codes – Always google "[store name] discount code" before heading to the checkout! ASOS works with various influencers, publishes magazines, sponsors events, etc. and will often create limited-time promo codes for 10-25% off that can be found with a bit of internet sleuthing.
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Get the app – The free ASOS app not only makes mobile browsing and buying a snap, you can also get exclusive discounts and early access to sales. Plus, it makes it easy to favorite items and get notified if they go on sale later.
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Refer friends – Share the ASOS love! If you refer a friend and they end up placing an order, you‘ll get a % off your next purchase too. Spread the link around and watch the discounts pile up.
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Join the mailing list – Yes, you‘ll get more emails, but you‘ll also be the first to know about new releases, upcoming sales and app-only promotions. Just filter the messages to keep your inbox under control while staying in the loop.
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Skip express shipping – As tempting as premier delivery is, choosing standard shipping when you‘re not in a major rush can help trim a bit off your total. Or better yet, fill your cart to the free shipping minimum and let those savings compound!
Tips for Smart Online Clothes Shopping
Beyond specific ASOS hacks, there are also some general best practices that can help you make the most of your online fashion budget and avoid buyer‘s remorse:
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Know your measurements – Sizes can vary so much between brands, so get out that measuring tape! Having a few key numbers like your bust, waist, hips, inseam, etc. can help you pick the right size the first time and minimize returns.
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Read reviews – If you‘re on the fence about an item, see what other customers have to say, especially regarding things like fabric, fit and quality. You can often find useful nuggets like whether an item runs true to size or if certain design details make it better or worse.
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Look for inspiration – If you‘re not quite sure how to style a piece, head to the brand‘s social media and search the item name or check the hashtag. You can see how fashion influencers and everyday customers wore it and use their looks for outfit ideas.
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Utilize filters and bookmarks – Most major retailers let you filter search results by size, color, price, rating, etc. Take advantage to hone in on what you‘re looking for quicker. And if you‘re not ready to buy yet, bookmark or "heart" your favorite finds to revisit later.
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Set sale alerts – If you‘re lusting after a specific piece that‘s a bit out of budget, see if you can set a sale alert to be notified if/when the price drops. Browser extensions like Honey and Karma have this feature, or you can install the Shoptagr app.
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Do the math on sale items – When a store is running a promotion like "30% off orders over £100" or "£25 off every £100 spent", bust out the calculator! Are you actually coming out ahead by adding more to your cart? Make sure the sale construct makes sense for you.
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Check the return policy – Even the savviest shoppers sometimes need to make a return. Scan the store policy for important details like whether you can return via mail or store, if you‘ll get a refund or store credit, who covers return shipping, and any deadlines or exclusions.
The Future of Price Matching for Online Retailers
So where does all this leave us on the topic of price matching in the world of online fashion? It seems that, for now, the prevailing approach is to skip it in favor of unique offerings, member perks, targeted promotions and generally low prices.
However, as competition continues to heat up and customers get ever savvier, online retailers may need to rethink their stance. Price matching sends a strong signal that a store is willing to stand behind their prices and go the extra mile for customers. It can build trust, loyalty and a sense of getting a fair deal – all increasingly important in the world of online shopping where a rival is just a click away.
We may see more online stores testing out limited price matching under certain conditions, or getting creative with concepts like personalized pricing based on a customer‘s purchase history and predicted lifetime value. Technology is also evolving to potentially make price matching easier to implement and automate.
At the end of the day, customers just want to feel like they‘re getting the best possible combination of quality, style and price. Whether that‘s through price matching, a members-only rewards program or even a flash sale is somewhat up for debate. Innovative retailers are wise to keep a close eye on this space and adjust their policies accordingly.
The Bottom Line
After taking a closer look, we‘ve learned that leading online fashion retailer ASOS does not currently offer price matching, either to competitors‘ prices or their own fluctuating prices over time. While perhaps disappointing for bargain hunters, this policy seems in line with many other major online fast fashion peers.
However, that doesn‘t mean you can‘t still be a smart ASOS shopper and find great deals! With regular sales, outlet finds, multipack bundles, discount codes, app exclusives and more, there are ample opportunities to score on style and protect your pocketbook. Layer on some general tips for savvy online shopping – like knowing your size, reading reviews, using filters, and checking return policies – and you‘re well on your way to wardrobe wins.
As for the future of price matching among online stores, only time will tell how policies may shift and evolve. With stiff competition just a click away, retailers can‘t afford to fall too far behind customer expectations on price and value. Creative solutions that build loyalty, leverage data and harness technology could be the next frontier.
No matter what, we‘ll be here to keep you up to date on all the latest ways to snag the steals and survive the splurges as you build your best closet. Thanks for following along on this deep dive into ASOS price matching. Go forth and shop smarter, fashionistas!
