10 Shopping Hacks That'll Save You Big Time at Your Favorite Stores

By Hannah Weil McKinley

Updated on 3/24/2016 at 11:00 AM

POPSUGAR Photography
POPSUGAR Photography

For the style-obsessed, shopping is always a pleasure — but you can't beat the particular thrill that comes with scoring a deal, using your student discount, or finding that Topshop bikini Beyoncé was totally wearing in that Instagram just hanging on the rack. The satisfaction of "beating the system" is on another level — a gratification that comes both from the shopping win and in knowing that there are few quite so savvy.

If you take pride in being just this kind of shopper, you're going to want to take notes. Ahead, we've rounded up 10 shopping hacks to take to your favorite stores. From Zara to H&M, consider this your guide to getting the most out of your retail experience — just don't be surprised when friends and family start calling you their "shopping guru."

POPSUGAR Photography | THEM TOO

  1. Forever 21: This Instagram account means you'll be armed with a list of exactly what to buy instead of sorting through racks of meh clothing for hours.
  2. H&M: Have a bag of old clothes you've been waiting to toss? Take it into H&M — as part of the label's green fashion initiatives, the store may offer 15 percent off one item of clothing for each bag of castoffs (with a limit of two vouchers per day). But, at the very least, you'll feel good about cleaning out your closet and not letting your old duds go to waste.
  3. Topshop: Never worry again about navigating the trendy wares; just enlist the help of a personal shopper — no appointment necessary. Bonus: having the assistance of an in-store stylist means you also have the ear of someone who knows their inventory — aka when the new arrivals have hit or when they do in fact have just one more of those in the back.
POPSUGAR Photography | THEM TOO

  1. J.Crew: Always wowed by the J.Crew lookbooks and catalogs but can never quite put together the same look when you're wandering the store on your own? Enlist J.Crew's personal stylist services — they'll help you plan an outfit for a big event, choose a gift, or help you on the fly in 30 minutes. Best part? It's complimentary.
  2. Victoria's Secret: If you're a fan of the label's sexy styles but can never seem to find your size, just ask to be measured. Once you've done that, you can ask the sales associate to bring you the "bra box" too — a box that comes fully stocked with all of the brand's styles in your size so you don't have to run around the store grabbing them all yourself.
  3. Zara: Zara makes it so easy to online shop — forget combing through crowded racks or waiting in line for hours to try stuff on. Have it shipped to you for free (for orders over $50). Bonus: you'll never see scuff marks on shoes or makeup stains on collars when your items are shipped from the warehouse.
POPSUGAR Photography | THEM TOO

  1. Tibi: While designer sample sales are often only a perk of living in cities like NYC and LA, Tibi's are accessible to everyone via its online sample sale that hits a few times a year. You can enjoy the same deep discounts online — minus the perils of crazed sale shoppers.
  2. L.L. Bean: Sounds too good to be true, but it's not — L.L. Bean famously offers a lifetime guarantee. In its words: "Our products are guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way. Return anything purchased from us at any time if it proves otherwise. We do not want you to have anything from L.L.Bean that is not completely satisfactory." How's that for customer service?
  3. Lululemon: Never let your yoga pants drag on the ground again — the retailer offers complimentary hemming on any of its pants, ready in seven days — oh, and they can do your tops, too.
  4. Uniqlo: Get free in-store tailoring for any pair of jeans that cost more than $20. If your jeans cost less, there is a $5 fee for alterations.