It literally pays to be a newbie! Score major discounts as a first-time customer when you use these promo codes.
Oh, the joy of online shopping! As retailers and service providers continue to give one another a run for our money, the internet remains a playground for consumers to hunt down the best bargains, sales and promo codes.
One of the easiest and surest ways of saving as you spend is to sign up as a first-time customer. Many shops and services like Zalora, HipVan and UberEATS offer a welcome treat when you sign up and make your first order.
In addition, when refer your friends, you will earn still more in spending credits every time your referral becomes a customer, too. It’s a win-win-win!
So without further ado, let us present you with a host of our favourite shopping sites and apps that’ll make your first-time count with a nice discount.
Zalora
The Asian fashion e-commerce site, which carries an international mix of brands such as Topshop, Converse, Superdry, Nike, Under Armour and SK-II, offers customers S$15 off their order when they sign up for Zalora’s newsletter.
Got a Citibank credit card? Until 30 September 2016, you get 18% percent when you use the promo code CITISTYLE18 at checkout and 20% off with the Citi Rewards Card.
As if that’s not enough, this card also lets you earn 10 points or 4 miles for every S$1 you spend on clothes, bags, or shoes online!
Allies of Skin
Unless you’ve been living under a giant rock, you would have heard of this much raved-about local skincare brand by now.
Founded by Nicolas Travis and stocked at such esteemed stores like Escentials, Gallery & Co, and soon at Farfetched and Sephora, Allies of Skin is not only a skin-saver but also a money-saver, as it turns out.
Enjoy S$10 off when you subscribe to their newsletter. That is all.
Airbnb
Cloud Nine beckons with Airbnb’s referral reward. Whenever a friend travels on Airbnb on your recommendation — which means he/she makes a booking through a link shared by you from the “Invite Friends” tab in your account — both of you will receive S$40 in travel credit.
And when they welcome their first guest, you will get an additional S$100.
HipVan
HipVan’s mission is to help customers create the home of their dreams with affordable furniture. If you’ve just spent all of your CPF plus a chunk of cash on a home, this is exactly what you need — savings on décor without compromising style.
When you sign up on HipVan for the first time, you will receive a promo code in your email that takes S$10 off with a minimum spend of S$60.
If you’re an AMEX cardholder, there’s a separate code that allows you to enjoy 15 per cent off storewide. Only one promo code is allowed at a time — read the terms and conditions.
Try using the American Express True Cashback Card so you can get 3% cashback off the first S$6,000 you spend on it.
UberEats
A little competition can be very healthy… well, it is for us at least.
With the tug of food-delivery war, we are not only enjoying our favorite meals delivered by UberEats to our doorsteps with no minimum spend and delivery fee, but we also get S$10 off our first order, and subsequently, whenever our friends place their first order with our referral code. Bon appetit!
foodpanda
Upping the ante is foodpanda, who has joined forces with UOB to serve you an even sweeter deal.
Basically, if you’re a new customer and owns a UOB credit or debit card, you’re in for 25 per cent off the first meal you order from foodpanda.
All you need is this code: “UOB25<first six digits of UOB card>”
Redmart
Craving for some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream? Need to replenish your baby’s diapers? Planning a party and need some wine and a lot of beer?
Redmart has got you covered.The supermarket-on-wheels has a super deal for first-time customers. On top of 10 percent off your virgin order (use the code “TenOff”), delivery is also free for orders of over S$30. Super!
honestbee
You can keep shopping fresh produce and succulent meats without ever leaving your living room! honestbee lets you order from your favorite grocery stores, as well as specialty butchers, fruit vendors, and wine merchants.
With over 60,000 products to choose from and same-day delivery, you get what you want (almost) as soon as you want it.
First timers get S$12 off the first order with a minimum spend of S$100. If you use your HSBC credit card, you get S$20 off with a minimum order of S$130 until 25 September 2016.
Our pick: the HSBC Revolution Card, which gives you 5x rewards on online shopping, dining, and entertainment!
Grab
Grab S$8 off your trip when you refer a friend who’s a new user. When he/she hops on to their first Grab taxi/car, both of you will enjoy the discount. Oh yeah, it’s a joy ride all right.
Tobi
Tobi or not Tobi, that is a no-brainer. This chic and affordable Los Angeles-based fashion label has a generous offer for first-time customers who sign up for their newsletter: We’re talking about 50 percent off!
Plus, there’s free shipping to Singapore when you spend above S$135.17.
Singsaver.com.sg, Singapore’s go-to personal finance comparison platform, guides consumers on the best money habits with its credit card comparison tool and allows real-time personal loans product comparison.