Leave items in your cart, wait, and sometimes a discount email arrives. This strategy works—but not everywhere, and not always. Here is how to use cart abandonment tactically.
How Cart Abandonment Discounts Work
Retailers track abandoned carts and often send follow-up emails with incentives to complete the purchase. Typical offers include:
- 10-20% off your cart
- Free shipping
- Limited-time bonus (gift with purchase)
- Reminder emails with no discount (just urgency)
When It Works Best
High-Probability Scenarios
- First-time visitors on fashion and beauty sites
- Higher-priced items ($100+)
- Email subscribers (they can contact you)
- Off-peak shopping times (weekdays)
Low-Probability Scenarios
- Grocery and essential items
- Already-discounted clearance items
- Peak sale periods (Black Friday)
- Guest checkout without email
The Optimal Waiting Strategy
- Add items to cart while logged in or with email entered
- Wait 1-4 hours for the first reminder email
- Wait 24-48 hours for the discount email (if coming)
- Check spam folder—promotional emails often land there
- If no email after 48 hours, the retailer likely does not use this tactic
Stores Known for Abandonment Discounts
These retailers frequently send cart recovery offers:
- ASOS – Often 10-15% off within 24 hours
- Wayfair – Frequent email reminders with codes
- Shein – Known for abandonment discounts
- Most DTC brands and subscription services
Caution: Price Increases
Some retailers raise prices on carted items (dynamic pricing). Clear cookies or use incognito mode to check if the price changed. If it did, the abandonment tactic backfired.