Dupes, or affordable alternatives to more expensive items, have taken the shopping world by storm, offering nearly identical versions of pricey products. From designer fashion to furniture and tech, dupes aim to deliver the same look, feel and function for a fraction of the price. But are they really worth it?
We turned to real shoppers to find out if these budget-friendly swaps live up to the hype.
According to our survey, 83% of respondents were familiar with dupes at some level, with nearly 82% of shoppers having purchased a dupe.
Unfortunately, those dupes might not have lived up to expectations. Over 86% of shoppers who have purchased a dupe have been disappointed by one.
Over 86% of shoppers have been disappointed by a dupe.
To avoid being a part of that 86%, pay attention to the details. The key to finding reliable dupes is knowing what to look for and not getting distracted by a lower price. Even if you save $50 on a dupe, if that dupe only lasts one wear, it’s going to cost you more in the long run. Always look into the cost-per-wear or the cost-per-use to make sure the purchase is worth it.
Here are some dupes to consider so that you’re not disappointed:
Clothing. Skip the lululemon Align leggings that retail for $98, and go with the CRZ YOGA’s Butterluxe Origin leggings on Amazon that retail for $28 to $36.
Furniture. The Fox & Roe Nathan Cloud Modular Sectional is a lower-cost alternative to the Restoration Hardware Cloud Sofa. It gives you the same deep-seat look for a much lower price. The sectional can be found for $3,399.98, while the RH Cloud 2-Cushion Sofa can be over $12,000 for the full set.
Technology. The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is a splurge, but the Laifen Swift hair dryer offers a similar brushless motor for less. Both provide a sleek look and fast performance. The Supersonic hair dryer is $429, while the Laifen Swift costs just $139.99.
Beauty products. Makeup can be expensive, but the e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter is a great dupe for Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter. Both products provide a soft filter effect without feeling too heavy on the skin. The e.l.f. dupe costs $15, while the Charlotte Tilbury product costs $50.
Dupes can always be made more affordable with verified savings. That's why shoppers should leverage lululemon coupons, Amazon codes, Dyson deals, e.l.f. Cosmetics promotions, and Charlotte Tilbury savings.
That being said, 51% of respondents think that dupes are actually better than the original, so there’s still hope for affordable alternatives. Only 12% said they were worse.
The question is, where are consumers finding dupes and what are they buying? Over 65% of shoppers discover dupes through social media, while more than 50% learn about them through word of mouth.
When it comes to the most common consumer category for dupes, clothing led the list, followed by furniture, tech and accessories. Beauty products was the least popular category coming in at 34%.
What are the most popular categories for dupes?
- Clothing — 67%
- Furniture — 57%
- Technology — 51%
- Accessories — 50%
- Food/Snacks — 39%
- Beauty Products — 34%
But whatever it is you’re shopping for, shoppers can triple their savings on products, including the e.l.f. Halo Glow from Ulta. This product is originally priced at $15. To save, visit the Ulta coupons page on CouponCabin to find a list of current coupons. Look for the $3.50 off $15 coupon. This will mark the product down from $15 to $11.50. Then, shop during a sale event, such as the Buy More, Save More promotion that can be found every 4-6 weeks at Ulta.
With the holidays just around the corner, dupes are a popular budgeting strategy for shoppers. A whopping 79% of consumers are willing to buy a dupe for family members or friends as a holiday gift this year.
79% of consumers are willing to buy a dupe as a holiday gift.
How to Get Dupes for Even Less
Here at CouponCabin, we take dupes to the next level. That means that not only can shoppers save by supplementing with cheaper alternatives, but we actually have ways to make those alternatives even more affordable. Using these tips, shoppers don’t have to settle for the listed price:
e.l.f. products are a great dupe for Charlotte Tilbury makeup, but the savings don’t stop there. Shoppers can join the Beauty Squad Rewards program and use points to get the $15 dupe for just $12.
When it comes to dupes from Amazon, take advantage of clippable coupons that can be found below the price, offering 5-10% off.
If you decide to go with the more expensive option, lululemon has a We Made Too Much Sale section where shoppers can find discounted products, including leggings. The sale section updates every Thursday around 7:00 am Eastern Time, but keep in mind that these items are final sale.
Expert tip! If you have a lululemon Membership, you can return items from the We Made Too Much Sale in-store for an exchange or a lululemon gift card.
- Shoppers can also check the Restoration Hardware Outlet locations to find major deals on furniture pieces, such as the Cloud Sofa. While the Cloud Sofa can be hard to find, shoppers can call specific warehouses and ask if there is one being sold as a floor model.
Expert tip! After 30 days of an item being available in the Restoration Hardware Outlet section, it drops another 20% in price.
Survey Method:
This survey was conducted on behalf of CouponCabin on October 25th, 2024, among 1,070 consumers.
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