Cutting Costs: Find the Best Deals When Shopping Online
Everyone loves a bargain, however hunting down a bargain is not a thrill for everyone. So, here are some bargain hunting tips to find the best deals when shopping online, whether you are a bargain hunting enthusiast or not.
Finding the Best Deals Online
To find the best deals when shopping online, you need to know where to look. If you are shopping for a specific item, you can use a shopping search engine. Better yet, use a variety of them and compare the results they bring you.
Each search engine finds its information in a different manner. Because of the different ways search engines gather their information, they will yield different results. Try several, and find out which ones you like best. Some of the most popular sites are Shopping.com, Froogle.com, and PriceGrabber.com. For finding the best prices and expert reviews on electronics, try CNET.com.
While the most popular sites are tried and true, there are a number of newcomers breaking onto the field that can help you find the best sales. Smarter.com highlights discounts and coupons in its search. Dealia.com has a downloadable toolbar that alerts you when it finds an item you have been considering for a lower price. Brilliantshoppers.com has a “Coupons” button on their home page where you can browse offers from specific merchants and direct links to get to the relevant web page on the seller’s own site.
For dedicated bargain hunters, there is Fatwallet.com and Gottadeal.com. These two sites post timely information as to which web sites are selling what items for how much. They also have tricks and tips aimed at saving you even more.
As a consumer, do your homework. Know the reputation of the site you are purchasing from, and that of the seller. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check out the site’s reputation through the Better Business Bureau or other online sources.
(c) Copyright text and photo Christa Dovel 2010