There are dozens of price comparison search engines on the net currently. Some of them charge the merchants to be listed and to be ranked higher than their competitors. This type of price comparison search engine may not be forthcoming with this information so they may not be as reliable, reputable or provide you as many choices as the sites that don't charge for listings and allow any merchant to submit their products. Some of the major engines that charge for listing and ranking are Shopping.com, ShopZilla.com, PriceGrabber.com and NextTag.com.
The price comparison search engines that do not charge for listings and allow any merchant to submit their products are Froogle.com, ShopWiki.com and TheFind.com. You may find a bigger selection of stores with your item available and therefore a better chance of finding the absolute best price available anywhere.
Deals
There are many websites that cater to bargain hunters and deal shoppers. Most of these include a blog or post style main page that posts the latest hot deals for view, but most of them also offer a community of forums where users can view even more deals, post deals they have found and converse about how to get the best deal via pricematching, coupon codes and rebates. You'll find a haven of bargain hunters at these sites. The best sites include Slickdeals.net, Fatwallet.com, Cheapstingybargains.com, BensBargains.net, Dealsea.com and Dealcatcher.com. Probably the best site would be Slickdeals.net, since they don't allow affiliate links and therefore you are apt to get the most honest deals posted, whereas sites like Dealcatcher.com post mostly affiliate links where they make money from everything you purchase. When affiliate links are allowed, a site is likely to promote the best paying links first, not necessarily the best deals. Watch out for these affiliate and referral links.
If you're looking for tech stuff, games or books, there are specialty price comparison search engines just for these products. They include TechBargains.com for tech deals, PriceWatch.com for tech/computer deals, Cheapassgamer.com for game deals and Addall.com for book deals. These sites will search specific merchants that specialize in these product areas as well as the larger merchants.
Coupons
There are dozens of sites devoted exclusively to posting the latest coupon codes. Coupon codes are available for a wide variety of discounts including free shipping, a free percentage off pricing, buy one get one free, free gift with order or a set dollar discount such as $5 off a $10 purchase. Whenever you buy online, don't hit that SUBMIT ORDER button until you have searched for a coupon code for that merchant. Most large merchants have active coupon codes at any given time. Some of the big coupon code sites are Currentcodes.com, Couponmountain.com, Couponcabin.com, Flamingoworld.com and Couponcraze.com. Again, watch out for affiliate and referral links on these sites too, they often promote higher paying store links first. Slickdeals.net also offers a huge coupon code forum, be sure to check that out for non affiliate codes.
Auctions
Don't forget to check out eBay and Yahoo's auctions for deals on certain products as well. Auctions allow you to search millions of listings and millions of sellers at one time. They may not allow coupon codes or rebates, but auctions are the only buying avenue that allow you to have so much control over how much you pay for an item.
Everyday, thousands of consumers are comparing prices and buying products online to satisfy their wants, needs and desires. It has become a way of life for many. Experts are now asking themselves and wondering why the appeal for online shopping is suddenly evolving into a new trend. A recent Forrester study of online comparison shopping asked several hundred consumers why they shop online and the results were not surprising: bargains and convenience. These two reasons coupled with thousands of online comparison shopping services are making the case for an Internet revolution that will benefit the value conscious consumer. Here are a few reasons why online comparison shopping works.
Stress Free Transactions
How many times have you been standing in line at the mall somewhere debating with yourself about whether or not you actually need the pair of shoes you are holding? The internal debate isn't necessarily about the cost or the color of the shoes. No, it's more about you not wanting to wait in the horrific long line for the $60 pair of shoes. Sounds too familiar, doesn't it?
What about the parking fiasco when you arrived at the mall? Perhaps you are still irritated with the person who cut in front of you and stole that first row space in the parking lot, which caused you to park more than a mile away. Suddenly, your trip to the mall doesn't seem to be giving you what you expected.
These are just a few reasons why online comparison shopping is taking off. It's easy, convenient and you can buy exactly the same thing online as you can at the mall. It's a stress free transaction that allows you to make purchases online and from the comfort of your own home.
Instant Gratification, or Not?
We currently live in a world where drive-thru restaurants dominate every street corner; high-speed internet is growing rapidly and microwave ovens. We are a society that thrives and operates on instant gratification. But, there needs to be a point where you have to wonder what that frozen roast beef dinner or Big Mac is really doing to your internal organs.
This is one disadvantage of online comparison shopping. That is, you actually have to wait a day or two before you can actually receive the products. But, what if you can get the same pair of shoes online for half the price? The fact is that comparison shopping on the internet can save you thousands of dollars per year. The reason why it's cheaper online is that online retailers do not have to mark up the products 100% like the retailers do because they don't have sales agents to pay, an electricity bill, or the rental fees to the mall. Comparison shopping is really a no brainer for those consumers who are looking to save some serious coin.
The People Factor
So, who really wants to sit behind a computer screen shopping online by yourself while Carpal Tunnel Syndrome begins to grow in your wrists? The fact of the matter is that even though we live in high speed world where everyone is connected by email, instant messaging and chat, we still want and need human interaction. It's important for our self being to be around others and engage in conversations. No, this is not a contradiction to earlier statements made, but rather the introduction of an awesome innovation that is taking online comparison shopping to the next level.
Now, imagine yourself at the mall again looking at the same pair of shoes that you desperately want and need; and then noticing that horrific line. What if you were to dial a phone number, punch in the barcode of the shoes and wait for a few seconds while a database will search the internet to see where you can buy them cheaper? A computerized voice will then confirm the name of the product and provide the product's price on Amazon.com and/or Yahoo! Shopping, whichever is cheaper. You can then bookmark that product, go to a website and pay for it later.
Both Auctionsdir & Michael Brito are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Michael Brito has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Marketing and Broadband. Yes, it's here and it's called Frucall. Frucall is a free phone-based price-comparison shopping service for consumers to compare prices and purchase products using their cell phones, anywhere, anytime. Frucall blends the benefits of in-store shopping with. Michael Brito's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.