Comparison Shopping

Compare and shop for goods and services.

Consumers often pay too much for the items they buy, trading economy for the ease of visiting a local store and "being sold" what they need. It's true that smaller, local stores often have more knowledgeable staff than mass merchandisers or online retailers, increasing the chances that a consumer will buy what they need and want. However, consumers who do their own initial legwork and research on a product or service can decide on their own what they need, and then comparison shop for the best deals. While comparison shopping is time consuming, consumers who do comparison shop can save hundreds of dollars on large ticket items. As a matter of fact, the Consumer Literacy Consortium, a group formed with the intent of educating consumers, estimates that a household that consistently comparison shops can save up to $1,000 per year!

Comparison shopping is the process of evaluating the specifications, quality, and pricing of similar products from different suppliers. Comparison shoppers may begin the process by window shopping online or at local retail stores; they often purchase a product after reviewing information from a variety of sources. These sources may include Internet product and pricing research, phone calls to check prices, and current magazines for product reviews and ratings. A recent study showed that today's consumers need potential savings of only 10 to 25 percent to encourage them to comparison shop among at least three vendors.

Today, shoppers can conveniently comparison shop online. Comparison shopping websites feature Internet product directories where consumers can search for items and compare prices from multiple vendors. Online shopping sites often charge different prices for the same item, so it is important to check prices and shipping costs from several online retailers before making an impulse purchase. Customer service and return policies vary from store to store, so it is also wise to consider these issues before buying a product that might need to be returned for credit or a refund. Finally, when all other factors are equal, you may wish to shop at a Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited business.

Interestingly, many shopping websites feature the same product data because web merchants often distribute their products through a wide range of shopping sites. However, the best comparison shopping sites display their products like well-stocked stores, and even offer product descriptions, coupons, and shipping promotions, as well as generous return policies and user-submitted reviews. Recent innovations include local search capabilities for brick-and-mortar stores and price check support for wireless devices such as cell phones.

Price comparison sites and shopping search engines are popular Internet destinations, but online shoppers can also benefit by reading consumer ratings and browsing manufacturer websites for product specifications, illustrations, and suggested retail prices.

Consumers needn't shop on the Internet in order to get the discounts they want. One strategy is to comparison shop on the Internet to find price ranges, and then pick up the phone and call local retailers to compare their prices. Many sellers offer to beat other retailers' prices, and will offer discounts to knowledgeable consumers upon request.

Comparison Shopping Websites

mySimon
Premier comparison shopping destination helps people make more informed purchase decisions when they shop.
www.mySimon.com
Best Web Buys
This price comparison service enables consumers to search for products they want across several stores at the same time.
www.BestWebBuys.com
BizRate
This shopping search engine strives to list a broad range of stores and products, with price, availability, and ratings information.
www.BizRate.com
PriceGrabber
Convenient resource for locating and comparing products, merchants, and prices online.
www.PriceGrabber.com

Other Comparison Shopping Resources

Chosen Sites
Visit this growing network of comparison shopping sites, where you'll find links to online dealers, manufacturers, reviews, and other resources! Most of these sites are free of annoying pop-up ads, and many of them offer free shipping and discount prices.
www.ChosenSites.us
Quisto Shopping Directory
This convenient shopping directory containing thousands of hand-selected and categorized sites offers many quality resources for businesses and consumers.
www.Quisto.com
Outlet Malls
A factory outlet mall is an ideal place to comparison shop for apparel, shoes and accessories as well as small appliances and home decor products. Prices are discounted and you can often compare similar products at several stores.
www.OutletMalls.us

Safe Shopping Online

SafeShopping.org
This informational site, created by the American Bar Association, will help you order safely when shopping online. You'll find that cyber-shopping is fast, convenient, and opens up a whole new world of merchandise for you and your family.
www.SafeShopping.org
Consumer Reports
This well-known subscription-based site features a wealth of information, comparisons, and reviews about many consumer product categories.
www.ConsumerReports.org

Related Shopping Website

Catalog Shopping - mail order catalogs and online shopping catalogs.