Finding Bargains and Deals on the Internet

Still clipping coupons and waiting for the Sunday circulars to find sales and bargains?  Come along as we hop online to the Internet and find some great savings.

Many people have become more comfortable with the idea of shopping online.  Not only is shopping on the Internet a convenient way to shop but it can also save you a bundle of money.    Most bargain and deal websites focus on consumer electronics and computer equipment, but you can also find coupons, savings and rebates on books, hotel rooms plane tickets and even groceries. 

Bargains and Deal Sites

Bargain and deal sites have sprung up all over the Internet.  They list inventory clearances, rebates, double rebates, coupons and other money saving offers.  Some of the best examples of these type of sites are Ben’s Bargains (http://www.bensbargains.net), Digital Deals (http://www.digitaldeals.net) and Gotapex (http://www.gotapex.com).  These sites often have similar content and list the same deals, as news of a good deal travels fast across the Internet.  Most of these sites also allow you to become a member, make posts to a community forum and have alerts and updates e-mailed to you. 

Coupons

Some sites focus on coupons that allow you to save by entering a code at the time of your online check-out.  Good examples of this are Clever Moms Coupons (http://www.clevermoms.com) and Fatwallet (http://www.fatwallet.com). 

Rebates

Many of the deals listed on bargain sites involve rebates.  The process of redeeming a rebate in the past was often intentionally difficult so you would not receive your full savings.  However, many rebate offers are made much simpler by submitting them on the Internet.  Often you can even check the status of the rebate to help determine when it will be issued.  These online rebates usually allow you to have the funds deposited directly to a bank account.

Woot!

Woot! (http://www.woot.com) has quickly become the biggest deal of the day site on the Internet.  Woot! sells only one product per day, at a super low price.  That item remains the focus of the site until it is sold out or until 11:59 pm central time when it is replaced by a new item.  In the companies own words, “Woot started as an employee-store slash market-testing type of place for an electronics distributor, but it's taken on a life of its own.”   

Searching for Savings
Bargain sites are a wonderful way of window shopping to come across a good deal.  Finding a specific product is best done with the help of a search engine.  Everyone’s favorite search engine, Google, offers the Froogle (http://www.froogle.com) search.  Froogle’s search results will show the least expensive example of the item you are looking for first.

SPAM and Junk Mail

You do want to be wary of some offers made online.  Sites may require you to divulge personal information like an e-mail address or your physical mailing address which in turn may be used to send unwanted SPAM e-mails or old fashioned Junk Mail (got any Pre-approved credit card offers lately?).  Certain information, such as Social Security numbers or even birthdates could be used for identity theft.  Consider setting up a throw away e-mail account to direct SPAM away from your actual e-mail address.  Always check the sites policies about what is done with the personal information given to them.

Turn On, Log In and Check Out

What are you waiting for?  Go open your web-browser and punch in some of the mentioned web sites!  Consider adding these to a favorites list and check the sites daily as there are new deals added all of the time.

Author: Jesse Torok