Recently in Shopping Category

We've been looking at comparison shopping companies. Its interesting to see who has what presence on the web right now. From google:"comparison shopping" we get the initial list whic includes:

bizrate.com
mysimon.com
pricegrabber.com
dealtime.com
shopper.cnet.com

It's interesting to see that shopping.com doesn't come up.

An Alexaholic shows that mysimon.com is way lower and shopper.cnet.com isn't measure, but we have in order

So we see that all have been they are in order:

• Pricegrabber.com. This is the site that I use religiously, so nice to see that someone else thinks it is valuable.
• Shopping.com now owned by ebay.com
• Bizrate.com is neck and neck with shopping.com and that makes some sense to me, its a great site for reseller rankings.

Then, much lower down, we have the next set which includes:

• Shopzilla.com
• Dealtime.com

I've never found these that useful

I actually agree with these r

Connie got these Sonicare toothbrushes for Calvin, but I have to say that I really love them. The only confusing thing is the names of the various versions, so here's a decoder ring and where to buy them:

• Elite (a.k.a Best). They have two models, the Elite 9500 which has two speeds and different size brush heads as well as the Elite 7300 which has a timer on it (it beeps every 30 seconds). We have the 7500 and it is fine although superseeded by the 9500. Like all deluxe models it will even tell you how much charge it has left. The super highed is $140 at Amazon with for the person who has to have everything. Replacement heads for the E-Series are $30 for a pair. While the Elite 7500 is $105 at Amazon and that's a good value considering the 7300 is $101 at Amazon but only has a single brush, so you get another one for $5.
• Essence (a.k.a. Better). This is the middle of the line model. Main difference are that the 5500 has that pacing thing (called the Quadpacer for some marketing reason) while the lower end 5300 only has one brush head (each brush head lasts six months and is worth $10 or so) but is just $68 while the higher end one is $90
• Advance (a.k.a Good). This is their low end 4100 model without things like a recharge indicator. It is just $50 from Amazon and it is $20 for a single head. BTW this is also called the A series and used to be called the PS-1

Looking at this pricing, I'd say that the 5500 at $70 is probably the best value. Only small featurette you give up is the 30-second timer thing and for the difference, you end being able to another pair of heads for $30. Or if the pacing thing is important the now discontinued 7500 is a good value at $105 since it includes two heads in it.

So how much on the Internet can you save if you want to subscribe to a magazine. Here's one journey (and test) to get the lowest price on The Atlantic

• eHow recommends going to the publishers site directly. For the Atlantic, this is $2.45 per copy or $24.50. They do have an educational discount program buty you need to order 5 copies per issue at least.
• Amazon. I figured these guys would have the rack rate which is $24.95 per year so no bargain there.
• netMagazines. I've used these guys in the past. They have the same $24.95 rack rate for a year although they have a complex package pricing system that might make it easier
• google:"magazine subscriptions" shows that Magazines.com and magsdirect.com are the top two hits, so checking those and Magazines.com has the same $24.95 price
• MagmaMags has the Atlantic at $16 which is pretty good but again I don't know if they are reputable.
• Magazinepricesearch.com has actually built a price searching engine like pricegrabber and shows couponing. For isntance with DCMPS40P, you get $10 off from netmagazines.com and SpringMags coupon at magazines.com gets you $5 off. The main issue though of course is are these underlying sites reputable.

Some other searches there are for Harpers Magazine which is $11/year from magazania.com and magazinecity.com. The rack rate by the way is $14.97 from magazines.com

The New Yorker is biweekly so it is somewhat more at $47 rack rate while it is $18.80 at DeltaMagazines.com. NetMagazines also has a $34 price with the DCMPS16 coupon. Magmaweb a $19/year educational-only price as well.

Hoops said he had a bit of quick shopping to do. It is amazing how you can still get things online and quasi-online just a few days before Christmas. Here are notes for last minute shoppers:

• Outpost.com. This is the cyber outlet for Fry's. So if you don't feel like jetting over to Fry's, then you can use this site. In this case, we were able to get something ordered at 3PM that would make it on the 10AM next day delivery. Wow, I'm amazed if that happens, they charged just $13 extra for overnight, so that's super reasonable. Also, the phones were answered quickly. A good choice.
• Compusa.com. This site ties their online site with their stores, so you can check store inventory and actually see if something is available. They even let you order online and then pickup in the store. Nice if you don't have time to get right out there, but you can bag it online and then get to store at your leisure. They show the stock at all the regional stores here which is amazingly cool.

This is a huge sub-economy. There are many insights about this and many, many sites. Ebay itself is complex. Janelle is really great and a total expert. Some of her more interesting points and connections to great ebay tools are:

• Auctionbites - Free news and resources for online auction users. She has a great set of tools there.
• AuctionBites.com Calendar. This shows you the best time to list so that the most folks are on ebay when the item ends and where the action is.
• Andale. The most amazingly a la carte list of tools.
• Channel Advisor. There is a nice user interface
• Endicia. This is for shipping that lets you do promotions
• USPS.com. US Postal Service will deliver boxes for you to ship them. Wow how convenient.
• Gut Check 2000. This gloms through feedback and you see what is going on with your feedback.

If you are really sophisticated as a buyer, you can snipe. Two good tools are:
* Auctionstealer. I've used this service forever. Bought all kinds of things with it. Let's you buy something in the last 30 seconds or so. The free option is if you do less than 3 bids.
* Cniper.com

Another place to buy books:

• Bestbookbuys.com. The best place for search. Seems to be a good one.
• Half.com. The fixed priced place
• eBay.com. Bestbookbuys doesn't search that unfortunately.

Buying shoes online seems crazy, but both shoebuy.com and nordstrom.com have the great idea that you can exchange shoes for free if you don't have the right size.

Nordstroms is even better in that you can take the shoes in and return them in a real store. Also, the nordstrom.com site has a much bigger inventory than going to a retail store. We got Alex his favorite pair of shoes that we couldn't find at the store.

If you know exactly the brand that you want, then you can use shoebuy.com. Make sure to use the coupons at Shoebuy Promotion Codes as they regularly have 10-20% off if you use these codes. Otherwise it is normally list price.

Can't believe I forgot to Blog where I got this. We have an el cheapo Panasonic Fax machine. Takes carbon paper (remember that stuff) rolls. I'm lying in bed with a bum knee, so time to buy one: * "Aimlower":http://www.aimlower.com/best/price/OpID_mpbr/mTRN_TRN20030726212617994002248/sfx_6484/bot.htm. I've not heard of this price comparison site before, but in any case, they have the RHINOTEK TP-FXFA55 paper variant. $23 from PC Mall, but the shipping is a killer. * "Inkjetcartridge.com":http://www.inkjetcartridge.com/panasonic1.html. This is site that I hit via a Google ad and is also #2 hit for KX-FA53. * "Amaxon":http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004WFS2/103-4560221-3412616?v=glance. Amazon stocks just about everything. $15 per roll though.

Ashford.com. I hadn't tried this online store before. They have luxury items like watches, jewelry, handbags and so forth at everyday low prices. Certainly beats shopping at least for me. I've also heard that Blue Nile is another good place for getting really great diamonds.