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NEVER. PAY. RETAIL. AGAIN!
YOUR $MART$HOP!
(Yeah. THAT'S our demographic, mass-marketers.
Buff 30s, great teeth,
expendable dual incomes, 401Ks the size of Donald Trump's . . . combover.
Yeah. That's us.
Or else two NY models faking it for Big Bucks,
we're guessing.)
Nonetheless, Zebras, times are tightening --
for retailers too.
They're prepared to wheel and deal with you!
Comparison shopping, haggling and
discount codes make for savvy shopping.
Here and below? EVERYTHING you need to know (seriously)
about shopping online and in stores, Zebras.
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RULE #1) ALWAYS SHOP ONLINE FIRST
for the best possible price.
(You'll go into stores and dealerships armed with info and a printout.)
RULE #2) NEVER TAKE OUT YOUR PRINTOUT UNTIL
THE LAST MINUTE,
after you've exhausted all the techniques below.
Where to start? Simple. GOOGLE.
(Though another great tip is below -- the "Forums.")
Example: in Google's search window enter "canon eos 40d
+price comparison"
(minus quotation marks and with no space after the + sign)
to find the best possible price on that model DSLR Canon camera.
Bookmark it ("Favorites") for later printout.
Here's why Google comparison shopping is your
first step, Zebras.
The MSRP on this camera body is $1000+, give or take $100
or so.
That's what your local store will charge (plus tax).
Google's best online price for
this identical camera, from a trusted dealer? $499.
You just saved $500 (plus you don't pay tax) with a few clicks.
Add shipping costs to see what your true cost is.
OR DID YOU JUST SAVE 50%?
In this case, NO, you didn't!
Because, if you click around and research the online selling site
(Google ["onlinesitename +critic"] without the
brackets or quotation marks
and without a space after the +)
you will learn this "trusted
dealer's" positive customer reviews are phony
and they're a rip-off site!
Your BEST site to check a seller's reputation
and ratings (plus find
some great deals)?
ResellerRatings.com
Turns out, with a few more
clicks and searches, the best online price for this camera is Amazon!
Amazon is a terrific, reliable site with great customer service
should any problems arise.
MORAL: Find the best price, then research the
site that's selling your item,
using the above technique. If the price sounds too good to be true, it is.
And don't forget the
SINGLE BEST ONLINE SHOPPING TIP!
Now, once armed with your best
LEGITIMATE price information, go shopping in your local stores and dealers to handle the
product, test-drive it, try it on for size, ask detailed questions and get
answers!
But ALWAYS follow the steps
below before pulling out your best-price printout.
Remember: best-price shopping
is not a battle, not a contest,
it's a friendly win-win informed negotiation.
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HOW SAFE IS MY
CREDIT CARD ONLINE?
Safer than in a department
store.
Google "online credit card security"
in our search window above, upper right, if you don't believe us!
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COUPON CODES
FOREVER!
Whoa, Nellie!
Currentcodes offers Discount
codes from most online retailers!
Just copy and paste 'em into the
"promotional code" box when you check out! |
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PRINTABLE
COUPONS!
For use in stores.
printable-coupons.blogspot.com
and
wow-coupons.com
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COMPARISON
SHOP!
Use sites like
pricegrabber to familiarize
yourself with the best prices on what you want!
And use the Google comparison technique, above! |
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PROTECT YOUR
PRICE!
Track any future price
drops with a price protection site like
priceprotectr.com.
Most retailers will refund the difference if the product's price is
reduced within two weeks after your purchase.
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HAGGLING 101!
Oh, yeah, Zebras. Click the
link for
the crucial psychodynamics of haggling!
Nail this technique and save more than all other
methods combined! |
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PRICE MATCHING!
Boutiques, big-box stores, even
luxury retailers are prepared to "price match" on request if you're
prepared to buy.
Just show them a printout of
the best price you found online and -- bingo! Deal done! |
STACK UP YOUR
SAVINGS!
Check a comparison service like
pricegrabber before making a
purchase, or run a Google price-comparison as outlined above, then go to a coupon sharing site and finally, watch for any
future price drops with a price protection service like
priceprotectr.com.
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________________________
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 Now - the
REAL insider's shopping secret
for the absolute best deals online! |
| Say you're looking for a wristwatch. If you
know what brand, go to "Google," type in the brand followed
by a space followed by the word "forum" (with or without quotes).
rolex forum
Google will return a list of users' forums for
that product.
If you don't know what brand you want, Google "wristwatch
forums" in general.
wristwatch forum
Google will return a list of general wristwatch forums
covering many brands in one forum.
Explore the forums. Find one or more you particularly like?
Join! It's free. Bookmark it in "Favorites." Now you can post questions, seek advice, read others'
questions and answers, users' reviews . . . and MOST IMPORTANTLY .
. . you can shop their "Sales Corner."
Virtually every brand name in any product category
has a users' FORUM with its own "Sales Corner." You will find both
new and used offerings there. At unheard of prices!
These are real people whose online reputations maintain
continuing respect in these forums. They're not hiding behind phony eBay
names and accounts.
Nothing against eBay! I've done many great deals there!
But the Forums are the secret.
Best of all, regular users of these forums monitor
everybody constantly and report unscrupulous members -- which means there
aren't any! These are the most trustworthy best-value buys you can make on the
internet! Favorite Story: A self-employed
multimillionaire friend in Memphis, who's in his 70's, last year
bought a two-year old Lexus this way, saved 50%, flew to Connecticut and
drove it home. Savings: $20,000, if he'd bought the same car in Memphis.
eBAY's fine. But THESE are the deals
Zebrinos. |
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You can also Google "discount
<product>" for infinitely more opportunities
(though not necessarily the best deals -- comparison shop). |
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FINALLY . . .
You bought it and it doesn't work, or you have a
problem or question.
Bypass pre-recorded phone menus and instantly reach
A LIVE HUMAN BEING!
They're all here, Zebras -- all the
secret access codes to bypass computers
and speak to a real person!
Automobile companies. Credit companies.
Department stores Credit Cards.
Finance companies. U.S. Government. Computer companies. Insurance.
Internet Service Providers. Mobile phone carriers. Pharmacies.
U.S. product manufacturers. Shippers. Stores. Telephone companies.
Travel and Hotels.
Live Human Beings!
(Bookmark it in "Favorites.")
________________________
"I always say
shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist."
Tammy Faye Bakker
"Whoever said
money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping."
Bo Derek
"Win
or lose, we go shopping after the election."
Imelda Marcos
"If you think
the United States has stood still, who built the largest shopping center in the
world?"
Richard M. Nixon
HOME
YEARBOOK
BLOG WHERE IS .
. . ?
REMEMBERED
CONTACT US
EVENTS GUESTBOOK
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