Your Experience on Deal Websites

[dailysteals]

Does anyone browse deal websites? What's the most you saved on them and what items have you found are often on sale? Sometimes it's easiest to shop by category, but you need a certain item, are deal sites the first place you look? Do you find that sites offering one deal a day are better? How many sites do you use?

[joshuaking]

If I am going to buy anything that is more than 25 dollars, I almost always do a quick search on google for the item, as well as a search for coupons at sites I might buy it at. I usually find the best deal that way.

[susie michelle]

I agree with you, Joshua. I always use a coupon code when I buy online.

If you have something very specific in mind that you're buying, try checking the price at amazon before you buy anywhere else. They often have really good prices because they have multiple marketplaces that all come together (but make sure to check your shipping price before you check out. If it doesn't ship directly from amazon, the shipping prices can be exorbitant, with no free shipping on $25 like you're used to getting on amazon.)

You might also want to check a search at google.com/shopping. You'll find the prices (with shipping figured in) at a variety of online stores.

[disneysteve]

I always use a coupon code when I buy online.

Actually, you should search for a coupon even when you are buying offline.

For example, our sewer drain was clogged recently. I called RotoRooter to come out. After I called them, I went online and found a coupon for $40 off any service call.

It really pays to take a minute or two and do a quick search online before you do anything: call a repairman, go out for dinner, go to the movies, whatever. Search for a coupon first.

[SavingSweetOneL]

What sites have people foumd to be good sites for this?

Thanks.

SweetOneL

[AccountantSalary]

If I'm eating out, I check restaurant.com, where you can usually spend half of what you plan on buying at a restaurant. It's mostly useful for dinners for two or more.

[disneysteve]

What sites have people foumd to be good sites for this?

We've gotten good deals on both Groupon and LIvingSocial.

[bjl584]

Does anyone browse deal websites? What's the most you saved on them and what items have you found are often on sale? Sometimes it's easiest to shop by category, but you need a certain item, are deal sites the first place you look? Do you find that sites offering one deal a day are better? How many sites do you use?

I order a lot of things online. One thing that I do is to search for online coupon codes before I purchase anything. 99% of the time there is a coupon code out there that you can use for 10% off, 20% off, free shipping, or something else. It only takes a few extra minutes, so it's well worth it.

[Nsmith508]

retailmenot is incredible

[MauBell0405]

I've used deal site once, and unfortunately I didn't receive my order! I've sent them an email and got no response from the company. Good thing it was nothing really expensive and I can just let it pass. But I will never do any transaction again on that deal site.

[BMEPhDinCO]

retailmenot is incredible

+1 I also like fatwallet and other sites like that - never buy anything without checking first, and use your smartphone when in a store to look for coupons too, you never know unless you try!

[joshuaking]

Actually, you should search for a coupon even when you are buying offline.

For example, our sewer drain was clogged recently. I called RotoRooter to come out. After I called them, I went online and found a coupon for $40 off any service call.

It really pays to take a minute or two and do a quick search online before you do anything: call a repairman, go out for dinner, go to the movies, whatever. Search for a coupon first.

That is a great reminder disneysteve. While I always check for prices/coupons when I'm shopping online, I often forget to do so when I am shopping offline. Even fast food-I can almost always find a coupon and save money IF I remember to check before leaving the house.

[kv968]

I do try to look for an online code when buying, but sometimes it also pays to just revisit the website to see if the item you bought went on sale since.

I bought my GF a pair of boots from Zappos for Xmas after finding their price comparable, or better, than other places (Zappos doesn't offer coupon or promotional codes). I happened to check them again a couple of weeks later and saw that they were on sale $50 cheaper. I called and noted this to the rep and she said as long as I bought them within 14 days (give or take a day or so) that they'd credit my account the difference which they did.

I'm not saying this will work with all retailers but it's worth a shot.