Shopping online doesn’t always require trawling reams of websites. Comparison services can help find the best deals
A good bargain is never unwelcome and no one would want to willingly pay more than they should if it can be avoided. The inherent problem here when shopping online is the sheer number of outlets and vendors you can buy from. Unlike your local high street or shopping mall, where there are only so many retailers to choose from, the internet holds innumerable options, all of whom will offer different stock and different prices. Some are better than others and some will save you money, while others may charge more. It’s a commerce minefield and, unequipped, it can be difficult to find the best deals and save money. There are just so many possible deals to wade through and websites you may not even be aware of that could save you some cash.
How can one navigate this sea of sales? How can you be sure you’re getting the best deals? Aside from trawling the internet for days, painstakingly looking at site after site, which is effective, but time consuming, you could use a comparison service. These useful online tools do all the hard work for you and gather the best deals for your desired purchase, ranking them in order of cost and providing links to each offer. Now, that’s a much more attractive proposition, isn’t it? Of course it is, but there are still some things you need to consider and we’ll look at these and some comparison services here.
Click And Compare
If you’ve never used them, price comparison websites for PC hardware and software are like a lot of other comparison sites you may see on TV for such things as insurance and hotel bookings. They gather together deals that match your search criteria and present the results to you in a manner that’s easy to read and digest. Many times, these sites are not limited to computer hardware and software, but for our purposes, this is what we’re going to focus on.
This listing of results eliminates the need to look through site after site and, importantly, could also deliver results from websites you may not even be aware of – so deals from them may otherwise have remained hidden from you. Just by using comparison sites you can find out about alternative vendors, perhaps even some that offer better deals than the sites you usually use.
Of course, the main goal is to find the best deals for you and this is the real benefit, allowing you to save money or find the best possible match for your needs. Most comparison tools will place the best offer at the top, followed by subsequent offers that decrease in value as they progress down the list (depending on your chosen filter). Given the size of the internet and the countless available websites around, even the lower items on the list are likely to be better value than most, so don’t instantly dismiss options further down the page, you may still find something promising.
In fact, this leads us to one of our first tips. Many comparison sites operate just like any other website or media creation, in that they often use adverts to generate income. This can be found in the usual banner ads and pop-ups, but for listings, it can also be found in sponsored offers.
These offers will be from participating vendors who have paid for prime real estate on the comparison site, which will usually be at the very top of the list. This can be regardless of the actual value of the deal in question. This position is sought after by those looking to advertise as it’s almost hard-wired into us that any item found at the top of a list simply must be the best, either in terms of quality or value. However, this may not be the case and you need to be careful. Always check for any advertisement-linked results and take their inclusion with a pinch of salt. The vendor has simply paid for this position on the list and it’s presence doesn’t necessarily reflect the best value option.
That’s not to say sponsored offers will always try to rip you off or anything. Some may actually be the best options and that’s fine, just be sure to check and don’t get sidetracked by big, well-known vendor names, they’re not always the best.
Price Isn’t Everything
The main reason for using price comparison tools is obviously to find a good price, but focusing solely on the advertised cost can be misleading. When looking for deals, even using comparison sites, you need to consider other factors that also contribute to a good deal.
Advertised prices won’t always include postage costs and these can offset any savings you make, rendering some deals that at first appear to be superior to be less desirable. This will usually apply to any items that are sent overseas, but even local shipping can be costly for large items, so don’t take the listed price as final and always drill down.
Likewise, some deals may encompass additional items or services, which could make up for a higher cost. For example, you may be looking to buy a games console, with the cheapest deal offering the console only. A more expensive deal may also package in some games, which could actually save you more money, cutting a cost from buying the games individually. Always check the specifics of a deal, as these may not always be indicated in the initial comparison listing.
Warranties are often an important consideration, especially with higher-end hardware. Not all vendors will offer the same warranty, so be sure to look into this too. A slightly more expensive option may be worth the money if you have a longer warranty to fall back on if needs be.
Caveat Emptor
Although most comparison sites will usually list results from major online retailers and well known names, you’ll often find listings for sites you may not recognise. These smaller sites will often have some very attractive deals, bettering the larger names, so they’re always going to generate interest. However, as with any new online store, you should always do your research. If you’re thinking about buying from a site you’ve never heard of, look into it and see if it’s safe. Check other comparison sites to see how often it’s listed and visit the site itself. How professional is the site? What kind of payment options does it have and does it have encryption security on any pages requiring personal information and payment details?
A good way to get a simple feeling for a site it to email the customer service and ask for some assistance on a product. You can see how fast a response is and how well the site does at communicating with customers.
One of the best ways to check a site or vendor’s integrity is to read customer reviews. Customer feedback is an integral part of other sites, like eBay, and it can be very useful barometer for gauging the legitimacy of any given offer. This is also an essential step to take when buying anything online, regardless of the site you’re on. Make note of any comments about the vendor’s service and support.
You’ll want to know that the item you’re buying is exactly as advertised for the price and is good quality. Customer feedback is a great way to check whether this has been the case in others’ experience, and often gives a good cross-section of opinion that can help you with your choice. For example, there’s no point in saving money via a comparison site if the offer you choose is from a company that is notoriously poor at packaging it items (leading to damage) or is not as advertised.
Compare
Like the vendors they compare, there are many different comparison sites, some of which are better than others. Let’s look at just a few, starting with one of the most popular.
Google Shopping
There’s no doubt that Google knows searching, it’s what the company started out with – and it’s a market it still dominates. As such, it’s only fitting that the search engine is also one of the best shopping and comparison sites available online. Google Shopping is more than a simple comparison site, though, and also offers a fully customisable search that lists relevant offers and allows the use of user-chosen filters to better compare possible deals.
With dedicated categories, price ranges, brands and even specifics such as storage capacity and resolution for cameras, there’s a great set of tools you can use to narrow down your searches for the product you’re looking to buy.
Alongside the actual shopping site you can use, Google’s allen-compassing nature means a simple web search can also yield results, as comparisons are often worked right into your searches, giving you a quick run down of some offers you may find interesting.
However, as good as Google may be, and as useful as the custom settings are, the site is also heavily ad-focused and Google is one of the worst offenders when it comes to placing sponsored results above all else. Keep this in mind when using Google to compare prices and always scroll down to see all offers, including non-sponsored ones.
Newegg
Although Newegg may not be a huge corporation like Google, or run an entire search engine, it’s still one of the best online price listing and comparison sites you’ll come across. In fact some may say it’s the best. Like Google’s option, Newegg features a whole set of filters and options for fine tuning your search and there’s a whole collection of departments, ranging from hobbies and toys, to PC components.
One of the most useful tools at your disposal is the ability to select up to five items to place in a side-by-side comparison. This not only lists the price, but also a run-down of the specifications features of the items selected and this also includes shipping costs, making it very easy to narrow down your selection and pick the best option for you.
Like Google’s sponsored links, Newegg also has a list of featured sellers, but these aren’t usually forced into listings and are found when they’re relevant to searches and within their own section of the site. In fact, sponsored products are listed right at the bottom of your search and are not intrusive at all, which is nice.
PriceRunner
As with other sites, PriceRunner has a wide range of categories, with a few filters you can use to narrow things down. The main thrust of the site, however, is the price comparison element, which is handled a little differently.
Items are listed as normal, but here you can roll over individual items to see a brief price comparison of the top three sellers. Clicking the price will take you to the deal. Of course, there are more than three options for each item and clicking to drill down will take you to a full, detailed run-down of the various offers, with a full listing of sellers.
PriceGrabber
Although not as well laid out as other comparison sites, PriceGrabber is a decent place to compare deals for a wide range of items. The main menu has a large number of categories and as to be expected, you can utilise a range of filters and options to fine tune your search.
Comparisons can be performed between four items at a time and although it’s a little more basic than other sites, it’s a useful, easy to read output that shows you prices and availability, as well as supplying customer reviews and some specifications if relevant.
That’s just a few comparison options you’ll find online and each is a great tool to have to hand if you’re looking to find the very best, most suitable deal for you. Give them a go for yourself and see which suits you best.
Broadband Comparison
Broadband packages are many and varied, with different costs, allowances, limits, benefits and much more. The different suppliers all offer their own rates and the sheer number of deals can be confusing and often misleading. This is where price comparison sites can a huge help and they can cut through the jargon and reams of conditions to give you the best, most suitable contract for your needs.
Sites like www.broadbandchoices.co.uk and www.gocompare.com are great examples of this, with the latter offering comparisons for a wide range of other services, not just broadband. Using these you can perform a quick search using your post code or address and find the options open to you in your area. This includes deals from a range of ISPs and the ability to see options for broadband and phone or broadband only.
For example, Broadbandchoice places all the available options into a simple table that shows contract length, speed, usages, specific benefits and the cost. There are also customer reviews and star ratings for each ISP, so you can quickly see which ISP has the best overall performance in terms of public opinion. This can be essential information for picking the right ISP for you and your area.
If you’re looking for a new broadband contact, comparison sites like this are essential, pure and simple. It’s very important to see the pros and cons of an ISP before you’re locked into a fixed contract and these sites let you get this information easily.