By Kelly Hodges
This year, consumers are being more diligent than ever in making sure that the deals they snag are indeed the best deals available. And it should come as no surprise that smartphones are helping to make savvy shopping even easier. There are dozens of apps available that allow you to scan the barcodes of products you’re planning to purchase to see if there’s another vendor, either the brick and mortar kind or online, that’s selling the item for less. And to make it even easier, these apps then allow you to buy the item from the cheapest seller, right there on your smartphone!
For example, let’s say you’re at Superstore A and you find an amazing “doorbuster” deal on the new Harry Potter DVD for $12.99. This seems like a great savings, since it’s marked down from its usual price of $27.99. But wait, you take an extra second to scan the barcode with your smartphone using your price comparison app, and presto- you learn that Superstore B is selling it for $6.99! Even better, with a few taps on your screen you can purchase it right then and there, standing in the middle of the Superstore A electronics section!
Does this sound too good to be true? Believe me it’s not, I’ve tried it. This new technology is quite popular already, and there are multiple price comparison apps to choose from. Most are free and compatible with both iPhone and Android systems. Amazon has its own app called Price Check which they created with the hope that when people choose to price compare, Amazon would often emerge as the cheapest vendor. Google has an app as well, Google Shopper. And, further, ShopSavvy is one of the original price comparison apps, and it just released its 5th addition earlier this month, adding additional features that make it even easier to price compare and make purchases on the spot. There are dozens more, and they are becoming an essential tool for consumers who want to ensure that they are getting merchandise for the best available price.
Price comparison applications arm shoppers with data on the spot when it is needed most. By using them one can make an educated decision on what’s a good deal, and what’s just part of the holiday hype. Happy shopping!
—————————————————————-
Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of her employer or any other person or entity.
Be sure to “Like” See It Market on Facebook to keep up with current news and updates on the site.
