The Insider's Guide to Deal-a-Day Shopping

[wootalyzer]

Here at Wootalyzer, we have quite a lot of experience navigating through the deal-a-day market. So, in order to give a head start to all of our users, we have decided to post what we think is the most important information to know while deal-a-day shopping.

The Wootalyzer Insider's Guide to Deal-a-Day Shopping

1. Beating the system

Let's face it, everybody wants money. You want to save money, and the deal-a-day websites want to make money. So how can you both win? Here's the three typical situations to look out for:

Retail Promotion:
Some websites (such as Amazon) feature products at a significantly reduced price in order to attract and retain customers. These deals are great, because they are typically brand new items, which you can grab at a reduced price for a limited time. These are some of the best deals-of-the-day you can find.

Overstock and Refurbished:
Other websites (such as Woot!) buy items in bulk that manufacturers have refurbished, or no longer want to keep in their warehouses (old models, too many were produced, etc). This way, the website can make money even while passing on the deep discounts to you. These deals can be great - but be sure to look out for items that are out of date or possibly broken.

Tricksters:
Lastly, there are a few deal-a-day sites out there which have no intention of helping you out. They may use flashy advertising and huge fake "discounts" to lure you in, but watch out - you could probably find a higher quality item elsewhere at a lower price. These sites can also exhibit low quality customer service, slow shipping speeds, and unreliable warranty promises. We at Wootalyzer try to protect you by not tracking websites we suspect to be of this quality. Be aware of where you shop. You can never be too careful.

2. Refurbished, Reconditioned, Recertified

Many people do not understand the differences between a refurbished item and a new one. While the two may seem identical most of the time, there are a few things you should be aware of while purchasing a refurbished item.

When a consumer returns an item for any reason (whether it is broken, scratched, or they simply do not want it), it is then shipped back to its original manufacturer. The manufacturer inspects the item, fixes any defects they may find, and sends it out to be sold as a refurbished item at a cheaper price. Keep in mind that this inspection process varies based on manufacturer - some may simply repackage a broken item, while some may put it through numerous tests to ensure it works correctly.

So, purchasing a refurbished item is a gamble. You may receive an item with a defect that was not fixed during repair. You may receive an item that works and looks like brand new. In any case - be sure that ANY refurbished item you purchase comes with some type of warranty from the manufacturer or reseller just in case you wind up with a dud.

Contrary to popular belief, the terms "refurbished, reconditioned, and recertified" are identical. They can be used interchangeably, and have identical meaning. Some websites use these terms in an attempt to hide the fact that the item has been purchased before, but do not be fooled. Read descriptions carefully, and make sure you know the condition of the product you are buying.

3. Shop Around

Just because a website sells a deal-of-the-day, doesn't necessarily mean it's a great deal. Shopping around before purchasing an item is always important. Here's an easy way to do a price check:

1. Visit shopping.google.com
2. Enter the name of the item you are interested in
3. Look for the cheapest price from a reliable website (4-5 stars with many reviews)

If the price you find is lower than the deal-a-day price you are looking at, chances are it's probably not that great of a deal.

4. Mystery Boxes

Boy oh boy. Who doesn't love a great mystery box? The great thrill of opening a package full of trinkets and products that are probably worth more than you amount you paid. Right? Not necessarily.

Many deal-a-day sites sell mystery boxes (mystery bags, mystery items, etc). Basically, you pay them a predefined amount of money. Then, they send you whatever they feel fit, on the assumption that what they send will probably be worth more than you paid. Unfortunately, most websites take this opportunity to send you all the products that they couldn't sell or don't want. So, here's our purchasing advice on mystery products:

• You don't like the thrill of receiving a mystery? DON'T BUY IT. You will be disappointed at what it has to offer.
• Read customer reviews on previous mystery boxes from that website. Are they unfavorable? If so, DON'T BUY IT. Many times, you can find reviews that include the contents of previous mystery boxes.
• Does the mystery box cost more than ten dollars? DON'T BUY IT.

5. Be Smart

Lastly, but most importantly, be smart about your purchasing decisions. If you are unsure about a product's price, feel free to price compare at other stores. If you have questions about a businesses practices, do not be afraid to contact them and ask.

Also, if you have any trouble with any of the merchants listed within Wootalyzer, please let us know so we can ensure it will not happen to any of the other Wootalyzer users.

Have fun, stay safe, buy cool stuff, and save money.

-- The Wootalyzer Team

[loganki]

Excellent read, thanks!