| You're biggest helps for finding good deals (and in this | | | | care exactly what kind of laptop you want. Is there |
| case the cheapest laptop) on the Internet are going | | | | a specific brand with a specific set of features you |
| to come from two types of sites: deal aggregators | | | | want? If so then you should type the model number |
| and shopping engines. Deal aggregators go out and | | | | into a few shopping engines. Keep in mind that you |
| look for good deals from all across the web and post | | | | should only buy from reputable retailers. Most |
| them in one place for their visitors to browse. | | | | shopping engines will have rating systems for retailers. |
| Shopping engines allow you to check the price for a | | | | If you haven't built a relationship with a retailer, be |
| specific item across all of the retailer sites they | | | | sure to check out their rating and comments. Buyer |
| search. | | | | Beware! |
| Let's look at deal aggregators first. These sites | | | | If you aren't looking for a specific model of a laptop, |
| usually target a certain category of products and | | | | then you should use a deal aggregator. Instead of |
| post what they believe are exceptional bargains. One | | | | looking for a specific item, these sites will be looking |
| example of a deal aggregator is Tech Bargains. It lists | | | | for the best deals. How would you know which |
| several deals every day on technology items. It | | | | model laptop would be the cheapest using a shopping |
| includes cheap laptops, but it is not exclusive to | | | | engine? Sometimes you can search for generic things |
| cheap laptops. It lists all sorts of technology items. | | | | like "laptop" and sort prices, but the cheapest laptops |
| Cheapest Laptop Today is a site like a deal | | | | shown there won't always be the best deals. You'll |
| aggregator focused on cheap laptops. It doesn't post | | | | probably have to sort through used laptops, possibly |
| deals as they are found, but rather keeps a list of | | | | scams, and laptops that are cheap in quality rather |
| recommendations and continually updates it. | | | | than price. This is where aggregators can help. |
| The nice thing about deal aggregators is that they | | | | Keep in mind that even though the retailer is might |
| usually have some experience in looking for these | | | | be pre-screened by the aggregation site, you should |
| type deals. That means they understand the items | | | | still do some research if you don't already trust the |
| they list and how much they would normally cost. | | | | retailer. It's still Buyer Beware! |
| They also usually have a sense for when something | | | | Another thing to keep in mind is that patience is |
| is fishy because they know the reputable retailers | | | | always a virtue, especially when bargain shopping. |
| and know when something appears "too good to be | | | | The longer you search, the better chance you have |
| true." This doesn't mean you should automatically | | | | of finding a good deal. But when it comes to |
| trust a deal aggregator, but at least they should | | | | technology, especially cheap laptops, you have to |
| weed out a lot of cruft for you. | | | | temper this. Technology prices are always falling. If |
| The other type of site is a shopping engine. Shopping | | | | you kept waiting for the best deal on a laptop you |
| engines are good for when you know exactly what | | | | would just wait forever. So it comes down to how |
| kind of item you want and just want to find the best | | | | much patience you have and how quickly you need a |
| price for it. Froogle and Pricegrabber are examples of | | | | laptop. You shouldn't wait forever, but a few days or |
| shopping engines. You just put in the name of item | | | | weeks may yield a better deal. But you're never |
| you want and the shopping engine will show the | | | | going to be able to completely avoid buyer's remorse |
| prices at several retailers and show you the cheapest | | | | because it won't be long before you spot a better |
| price they found. | | | | deal. If you want a laptop now, then find a good deal |
| So when do you use an aggregator and when do | | | | on a deal aggregator and don't worry about it. You |
| you use a shopping engine? | | | | got a better deal than 95% of the people out there |
| The deciding factor is whether you know and/or | | | | and with little effort! |