Online Buyer's Guide
Getting it for Less
By Rick Aristotle Munarriz (TMF Edible)
November 22, 2000
There I was. I had finally gone ahead and bought a DVD player. Oddly enough, my VHS tapes just wouldn't fit into the disc tray. Go figure. I needed new media, stat. But, just when I was ready to pay retail I stumbled across a newsgroup post touting a site -- BargainFlix.com.
Nothing ventured, no click gained, I checked it out. It was a thrifty spender's paradise. Dozens of discount codes and special offers, submitted by fellow users, were compiled and posted. Pick a video merchant, any major video merchant, and the chances were good that there was a $10 off coupon or free shipping code there for the taking. Internet retailers often target potential customer groups with specific deals. It's a perfect example of where selective marketing was just made to be put through the peer-to-peer file-sharing wringer. Just call it a penny pincher's Napster if you want to. But, there's more out there than just BargainFlix.
Beyond media, DealCatcher.com is another great collection of e-discounts and promotions. From crafts to cars, DealCatcher.com is a massive coupon consolidator. For the serial shopper, it's an ideal choice as your browser's start page.
The largest player, with 11 million registered users, is CoolSavings.com (Nasdaq: CSAV). Originally a fellow online bargain-hunter site, CoolSavings.com now offers everything from printable store coupons to free product samples. Unlike DealCatcher.com and BargainFlix, you have to actually register before being granted access to the promised brands. However, like registering here at Fool.com, free membership has its privileges. Speaking of which, you will find plenty of great deals at our very own Coupons N' More discussion board. Active sifters. Shared community. It's what the holidays are all about.
So, let's put it all together. Dim the lights, reach for the sky. Under those rare joyous moments when the stars are aligned just right, the e-tailer with the best price will also have an active promotion to drive the price down even further. If not, fear not. Chances are still good that a second-choice retailer might have a dollar or percentage discount that will trump your original storefront offer.
Nice, huh? Well, it can get even nicer.
Thanks to the wonders of viral marketing, most retailers have launched affiliate programs to generate referral sales. It's simple. The programs are targeted at Web masters -- but that can be you, with a quickie Homestead template site devoted to your dog, Kippy.
Approved affiliates are given special links that, when used, track all referrals from their site. All sales generated from that link net the affiliate commissions in the ballpark of 5-10%. Ideally, it's not too shabby for all concerned. The retailer gets an incremental sale that probably would not have happened otherwise. The affiliate gets a price break. Good boy, Kippy!
It's not an immediate discount. Sorry. Affiliates must meet minimum commission requirements before payout checks are issued. The amounts carry over to the next period if those minimums aren't satisfied. So, it goes without saying, you should become an affiliate of a site that you plan on buying from often. Fleshing out that "Roll Over, Kippy" site into an attractive draw for others wouldn't hurt either.
So, where do you sign up? A few of the larger online stores run their own
affiliate programs. However, most retailers let companies such as LinkShare,
Commission Junction, and Reporting.Net run their programs. Each of those sites list hundreds of affiliate opportunities. Make sure the merchant does
not forbid personal purchases. Many encourage the practice, others don't.
Phew! Let's review. You found what you wanted. You found the best price for what you wanted. You found out how to make that "best" price even better. Exhausted? Fret not -- if you were mall-ratting it out in suburbia you'd probably still be looking for a parking spot. Welcome aboard, holiday shopper. You have arrived!
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