Best for Research Fanatics
Say you want a new camera but aren't sure which one to get. Use the buying help at certain comparison sites.
PriceGrabber's (www.pricegrabber.com) features impressed me the most. The site presents information neatly, letting you tab between product details and user and professional reviews. You can even find out about a store's return policy, business hours, and special services by clicking on the Merchant Info link.
Become (www.become.com) looks as if it should be helpful--it gives you an option to research a product (not just shop and buy). But its database currently is sparse. My searches for the three products yielded few results, finding only the Maxtor drive. Research results weren't helpful either: I received a few links to reviews and info, but more of the links pointed to merchants selling the product.
Although average in most respects, NexTag (www.nextag.com) offers an interesting tool: a price history chart showing a product's cost over time so you can get an idea of whether you should wait to buy. And it includes a downloadable Internet Explorer toolbar to give you instant access to its search engine.
Smarter (www.smarter.com) can help you comparison shop while you're out at stores via its free SMS service. You send a text message to 610/762-7837 (610-SMARTER) with a model name or part number, and the system replies with the lowest online price it finds. But Smarter's product selection is unimpressive. In my initial search, the site found the hard drive but turned up zero results for the camera and the DVR. A few weeks later, I found the camera but not the DVR.
These sites may not help you find pirate's booty, but they can save you a buck--or more--over the long haul.
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