Deals and Steals

Th ee Websi es o Finding he Bes Deals Online

by Contributing Writer

Are you on a never-ending quest for the best deals? Do you love to hunt and search for treasures at amazingly low prices? These web sites are fabulous resources for you in your deal-finding journey.

Shopgoodwill.com

This web site is a hub for Goodwill locations to submit their items up for auction. The site has items nicely categorized, so you can easily find what you need by category or by keyword. Before bidding, you can estimate shipping for your item to be sure you don't overpay. You can find original paintings, high-end new and vintage purses, bulk costume jewelry, electronics, sporting goods, and much more. Nearly anything that can be donated can be found on this site. Keep in mind that stores only submit items they feel are worth their time to list, so you typically find the best of their inventory on this site. You will be absolutely amazed at what you will find.

Shopping Tips: Check out the "Top 50" items, which can be found on the home page. Do keep in mind that the top 50 items likely receive the most views, so their prices will also be higher than others. If you prefer only new items, choose the category you seek, and then type the word 'new' into the keyword search box. Other helpful keyword search options are 'nwt' (new with tags), and 'nib' (new in box). Sometimes, the pictures for the items on this site are not the best, so feel free to email that store for more information, if needed.

Bradsdeals.com

If you love getting the best deal on new items from popular (and not-so-popular) online retailers, you must give Bradsdeals a try. Bradsdeals is a service that delivers daily emails to subscribers, detailing the best deals on the internet. Bradsdeals has a team of experts scouring the internet daily to collect and post the best deals online. Their staff then categorizes each item, so finding what you need is easy by keyword or category. You can sign up to receive the site's deal alerts every day, twice per week, or weekly. The Bradsdeals staff often negotiates additional savings for their followers typically by using a coupon code provided along with the deal. This can be free shipping or an additional percentage off, and it can be a jaw-dropping deal.

Shopping Tips: If you are serious about deal hunting, you should receive daily emails, since the deals often sell out. Read the daily email immediately for the same reason. During the holiday season, be sure to sign up for their Black Friday deals also, giving you a leg up on finding the best seasonal deals. Local Facebook For Sale Pages

Local sale pages are popping up in nearly every community. These are Facebook groups, typically managed by a local person, where members can list their items for sale locally. The great benefit of Facebook for Sale pages is that you do not need to ship the item, and you work with local people. The pages are free to set up and list on; however, there are some disadvantages. Items cannot be categorized, so it's hard to find what you need. You can search by keywords, but people don't always enter the correct keywords in their listings. Each item that is added to the page bumps the prior listing down the page. This means your item could easily become lost in the shuffle as new items are added. Since Facebook for Sale groups are regulated by a variety of people, you must follow their rules, and rules vary greatly from group to group.

Shopping Tips: Read the rules of the group before interacting or selling anything, and be sure to follow them. Know how much money you want to get for your item before placing it for sale because people typically like to bargain on Facebook for Sale pages. Be careful when meeting people to sell or buy your items. Meet at a busy location, and bring a friend if possible. Be sure you trust the person before meeting them.

Use these three websites, and you will be on your way to getting vintage finds, brand-name items, and the things you need at amazingly low prices.