Learn How to Be a Savvy Shopper

July 5, 2007 — -- Part of being a savvy shopper is knowing when and where to buy.

If you've ever wondered about the best days to buy airplane tickets or how to get the best deal on a cell phone, check out the shopping secrets from ShopSmart below.

Changing Prices Online

When shopping online, use multiple search engines (such as Internet Explorer and Firefox) and search using different computers. Because of a little-known trick called "dynamic pricing," you can be charged a different amount for the same item as someone else. The price offered depends on the time of day, availability of a product and whether you've looked at the item online before.

If you put something in your cart and go back, prices can change but you can beat the system. It's legal for stores to do that.

Skip the Cell Phone Store

The best way to buy a cell phone is to shop around in stores to see which phones you like. Then go online to a carrier's site to see which plan works best for you and buy everything — the service and the phone at the site. This way you can avoid waiting for salespeople and being sold stuff you don't need. Once you get the phone by mail, activation can be as simple as a phone call to an 800 number. You'll get much more detailed information on the plans online, and you can find online-only discounts on a lot of phones.

Free Extended Warranties

Paying with a credit card often doubles the length of a manufacturers warranty if you put the whole purchase amount on the card. American Express, many Signature and most gold and platinum cards issued by Visa or MasterCard offer this service as well. If you don't have the option of this free extended warranty on your credit card, don't bother purchasing one. In most cases, it is not worth the extra money.

Call your credit card company and make sure before you make a big purchase. If you don't get it free, don't buy the extra warranty. The coverage is often as expensive as any repair. Also, you are unlikely to need a repair within the warranty time frame.

Bargain Codes at Warehouse Stores

For example, at Costco, 97 cents at the end of a price means a discontinued product deal. A C at the end of an item number at Sam's Club means canceled item. You can ask in other stores for these things. It'll be on the ticket that comes with the product. If you go every week and see something that's been canceled, the price may go down as the store runs out of product.

Buy Airline Tickets on Wednesday

Friday night at midnight is when many airlines start price wars. By Wednesdays things have settled out and that's when you're more likely to get the lowest price on domestic fares. Airlines also send out cheap fare alerts via e-mail. That's when carriers try to fill unsold seats for the next 10 days by cutting prices.