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Decorating For the Artist Within
There is an artist lurking within all of us. The creative fire burns in every human, propelling us to create, to express, to shape the world around us. Even though we may be unlearned, or perhaps even unskilled, still the urge to impact our...
“Men’s Moissanite Wedding Rings To Beat Other Gifts Any Day”
Whoever said diamonds are women’s best friends, surely missed on mentioning men! Believe it or not, men too go bonkers over these sparks. When it comes to the glitters, man or woman, there’s no exception! So if your man’s crazy about the ember,...
Surprising New Info about Children, Allergies and Pets
Have you wondered whether to get your child a pet or not? Does your family have a history of allergies and have you been told by your pediatrician it’s not a good idea? There’s interesting news from the Medical College of George (MCG), evidence...
Unique Storage Ideas for Your Home to Help You Organize With Style
Just by browsing antique shops or flee markets on a weekend, you can discover many unique storage ideas for any room in your home. And what better way to not only add beautiful storage items to your decor, but to add some charm and history as well!...
Weaning A Baby
The best time to wean your baby onto solid food is at about age 6 months. This is because your baby's mouth will start to change around that time to help her cope with the transition. Another guide is to start when baby doubles in weight. Before...
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Are You Spending Too Much Money on Baby Gear?
Did you waste $57 today? I hope not. Unfortunately, so many new parents pay much more than they have to for baby products, because they don’t know the secrets the insiders know.
Remember, just because you shop at so-called discount stores doesn’t mean you’ll get the lowest prices. The same is true for warehouse stores and online auction sites.
Even coupons that seem like great deals aren’t always a bargain. For example, one online retailer recently offered a promotion where you could buy one board game and get one free. But the games cost twice what they cost at a competitor. So it wasn’t really a deal at all.
What’s a bargain-hunting parent to do? It helps if you can find someone who’s done some research for you.
The Shopping Mom to the Rescue!
In an attempt to do a scientific, apples-to-apples comparison, I recently conducted a price test of six popular baby product web sites. I purchased a basket of common baby products from each site.
All of the sites I chose were well-established businesses, with reliable customer service, and a good selection of products. Many offered extra services, like reader reviews, shopping checklists and helpful tips. The sites were:
1. BabyCenter (http://www.babycenter.com)
2. Babies R Us (http://www.babiesrus.com)
3. Baby Universe (http://www.babyuniverse.com)
4. Baby Catalog (http://www.babycatalog.com)
5. Shopping.com (http://www.shopping.com)
6. Target.com (http://www.target.com)
Shopping.com isn't a retailer. It's a comparison shopping service. But I included it because it’s supposed to be able to find you the best deals online. I wanted to see if it lived up to its promise.
The Results
Remember the $57 I talked about wasting earlier? That was the difference in total cost between the cheapest site I
shopped and the most expensive. A pretty hefty chunk of change, considering my basket had just four items:
1. A Britax Roundabout car seat in Denim (the price can differ depending on the pattern)
2. The First Years On the Go booster seat
3. An Avent newborn starter set
4. A Boppy
I used my address in Maryland to calculate shipping and tax. Obviously, the cost to you will vary, depending on where you live.
And the Winner Is...
Coming in at a lean, mean $255.55: Baby Catalog offered the best deals. And this didn't include the extra discount you get by signing up for their Baby Club of America.
Shopping.com came in a close second at $257.34, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone in the market for baby gear. Plus, Shopping.com is integrated with Epinions.com, so you can get product reviews right there. I also liked the fact that Shopping.com calculated the total cost, including shipping and tax, in advance.
Baby Universe came in at $263.91. But keep in mind that Baby Universe offers a flat shipping rate of $6.95, no matter how many products you buy. So the more you buy, the better deal this site is.
Babies R Us was the most expensive, at $312.97, followed by Target at $300.74, and BabyCenter at $285.06. Interestingly, both Babies R Us and Target are under the Amazon.com umbrella, which means you should always comparison shop among the different stores on the Amazon site.
Keep in mind, too, that all of these retailers offer coupons and special deals from time to time. So it always pays to shop around.
About the Author
Stephanie Gallagher reveals her closely-guarded shopping secrets in her ezine, The Shopping Mom’s Weekly Tip. Get the eCookbooks Recipe Sampler Cookbook as a special gift when you subscribe. Send a blank email to: theshoppingmom@aweber.com
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