|
|
|
|
| The Basics | Best deal? Go to the source
|
If you're shopping for bargains, it sometimes pays to go straight to the manufacturer or service provider. Here's how to snag deals at the source.
By Bankrate.com
With all the hoopla surrounding Internet discounters, it's easy to forget who's actually making the product or providing the service that you want to buy.
But if you're buying an airline ticket, booking a hotel room, picking out a computer or even shopping for an unusual book, something small and obvious-sounding may surprise you.
Try the manufacturer.
Before you search the virtual world over for a deal, just go to the maker's home page and see if they'll give you something good. You may be in for a treat.
Airline tickets
"When I recently bought airline tickets to Atlanta, I bought directly from AirTran instead of using Orbitz," says Jynelle Gracia of Iowa City, Iowa. "I saved on the service charge from Orbitz and the shipping fee for a FedEx from Orbitz."
"Orbitz didn't offer e-tickets for AirTran," Gracia says, "but AirTran itself did."
Jeremy Knapp, a graduate student at University of Iowa, saved on a holiday flight by buying through the airline. "The last time I went home for Thanksgiving, I checked Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz, and I found tickets that were consistently $45 to $60 higher than what was on Delta.com," Knapp says. "Plus Delta had a direct flight with no connections, just straight from Cedar Rapids to Cincinnati."
One way to find out about direct-from-the-airline deals is to register on their site. United and American both send out e-mails listing saver fares.
Related news and commentary on MSN Money
Some airlines occasionally woo customers by offering deals like "take three flights and get one free." You can find out about promotions like that, too, by registering online.
You'll also get a heads-up on last-minute bargains. Those procrastinator fares are often better than what the discounters peddle.
Hotels: Just call and ask
Though travel clubs, AARP and AAA will all get you discounts, using their discounts may not always be the cheapest way to stay.
Travelers -- especially at less-popular destinations -- can be rewarded just for calling the front desk.
The Quality Inn in Moline, Ill., for instance, has a Park-and-Fly rate that includes parking and a shuttle ride to the nearby airport. That rate, available to anyone who calls, is actually $5 lower than the travel-club rates.
Another interesting possibility with hotels are the little coupon books available at chain restaurants and rest stops along major highways. In states like Indiana, you can find a clean place to sleep for $39.95 if you just call a local hotel. If you go through a national discount line, it will be at least $55.
Though a hotel-discount site may sound like the best deal, sometimes looking through the Yellow Pages will be the route to a true bargain.
Computer deals direct
If you do a little surfing, you'll find that plenty of manufacturers will be happy to sell you a computer directly -- with no middleman.
From Toshiba to Dell, you can avoid the electronics store entirely. If you have a strong understanding of computers, and you know exactly what you need and what you plan to pay, a manufacturer can often yield a better deal than a retailer.
Toshiba, for instance, recently offered a $599 laptop through its site -- after a $100 manufacturer rebate. That compares favorably to prices at some stores.
But experts say you need knowledge in order to get what's right for you.
"Dell can sometimes run specials that can give you quite a bit for your money -- but the key is, do you know what you want and do you understand what you are buying," says Arlene Watkins, president of Heritage Computer Consulting and Services in Kansas City, Mo.
Watkins says a key difference between major electronics retailers and manufacturers is what they are actually selling.
"Our experience, working with small businesses, is that Best Buy and Circuit City are more for home use. They usually do not have what we call business-class machines, and their computers are designed for lower productivity."
So if you want some serious computing power, you might be better off with the people who made the computer.
Another area where going to the manufacturer can save you money is computer parts.
"I always feel that it's better to go through the manufacturer, because then you know it's compatible," says Watkins. "If you're not computer-savvy, you can make it more expensive for yourself by purchasing elsewhere."
Clothing, restaurants and dry cleaners
For faithful one-brand shoppers, going to the site is sometimes the cheapest way to go.
Many clothing makers, like The Gap, offer deals to those who seek them out online, and their credit-card programs will give coupons to frequent shoppers.
|
|
|
|
