TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Obsessive Coupon Disorder / How the Web's Extreme Bargain Hunters

Obsessive Coupon Disorder / How the Web's Extreme Bargain Hunters

Monty Solomon (monty@roscom.com)
Sat, 26 Nov 2005 02:58:32 -0500

VIRTUAL REALITY
By STEVE STECKLOW

Obsessive Coupon Disorder
How the Web's extreme bargain hunters get deep discounts -- or even
make a profit -- when they buy

While millions of American shoppers seem willing to risk stampedes
next Friday to get something on sale, Heather Wilde says she plans to
sleep in. She belongs to a virtual community of extreme bargain
hunters who know the best deals are online every day -- and go to
elaborate lengths to find them.

They've learned how cryptic codes like H2MAB5 can knock 15% off
purchases at a major children's clothing retailer. They do their
online shopping via special money-saving Web sites that offer rebates
at hundreds of retailers, including Lands' End, Saks Fifth Avenue and
Apple Computer.

They share information on how to "stack" mail-in rebate forms,
allowing them at times not only to get stuff like Sony Ericsson
cellphones free, but actually make hundreds of dollars doing so.
Which somehow seems appropriate given all the work serious online
bargain hunting can entail.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB113234748894101688-GwNwJWgHDWPvvBbqKlELZocf3fo_20061126.html

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