Consumers might benefit from online or offline price comparison tools.
While comparison shopping isn't a new concept, the manner in which consumers perform their research is. Years ago, buyers browsed through store shelves in search of the best price, which took time, effort, and petrol. Today, the web bridges the time-space divide with a plethora of comparison shopping sites that provide user evaluations, a huge selection, and access to pricing from well-known retailers.
According to ComScore, about 53 million Americans visited at least one of the top comparison-shopping sites in February, out of a total of 167 million online. While many of those customers made purchases online, others used the information to make in-store purchases. In both internet and the shop, the competition is strong; However, the good news is that consumers are receiving the better end of the bargain.
Yahoo Shopping, Shopzilla, Froogle, and NexTag are just a few of the prominent sites that allow visitors to compare and contrast products. There are at least 10 more price comparison sites with the greatest tools and technology to assist consumers in making better decisions. Each has its own set of characteristics, benefits, and, sadly, drawbacks. Despite this, the popularity of such sites and technologies means that entrepreneurs and dot-coms will continue to develop new methods for customers to study and purchase things, ensuring that rivalry between online and offline merchants remains fierce.
In reality, the major price comparison sites are already seeing stiff competition from businesses that profit off the flaws of their competitors. Frucall, for example, is one of the newest services aimed to value-conscious buyers and claims a quick and efficient way for bargain-hunters to acquire the greatest deal, even without the use of a computer, according to a company spokeswoman.
Frucall, the first price-comparison mobile service, was launched in March and lets buyers to compare retail store prices with Amazon.com pricing for the same goods directly from their phone. It's a simple answer that puts many sites out of business that provide price comparison findings to a consumer's mobile phone through text message but don't provide rapid access to price comparisons when a shopper sees a product he or she didn't research ahead of time. Even better, customers may purchase the goods immediately from their smartphone, provided they have registered and have a valid credit card on file.
Frucall, billed as the simplest and fastest way to price compare, allows customers to call a toll-free number (888-FRU-SHOP) and enter the product's UPC or ISBN number while shopping. The caller receives confirmation of the product name and price as posted online in a matter of seconds. Currently, the site analyzes costs for automotive supplies, books, electronics, jewelry, movies, music, tools, and pet supplies, among other categories. Frucall claims that in the future, they will obtain the greatest price information by doing Internet-wide e-commerce searches.