Do you know whether the item you want to buy is a good deal? You can find out by comparison shopping with Google Shopping, formerly called Froogle.
Our ClarkDeals.com team uses Google Shopping with other comparison pricing methods to find and post the best bargains from around the web.
How Google Shopping works
To use Google Shopping, all you need is a general category you want to research or the name of an item you want to buy. It’s much easier to price compare when you have a precise item in mind.
To search for a specific item, use the name of the item or an identifying number, like a model number.
The model number will be in different places on different websites, but you’ll often find it in the fine print.
You won’t want to use a retailer’s SKU number because the SKU is used by an individual store to organize the item in their system.
Keep in mind that Google Shopping may also show you related items when you’re searching. Typically, the first item will be an exact match for your search term, but further down the screen, you might see other things like older models or other relevant products.
You can customize your search with different filters including price and seller.
How to spot scams and fakes
Some retailers that show up on Google Shopping are scammers who are trying to take your hard-earned money.
To identify fake sellers:
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- Read for misspellings
- Test the website’s customer service contact info
- Look for the company’s social media presence — especially on Facebook
- Check for a security seal (pictured below)
You can also go to the Better Business Bureau to help you to determine whether the site is reputable and to see if they have customer complaints.
How to know if you’re getting the best deal
So how do you know if you’re getting a great price? Well, you’ll only know if you do your research.
One thing to keep in mind: Google Shopping is not going to show you the price of an item after a coupon is applied.
Retailers often have coupons that may make the price even cheaper than the lowest-priced item found using this tool.
You may also find extra discounts by using a Google Chrome extension like Honey that applies coupons it finds to your shopping cart. You can also use website-specific trackers like the Amazon price tracker CamelCamelCamel.
These and other browser extensions are a great way to keep track of items you’re interested in buying or may purchase multiple times.
Final thought
Comparison shopping can add up to big savings over time, so always make sure to take the extra step.
Even though Google Shopping won’t always show you the whole picture, it’s a great tool for price comparisons. Of course, you can also find the best deals by visiting ClarkDeals.com and signing up for our deal alerts.
