It's a deal

Home Office Computing, Nov, 1998 by Bonny Georgia

DEAL ALERTS AND INFORMATION

CDW (www.cdw.com): In addition to this reseller's Buyers Edge newsletter' check out its Buyers' Alert feature, which allows you to track the prices and availability of up to five different products of your choice. When a product drops to your preferred price or an out-of-stock item becomes available once more. CDW will send you a message.

ESmarts (www.esmarts.com): This site offers Web site reviews and pointers to the hottest bargains available from Internet vendors of all sorts. ESmarts features buyer's guides to getting the best deal on everything from PCs and software to auctions to business travel and links to the most helpful shopping sites.

Insight (www.insight.com): This reseller's weekly Top Deals newsletter includes closeouts, overstocks and inventory clearances of hardware and software.

PCMall (www.pcmall.com): The PCMall Advantage newsletter features limited-time-only deals on drastically discounted hardware and software items.

DISCOUNT DENS

Cyberian Outpost (www.outpost.com): Sale shoppers will delight in digging through the Bargain Blowout section of this site, which routinely features clearance software titles last month's hot hardware, and deeply discounted overstocks.

Internet Shopping Network (www.isn.com): Whether you're in need of a cheap second system or an inexpensive inkjet printer, chances are you'll find it here on the bargain table at Hot Deals Central. Deals change every week.

SOHOA (www.sohoa.com): The Small Office/Home Office Association offers discounts on Hewlett-Packard computers printers and related products and services. In some cases these discounts are as much as 30 percent off the suggested retail price. If you know the model number of the product you want to buy, enlist the aid of SOHOA's purchasing agent to find the best price available nationwide (including UPS ground shipping). Best of all, this formerly members-only service is now free to all visitors.

ONLINE AUCTIONS

FirstAuction (www.firstauction.com): Shop here for everything from consumer electronics and computers to household appliances and jewelry. Items are new or factory refurbished and come with the balance of the manufacturer's warranty. Become a member and you'll receive the FirstAuction Insider newsletter, filled with bidding tips and advance details on upcoming auction events.

OnSale (www.onsale.com): As at FirstAuction, you'll find everything from soup to nuts up for bid, all new or factory refurbished. Sign up for OnSale's Steals & Deals newsletter to get the scoop on future items for sale and special features you won't want to miss.

WebAuction (www.webauction.com): Try your luck at live auctions of hardware, software, and consumer goods 24 hours a day, seven days a week--opening bids start as low as $1. Multiple-unit closeout deals increase your chance of winning the bid at the price you want. Advance notice of upcoming sales arrives in the WebAuction newsletter.

Bonny Georgia is the queen of comparison shopping. Her family and friends routinely call her for buying advice on everything from computers to cars.