Shopping Polygamously

When you piece together a new system, do you buy all your components from a single vendor? Do you tweak your Newegg wish list until you're ready to hit the 'submit order' button? Maybe you've hopped on the ClubIT bandwagon, or perhaps you shop exclusively at any other popular e-tailer (ZipZoomFly, MWave, etc). If so, you're a tech monogamist. And just as in real-life relationships, monogamy isn't a bad thing. There's a definite convenience and organizational benefit that comes from having a single invoice, and there may even be unexpected perks from sticking with a single vendor, such as 'thank you' gifts or personalized customer service. But I'm here to tempt you to cheat.

That's right - I'm advocating online polygamy. Or at the very least, I'm urging you to consider it. You already know the benefits of remaining faithful, but if, like many, it's the bottom dollar that matters most, you need to expand your online shopping portfolio. Here's how you do it:

Rev Your Search Engine!

Low price search engines rely on information provided by participating vendors, and most do a good job at displaying current prices. This isn't always the case, and if you're into the mail-in-rebate game, you may want to visit any trusted vendors anyway, as this information isn't always present. And because no search engine includes every single vendor, it's a good idea to use more than one search; specifically, give this one-two punch a whirl the next time you're shopping for a component:

PriceWatch
PriceGrabber

Get a Second Opinion

Find an uber low price on that swank case you've been coveting? Don't hit the order button just yet! Crooks and unscrupulous vendors abound, and that too-good-to-be-true price could very well turn out to be, well, too good to be true. Do your homework before buying from an e-tailer for the first time. ResellerRatings lets customers (such as yourself) rate vendors based on their experiencew, as well as post a mini-review of the ordeal, good or bad. Other handy resources include BizRate's online store ratings, Epinions, and the Better Business Bureau.

Deals and Coupon Codes and Specials, Oh My!

So you've found a killer low price from a reputable vendor, and now it's time to order, right? Wrong! If you truly want to reach Jedi-shopper status, you need to utilize a deal site, my favorite being TechBargains. The better deal sites are updated throughout the day, and whether you check frequently or only once in awhile, it's only a matter of time before you score a great deal. Need an example? Don't tell my PC brethren, but I recently picked up an Xbox 360 gaming console, and because I want to beat up others online in NBA Live 08 and Madden 08, I set search for an Xbox Live Gold subscription. These typically run $50/year at most retailers, but TechBargains linked a deal selling it for $38.75. Coupled with a $10 credit for a new Google Checkout account, the final tally came to $28.75, or almost half the retail cost.

And because these sites focus almost exclusively on the web's hottest deals, experiences like the above tend to be the norm and not the exception. Deal sites also keep a log of current coupon codes, so be sure to drop by before placing your order.

Cliff Notes Summary

1) Search multiple vendors for the lowest shipped price
2) Research potential vendors before ordering
3) Take a jaunt to TechBargains
4) Buy a yacht with the money you saved!