New payment services let you buy anonymously, without sacrificing the convenience of a credit card. Still other technologies help you experience noncomputer products more accurately before plunking down your hard-earned dollars. We looked at several and found that their helpfulness varied. As with many other new technologies, some kinks remain to be worked out. For example, 3D shopping sites don't work well over dial-up connections.
Shopping bots are only as good as their databases.
As e-tailers focus on the bottom line, bargains are getting tougher to find. Luckily, tools for tracking them down at online stores are becoming more sophisticated, too. When you peruse an item at your favorite Web store, these deal finders alert you to lower prices elsewhere. Though not the flashiest of the bunch, Clickthebutton was our favorite. Its 2-minute download time is among the fastest, it doesn't ask you to supply personal information, it searches some 400 stores, and overall it saved us the most money.