Selection and purchase . Postpurchase activities . The key to being a smart shopper is to be willing to look at all of the possible options to satisfy the item you need to buy. Instead of being loyal to a particular brand, you should be loyal to the item that best meets your need and price. The better informed you are, the better shopping decision you are likely to make.
Some shoppers spend little or no time gathering information before buying an item.
While other shoppers probably spend too much time gathering information before buying. The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. You have to judge by the particular item how much time you want to invest to make sure you get the best price. Some good sources for shopping information are personal contacts and media information. When you need to buy a new item, it is a good idea to use the experience of others by asking people you know where they found the best price.