Some even offer online discussion areas, and referrals to vendors carrying their goods and services. Comparison Shopping One way to compare prices is to visit several retailers. Another is to visit one of the price-comparison sites such as those listed below. You might also include a visit to discounters, and be sure to watch for sales, coupons, rebates, and special deals like inclusion of shipping costs. It also might be helpful to have a back-up option in case the specific model you want is out of date or no longer available.
Some sites require membership or payment.
Dynamic Pricing Many retailers are working with or testing systems that charge different prices for the same goods under different circumstances. Dynamic pricing also allows a vendor to change prices rapidly in response to changing market conditions by raising the price of a popular toy the moment demand starts to overtake its supply, for example. Or, if the vendor wishes to encourage visits to a local store, he or she might lower prices of goods to customers who live or work nearby. The auction site eBay, for example, allows buyers and sellers to comment and rate each other publicly, making it easier to spot the bad guys. The White House, for example, has expressed concern that citizens have no way of telling whether an online pharmacy is a legitimate operation.