online shopping

Are these genuine bargains, or a pile of garbage?

One of the great things about being a blogger for Wisebread is that I have a large community of people to call on for help and advice when I need it. So far I've rarely called on your sage advice, but today is different. I have stumbled upon quite a few deals in the last 24 hours and they all look good to me. But are they?

I have published my shopping list below. If you think the item is a good idea, I'll jump on it (and so should you if you want it). If you scream at me that I'm a moron for even considering such an obviously crappy buy, I'll avoid it. I'm hoping they are all steal, but hey, 2 out of 5 would be fine.

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XM satellite radio/car combo for under $6 and free shipping!

Quick deal for you folks, and a sweet one too. You can now (for a limited time...don't know how long) grab the AudioVox Xpress - XMCK10 XM Satellite Radio Receiver & Car Kit Combo - XMCK10A for just $5.99 with FREE SHIPPING.

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Mr. Cheap Stuff: Who do you think you are?

Dean Takamine is the smart-shoppin' blogger and handsome face behind the deal-finding, coupon-clipping site, Mr. Cheap Stuff. Dean spends his spare time searching for, then posting, the best online shopping deals. As a tech-loving guy, Mr. Cheap Stuff can be counted on to give you the lowdown on some of the best gadget-grubbing, money-saving opportunities on the web.

I asked Dean to share his motives, inspiration, and goals with Wise Bread readers. Also, I had to find out how he can possibly stand living in the tropical paradise we call Hawaii. I can't help it - it must be SUCH a hard existence.

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Sample before you buy - Perfume

Lucky Scent: How I learned to stop worrying and love the sample. 

Some of my biggest expenditures are made in the fragrance department of Seattle’s downtown Nordstrom. I have a very powerful sense of smell, and I get a real kick out of finding a great perfume that can lift my mood. Large department stores will often provide free samples of their perfume if you request, so you can try them out over the course of a few days and see how they age on your skin, how quickly the top notes wear off, etc.

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But is it ART?

What would you say if I told you that I filled my entire living room with completely original works of art for less than $300? We're not talking kid's stuff - no crayon drawings, no attempts at self-expression. Art by real and struggling artists, both schooled and self-taught?

You'd tell me that I am truly a brilliant shopper, right?

Thank you.

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Customer Service Nightmares - What's a Good Consumerist to Do?

I love the web site Consumerist.com (motto: Shoppers Bite Back). They provide some great money-saving ideas, funny advice on how to get away with things that you didn't even know you could, and good commentary on consumerist culture.

In addition, Consumerist offers some great customer-provided stories about companies jilting customers, and they offer the customer the best revenge - public venting of their experience. Better than a rant/rave on craigslist.org, the stories at Consumerist are mind-boggling. The kind of bullying that goes down at retailers both big and small, online and brick-and-mortar, are often laugh-out-loud funny.

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