December 14th, 2009 10:03 AM by Korene L Clopine-Seaman
When you’re out shopping this holiday season, you may wonder if the price of the item you’re holding in your hand is really a good deal. Here are five ways to use your smartphone to find out if you can buy that item cheaper online or somewhere else.
1. If you have an iPhone, download and install the free ShopSavvy App from the App Store. When you are in a store looking at a product, open up the app, point the red line of the barcode scanner at the barcode of the item and wait for the app to beep to confirm that the code was recognized. Allow the app to use your location so you can see how much the item is selling for at nearby stores and online.
2. If you have a phone that runs the Android operating system, such as the Droid from Verizon, myTouch 3G or G1 from T-Mobile or the HTC Hero from Sprint, you can download the ShopSavvy app for free from the Android Market.
3. If you have a BlackBerry, you can download a free bar code scanning app called “edocrab.” Be aware that the app may be not available for all BlackBerrys. To download it, visit appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/3196 on your computer and click “Get it Today.”
4. If your phone can’t access the Internet or run apps, you can get prices for an item on Amazon by text message. To see how much something costs, send a text message to 262966 (AMAZON), with the name of the item you want to buy (i.e. ” Nikon D90?). You’ll get a text message back with the price of the item on Amazon as well as instructions for buying the item from your phone.
5. In addition to the barcode scanning apps, there’s also a free Amazon app for iPhone, Android phones and BlackBerrys, which makes it easier to search for items, order them and access your wish lists and other account information. You can get the app in the iPhone App Store and the Andorid Market, and BlackBerry users can download it by visiting amazon.com/bb on their BlackBerry web browser.
Most of all when you are out shopping, remember this, "Long after the presents are opened, the toys played with, the clothing worn, the trips taken, etc., it is not the money you spent but the thoughts and love that remain and are the MOST IMPORTANT when choosing that gift."
Wishing you and yours the very best of the Christmas season of peace, joy, love, and happiness.
Korene L. Clopine-SeamanSenior Mortgage AdvisorPacific Coast Mortgage, Inc6991 East Camelback Rduite C-250Scottsdale, AZ 85251AZ BK# 090581