Price match perfection (pricerunner.com)

Member Name: GroundZero

Product:	pricerunner.com
Date:	07/03/01 (453 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Online and offline price comparisons, wide range of products, simple site design

Disadvantages: Annoying Barclaycard ads

This is my favourite of the online price comparison sites, as it lists prices for a much wider range of products than most of its competitors. I have used Pricerunner a number of times in the past, mainly in trying to track down the best prices on electrical goods.

One of the best things about Pricerunner is that, in addition to the online stores, the prices available in high street stores are also listed. Sometimes you will find it is almost as cheap to buy locally, and when you combine this with the fact that it is easier to take a product back to a local dealer if it is faulty, you can see why it is such an attractive feature.

From the main page, you can choose between products and services. The first of these is broken down into a large number of subcategories, from electrical goods to perfume. Most items in these categories have a buyers guide, which may be useful if you don't know what to look out for.

Once you've selected the item you wish to search for, you are presented with an initial list of choices. This selection can be refined by choosing different options in the drop down boxes, allowing you to tailor the search to exactly what you want. You are also given the option of comparing two or more products side by side, which can be handy when you want to compare their respective features.

When you've decided on the product you're after, you can choose to view the stores that stock it, along with its price. Typically you will find large variations in the prices, so it is worth having a look on Pricerunner before you buy anything expensive.

Most etailers are only listed, there is not a direct link to take you to their website, which is a bit of a pain. I presume that only the companies that pay to be a Pricerunner affiliate get to link their stores in. Since the web addresses are always listed, it's just a case of copying and pasting the URL, but it still seems a touch awkward.
r>Product details are updated daily, so you are guaranteed that the price you see should be the price you pay.

Amongst the services category, you can select the most suitable mobile phone package for your lifestyle by entering a few basic details. The tariffs for the main networks are listed, along with the option to purchase.

Searches are performed impressively quickly, and the overall layout of the site makes it impossible to get lost.

Although nothing special to look at, Pricerunner is an extremely useful resource, and well worth checking out before you buy. Might save you a fair bit in the long run...