price-checking

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  • The Art of Wushu: Winning in market PvP

    by 
    Patrick Mackey
    Patrick Mackey
    03.13.2013

    Last time on the Art of Wushu, I promised I would write on how to sell production crafts. Crafting is a big deal in Age of Wushu, so it seemed like a reasonable topic to cover. However, I realized doing so would probably be a mistake. Why? If you followed my advice from two weeks ago, congratulations. You probably noticed a huge nosedive in a few markets: hemp, ramie, iron, and mint all took a huge hit. It's a bit flattering to see how I can write a post on what to sell and readers like you guys take it to heart, flooding the market with supply and crashing the value of these commodities. If I gave advice on production crafting, the same thing would happen. Instead, this week I'm going to talk about real market strategy. Pointing out things that sell doesn't help you if the market takes a nose-dive. Understanding supply and demand curves, market equilibrium, and the importance of market diversity are all long-term tools that will help you regardless of what you're selling.

  • Shop Savvy for iPhone packs a punch for shopping season

    by 
    Mel Martin
    Mel Martin
    11.25.2010

    Just a couple of days ago, I took a look at the Amazon Price Check app. It's a great way to compare prices against Amazon and other online retailers. Before you hit the stores this weekend, it's also a good idea to have the free app Shop Savvy tucked away on your iPhone. It contains an accurate scanner like the Amazon app, but it also includes local prices and a map to get you to your store of choice. Even better, the app puts a little blue dot next to the stores that have your items in stock. The app has been around for a while, but it has been updated to include deals, complete with info about rebates, sales and special promotions. It also includes coupon codes. The app includes reviews, and you can add your own, as well as share the low prices you have found via email, Twitter and Facebook. I took it on a jaunt to some local stores and it worked very well. The scanner locked in on the barcode quite quickly, and it was accurate. When you simply type in the name of a product, the app suggests what you might be looking for, so it saves you a bunch of keystrokes. The app does make local and online comparisons, and not surprisingly, the online prices are often cheaper, but not always. This is a pretty handy app if you're running around looking for gifts. I've given it a permanent place on my iPhone, and I think you'll find it both handy and money saving. If you've seen our survey of shopping apps, be sure to add this one to your list. %Gallery-108307%