Thrifty Thinking: Smart Shopping

I recently had the opportunity to conduct an e-interview with Christine Frietchen, Editor-in-Chief of ConsumerSearch, a website that collects reviews from the Internet and magazines on a wide variety of products.

1. What are some tips about purchasing "as seen on TV" products?

Don’t buy it over the phone! Lots of products try to scam you into signing up for one of those “automatic shipment” deals where they keep sending you stuff you didn’t ask for every month. This is a particular problem with some workout DVDs like Bender Ball. Most of this stuff is now available in regular stores, so buy it there (where you can easily return it).

Gadgets that promise to solve all your storage problems never do. Case in point: the Shoes Under and the Buxton Bag, which aren’t nearly as good in real life as they promise to be in the ads.

Read a review or two. ConsumerSearch has covered more than 100 of these products, so take a quick look before investing in a Topsy Turvy (these actually do work) or the Invisible Tummy Trimmer (don’t bother).



2. How can parents sort out the products that are good deals from products that aren't?

Even if you’d rather buy in a store, the big shopping-search sites are great for finding the best prices. Shopping.com is a good one. Pricegrabber is another one. And if you’re shopping for strollers, car seats or anything that has upholstery – check out last year’s colors. There’s usually ZERO difference other than the fabric, but you can save 30% to 50%. Basically, it pays *NOT* to be trendy

3. How does ConsumerSearch help buyers?

We do the product research you would do if you actually had the time. For example, we spent a solid week researching baby monitors, comparing expert picks with user reviews, verifying features and consulting safety sources to find out which models get the least interference and the best battery life. Seriously, if you had 30 hours to read about high chairs, you would – because you want the best stuff at the best price – but what normal person has the time? That’s where ConsumerSearch comes in. We are total geeks when it comes to product research. We’re a team of real people who compile our picks by hand and debate our picks. You should have seen the in-office war when we were writing our report on diaper pails – three of our editors argued for an hour over which one was less stinky!

4. Are there any areas where parents need to be particularly careful when making purchases?

Sure. Baby bottles are one area. While many manufacturers are moving to BPA-free product lines, there’s still old stuff on the shelves. Cribs are particular problematic – there have been four recalls this year, mainly for drop-side cribs – that’s one product you want to avoid. In New York state, for example, they are calling for a complete ban. And baby monitors – with the cheapies, there’s a good chance you’re going to end up hearing your neighbor’s conversations because of the radio-frequency they use. Digital and DECT monitors are much better.

5. Do you have any final tips for people who are shopping online or by phone to make sure they get a quality product?

If you’re shopping online, stick with stores and websites you’ve heard of, and ignore sites you don’t know that may offer a super-low price – we’ve found that lowball prices can often be for “refurbished” models. Nobody wants THAT surprise….