Know the best stores

The best advice for general retail shopping:

Check out all the local stores within a certain category and compare prices (write them down along with exact item brands, sizes, model #, etc.).  For example, go to every hardware store and check their prices on a particular faucet, a particular brand of closet shelving, 1×6 clear pine lumber, 1 gal of a particular kind of paint, etc. Generally you will find that one store is consistently better than the other in every category. Then you will know which hardware store to visit whenever you need an item they stock. The same can be done with variety-type stores, bedding stores, and even grocery stores although with grocery stores you need to consider regular, not sale prices.

For all those things you need quickly that don’t cost too much, this is the best method. It would cost too much in time and gasoline to drive all over town comparing prices all the time. It even costs too much in time and frustration calling all over for pricing.

Listed in Category: Shopping