Items need or want--Buy it straight Up or Shop Around for the Cheaper Prices....

I shop around for almost everything I buy. I check the internet and/or call different stores before purchasing. I also check sites like craigslist, freecycle and cheapcycle (yahoo groups) for used/cheap items.

Well if it something I want then I will definitely try to get the cheapest price I can. If it is something I need but can wait a bit for, then I will search for a good price. In fact if it something that doesn't matter to me if it is used I will try my freecycle group first! If it is something I want and I end up not getting it because of price; I'm ok with it. Now if only my family would do the same -- say concert tickets, I get them on Ebay. If I can't get them OH well then I don't go to the concert. My family on the other hand will pay full price so they dont' miss the concert. Guess it is all about priorities.

usually i always look around first before i shop... i never buy anything straight from a shop without comparing prices unless for food... even that, also in emergency... otherwise, i will look around first before i buy...

I prefer to survey first on most of the items that I am planning or going to buy, it's more better if we spend more of our money wisely. As money nowadays are getting harder and harder for most of us to earn, I think it's more practical if we look for other options and ways on how we can get what we need/want without spending the most. Here in the philippines, we have some shop/stores that offer us cheap products but also with quality. And this trend had helped most of us cope up in our everyday living, and save some amount for our future.

I usually do my bit of searching before buying stuff I need.The only time I buy it without looking around is when I am desperate to get my hand on something and that stuff is hard to come by ,like some gadget.However,if it's for domestic use and available at some place I already know as a great bargain , then I don't waste much time and till now it has checked out to be a good buy.When I am looking for an instrument, software or something I want to last for a long time like an iron,printer,mobile then I definitely research the online market before stepping out.

i will go shopping for it and get it in a lower price from experiance the few times that i ordered on the net from shops here in israel it was a desaster and it also a good reason to go out and breath the fresh air:)

I usually talk to some friends and family first about where to find these items at the lowest price and then go to the place where it is cheapest. Sometimes I will just go straight to the place I know that has the item since the prices of gas is skyrocketing again I do not want to waste gas or spend more money driving around. Shopping around online is a good way as well to find the best price.

yes, of course I look for another alternatives. I never teach myself to buy cheap or expensive things only but I do take my time to do a little "survey" to check the price variety. You can find stuffs with the same brand, but have price difference from store to store. It's a good thing to buy the same stuff, with cheaper price.

i dont shopped online..i prefer on malls..its one of my hobbies to go shopping and strolling on thsoe gigantic malls..and i do look always for a cheaper one in buying anything..i dont buy on impulse..

It depends on my need for it, and the price. If it's only going to be a couple of dollars different if I shop around, I'll just get it where I see it. If it's going to be a wide difference or I can use coupons / sales, etc, I'll shop around. And if I need it ASAP, like diapers, I'll just buy it.

Money is quite hard to come by for me as I'm not working and I'm depending on my parents for it. So, my only choice would be to shop around for good and cheap prices. That's what I need to do anyway. My mom always advised me to look around to compare prices and try not to pay more when the same item is sold at a cheaper price at another shop. It is important to be thrifty and smart too. But, if I really need it and it's not sold anywhere else, then I'd just buy it. If it's something I really want, then I'd just go for it. I don't do this every time, though!

I tend to shop around, check prices, compare. Of course sometimes I also buy it straight, but it's not usual. I check thing online and in stores as well. I usually take my time looking and researching until I make up my mind - unless of course it's something we need in a hurry.

It depends on the item I need to buy. You mentioned something for your cell phone? Say if I need a nokia battery, I would make sure I buy an original - that would mean I would return to the telco shop. Unless I have faith that what I am buying is an original, I would go back there. No I still do not trust ebay.

If I'm spending more than $5 on something then I shop around. Heck, I even shop around for milk at times. I rarely use ebay anymore but I do search alot of other sites online. Many times it's simply for reviews, but I also do look for cheaper prices to buy items. I have a few good ones for computer supplies that list all items in one huge list, making it much simpler to find what I want and compare company prices.

I like to shop around. I am too much of a tightwad to buy the first item that I see especially if I think I can get abetter deal somewhere else.

I buy things that I want but at the same time I don't really need. As always I need to buy the things I need but I don't want. If it is too much for a thing that shouldn't costs so much then I just look around for it cheaper. Or if I'm like oh screw it. I just buy it.

Oh I definitely shop around for the best price. Sometimes my son (who is 18) thinks I'm crazy but I love to get a good bargain. I don't buy online but I do look at store flyers and compare them and see who has the most specials on that week. So if it's store A then they get my business this week but next week might be store B or store A again. I never know until the flyers land in my mailbox. Infact this morning I was up and out of the house early. There were 2 stores that had amazing deals so off I went to shop at both but normally it's only one. Now that refers to groceries but I guess I'm the same with everything else. If it were me buying a cellphone I'd be calling all over. That's an investment not a cheap purchase. Good Luck in your search.

I donot pay full price unless its a emergency situation. I always look for a bargain or else I won't buy it. My cell phone was also damage and I could not get a good deal with the cellular company so I shop around and got it on Ebay in great condition for a fraction of the price at the dealer.

I try to shop around as much as I can for stuff. I'd rather save a couple of dollars or whatever on something if I can help it. I don't want to waste money when I can save it.

It all depends on how desperately I want or need the item. I usually do some research online to find out where I can get the item the cheapest, and buy from that retailer, or online. There are many good websites to do price comparisons such as shopzilla and buy.com. Also, if you're looking for a different auction site try ubid.com.