(collaborative post) We all remember the Compare the Market adverts with the cutest little meerkats who have now almost become celebrities in their own right. Behind the comedy value of these anthropomorphised mascots is one of the largest price comparison websites (PCWs). Here we look at the Main Reasons to Use Comparison Websites.
Beginning in 1995 with Bargain Finder, similar sites began to spring up. The first comparison websites were initially developed to compare the prices of supermarket products, online retail stores and alert shoppers to any promotions that were currently being run.
26 years later, comparison sites are everywhere and almost every industry imaginable has its own specific comparison website available.
The primary reason for using a price comparison website is of course to save time and money by referencing services against each other. The best PCWs are also updated regularly to ensure you get the most up-to-date deals and prices. Filtered searches can also be applied in order to find specific services.
Main Reasons to Use Comparison Websites
Saves Time and Money
Before prominent PCWs, you would spend an insane amount of time calling service providers for the best deals. A great way to bump up your phone bill. The alternative was going from website to website if they had one, checking quotes.
These sites help you find the best service for the lowest possible price as quickly as possible. Everything from buying clothes, beauty products and appliances, home insurance, conveyancing quotes and even law services can be found on PCWs and are compared against each other in terms of quality and cost.
Best Deals at the Right Time
The nature of internet-based service providers means that their terms, conditions and pricing are constantly evolving to reflect industry-specific changes, legislation or simple competitive promotional campaigns.
Comparison website’s best features are that they are able to provide relevant, up-to-date pricing of a given service. Some even go as far as highlighting offers and deals, such as half-price internet for a year.
Find Exactly What You Need
Good PCW’s will display accurate and relevant results based on either a search interface or the common filtering method. While you can quickly use a price comparison website to look for a specific service such as internet, insurance or digital TV providers and sort the results for the cheapest option, you may not get what you need.
For example, from a list of internet service providers, the cheapest option might not necessarily be the best option for you. To Make the most of your money you also need something that suits your requirements. Streaming 4K video through Netflix requires a fiber optic connection and not all ISPs offer this service, especially the cheaper ones. A good PCW will provide relevant filters for finding the options you require according to industry.
Do you Use Comparision Websites? If you do, What are your Main Reasons to Use Comparison Websites?
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I will keep this in mind. I always love when I can save money. I know I always look around before I purchase to make sure I am getting the best deal.
It does help to compare prices.
I am all for any comparison that will save me money and get a comparable product. This is a great idea for any discerning consumer
It really can be a great way to save.
I remember those dark days of phoning round to get quotes. Comparison sites get a huge thumbs up from me!
Ha, it was awful. Glad we don’t need to do that anymore.
These are great for finding a really good deal and hopefully saving some money. I need to remember to use them more.
They can make a difference, especially with larger items.
I love this post because who doesn’t want to save time and money? Such great information!
Thank you!
Thanks Sue. Glad you enjoyed the post.
This is a concept I wasn’t familiar with, so read with great interest. I am sharing these ideas with my husband, who also likes new ideas!
I hope he finds it helpful.
I could use Comparison Websites. I know it will be a huge help for me. Thanks for sharing this idea, I will check it out.
Hope you make some great savings x
I haven’t tried looking into comparison websites yet, it sounds really helpful.
They can make a big difference to what you end up paying.
I use products ce comparison websites for household policies and utilities but have never thought to use them for products so will try this.
It all depends on what you are buying and how tight your budget is.
Do you know what my problem is? That objectively I’m not that good at using this type of site even if obviously, as you show, they are very useful.
You’ll find they have made improvements over the years to make them super easy to use now x
Who doesn’t want to get the best quality at the best price, totally agree with you about using comparisons. At home we mainly did it while looking for flights, but it can certainly apply to any other online shopping.
It can be great for flights. It’s amazing how much you can save.
Though, using comparison websites do take up some time, whenever I am making a big purchase I use them – because it does really save money!
It really does depend on what you are buying, with some things it can be soooo much faster x
I’m always on the lookout for comparing prices and anything that will save us in the long run
That’s always a good thing!!!
I use comparison sites to get the best deals and then I usually try and go direct to the company and use cashback to make the most money x
That’s great to hear. Sounds like you know what you’re doing Rhian!!!
Such good points, I tend to use them when researching big things likes flights for holidays, but forget when it come to smaller things at home. I should do it more, so worth it in the long run saving money and time.
They can be great for flights and holidays. You can make some amazing savings.
I do agree with these reasons to use a comparison website. They are so good at helping you save time and money. I’ve used a couple and they were of great help to me.
I’m so pleased to hear that Ivan. I’ve used them a number of times. It really does help save money.
Thanks. We actually don’t look at price comparison websites, mostly because I know what I want and where to get it. Not much of an online shopper.
It’s good to know what you want. You might find it helps you with saving money though.
These are great resources! With online shopping becoming the main way I shop now, this is something to look into. Thank you!
Sounds like this is definitely something you need to make the most of.
Using comparison sites whenever possible when making major purchases is so smart. Love this and I definitely do my research before purchasing nothing and wait for the best deals 🙂
That’s good to hear. Not everyone does and they end up overspending.
I love comparison sites! I always check them out before making big purchases!
They can help you with quite large savings on expensive items.
These sites really come in handy and could help save some coins. Thanks for the reminder
Good luck Louisa, hope it helps x
Thank you for sharing the links to the comparison websites as I will be using them in the future. Every little money saved adds up in the end
I hope you save loads Ash x
I’m always on the lookout for great deals and ways to save money. I certainly price shop virtually before making my purchases.
That’s good to hear, you can make loads of savings that way.
Comparison sites are a life saver. It can save so much money!
They really are aren’t they x
I love to make always the best deal! So I am always looking for new tools!
You’ll find these types of sites helpful then Catalina x
My partner is always looking comparison websites, he always try to get us the best deal for what we need and it really does save us some money.
That’s great to hear. The money saved can be used for so many other things.
This is a great reminder. I used to use comparison websites a lot but I have gotten out of the habit. I really should start again with as much shopping online as I do.
I use comparison sites all the time and over the years they have saved me so much money (which is the main goal tbh)!!
Laura x
They are really handy. That’s great to hear.