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Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World #Giveaway

October 14, 2013 by Michelle M

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributor Michelle of Honest & Truly! who received this book for review. She was also compensated for writing this post. All opinions remain our own.

Bargain FeverI’m a bargain shopper, though, I don’t do a great job with coupons themselves. I’d rather find other ways to save money. There’s a whole different set of ensuring that you never pay full price, and Mark Ellwood explores many of these in his new book Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World. The title implies that it will be a how-to manual for savings, filled with tips and tricks on how to save.

It isn’t. Instead, this book is a trip through what Ellwood terms Shopping 3.0, a new paradigm shift in the States and many other developed nations.  We’ve moved from a time before the industrial Revolution – before the price tag was even invented – when haggling was expected through the days when customers paid what stores charged with little control to today where we have an excess supply of pretty much everything from hotel rooms to Prada shoes to milk, and discounting is required to move this inventory.

Ellwood explains the lure of the bargain and its chemical origin in the brain. The unexpected delight of finding a bargain or an “it” item provide a shot of dopamine that is as potent as cocaine and is just as addictive. Now we expect these discounts for every product and for every reason, transforming our shopping behavior yet again.

Some of the bigger phenomena are explored from extreme couponing with stories and details of how some entrepreneurs have made this a full-time lucrative business. Ellwood also explores how coupons were first invented by Coca-Cola to induce customers to try the beverage.  He also walks through the strategies that hotels and airlines use, to very different levels of success, to discount their fares and ensure minimal inventory. It’s a fascinating view into the world of pricing and power, some of which I’ve never glimpsed, such as the sample sales in New York, while others I’ve lived and shopped repeatedly, such as Gilt Groupe or outlet malls.

Seeing the differences amongst various countries is impressive. As Ellwood points out, the Turkish bazaars are now most frequently trafficked by tourists rather than the locals who shop at more traditional stores and are proud to pay full price. Paying full price is a mark of confidence and status, something that was true in the States and elsewhere until recently. Only now that our economic status is less secure and coupons can be seen as a badge of pride and intelligence have we changed our tune.

As interesting as this book was – I’d personally love to take a university level class on the topic from Ellwood – I found the title of the book disingenuous, as there were few “how to” pieces in the book at all. He mentions a few resources from being a home manager in real estate to synching your AmEx to your Twitter account for special discounts, but they are mentioned almost in passing and with no details of how to go about accessing these savings.

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About Michelle M

Michelle is a stay at home mom of Mister Man (8) and Little Miss (6). When she's not out volunteering or running children to therapy or practices, you can find her in the kitchen or on her personal blog Honest & Truly where there's always a good story or new recipe or at her review blog Honest And Truly Reviews.

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65 Comments

  1. Allison says

    October 26, 2013 at 2:32 pm

    Kroger has all the best deals near me!

    Reply
  2. Karen Gonyea says

    October 26, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Big Lots is one of my favorite places to find good deals 🙂

    Reply
  3. Melinda P. says

    October 26, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    I don’t really have a particular store where I get good deals at. I tend to watch all stores though.

    Reply
  4. heather c says

    October 26, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    Steinmart and TJMaxx.

    Reply
  5. Christian Alejandro says

    October 26, 2013 at 12:27 pm

    I like Kohls and Amazon.

    Reply
  6. James Coyne says

    October 26, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    I do alot of shopping at amazon

    Reply
  7. Sue J. says

    October 26, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    My favorite “just-about-has-everything” store is Walmart!

    Reply
  8. Buddy Garrett says

    October 26, 2013 at 11:25 am

    I don’t really have a favorite store.

    Reply
  9. beth says

    October 26, 2013 at 11:23 am

    i go to thrift stores for a bargain

    Reply
  10. DanV says

    October 26, 2013 at 10:58 am

    We like Amazon

    Reply
  11. Gail Fernandez says

    October 26, 2013 at 9:52 am

    I get great bargains at Kohl’s.

    Reply
  12. Rachael Sears says

    October 26, 2013 at 9:05 am

    I am a bargin shopper and would like to know more and get even better

    Reply
  13. Rachael Sears says

    October 26, 2013 at 9:04 am

    I am a bargin shopper and would like to know more and get e en better

    Reply
  14. kathy pease says

    October 26, 2013 at 8:13 am

    I usually find a lot of great bargains at tj maxx

    Reply
  15. melina r says

    October 26, 2013 at 7:53 am

    I go to CVS and Target for my good bargains.

    Reply
  16. Mihaela Day says

    October 26, 2013 at 2:34 am

    My favorite bargain store is our local Dirt CHeap 🙂

    Reply
  17. Trisha McKee says

    October 26, 2013 at 1:33 am

    Kohl’s and Ross – those are the best locally.

    Reply
  18. Tara C says

    October 26, 2013 at 1:13 am

    I usually get the best deals at Meijer, stacking sales with coupons and mperks – I usually save about 30-40% off the total receipt.

    Reply
  19. shawna says

    October 25, 2013 at 10:18 pm

    Target…love their clearance sections.

    Reply
  20. rose paden says

    October 25, 2013 at 9:05 pm

    I usually go to Giant Eagle or Wal-Mart it really all depends on what I am shopping for. When I am looking for good deals on cloths i go to the salvation army, brand new cloths for a few dollars, I will take it!

    Reply
  21. Jaclyn Reynolds says

    October 25, 2013 at 8:47 pm

    We love going to goodwill each week!

    Reply
  22. Crystal says

    October 25, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    I like to shop at 2 stores. WalMart and Dollar General.

    Reply
  23. Melissa Nagy says

    October 25, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    I like to check out TJ Maxx periodically. I love their home goods section. I find some really great bowls/knick knacks for great prices.

    Reply
  24. Ed Nemmers says

    October 25, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    For groceries, Food4Less; for clothing, Carson’s, during the additional percentage off promotion.

    Reply
  25. julia carter says

    October 25, 2013 at 2:58 pm

    I love walmart for bargains.

    Reply
  26. brandy c says

    October 25, 2013 at 1:03 pm

    The thrift store!

    Reply
  27. Melinda Stephens says

    October 25, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    I’ve gotten some great deals when shopping the clearance racks at Kohls. I’ve gotten new jeans for $2!

    Reply
  28. michele dublin says

    October 25, 2013 at 11:40 am

    I love shopping at tj max. I get good deals on my boys athletic ware and I find great deals on the clearance rack. I save even more now that they built one in wisconsin.

    Reply
  29. tina reynolds says

    October 25, 2013 at 10:42 am

    Target for me I always find great details

    Reply
  30. Angela W says

    October 24, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    I’ve gotten some great deals at Kohl’s!

    Reply
  31. Brenda Elsner says

    October 24, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    I can always be found in the clearance section of any store. That is the first place I shop!!

    Reply
  32. Sunnymay says

    October 23, 2013 at 5:45 pm

    I shop the end aisles first at Target, to get my fill of clearance before doing regular shopping. My girlfriend’s mom thinks I’m an expert, because I zip over to the Men’s and the Women’s Clearance section at Famous Footwear and happen to find great deals and sometimes, the shoes are even cheaper than marked.

    Reply
  33. Heather B says

    October 23, 2013 at 12:28 pm

    Mashall’s and TJ Maxx

    Reply
  34. Elizabeth says

    October 22, 2013 at 11:26 pm

    Macy’s and Target, but I used to have better luck than I do now.

    Reply
  35. Miranda Ward says

    October 22, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    I like the Target Clearance!

    [email protected]

    Reply
  36. Robert says

    October 22, 2013 at 4:59 pm

    I can usually be successful at Kohl’s and Old Navy

    Reply
  37. Beth Klocinski says

    October 22, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    I love grocery shopping at Aldi’s. Good quality and great prices

    Reply
  38. beth says

    October 21, 2013 at 11:48 am

    I can usually do pretty well at Kohls

    Reply
  39. Stephanie Larison says

    October 21, 2013 at 12:01 am

    Kohls clearance and sometimes Goodwill.

    Reply
  40. Tracy Robertson says

    October 20, 2013 at 9:07 pm

    CVS is my favorite drug store because I get some really good money saving coupons from their coupon machine. I often get $5 off of $15 which is good for $15 of any kind of merchandise, even if it’s already on sale, and I get occasional freebies there too. As for clothing items, I don’t have a favorite store lately. I hunt all over for deals and it’s hit or miss.

    Reply
  41. angie says

    October 20, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I have a few different ones

    Reply
  42. christopher h says

    October 20, 2013 at 4:07 am

    Wal-Mart, usually, or the local thrift store

    Reply
  43. Christine says

    October 19, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    at Kohl’s

    Reply
  44. danielle lima says

    October 18, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    I do pretty well at CVS

    Reply
  45. Terra Heck says

    October 18, 2013 at 6:01 am

    I like to shop at Menard’s for bargains because they always have sales and offer great rebates. Thanks.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(Dot)com

    Reply
  46. Stephanie says

    October 17, 2013 at 10:30 am

    I’ve never been a great bargain shopper, but I mainly shop at Walmart, so I suppose that’s gotta count for something.

    Reply
  47. Stephanie says

    October 17, 2013 at 10:28 am

    I’ve never been a great bargain shopper, but I mainly shop at Walmart, so I suppose that’s gotta count for something 😉

    Reply
  48. Stephanie says

    October 17, 2013 at 10:28 am

    I’ve never been a great bargain shopper, but I mainly shop at Walmart, so I suppose that’s gotta count fire something 😉

    Reply
  49. Jeni Mitchell says

    October 16, 2013 at 4:42 pm

    I beyond love Target clearance, especially in their grocery section. I have been able to really stock up on frozen foods and coffee, all at below rock bottom prices. Yay!

    Reply
  50. lori says

    October 16, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    cvs – with extrabucks you can often get products for free

    Reply
  51. C says

    October 16, 2013 at 11:50 am

    I find deals on children’s clothing, toys, and books at seasonal consignment sales.

    Reply
  52. AMBER SEVERSON says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    it would be walmart!

    Reply
  53. marian boll says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    Wallmart and Secondhand boutiques

    Reply
  54. Ashley turicik says

    October 15, 2013 at 4:27 pm

    I love to go to target for bargains

    Reply
  55. Krystal Dunlap says

    October 15, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    I always check the clearance racks at the dollar store, my local grocery store, Walmart, target and Kmart if I find something on sale that we don’t need at the moment I buy it and save it to when we do need it.

    Reply
  56. heta s says

    October 15, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    that would be Kohls for me.

    Reply
  57. vickie couturier says

    October 15, 2013 at 11:13 am

    I check the clearance aisles every store I go too,the best ive gotten so far is Kohls

    Reply
  58. Brittany says

    October 15, 2013 at 8:31 am

    My local supermarket has great deals and I am always looking for the cheapest gas prices as I drive around and fill up when I find a deal.

    Reply
  59. Tabathia B says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    kohls is my fav clothing store and I love the deals you can get at krogers

    Reply
  60. Patricia Wojnar Crowley says

    October 14, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    I usually have good luck shopping at Target.

    Reply
  61. Denise C says

    October 14, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    I’ve gotten some great deals at Kohl’s!

    Reply
  62. Kerrie Mayans says

    October 14, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    I like to get good deals at Target on their clearance items.

    Reply
  63. anne says

    October 14, 2013 at 11:29 am

    My favorite bargain store is Stein-Mart. Many thanks.

    Reply
  64. Barbara Platt says

    October 14, 2013 at 4:09 am

    always shop at Walmart, Ross, Big Lots, and Ollies

    Reply
  65. Christina Marie says

    October 14, 2013 at 12:27 am

    Yes, my favorite store for good bargains is Walmart. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

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