Ellen PhillipsAs my loyal readers know, ShopSmart is my BFF-go-to resource for many consumer answers. An arm of Consumer Reports, it contains a wealth of information to make our lives easier.
Just in time for the New Year, the magazine has rounded up what it considers the best new websites to save us tons of money. Additionally, these sites meet requirements for contact-information disclosure and (really importantly) customer service. The sites are listed alphabetically and not necessarily in order of importance.
1 AskZappos.com takes the shoe company's already-superior customer support up another couple of rungs on the customer service ladder. Snap a photo with your phone of any pair of shoes on any feet anywhere and email the picture to this site. Upon receipt, Zappos sends its staffers to track down the shoes for you. And what's more, even if Zappos doesn't sell the shoes, the company still will find them for you, free, from any store, along with clothes, jewelry and other accessories.
2 BorrowingMagnolia.com enables the shopper to borrow a wedding gown. For only $99, you can choose three to try on after the site mails them to you. The five-day limit is plenty of time to decide which (if any) you like best, and the fee is credited toward your rental or purchase.
3 CarteBlanche.ly creates one-of-a-kind garments, shares them online, and users vote for their favorites using their own dollars. The styles collecting the most money are then created using Big Apple/Madison Avenue vendors and factories but without the normal price markup of four times-plus. The second season begins soon so add your name to the email list to receive an heads-up when it's time to vote on a new collection.
4 Fabletics.com shows off discounted workout wear. Created in part by actress Kate Hudson, outfits start at $50, with free shipping on at least that amount, plus free shipping returns for exchanges or store credits. (Shipping on less than a $50 purchase is still only a flat $5.)
5 Frugaa.com works with thousands of online stores to get the best deals. By combining the most current coupons with every possible web store, staffers update the site several times per day so customers get the best deals possible with couponing. Users also vote on how well coupons/codes work and then Frugaa displays by popularity. Obviously, the cherry on top, followed by the whip cream and so forth, translate into the most popular (cherries) on down to the least favorite (bottom of the bowl).
6 GetAirHelp.com does more than give fliers a site to vent frustrations. These folks agree with yours truly -- and the federal government -- that an overbooked, late or cancelled flight could net an aggravated passenger up to $800. Send your flight info to the site, and it will file a claim on your behalf or even go to court, if necessary. If successful, the company pockets 25 percent of the amount paid to you. (If you don't wish to give up any portion of your successful claim, write your own letter to the airline, using the tips I've suggested in past columns, as well as what I've advised in my consumer books, "Shocked, Appalled, and Dismayed!" and "Fight Back and Win!")
(To be continued)
Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. Contact her at consumer watch@timesfreepress.com.