So many "bargains"... or are there???

Natt on 24/06/2009 - 17:15
Last edited 24/06/2009 - 21:40 by 1 other user

OK first let me say I love this site

But I am getting swamped by "bargains" so much that I think I am missing the ones that are actually really good

The rating system is based on popularity, but I am not sure popular means best bargain any more

A popular one gets to be up top, and the voting sort of snowballs. So we see big ratings for a coles misprint, that to be fair is interesting - but its not a bargain

Between that and the vast amounts of links to catalogues, and vendor self promotion its just hard to sort out the wheat from the chaff

Is there any way other than a "positive" that we can rate a really good deal and put it ahead of the pack - maybe favourite picks by the moderators?

Or am I just searching wrong?

(Mod — moved to Announcement & Feedback forum)

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Comments

  • mason on 24/06/2009 - 17:35
    +1

    One mans trash is another mans treasure. I do agree that the "real" bargains are hard to find but I think the voting system does work. The chicken may be a bargain if you forced the issue with coles and as yet it has not been proved wrong.
    As for the catalogues I do agree but have also found goods on sale I would not have known about so I still think they are valid.
    You would have the same result if the mods picked and I notice that they have voted for the coles deal so that would be in anyway.

  • moo on 24/06/2009 - 17:45

    Totally understand where you are coming from. A lot of the post are just "extract" from catalogues etc. Unfortunately there isn't a rule or matrix on what is a bargain. My personal view on what a bargain is that the price is WAY below the cheapest price you can find, that is a bargain in my books. But if we are talking about saving $10 on a $100 item which requires us to go to great lenghts to get it (eg. getting Officeworks to pricematch), then it is not a bargain but a 'decent deal'.

  • Natt on 24/06/2009 - 19:14

    re the catalogues … I think its because a lot of them are on-line anyway

    maybe there could be a section for vendors and catalogues that you could opt out of?

    I know I sound cranky, but heres some deals that have all but dissapeared when posted (or seemed to)

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/13788
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/13553
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/13643
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/13835
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/13265

    and honestly you can't tell me this is not getting spamlike:

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/1628/submitted
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/10741/submitted
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/14778/submitted

    Is it any wonder things are getting buried, or the deals are just getting crappier

    Gosh I sound horrid - but I just feel a really good service is getting swamped

  • arcticmonkey on 24/06/2009 - 21:01

    There should be an option where you can view the last 50 submitted deals under the 'new deals' section. I agree with your post.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2009 - 02:16

      Not sure if this is an answer for you.

      You can click the new deals button found next to the search button under the ozbargain banner this gives you all new deals in order that they are posted and regardless of votes. As distinct from the new deals box found at the right hand side which only shows the last 5-10

  • mawinmawin on 25/06/2009 - 09:50

    Subscribe to RSS Reader (like google reader), that way you will never miss any deals even after a month.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2009 - 01:55
    +1

    As the site gets more popular, then the bargains grow. Also the type of bargain hunter can change and so does the bargain.

    In the current economic climate stores have sales every day. Online stores are growing - the zazzs, and COTD's are now many.

    Flights get cheaper - the $1000 flights to the US are now $900. and every day another travel offer. Now I have done my holidays I consider these spam - until next years leave comes again.

    Also the readership here is changing. $5 Pizza's $1 Mars bars ice creams technology and free slurpees probably indicate a high following among those studying, and this appeals to them. Again no data, rather personal observations on voting, seems to show products which appeal to younger males.

    Compare this to Buckscoop where there are more female friendly product posts like baby products and fashion.

    So as each site grows so does the bias of the visitors based on the past trends.

    Your examples of not so hot deals show representatives postings - which are allowed here. Why? because it at least forces them to declare their interest rather than have them post as pseudo bargain hunters. This way you at least know its self promotion. We could have an option to have these reps posts skipped, but will that just drive them back to having fake friends post? I dont have an answer.

    As for moo's comments on being way below. I understand where your coming from, but how can you define this. Is it a percentage, is it based on a previous bargain. If the latter where will it stop? Like a flight to the US at $1K now doesnt get posted unless its $900 then $800. And if when I want to fly its $1100 it doesnt get posted because of this rule. And 50% off Cola isnt a bargain because last month it was 55% off, but that bargain expired.

    We all have different criteria by which we judge a bargain. Trying to set rules rather than tools which helps sort out personal preferences is hard.

    Likewise the comment about catalogs - there are so many and are now online, but having someone point out a bargain, that could be missed is an advantage. But if I dont own a pool then 50% off chlorine isnt of interest.

    And many bargains aren't bargains any more like an LCD TV as I already have one, and then finally when I've spent all my money on all the past bargains no bargain at almost any price will appeal.

    And posts for Coffee in a perth mall aren't of interest to me on the East coast - do we introduce a regional code?

    Its just an indication of the success of the site and the change in the economy - bargain hunting and bargains are now in vogue.

    All that said - these are MY personal opinions. Keep the comments coming - that way we can all refine the site.

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