How to Use Backpack to Comparison Shop

I'm as frugal as they come. I spend hours comparing products. I go to three different stores before I decide on the right item. I spend hours looking at prices, specs, and images of my choices. I used to create massive bookmark lists of things I was interested in buying. If I wanted someone's opinion, I would email them links and pictures, and it was just a rather complicated process. But, my new love affair with Backpack has changed all that.

Backpack is the perfect tool for helping you compare products for many reasons. The main reason being, of course, that it's web based. Mainly, it's a great tool because it will help you organize and share your product comparisons. You will spend less time going back and forth between websites and emails, because you will have a central location to compare all your information.

There are plenty of articles proclaiming the greatness of Backpack, but this article is about utilizing Backpack to help comparison shop. Backpack prides it's self on being multi-functional. Yes, it is built as an organizational tool, but can be setup to fit your own needs.

Using Backpack To Help You Comparison Shop - Notes

When using Backpack for comparative shopping, the notes section will be one of the most used in your research. The notes section will be where you can post information, links, prices, and more about each product you are considering.

For each product you are considering, you will want to create a new note. In the title of that note you will want to type in the name of the product. You will want to do this for each product you are considering. Each of these notes will be where you can post information about each product. This will create a one stop location to view all your comparative data about your potential products.

The amount of information you can include in the body of each note is limitless. What you will include in the body of your note depends on what you are researching, but there is some information that is relevant to most product comparisons.

Here is an example to give you a better idea of how you can use Backapck to comparison shop:

Title - Xbox 360

Body -

Stores - Amazon.com Price: $399 http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Console-20GB-Hard-Drive/dp/B000B43OY4/sr=8-1/qid=1171645579/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-6818059-3787129?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

EB Games Price: $269 (used) http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=020253

Pros - Has 20 gig hard drive, wireless controllers

Cons - Doesn't come with any games

You would then create a note for each product you are comparing. For this example you could create a note for the PS3 and the Wii. Now you will be able to see the prices, pros, and cons of each system all in one place.

Using Backpack To Help You Comparison Shop - Writeboards

A write board is a central location where you can make a post and invite others to comment on it

Not sure which system to get? Create a writeboard and invite some of your friends and collogues to comment on your choices. This is a great way to get peoples opinions without them actually being there.

You could use this feature to get families thoughts on wedding dresses you are choosing, painting you want to buy, houses you are look at. The uses are limitless.

Using Backpack To Help You Comparison Shop - Pictures

It is important to note that this feature of Backpack only comes with the paid version. You can link to web hosted photos in your notes, but not actually post images.

This is a great tool comparing products with visual importance. You probably wouldn't use this feature to compare gaming systems, but it would be great for wedding dresses, homes, cars, etc.

Post pictures of the various items you are comparing. This way, you can do a real side by side comparison of them. No longer will you have to print out low quality web pictures or click back and forth to websites. Everything you need to see is in one spot.

Using Backpack To Help You Comparison Shop - Calendar

Are some of the products you are comparing on sale or a time restraint? Use the calendar feature to let you know when the sale is going to be over. This way you won't miss the sale price.

The calendar feature also comes in handy if you do a lot of shopping on eBay. When you find items you like, type in the end of auction date in your calendar. It is an extra way to keep up with your auction watches so you don't forget them.