ebay Mobile Challenge: Using RedLaser to Find Gadgets on the Cheap

By Reena Jana
December 15, 2010

RedLaser

I've been in denial that it's already a week into December and, perhaps like you, I'm impossibly behind on my holiday gift. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets frustrated while shopping online comparing best prices for the hottest gadgets of the season (my favorite gifts to give!) in an attempt to avoid store crowds, high prices, and low inventory. This year, I decided to take a new approach, one that I'm hoping might save me both time and cash: I tried out a cool Smartphone app, owned by eBay, called RedLaser, an app that scans barcodes and searches instantly for online bargains.

RedLaser Scan I used it to compare prices online for a variety of items, from an iPad to hot tech-y toys like Electronic Scrabble Flash, with a goal to check off everything on my gadget gift list. And I gave myself an extra challenge: I wouldn't just blindly buy everything, I'd also hunt for price tags below their regular retail costs, if I could.

The beauty of the RedLaser iPhone app is that rather than spending hours trudging through store after store in the mall for bargains, or scrolling through pages and pages of retail Web sites, you can simply point an iPhone (or a 4th generation iPod Touch) at a product's barcode et voila! The RedLaser app snaps a photo of the barcode and then, based on the code's information, eBay's RedLaser app's software conducts superfast Web searches using Google and thefind.com to provide the lowest price available for the product and where it can be found. (If you have a numeric UPC code for a product handy, you can also type it into the app using your iPhone keyboard and conduct a search.) If you allow your iPhone to track your location, eBay's RedLaser app will provide not only Web sites with your desired merchandise, but also local stores where you can physically find the best tech gifts nearby and at what prices they're selling for in your neighborhood. For some product listings, eBay's RedLaser app will even pull up reviews.

Yeah, it could potentially be awkward: you could be scanning a bar code for an Xbox in a store and then find out it's cheaper online or around the corner. In fact, I tried scanning an Xbox Kinect box in a video-game store in New York City as my virgin eBay RedLaser attempt. While I felt somewhat guilty that the app pulled up better prices elsewhere, the sales guy didn't seem to notice or care that I was pointing my phone at the display boxes. My guess is he was happy that I was there, at least, checking stuff out as a potential customer, and that I was simply putting together a visual wish list—which indeed, I was. Speaking of wish lists, eBay's RedLaser app compiles all of your scanned items on a neat list (and offers an option to create other, more customized wish lists), which can then be emailed to…Santa, of course!

My holiday shopping list and what RedLaser found.

Previous Next

Electronic Scrabble Flash: This new, high-tech update of the classic board game Scrabble features individual letter cubes that are electronically programmed to figure out what words you're forming as you're spelling them. RedLaser found it for as little as $19.19 online on Kmart.com, but it was sold out when I tried to buy it. Luckily, I could also find it at the Toys R Us in Manhattan for $19.49, RedLaser informed me. It normally sells for $29.99. I'll pick this up for my nephews.
Livescribe 8 GB Echo Smart Pen: This gadget records whatever you write (by hand) and hear-up to 128,000 pages or 800 hours of audio. It will be a great gift for my doctor dad, because it would make it easier for him to take his patient notes. RedLaser found it for $189.99 both online and locally, at a place I wouldn't suspect would carry it-Adorama, a camera store in Chelsea, and its Web site. What great info! The Livescribe Echo Smaprt Pen usually retails for $199.95.
Apple 16GB WiFi iPad: This sleek tablet computer needs no introduction. Apple sells it for $499. RedLaser found it for me on a site called Saletek, which links to other sites listing refurbished, used, and new iPads, starting at $470. I'll get my husband one of these. It's perfect for keeping him entertained and in touch when traveling for work. He can also play toddler iPads with my son, who's a major iPad fan.
Apple iPod 16 GB Nano, 6th Generation: The newest Apple Nano MP3 player has a built-in FM radio and a multi-touch screen. It retails for $179, but RedLaser found it for only $157.90 on a site called GankIt and for $164.90 in Manhattan at BH Photo Video (once again, great info about a store I'd never thought of!). RedLaser also pulled up helpful product reviews for this item. I'll pick this up for my mom, who'll love listening to her favorite music and NPR when she gardens.
Xbox 360 and Kinect Bundle: I knew the super-hot Xbox 360 video game console and its new Kinect device would be tough to find this Christmas. RedLaser found the combo pack for $396.01, barely under its usual price of $399.99 on a Web site called Deals4Real.com, but it was sold out. Otherwise, it was available for full price at other sites and local stores. Oh, well! I'll still get this for my just-married brother and his new wife, both die-hard gamers.
Asus Eee PC Notebook: This sleek, ultra-portable laptop will make an excellent gift for our nanny, who is also a part-time college student. It normally costs $379 at retail, but RedLaser found it for $329 at BestBuy, both online and in physical stores in New York.
Samsung TL105 12.2 Megapixel Digital Camera: At less than one-inch thick, this camera is easy to carry. It takes HD video as well as still pictures, and also has a feature that adjusts the shot to accommodate shaky hands or dark shadows. It normally sells for $129.97, but RedLaser found it for as little as $20 for a used one online at CowBoom.com, and alerted me to a sale at a store where I could pick it up for less. My mother-in-law will love it.
Garmin Nuvi 3790T: I thought this slim, touch-screen GPS system from Garmin would be a thoughtful gift for my sister in California, who takes a lot of road trips. Normally, it's pretty pricey-it retails for $449. RedLaser found it for me online at the Web site for Cabela's, a camping and outdoor gear retailer, for as low as $349.99. Locally, I could only find it at full price.
Vizio 47-inch LCD HDTV: For our family, I've been looking for a large flat screen TV. For this one, I typed in a UPC code I found online for this model of Vizio TV, which I'd seen at a friend's home. It's a super-splurge, with a list price of $998. RedLaser found it for as low as $659.99 online (on a site called brownbox.com), though. And no local stores had it, apparently, according to the app. Never mind; at its size, we'd have to have this huge TV delivered anyway!
Bose IE2 in-ear Headphones: Okay, so this is really a present for myself. These have su hgreat sound quality. I've been searching for them, and can't find them for under their usual price of $99.95. RedLaser confirmed that they're not to be found at a discount anywhere online or in person. So I'm left without a bargain in this case, but I have peace of mind knowing I'm not missing out on a sale anywhere.

Electronic Scrabble Flash: This new, high-tech update of the classic board game Scrabble features individual letter cubes that are electronically programmed to figure out what words you're forming as you're spelling them. RedLaser found it for as little as $19.19 online on Kmart.com, but it was sold out when I tried to buy it. Luckily, I could also find it at the Toys R Us in Manhattan for $19.49, the RedLaser app informed me. It normally sells for $29.99. I'll pick this up for my nephews.

Livescribe 8 GB Echo Smart Pen: This high-tech gadget records whatever you write (by hand) and hear—up to 128,000 pages or 800 hours of audio. This is a helpful gift for anyone who attends meetings or classes. It will be a great gift for my doctor dad, making it easier for him to take his patient notes. RedLaser found it for $189.99 both online and locally, at a place I wouldn't suspect would carry it — Adorama, a camera store in Chelsea, and its Web site. What great info! The Livescribe Echo Smart Pen usually retails for $199.95.

Apple 16GB WiFi iPad: This sleek tablet computer needs no introduction. Apple sells it for $499. eBay's RedLaser app found it for me on a site called Saletek, which links to other sites listing refurbished, used, and new iPads, starting at $470. I'll get my husband one of these. It's perfect for keeping him entertained and in touch when traveling for work. He can also play toddler iPads with my son, who's a major iPad fan.

Apple iPod 16 GB Nano, 6th Generation: The newest Apple Nano MP3 player has a built-in FM radio and a multi-touch screen. It retails for $179, but RedLaser found it for only $157.90 on a site called GankIt and for $164.90 in Manhattan at BH Photo Video (once again, great info about a store I'd never thought of!). eBay's RedLaser app also pulled up helpful online product reviews for this item. I'll pick this up for my mom, who'll love listening to her favorite music and NPR when she gardens.

Xbox 360 and Kinect Bundle: I knew the super-hot Xbox 360 video game console and its new Kinect device, which allows you to control onscreen action with your gestures and words only, would be tough to find this Christmas. RedLaser found the combo pack of both console and Kinect for $396.01, barely under its usual price of $399.99 on a Web site called Deals4Real.com, but it was sold out. Otherwise, it was available for full price at numerous other sites, as well as in local stores, as RedLaser pointed out. Oh, well! I'll still get this for my just-married brother and his new wife, both die-hard gamers.

Asus Eee PC Notebook: This sleek, ultra-portable laptop will make an excellent gift for our nanny, who is also a part-time college student. It normally costs $379 at retail, but RedLaser found it for $329 at BestBuy, both online and in physical stores in New York.

Samsung TL105 12.2 Megapixel Digital Camera: At less than one-inch thick, this camera is easy to carry. It takes HD video as well as still pictures, and also has a feature that adjusts the shot to accommodate shaky hands or dark shadows. It normally sells for $129.97, but RedLaser found it for as little as $20 for a used one online at CowBoom.com, and alerted me to a sale at the J & R store in lower Manhattan, where I could pick it up for $69.98. My mother-in-law, who's been searching for a new digital camera, will love it.

Garmin Nuvi 3790T: I thought this slim, touch-screen GPS system from Garmin would be a thoughtful gift for my sister in California, who takes a lot of road trips. Normally, it's pretty pricey—it retails for $449. eBay's RedLaser app found it for me online at the Web site for Cabela's, a camping and outdoor gear retailer, for as low as $349.99. Once again, the Smartphone app pointed me to a source I'd never consider going to for this product, as well as a significant savings. Locally, I could only find it at full price—my own experience when I was shopping in physical stores, which RedLaser confirmed as well.

Bose IE2 in-ear Headphones: Okay, so this is really a present for myself. These have such great sound quality. I've been searching for them, and can't find them for under their usual price of $99.95. eBay's RedLaser Smarthphone app confirmed that they're not to be found at a discount anywhere online or in person. So I'm left without a bargain in this case, but I have peace of mind knowing I'm not missing out on a sale anywhere.

Vizio 47-inch LCD HDTV: For our family, I've been looking for a large flat screen TV. For this one, I typed in a UPC code I found online for this model of Vizio TV, which I’d seen at a friend's home. Our older son will love watching "Sesame Street" on this, and we’ll have it in time for the Super Bowl. It's a super-splurge, with a list price of $998. eBay's RedLaser app found it for as low as $659.99 online (on a site called brownbox.com), though. And no local stores had it, apparently, according to the app. Never mind; at its size, we'd have to have this huge TV delivered anyway!