Niche e-tailers attract bargain hunters

Online stores are making a name for themselves by offering travel deals, live event tickets, surplus electronics and other goods at discount prices.

The story "Niche e-tailers attract bargain hunters" published August 16, 2007 at 3:15 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

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[Luke Cudney]

You missed two of the coolest and most innovative

You forgot two of the best Deal-at-a-time sites out there: www.steepandcheap.com and www.whiskeymilitia.com, both operated by www.backcountry.com, offer one killer deal at a time on high-end outdoor gear (Steep and Cheap) and action sports equipment and apparel (Whiskey Militia). The biggest difference between these two sites and a site like Woot is that they offer multiple deals each day. As soon as one item sells out, another pops up. It creates something akin to an online feeding frenzy, and the prices are so good, it's really really hard to pass up each deal (even if you don't [really] need it). I should know, I'm a loyal fan and customer myself. the other thing I like about SteepandCheap.com and WhiskeyMilita.com is their focus. While Woot might have a toaster one day, a radar detector the next, and some other miscellaneous widget the third, these other two sites are very focused on outdoor and action sports customers.

[Luke Cudney]

...oh, and I'm sure the manufacturers love them too

On the flip side of this whole deal-at-a-time thing, is the fact that manufacturers must LOVE sites like <a href="http://www.steepandcheap.com">SteepandCheap.com</a> and <a href="http://www.whiskeymilitia.com">WhiskeyMilitia.com</a> that employ this model. Now they can clear inventory in a matter of minutes--just a blip on the radar--without ever damaging their brand equity or upsetting their full-price retail partners.