Summer Sales: How To Get The Best Deals Online

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Summer is prime shopping season, and a great time to score on some sizzling sales.

But how do you know if you're really getting a bargain?

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According to consumer expert Trae Bodge, we're all only one click away from getting a better deal.

"Do your homework. If you see something on sale you may be able to find a better sale someplace else," Bodge told CBS2's Alex Denis.

Websites like PriceGrabber and Yahoo Shopping can help you choose the best "e-tailer." Simply enter the name of an item, and all the stores that carry that item -- along with the price -- will magically appear.

But don't hit "check out" just yet.

Instead, head to Slickdeals.net or the Slickdeals app. This community of deal hunters post the best 30-40 sales going on every day -- it's like having 10 million personal shoppers working on your behalf!

Narrow your search by retailer or category and set deal alerts on items you may be interested in.

Then, let it be. If you can bear to wait, leave the item in your shopping cart for at least a day. This may prompt the e-tailer to send an email offering a discount, or a coupon may show up on your social feeds.

You should also consider paying for your item with a discounted gift card. You can save anywhere from 2 percent to 30 percent by purchasing a pre-paid card at a discounted rate.

"The discounted gift card sites buy overstock of gift cards from retailers and then sell it to you at a discount," Bodge said. "You shop with it and you've automatically saved that amount right away. And, if you can add a coupon or sale on top of it, you've saved even more."

One more tip: become a "new customer" or join a store's email list. Sites typically send special discounts to their members -- like special sales or birthday deals -- or offer bonuses for referring a friend.