VIRTUAL REALITY By STEVE STECKLOW
Obsessive Coupon Disorder How the Web's extreme bargain hunters get deep discounts -- or even make a profit -- when they buy
While millions of American shoppers seem willing to risk stampedes next Friday to get something on sale, Heather Wilde says she plans to sleep in. She belongs to a virtual community of extreme bargain hunters who know the best deals are online every day -- and go to elaborate lengths to find them.
They've learned how cryptic codes like H2MAB5 can knock 15% off purchases at a major children's clothing retailer. They do their online shopping via special money-saving Web sites that offer rebates at hundreds of retailers, including Lands' End, Saks Fifth Avenue and Apple Computer.
They share information on how to "stack" mail-in rebate forms, allowing them at times not only to get stuff like Sony Ericsson cellphones free, but actually make hundreds of dollars doing so. Which somehow seems appropriate given all the work serious online bargain hunting can entail.