Action 9: Finding the best deals on school supplies

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools start a week from Monday, leaving little time to shop for school supplies.
 
Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke looked at how the experts find deals and where they shop.
 
The two rules of thumb are to look for coupons in clippings and online and to not buy everything at the same store.
 
Rebecca Davis, a mother, said she normally buys everything in one place because it's easier.
 
Kyle James who writes the blog RatherBeShopping.com said to avoid that.
 
There is a free Red Laser app that scans an item and lets the consumer know if there is a better price nearby.
 
"Always assume that you can get a better price," Davis said. "You know, don't assume that you're going to have to pay full price for anything."
 
Action 9 compared prices from 10 stores online for three common school supplies, a 24-pack of crayons, a Cow notebook and three-pack of glue sticks.
 
Three sold the crayons for just 50 cents and one was asking as much as $2.29.

Walmart had the least expensive Cow notebooks for $1.41.

The glue sticks ranged from $2.89 at OfficeMax to more than $6 at Toys R Us.
 
So it's worth going online, comparing prices and heading out to at least two stores.
 
If you have advice or find great deals, Action 9 wants to pass them along.
 
Go to Stoogenke's Facebook page and post a comment.

For more deals, visit rather-be-shopping.com.

WSOC