The Contra Costa Times reports in: Sale item search engine sniffs out local deals, reports on Cairo.com, a new “locally focused” shopping search engine (similar to CrossMedia’s ShopLocal.com) that will officially launch on Monday (if you want to take a look, the site is online today).
Cairo.com, from San Ramon start-up Cairo Inc., allows consumers to check out the latest bargains at nearby stores and compare prices on such items as diapers, wine and digital cameras. The site, debuting Monday, culls current on-sale items from 23 major retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and Toys ‘R’ Us, information available online and in local newspaper advertisements but often difficult or time-consuming to track and find.
The article correctly points out a limitation. I encountered the problem when I spent a few minutes using the database.
But the site has its limitations. It features only items currently on sale; look for an item like a curling iron that isn’t discounted and it
won’t be there. There is also no guarantee that the item is in stock.
+ Search process begins by entering a Zip Code or City Name
Cairo.com allows you to search by:
+ Keyword
+ Advanced Search Inteface
+ Browse by Item, Merchant, or Brand
A results page contains:
+ Image of newspaper insert
+ Location of store (links to map and other location)
+ Ability to compare price using Froogle, Nextag, or Shopping.com
+ Sort results by Relevance, Price, Store Location, Retailer, and Distance
+ Google AdSense Ads (including image ads)
+ Registered users can set up email price alerts