I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in Australian based online "deal" sites.
Every single site seems to be run on the idea that you reel customers in with cheap prices, then slowly offer less and less attractive prices after you've been on Today Tonight a few times etc.
I know that occasionally, COTD, 1-Day etc gets posted, but these are not real bargains, these are bargains because of a specific reason.
Cheap office chair? = Found cheaper elsewhere in a typical sale
Cheap branded shirt? = a high quality fake
Cheap Supermarket Product? = Purchased dirt cheap near expiry or unpopular and then resold.
Cheap Candy? = From overseas or low quality garbage.
Cheap Tech Product? = Probably purchased from an Officeworks Clearance or similar.
And if all else fails, put the extra cost in postage!
What people fail to realise is that if you rewind time, you can often get the product cheaper then the "deal" price.
I just find it disappointing when you can find a real bargain at a place that is not intended to particularly be one. Aldi, Logitechshop, or overseas websites in general, but anything that says deal, bargain etc is overpriced.
The worst part is I still seem to out of habit visit these websites occasionally, I seem to be able to say "They purchased this from Aldi 3 months ago and sat on it, they purchased this from a particular overseas supplier I know and are making 100% profit, Its rare to see a product thats not from their usual suppliers of junk I know of.
Also, here's a typical example of COTD markup, keeping in mind that you can purchase these cheaper from an actual supplier.
$89.00 - http://www.catchoftheday.com.au/smallfish_info.php?products_…
$26.50 - http://www.tinydeal.com/72%C3%82%C2%B020mp-real-voice-25-lcd…
TL:DR I'm sick of people creating online business's using supplier sources that a nobody like me can source from and combine with bad business tactics to make a lot of money.
I think in years past it has been difficult to figure out the supplier or if so try an order a small amount. With these Chinese/Hong Kong sites selling directly to the consumer with free worldwide shipping, it's certainty changed the way people buy things. Just a few years ago I was a big purchaser from Zazz, then COTD, and then I discovered DealExtreme/Focalprice and haven't looked back. That said COTD does have the buying power to get a lot of things cheaper including getting excess stock (e.g. A/C's) from retailers like Retrovision/HN and sell it to us for dramatically great prices.