Use WishRadar From Your Mobile

Shop around online while shopping in the real world.

You're standing in the record store, holding the brand new CD from that band you really like. And you think, "I'd really like to buy this CD, but like hell I'm going to pay $17.99 for it. I wish I knew how much it cost online...."

[Cue dramatic super-hero music. Something by John Williams, maybe. Lots of sweeping violins.]

Well, WishRadar is here to help.

Here's what you do: flip that CD over and find the UPC on the back. It'll look like this:

From your cell phone, send an email to wish@wishradar.com with the UPC number as the message text. For you visual learners, that means your message will look like this:

Hit send.

Now wait. Try whistling. We find it helps.

In a few seconds, we'll send back another text message containing the current price of the item you want online. It will probably be much cheaper than the same CD in your hand costs. Return the CD to the shelf. Slowly back away. Crisis averted.

This will work with almost any item with a UPC code (assuming Amazon sells it). However, in the case of books, you need to send us the ISBN number. It'll be on the back of the book near the UPC, and will look like this:

Oh, but wait: it gets better.

If we recognize the phone number you sent your message from, we'll automatically add the item to your WishRadar. When you see an item in the store you want to check out, just text us the UPC code and we'll remember it for you and track it. To make sure we recognize your phone number, add it to your Preferences page under "email settings." We'll take it from there.

The Fine Print.

Not all phones can send email. Consult your mobile provider for more details. Someday, when we're rich, we'll pony up for a SMS short code. But, jeez, those things are pricey. Also, keep in mind that some cell phone companies will charge you to send us email and/or receive messages from us. Nothing we can do about that- hopefully the money you'll save by shopping around will more than make up for it.