I'm one of those shoppers that researches everything to death before I buy. Maybe it's an occupational hazard, but I'm always thinking, "There's gotta be one more site I can get info from, one more magazine review I can read, one more buddy I can get advice from..."

And price? Forget about it. If I find out I paid $1 more than some other guy, I'm pissed off for a month.

I don't always get a chance to do research though. Sometimes I'll be out, see something, and have to buy it right then. (Another occupational hazard. I gotta have all the latest toys. Now.)

So what do you do when you're out, find something you want, but the compulsive researcher inside won't let you buy until you exhaust all other options? Or, even more importantly, what if you desperately need to get the hot, new whatever-it-is and need to find a retailer that has it in stock? Try Slifter.

Started a couple of years ago - when the founder was shopping for a vacuum cleaner in NYC and decided it was way too cold to walk around the city looking for a store that carried what he wanted - Slifter lets your mobile phone access info on over 50 million products in over 20,000 retail locations. Yeah, 50 million. Chances are good what you need is listed.

Companies like Best Buy, Radio Shack and Modell's are signed on, and several big online retailers as well. So you can even complete your purchase via your phone. (And if you don't want to - or can't - use your mobile phone, you can head to www.slifter.com and search from your computer.)

Enter in your zip code from the phone's keypad and you'll get local retailer information. There are product images and street maps too. Plus, you can save a personal shopping list and email your search results to friends. And it's free. (Depending on your personal phone package, your carrier may charge for data transfers, so check with them first.)

So now when you're staring down that big impulse buy, and the sales guy gives you his best price, tell him you can get it cheaper 2.7 miles down the road.

Text "Slifter" to 75438 or point your mobile browser to www.slifter.com

For more info go to www.slifter.com