If you’re new to the Israeli retail scene, it is worth becoming acquainted with the Israeli online shopping sites which offer significant discounts on a wide range of new (and discounted) and used products. These sites have become increasingly popular in Israel: One of the most frequently visited sites, www.homeless.co.il, had about 100,000 hits a day back in 2006; in 2009 that number has tripled to about 300,000 hits a day. Israeli surfers, who currently number about 3.9 million users, are using no less than 70 different online bulletin boards and finding online everything that they need, from apartments to cameras, bikes and diaper bags. While you might not be used to doing your shopping this way – and may not be crazy about doing it in Hebrew – there are many advantages to buying locally and online. If you are focused on finding quality items at below retail prices, this is a good option – and may be easier than buying on Amazon or Target and waiting for friends or relatives to bring your purchases overseas.
In some cases, you can use these sites to bid on home appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, purchasing them at half or a third of their retail value — and they are delivered directly to your home with full warranty. Some of the More Popular Sites One of Israel’s most popular sites for online purchases, www.homeless.co.il, has been around since 2000 and provides information about properties, cars, a job board, a business directory, roommate searches, pet services, Chugim (after-school lessons for the children), etc. They have an extensive section on used items, offering everything from beds and bicycles to membership at local fitness centers. While this isn’t the place to purchase new appliances and furnishings, the site covers so many products that it’s definitely worth having a look. www.yad2.co.il, almost as popular www.homeless.co.il, covers property sale and rental, a job board, a business directory, an extensive section about academic degrees and courses, everything for pets, babies, alternative healing, etc.
Despite its name (which means “second hand”) and in contrast to www.homeless.co.il, this site offers both new items (in the “Kniyot” category) and used items (in the “Yad Shniya” category). You can find many household items on this site including furniture, electronic devices, air conditioners and children’s toys, some of which are sold significantly below the retail price. The directory also allows you to search by location, so that you can look for items that are available in driving distance of your home. www.madas.co.il is another online site that deals with cars, apartment rental and sale, hovalot, etc. This site has an online, interactive map that allows you to search properties for sale in a given area. It seems to be primarily focused on real estate, though the site does offer used items for sale. It does not offer new items. www.olsale.co.il is a smaller site but it offers great deals on home furnishings, home appliances, electronic devices and children’s toys.
Items that are listed are new (not used). www.zap.co.il is another site offering discounts on computers, home appliances, home furnishings, etc. This site does the market research for you and allows you to view prices from different vendors, so that you can comparison shop. It seems to offer a narrower variety of items but the prices that are listed – and this is for new items, not used – seem significantly reduced from the prices one sees in the stores. Of course, there is always www.eBay.co.il, which lists products sold internationally. While eBay has advantages over local sites, one has to factor in the additional cost of shipping to Israel over and above the actual cost of the product. www.hameir.co.il is a more specialized site that focuses on new electronic appliances only. The site is known to have excellent prices, and – perhaps more significantly – it offers a high level of customer service. One recent shopper ordered an iron through this site, and received a phone call the next morning;
the sales person let him know that the model he’d ordered was out of stock, gave him a number of alternative options, and had the updated order processed that same day. The iron was delivered to his home a mere 24 hours later. Some Tips for Purchasing Online Before plunging into the Israeli online shopping scene, here are some words of advice to consider: Know the retail value of the item: Don’t be fooled into thinking that all items on a discount site are discounted. Find out how much the item you’re buying costs in the stores, before browsing online. Read other people’s comments: Check out the ratings or comments written about a particular store. In some cases, the price is right but the service is inadequate. Some companies, for example, while sell an item but deliver it way after the promised date. Do market research: In addition to checking out the stores that are advertised, you might also want to research the product itself; browse shopping giants like Amazon to find out what people outside of Israel are saying about your product.
Phone up the company before you make a payment: Check that a real human being answers the phone; and get a sense of whether this seems like a bona fide company – or just someone working from his or her living room. Save on shipment: If you’re buying an item from a local store, you may be able to save the cost of shipment and delivery by picking it up yourself. Warranties: Check whether you receive a warranty automatically, or if you need to sign up separately in order to activate it. Enjoy bargain hunting and good luck! 8 Best Memory Foam Mattress Toppers to Boost Your Sleep Quality Having a good night of sleep is critical to ensuring you can live every day to its fullest. You're much more energized and healthy when you get a full night of rest. One of the most recent trends is the use of the best memory foam mattress toppers to make one's bed more comfortable to sleep in.You'll want to make sure that you get the best quality foam mattress topper in order to ensure you get the best results possible.
Thanks to this review, you will now know which ones are the best of the best and why they separate themselves from the rest. 1. Best Price Mattress 4-Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Queen: $130.87, Amazon While the name doesn't live up to what this product provides, it is an affordable mattress topper that's able to provide a superior level of comfort. Backed by a 5-year warranty, there's no doubt that our readers will benefit greatly from this purchase. Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. It works by reacting to your body temperature and forming to fit your body and provide pain relief to the body's many pressure points. The customer reviews prove that this is one of the better options currently on the market. Buy Now from Amazon 2. LUCID 2 Inch Gel Infused Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper - 3-Year Warranty – Queen: $99.99, Amazon For those who need to stay under $100, this is an excellent choice. It works by utilizing gel-infusion technology that captures and evenly distributes heat while also allowing for proper airflow.
It is a great solution for those who prefer to closely regulate the temperature of their bed when sleeping.Its 3-year warranty helps ensure that it's not a product that you'll have to replace soon after buying. While the price tag may be lower than its competitors, this doesn't mean that quality was sacrificed. 3. Sleep Master Memory Foam 2 Inch Mattress Topper, Full: $57.27, Amazon Have a full size bed? This Sleep Master memory foam mattress topper may be exactly what you're looking for when it comes to improving the comfort of your bed. In fact, they've even gone as far as providing certification they obtained, which guarantees the product's content, durability, and performance.The only downside is that, unlike "ready to go" mattress toppers, it can take anywhere from 24-72 hours to set up. Other than that, this is an affordable topper that embraces the best in memory foam technology. 4. 3.3 Cloud9 Full / Double 3 Inch 100% Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress Topper: $77.59, Amazon
Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of this memory foam mattress topper is what Cloud9 refers to as "Featherlight" technology, which is exclusive to their line of toppers. The ideas is to make it feel as if you are floating on a cloud.Those who didn't follow the recommendations (2" if you're 200 pounds or less, 3" if you're 200 pounds or more, and 4" for those weighing more than 250 pounds). Unfortunately, this means that when you get a topper that doesn't support your weight, it will slowly lose its form. Other than that, this is a quality product, and it's backed with an astonishing 20-year warranty. 5. Natures Sleep Cool IQ King Size 2.5 Inch Thick, 4.5 Pound Density Memory Foam Mattress Topper with 18 Inch Fitted Cotton Cover: $219.99, Amazon Natures Sleep provides more airflow than other mattress toppers thanks to their own technology that they use for this memory foam mattress topper. It allows your bed to remain cool, which is one of the biggest driving factors for many when it comes to getting a good night of sleep.
While the price tag is high, we see it as reasonable. Especially when it comes to its ability to beat even their more expensive competitors. 6. Sleep Innovations 4-Inch Dual Layer Mattress Topper - Gel Memory Foam and Plush Fiber. Queen Size: $181.15, Amazon The 10-year warranty that this product comes with shows that they work hard to uphold a reputation for one of the better quality toppers on the market. It features two layers total, one that is gel-infused and another made of plush fiber.This is another topper that is made for those who want to sleep on a soft surface versus the a firmer one. Sleep Innovations has given their competition something that'll keep them on their toes with this topper. 7. Memory Foam Solutions 3-Inch Thick Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattress Pad Bed Topper, Queen, 4 Pound Density: $135.55, Amazon Memory Foam Solutions has aimed to produce a mattress topper that's environmentally friendly, and they succeeded by exceeding industry standards.
It's always good to see a company focused on preserving the environment that we all share.The price tag is a little high, but at the same time it has proved that it can give customers a good night of sleep. Not to mention, it's a leader when it comes to eco-friendly memory foam mattress toppers. 8. Lucid Linenspa 2 Inch Ventilated Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Queen: $89.99, Amazon This isn't a thick mattress topper, which means that it's not going to have a high weight limit. It is priced on the low-end though which makes it a budget-friendly buy for anyone that's trying to make their bed feel as comfortable as possible.Keep in mind that if you need a cover for the memory foam, you'll have to order it separately since it's not included with your purchase. However, the affordable price and focus on quality still proves it to be a wise decision for those who can't afford one of the higher-end toppers. Are you ready for a good night of rest that you've been missing? Having a memory foam mattress topper is more affordable than buying a new mattress while giving you the comfort that your body craves.