I know Shauna briefly mentioned Atomic Shopping in the previous post, but since it has taken on a mythical status at our home, it’s time to share it with the masses.

Its concept is simple: an item goes up for bid on TV and the internet; they will show you its typical retail price and their starting price. As people call in or bid online, the price of said item decreases. That’s right, it DECREASES! When you bid on the item, you are just securing it for yourself. Once the auction is complete, you get the item at its lowest sale price. On TV, the auctions last six minutes. On the internet, they last the entire day, or until they run out of stock.

Not only is Atomic Shopping on three times a week on cable access. Watching your hosts on TV is as “entertaining” as any other cable access show. Carmela does her best to sell you the product, describing it in excruciating detail, while sidekick Steve cracks wise. You may recognize Steve from Minnesota’s own “Let’s Bowl,” formerly on Comedy Central. Considering “Let’s Bowl” was typically on late on weekends, when one may be getting home from the bar, you may not remember him.

Today’s featured item on the website is a two-cup coffee maker. It retails at $59.99 and its current price is down to $18.15. Now, Shauna and I don’t drink coffee, not a drop. But at that price Shauna might find herself getting one for her birthday in less than two months. I’ve also got my eye on a digital camera that is up for sale on Thursday. At work, I do business with the company that warehouses the product waiting to be sold, and the studio where they tape the show is a mere three miles from our home. We need to get the inside scoop on upcoming items up for bid.

Our family and friends can expect every Christmas gift to be purchased from Atomic Shopping this year, whether it’s a useful item or not. Plus, how can you beat a cheesy, cable access, home-shopping show or buying crap on the internet?

Miscellaneous