Online Coupons at the LATimes.com

Like everyone else, we're still pondering the results from yesterday's national and state elections, but we've still gotta eat. So we actually we bothered to read the admail we received from LATimes.com and have learned that TBTB have introduced real functionality to the LATimes.com's shopping channel.

We must admit that we kinda like the channel's "ShopLocal" feature, which helps readers research sales and specials at local stores by customizing sales information based on local zip codes. The feature is handy because it lets you shop around and compare prices from your desktop. For example, we've found in-store specials selling several brands of hot dogs for 99 cents at 3 different stores in our area.

Best of all, we can now access the paper's grocery coupons sections and inserts. One of the few items we've missed since terminating our Los Angeles Times subscription was getting all those coupons from Ralph's and consumer product manufacturers.

We can't believe how much supermarkets charge for produce around here. This week the MidWilshire Ralphs on Wilshire was selling pomegranates for $1.99 while Glatts at Pico and Robertson had them for just .99! It pays to shop around in LA, especially at smaller produce markets.

In order to use the "ShopLocal" channel you have to give the corporate overlords your email address, but it's a small price to pay if you have a fake hotmail account and love to bargain-hunt.