Fox Chapel Area IT specialist offers secrets to online shopping

“The Art of Score” is subtitled “A Beginner's Guide to Scoring Huge Deals on the Internet.”

The guide is Joel Cox's gift to readers about how to become a super shopper in the most popular market in the world — the Internet.

There is a free download for Kindle users June 15 and 16 to jump start good shopping techniques.

The first weekend “The Art of Score” went on sale to buyers in Canada, Great Britain, Germany and the U.S. many jumped at the chance to save money.

One example of potential savings shared by Cox is how to get a $2,000 laptop for $1,176.

Cox said smart shopping on the Internet can also help save time. In fact, he said he finished his Christmas shopping in two days.

“Everyone gets what they want,” he said.

There are a lot of shopping sites out there, said Cox. “(But) it's not just knowing about them — but more how to use them.”

In his book Cox tells readers the best way to use sites such as Groupon and Fatwallet.

The Internet is home turf for the Fox Chapel Area School District's technology specialist, who has been headquartered at Dorseyville Middle School the last six years.

He keeps the hardware humming and the software sizzling for the tech-smart teens and preteens who have grown up plugged in.

His office is a labyrinth of wires and screens.

A podcast, “This Week in Tech,” is one way he stays a step ahead of the ever increasing tsunami of information.

His evenings are spent connecting with friends, often on the web, by playing games and visiting Facebook.

“I friend everybody and their brother. I have friends all over the country,” he said. “I feel I spend less time telling stories and I can catch up faster. I spend more time reading and less time talking.”

Cox communicates in Twitter, Facebook, and all other social media dialects. He claims the advantage of the Internet is if he has a one-in-a-million area of interest, it's easy to find 7,000 others to share it with.

Now that he knows the process of publishing on the net, he's planning future projects.

His wide-ranging interests include stress and stress management. In addition, he wants to put a collection of old recipes on the internet.

He also likes to write — short stories, kids books and novels.

Cox enjoys some specific sub-genres of science fiction. However, as a kid he didn't like to read, but he was interested in pressing buttons and making things.

“You have to find what you like or want to do. I'm good with putting things together, problem solving, and improvising,” he said.

His first computer was a Tandy 1000 SX.

He found his niche as a teen at Fox Chapel Area High School with computers.

He continued as an IT major with a communications minor at University of California Pennsylvania.

Publishing his first book was a journey Cox wanted to take.

“All it took was my time,” he said.

Now he's ready for the next step.

Sharon Drake is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.