Save big on upholstery with Checkbook One of the greatest misconceptions that consumers have about service providers is that they all charge about the same. They don't, which is why it's always a good idea to get three bids if you need an electrician, plumber or an upholsterer, for example. To get three bids to reupholster a chair, ottoman and window seat, I went first to Checkbook.org, which rates upholsterers, as well as many other service providers, on price and quality of work. I got bids from two of Checkbook's recommended upholsterers and one top-notch upholsterer that was not rated. Bids for the project were $650, $946 and $1,425. I went with the least expensive service (Cushion Magician, Mpls., 612-861-5577, www.cushionmagician.com) and was very satisfied. The only potential downside is the wait. Expect a turnaround of four weeks or longer. Cushion Magician is also "A" rated by Angie's List subscribers (www.angieslist.com). Both Checkbook and Angie's List charge a fee for their information, but Checkbook's magazine is available free at most public libraries.

Mail-order mouth guards for teeth grinders People who grind their teeth when sleeping can pay $400 to $1,000 for custom-made night guards. But before you fork over hundreds of dollars, consider a mail-order company that makes them for a fraction of the dentist's price. At companies such as Teethnightguard.com, Nightguardlab.com or Totalteethcare.com, the price is $60 to $150 for a night guard that is supposed to last two to five years depending on the degree of teeth grinding. The company sends two trays with two types of clay-like substance for making the impression. After the impression is made, the customer mails it back in a prepaid envelope. The companies offer money-back guarantees from one month to six months.

What about the downside? Some mouth guards from a dentist may be covered by dental insurance but not usually the ones from mail-order companies. Make sure to choose a guard that covers all the teeth, not just the back or front teeth, or it can change a person's bite, said Dr. Eric Schiffman at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Mail-order guards may be less durable and have increased porosity, making them less hygienic, he said. If wearing the guard is painful, stop. Ideally, see your dentist within a few weeks to check the fit.

Deals on shoes and furniture at Opitz Opitz Outlet (www.opitz outlet.com) can't rival DSW's selection of women's designer shoes yet, but Opitz's prices (70 percent off or more) can hardly be beaten. For the next two weeks, Opitz ups the ante on women's summer shoes with a "buy two pair, get one pair free" sale. The sale is in progress at the St. Louis Park store and starts Saturday at the new Minnetonka location (17501 Hwy. 7, 952-937-7683). Each store has about 5,000 pairs, most of which are priced from $18 to $23, regularly $80 to $150.

The anticipated semi-annual Opitz event, the Paris Flea Market, also starts Saturday at the Minnetonka store. High-style indoor and outdoor furniture, mirrors, rugs, lamps, art and kids toys are all discounted 80 to 90 percent due to slight flaws or damage and will cost $50 to $350 after the discount.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/dealspotter.