Whether you’re buying a new Mp3 player, digital camera, computer, television, house cleaning robot or any other high-tech gadget, here are ten things to consider before you buy.
1. Decide on a budget before you do anything else! How expensive of a “whatever it is” can you afford. A good rule is what can you afford to pay cash for? Forget the “12 easy payments” route. And beware of those “no interest, no payment for 12 months” deals as well. If you don’t pay the full balance when due, you could end up owing interest back to your purchase date - and that can really add up!
2. Make a list of 3 to 5 choices in the price range you feel comfortable with. Then make up a comparison chart with the pros and cons each, including factors like features, price, warranties, and design. Check online for comparison charts by authorities on the gadget you are considering, such as PC World for computers.
3. What is the popularity of the product you are considering? You may not want to “go along with the crowd,” but the most popular products in a given category will probably also have the widest range of accessories.
4. If you are buying a number of the same type of product for a group, such as cell phones for family or business associates, consider using the exact same model. That way, accessories are interchangeable. Losing a charger need not be a traumatic experience if you can borrow one until your is replaced.
5. If a friend of yours has the same product, ask them what the pros and cons are from their point of view. If the product is portable, maybe even ask if you can use it for a half-hour or so to get the feel of the product.
6. Check compatibility. If your product will be used with another product, such as a computer, make sure that they are compatible and that you have the necessary software versions - or can get them easily.
7. Try eBay first. You can often get a brand new of slightly used version of the product you are looking for at a great price on eBay. But don;t think that eBay is automatically the best price. Use a service, such as PriceGrabber, BizRate or PriceScan to find out if you can get a better price elsewhere.
8. If the product you are considering has seasonal sales, wait for the sale. If the item is high-tech, chances are the price will drop as newer, improved models come online. Big box stores all offer holiday sales and a holiday is never all that far away.
9. Make sure you get everything that normally comes with the product. On many manufacturers websites, you can look up the product and see what comes in the box. Make sure the seller includes all of the parts that come with it from the manufacturer. It isn’t a good deal if buying the normally included accessories separately exceeds the retail value of the product - and those multiple shipping charges will kill you.
10. Buy from a reputable dealer. Big box stores, and online companies such as Amazon.com and Buy.com have reputation to protect. The feedback score on eBay is an important indicator of an eBay merchants reliability.
Do your homework and you will enjoy your new product long into the future. And by doing the research, you can feel comfortable that you have made a wise choice.
Bob Stovall has been marketing on the Internet since 1991. Bob is the founder of BobStovall.com, a blog for Internet marketers, OrangeCat.net for Web Hosting Made Easy and is the Director of the Association of Real Estate Investment Professionals (AREIP.org).
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