Tips for Buying Electronics

It is hard to go wrong with electronic gifts. There are lots of options from things that make life easier to enhancing home entertainment. There are many sources for buying electronics including traditional stores and the internet.

-What will the electronic be used for?

First looking at how the electronic will be used can help in deciding what capabilities are needed, the options and features wanted and needed to meet the needs. You don't want to pay for features that won't be used. If you are buying electronics for kids one of the main things to know is what ages are suggested for the device or game.


-Shop only Reputable Companies.

If shopping online check out reseller ratings and product reviews. If you are shopping in a store find out how long they have been in business and what their customers think of the products and service.


-Check out the brands.

There are many electronics manufacturers out there. Check into the brands and their overall performance in the electronics arena. Look into their track record for service and backing of their guarantees. Bottom line is if you are buying an electronic gift you want a brand that stands behind their product.

-Warranties.

Check out the products warranty. What does it cover? What doesn't it cover? Will that meet the needs of how the product will be used? What will a store warranty cost? If the cost of the store warranty is more than 15% of the item over three years it is probably not worth it.

-Research.

Look into what others are saying about the product. You can review forums, blogs and other ratings type websites to see how the product is performing for others. Consumer Reports and Ratings.net are good places to start. The internet is a great resource for this sort of thing. Blogs can even tell you what types of deals are available for different types of electronics.

-New Products.

Many times companies are on deadlines to get a new technology or product on the market. These products are made available with the intention of sending out bug fixes later. It is generally a good idea to allow these products time on the market so you are not dealing with these issues that generally come with a new technology.  You can get huge deals on these electronics by just waiting a little longer.

-Support.

Check for the 800 number for support if an issue should arise. Call the number. How responsive are they? Are they professional and knowledgeable?

-When to buy electronics.

Like many products electronics have seasons. Some of the times of the year for sales and getting better pricing for electronics are Black Friday, back to school, and graduation season. Also, knowing what you want and knowing the prices will help in when to buy. Keep track of the pricing and be ready to buy when you see a good deal.

-Return Policy.

Review the return policy carefully. You don't want to be stuck with an expensive electronic that doesn't work or meet your needs.