“Shopping Savings Advice & Tips On How To Spend Less & Get More”
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COMPUTERS -
Getting The Best Deal (continued)
on sale somewhere at any particular point in time, or will be in the very near future. Look around and be patient. And if you are considering a retailer, check out their web site. Sometimes they have even better deals, and shipping the computer (make sure you consider shipping costs) to your home is no problem at all.
2. Discount warehouses like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s also have some good deals on computers. Make sure you also check out their web sites.
3. Computers can also be purchased directly from the manufacturers, either over the phone but usually on their web sites. And they can be customized exactly the way you want them, if you have particular needs or wants. Sometimes the manufacturers will run specials where you can get a very good price. But most of the time, buying on sale at a retail store or buying at a store like Costco will get you the best deal.
4. Apart from the major retail store web sites and the web sites of computer
manufacturers, many Internet sites sell computers. And there can be some great prices.
If you choose to purchase from established companies like Amazon.com and many other
major Internet retailers, it is easy to do and there should be no problems. Just
make sure to consider any shipping charges (although in some instances there may
not be any sales tax to pay). There are also many other less well-
5. Before you buy any extended warranties offered by the retail store or manufacturer, read the information under “Rebates, Price Guarantees & Warranties” included under the “Electronics & Appliances” tab.
6. Buying refurbished and used computers can be a great way to go.
a. Many retail stores and computer manufacturers, not to mention web sites, sell
refurbished computers at substantial discounts. These are generally state-
b. Many people like to have the latest and greatest computers and printers, and sell (or sometimes give away) their “old’ computers and printers. These are available for sale all over the place. Check your local classifieds and online postings. Ebay.com can be a good source. Or let your friends and business associates know that you are interested in a used computer and printer and see what happens. Often they will have one sitting at home that they would be willing to part with. And, for the most part, if the computer or printer are not too old, they will serve the average household’s needs quite well. So check around and save big.
7. Sometimes adding RAM (random access memory) to your existing computer can make a huge difference in how quickly it responds, and alleviate the necessity of purchasing another computer. Some people also buy a new, less expensive computer, that does not quite have the performance they want, and immediately increase the amount of RAM to improve performance. In this way they are able to spend less up front for a computer and then upgrade it for a fraction of the cost of paying the difference for a more expensive computer. In any case, check your computer’s specifications in the manual, or research your computer on the web, to see if your computer’s RAM is expandable and how it is done. Most of the time it is a very easy thing to do, and just involves a few screws and plugging in the new memory module. Today RAM has become very inexpensive and is available at most computer retailers and over the Internet (NewEgg.com is a good site). Pricing can vary significantly, so shop around. Just make sure you purchase the right RAM for your particular computer model.
Without certain accessories, computers are not very useful. Printers, software, a mouse and other computer accessories are necessary to get maximum use out of your computer. Consider the following to save.
1. When purchasing a computer, you may or may not need a printer. Most printers
last a long time, and if you have a decent printer there is no reason you need to
replace it, unless it does not have the capabilities you need. However, if you do
need a printer, make sure you do not pay much. Printers have become a kind of “loss
leader” that are sometimes even given away with computer purchases. This is the
case because printer manufacturers make their money on the replacement ink cartridges
for the printers. The more of their printers in use, the greater the ink sales.
In any case, there is always a good printer on sale for a very low price. However,
you may want to consider a printer that is a “four-
2. Printer ink cartridges are very expensive, but there are ways to save.
a. First of all, when your printer gives a message that the ink cartridge is almost
out of ink, it probably still has a long way to go before it runs dry. Do not replace
the cartridge until it stops printing. And even when it stops printing, try shaking
up the cartridge and re-
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