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ELECTRONICS/APPLIANCES
ELECTRONICS & APPLIANCES TOPICS
Rebates, Price Guarantees, Warranties & Gift Cards
Home electronics covers a myriad of items including TV’s, stereo and surround sound systems, DVD players, cameras, iPods, video games, etc. There are many sources for these devices, including many traditional retail outlets, as well as Internet sites. Consider the following to get what you need and maximize savings.
1. Do not buy what you do not need. All these electronic gadgets are great and make life more enjoyable, but often it is just not necessary to have them all, as well as always having the latest and greatest. Try to make do with what you have and resist the temptation to buy something else.
2. If you do need some home electronics, try to buy a model that does not have all the expensive “bells and whistles.” Let’s face it, most people do not use or need most of the extra features on electronic gadgets. Do you really need a 1080P HDTV versus a less expensive 720P model? Most people can’t tell the difference. Does your surround sound system need twenty different settings when you will only use two or three? How many megapixels does your digital camera really need? How many songs does your iPod need to store? Etc., etc. Buy the less expensive model and save.
3. Try buying yesterday’s technology at significantly reduced prices. There
are always some older models of electronics available at reduced prices. Try finding
some “leftovers” and save. Most of the time, the performance will not be much different
. Keep in mind, unless you are planning on upgrading all your home electronics every
year, you will be using less than state-
4. Since there are a lot of people that do feel the necessity to have the latest
and greatest, state-
5. The home electronics business is very competitive and good deals can be found all over the place.
a. If you are looking for home electronics at traditional outlets like Best Buy
or Circuit City, make sure you buy when the item is on sale. Otherwise, you will
have paid more than necessary. If you are making a large purchase at these stores,
sometimes the manager will negotiate a better price rather than lose your business.
But don’t forget about looking in Wal-
b. Of course, the absolute best prices are probably available somewhere on the Internet. But be careful. Sometimes those prices that look too good to be true actually end up being just that: “too good to be true.” Be careful unless you know the Internet retailer is trustworthy. Many are. But remember, if you have a problem, returning an item to an Internet retailer can sometimes be a problematic endeavor. For tips on online shopping, and how to get online coupons and promotion codes to save even more, look under the “Online Shopping” tab.
6. Many home electronics use batteries, which can become fairly expensive over the course of a year. Studies have shown that there are not large differences in the performance of brand name batteries and store brand batteries (given the same type of battery). And sometimes, store brand batteries are substantially less expensive. So try the store brand and see if there really is a measurable difference. And, if you use a whole bunch of batteries consider buying rechargeable batteries. They will cost more up front, but they will save over the long haul.
Every house needs major appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, stoves and ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers. And they are expensive to both purchase, operate and sometimes repair. Try to resist buying an appliance just because it looks the best, has a neat feature you think you need, or it has the lowest price available. Consider the following before making your decision.
1. Save money by purchasing the right make and model for you.
a. Do some research on the reliability of the make and model you are considering. While anyone can have the misfortune of ending up with a “lemon,” some brands of appliances, and some specific models of an appliance brand, are more susceptible to breaking. But don’t just think one brand has better appliances than another brand. It’s not that easy. For instance, Brand “A” may have a refrigerator Model #1 that is very reliable, but that same Brand “A” may have a refrigerator Model #2 that is
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