When Is The Best Time of Year To Buy Electronic Products?

Smart shoppers know that they can get the best price on certain items if the purchase at the right time. Considering the cost of certain electronic goods such as large screen TVs, computers and digital cameras, it would probably pay to make your purchase at the right time.

 

SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 18: A Costco custome...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

For most big-ticket items, one of the best ways to save is to make a purchase in the spring. Although there is great consumer demand for big-screen televisions in the fall months when football season ramps up, it isn’t always the best time to buy. Many television manufacturers roll out their new models in March and April. This means retailers need to move the previous year’s models in order to make room on store shelves. They respond by cutting prices, and if you are really lucky, you could get a great deal if your favorite retailer is known for its clearance deals.

 

The same holds true for digital cameras, though most new models are released earlier in the year. If you didn’t buy a camera in the pre-Christmas rush, don’t worry. February could bring you a better deal on last year’s camera.

 

Holidays can also be a great time to bargain shop. Retailers get ready for the large crowds by enticing them with deep discounts, and some even use drastic price cuts as “loss leaders”. In other words, they expect to lose money on phenomenal sale prices, but make up for it with the volume of sales. Of course, buying on Cyber Monday (the Monday following Thanksgiving) can net you a bargain, especially if your favorite online retailer offers free shipping. However, true bargain hunters know how to compare prices, scour for coupons, and find great deals all year long.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Brands, Quality, Technology Tagged With: , ,

Top 3 Competing Tablet OS

Image representing iPhone as depicted in Crunc...

Image via CrunchBase

The top 3 competing tablet operating systems are arguably the iOS, the Android 3.0, and the webOS, and here’s why.

iOS – iOS is a fluid and intuitive operating system with plenty of great features. It works well on a variety of different models. It has an easy-to-use interface even for those who aren’t familiar with these kinds of tablets. The iOS is the clear leader when it comes to available apps, with well over 400,000 available. This operating system is the most like that used on an iPhone.

WebOS – WebOS is better designed than some earlier Android versions, though it can take some time to get used to it. You navigate by tapping on icons and cards that are moved around the interface. Once you get used to navigating this way, it can be great fun. The WebOS is the least customizable of the three systems.

Android – Android 3.0, or Honeycomb, is very fluid and intuitive. It also has a great 3D interface. The Android can seem a little tech heavy at times, and it can be a little difficult to get used to if the user is not familiar with this kind of technology. The Android is the easiest of the three operating systems to customize and this is definitely its best feature. You can customize everything from the wallpaper to the widgets. One particular downside to Android 3.0 is that it is not flash ready.

All three of these operating systems are top of the line. The clear winner comes down to personal preference.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Gadgets, Technology Tagged With: , ,

Getting A Great Deal On A Refurbished Product

Have you ever shopped around online and found a great price on something, only to click on it and discover that it is labeled “refurbished”? Many people avoid refurbished products due to the label, but it they can often be great deals, especially on electronics items.

 

My first refurb

Image by david roessli via Flickr

Refurbished does not always mean “rebuilt” or “repaired”. A common misconception is that faulty items are returned to the retailer by the customer, and then they are repaired and resold. This might sometimes be the case, but most companies don’t spend the time or money on expensive repairs just to resell the item at a low cost.

 

Sometimes a particular component of a product line has been found to be defective. When this happens, the defective part is replaced and the item is as good as new. These items can be resold because they will work perfectly well.

 

In other cases, an item may have slight cosmetic damage that does not affect the way it works. If the item is not in “mint” condition, retailers label it refurbished and resell it. Usually, most refurbished items have simply been opened. Many are customer returns or even display models that have hardly been used. Because they are no longer “new”, they are labeled refurbished even though no repairs are necessary.

 

Always check the return policy or warranty before purchasing: the deep discount may restrict returns. Never spend more than you feel comfortable with if you are not confident that you can repair an item yourself, or if you feel you may need to return it for any reason.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Brands, Quality Tagged With: , ,

Should You Rely On Reviews When Buying Electronics?

When consumers have trouble narrowing down their choices in electronics, they usually turn to the internet for help. With so many review sites out there offering help and advice on brands and models of the latest electronic gadget, buyers can easily become overwhelmed. Sometimes they are no closer to narrowing down their choice than when they first started.

 

Are these reviews really helpful? In order to decide if a review is really giving solid advice, take a close look at the information it is providing. Some reviews are simply a run-down of the item’s features. While this can be very helpful, such a review may not really tell you much about how the product functions in real life. If the review doesn’t sound like it was written by someone who actually bought the product, it may not give you much insight into the item’s useful (or annoying) features.

 

My 3 Favorite Electronic Gadgets

Image by SRCrawford via Flickr

 

Pay attention to consumer complaints about electronics, especially products new to the market. Remember that people post complaints, but they tend not to post reviews when they are happy and satisfied. For every complaint someone takes the time to write, there are probably hundreds or thousands of satisfied customers.

 

However, sometimes new products come with a few bugs. As manufacturing continues and companies receive more input from consumers, they work out the bugs and improve performance. If you have decided on a major purchase, sometimes the best course of action is waiting until it has been on the market for a few months. This way you can find more accurate and helpful reviews from real users.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Consumer Reviews, Gadgets, Technology Tagged With: , ,

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Filed Under: Uncategorized