HOW TO BUY TECHNOLOGICAL ITEMS (cellphones, VCRs or digital video recorders, computers, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, video game consoles, high-definition TVs, home security systems, portable or handheld GPS, or satellite radio subscription):
1. Check online. You avoid crowds and pushy salespeople. You can conveniently compare prices and you can get a good price. But be careful of temporary websites—these sometimes don’t include all cables, parts, batteries, warranties, and you can’t see the screen or hear the stereo or test the keyboard. Substitute for this with reviews posted by former purchasers.
2. Print out your Internet research and carry it to the store, ‘It provides a degree of confidence. If you have a stack of paper with reviews and product specs, you have demonstrated you have done your homework’, says Tim Herberts, senior directot of market research at Consumer Electronics Association.
3. If you have one, ask ‘that ultra-geek friend who knows everything about everything but likely lacks in the social graces’ to go with you to the shop, says Monique Rupley, who supports a telecom company sales staff.
4. Go with attitude. Get good service by insisting on it. Don’t scream, just be firm, reasonable, level-headed, cool, says Rupley.
5. If you walk into a shop and the salesperson says, ‘How much do you want to spend?,’ or shows you one thing when you asked to see another, leave. They should ask about your needs. So feel free to ask what products they recommend to their parents or kids. Also, talk to service people about what product breaks down most, or least.
6. Bargain. If the retailer won’t reduce price, maybe they’ll add cab les, batteries, accessories. If they have a trial model, older models, they might sell for reduced price. If it was returned, find out why. Get full warranty and all parts. Some PC makers sell refurbished, discounted models with regular warranties.
DIGITAL CAMERAS:
Prices are down (this article uses prices at Amazon.com). When you buy, consider:
1. megapixels (which measures how detailed a picture the camera takes). Most people don’t need more than 4 megapixels to take lightly cropped, regular-size prints. Canon’s PowerShot A560 (for $129) has a 7-megapixel sensor. Professional levels rise to Canon’s 12-megapixel PowerShot SC950IS ($368) or Casio’s 10-megapizel Exilim EX-Z1050 ($220). Average 6-megapixel cameras have dropped from $266 to $149, and 7-megapixel from $349 to $199, all in one year.
2. zoom (for coming close to action). The PowerShot A560 has a 4X zoom.
2. screens are mostly 2.5-3 inches (more expensive can go to 3.5).
3. Image stabilization helps deal with shaky hands and stop blurry shots, and increases price to $214 (Canon’s PowerShot SD750) or $240 (SD800 IS).