Electronics shopping? Look online for bargains

For walk-in stores, local independent retailers rated the highest. They offer great customer service, but their prices tend to be higher and the selection may be a bit limited.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing and you need some assistance, that’s probably the place to go,” Giorgianni says.

The top-rated chain, Tweeter, has 100 stores in 17 states, mostly along the east coast. Costco was next. While Costco got top marks for price, it rated well-below average for selection and customer service.

The selection of electronics at Costco is “sort of dismal compared to everyone else,” Giorgianni points out, “but the prices were great.” No surprise to anyone who shops this warehouse store.

“If you get in there and they have what you need, you’ll do great by shopping at Costco from a price standpoint,” he says.

Be a smart shopper
Whether you shop online or at a retail store, you need to do your homework. You want to be sure that you are buying a reliable product at a good price from a reputable merchant.

Take the time to check product reviews. Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org, is a big believer in online reviews because they let you find out if people who bought the item like it.

“These product reviews from past purchasers are often more helpful in making your buying decision than a professional review would be,” Dworsky says.

You need to look carefully to see exactly what you are getting. If the price is unusually low, it could be a used, refurbished, or gray market product.

Gray market goods are not meant to be sold in the U.S. and therefore are not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Refurbished (or reconditioned) products may have a shorter warranty than a new item. “Some reconditioned products only come with a 30-day or 90-day warranty,” Dworsky says, “which for a major purchase may not be enough to give you some reassurance if you have a problem.”

WARNING: Beware of ridiculously low prices. Some disreputable online merchants advertise super-low prices that are only available if you buy costly add-ons, such as a camera case or video cables, things that are normally included in the original price at other retailers.

My two cents
For some things, such as televisions and audio equipment, you might feel more comfortable going to a store to see and hear various models. I know I do. I like talking to a knowledgeable salesperson who can help me compare products and features.

Retailers tell me many people do this and then buy the product online from another store. In my book, that’s wrong. If the store’s price is significantly higher than what you could get online, you should at least ask the salesperson if that price is negotiable.

About a third of the shoppers taking part in Consumer Reports survey said they’d haggled on the price of an electronics item in the last three years. Most reported they were successful at getting a lower price at least once.

Links:

• Consumer Reports: Best electronics retailers: Web sites and stores
• Consumer Reports: Best Retailers for key products
• Consumer Reports: Get the best price

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