[Feature] How Cheap Can You Be? ( or, A Guide to Finding the Best Deals for Electronics)

In my group of friends and family, I’m one of the go-to people when it comes to tech-support. One thing that I get asked a lot help finding cheap electronics. The thing is, finding good deals (for anything) isn’t really a big secret. It just takes knowing a couple of key websites, cheaper alternatives, and patience.

So here's what I know....

Patience and Flexibility
If you don’t want to settle for anything more than the cheapest deal, it’s very important to have patience and flexibility. You shouldn’t expect to be able to find the most ideal price quickly (unless you’re lucky). By giving yourself time to shop around and comparison shop, you’re more likely to have better results.

Also important is being flexible with exactly what you want. The broader you are, the easier it’s going to be to find a good deal. Instead of looking for a Logitech MX 5500, you should be looking for wireless keyboards in general. If you find a Microsoft keyboard that’s just as good for very cheap, you probably should just settle.

Deal Forums
This should be your first step in your goal of finding a cheap deal. Deal forums are where users post up good deals, whether through coupons, price-matching, clearance, etc. If you’re looking for something in particular, browsing through the forums on a daily basis will usually yield solid results.

There are many different forums, and generally they’re all the same. I use Slickdeals.net, but there are others such as Fatwallet.com and Dealcatcher.com. Whatever you use, these forums will be your guide to finding the best deals around.

Comparison Shopping
Best Buy is horrendously over-priced. Seriously. Even when things are on sale, you’re more likely to find the same exact product online for a lot cheaper. Yet people still buy things from there because they don’t comparison shop.

You see, with the power of the interweb, you can search for products and information will flow from the intertubes to your electronic computer showing you how much they costs at a wide range of different vendors.

The site that computer geeks swear by is Pricewatch.com. You choose the type of product you’re looking for and they’ll show you, from cheapest to most expensive, what is available online. Following in the theme of broad product searches, it’s more difficult to find specific items than a general one.

For things that might not be computer related, both Froogle.com and Shopzilla.com serve a similar purpose.

All of these websites help you see how much an item should cost, as opposed to the bloated prices found at big box electronic stores.

Student Discounts
Something that a lot of people don’t know is that many companies offer student discounts. Even if you’re not a student, you probably have a friend who still is. Be a scrub.

Granted, they aren’t always the most generous discounts – Apple gives 10%, and Dell maxes out at 12% -- but they are easy and convenient. Plus, you’re not really going to find a new Mac for any cheaper than 10% off anyway.

Buying Refurbished
A refurbished item is an item that has been returned to the company, quality-controlled, and put back into the market for a cheaper price. Think of them as the “certified-used cars” of electronics. Sometimes these products are returned because of defects, but other times there is nothing wrong with them and they were gifts people didn’t want / already had.

I know that a lot of people are wary of buying refurbished but I think they are a great money-saver. Even if the one thing you buy turns out to be defective (one bad experience is usually the reason people away from refurbished goods), they have warranties just like new products.

I’ve bought a lot of things refurbished. Everything from Playstations to a scanner, and have never had any problems. They are always cheaper and work just as well as brand-new items.

Buying Used
Used items are bigger risks, but usually much cheaper. And when you’re poor, cheap is the name of the game. Both eBay.com and Craigslist.com are ideal for finding good, used items.

I think everyone already knows what eBay.com is. But in order to make sure you get that item you’re bidding for, you should try Auctionsniper.com. This website watches your auction, and throws in a bid within the last couple of seconds, giving you an advantage over other bidders. The great thing about auctionsniper.com is that they give you a couple of free auction snipes when you sign up.

The good thing about Craigslist is, because it’s all local, you’re able to inspect the product before plunking your money down. Also, since you’re never dealing with a middleman, you can find better deals.

When you’re looking to buy something, especially electronics, shopping retail is usually a mistake. By investing a little time and even compromising a little, you can save a whole lot of cash. Good luck and happy shopping, and leave me alone :x