subject: Big Ticket Items and the Online Options: Electronics [print this page] Big Ticket Items and the Online Options: Electronics
There are many ideas about when and where you should buy electronics and how to get the best deals. Chain stores are a staple of the market, but are now trusting online sites to handle their needs. From prices to customer service, many websites can help you have a very pleasurable shopping experience. Many people want to know right off how much they have to pay. In a 2006 survey, Consumer Reports asked nearly 20,000 readers where they found the best prices on electronic items. Most people preferred the internet. Online stores often have the same products as big name stores for a cheaper or similar price. The kind of items range from MP3 players and digital cameras to large screen plasma TVs. Reputable sites like Amazon and buy.com can be trusted to deliver quality products at reasonable prices. Customer service was another area that was evaluated in the survey. For many people, customer service in retail stores is inadequate. Store sales staff generally fall into two categories: too pushy or too inexperienced. Conversely, online shopping creates a different dynamic. Shopping on the web gives you access to lots of information on how a product performs and many other helpful ideas and advice. With the click of a few more web pages, you can find the answers to practically anything. Regarding customer service, knowing the return policy of any electronic products is key. Of course you want your product to work well, but in case of problems it helps to know what your options are for fixing or replacing it. Online shopping has the inherent risk of shipping and handling. If you want to buy online, you have to know the return policy of the site. Buydig.com, for instance, has a very strict return policy. Very few items can be returned once the packaging has been opened. Costco is one example of a lenient return policy. You can return most items any time after purchase although one notable exception is computers. If an item you bought online needs work, you can take it to a Costco warehouse. No matter what electronics you want to buy, choose your retailer carefully. For many people in-store shopping has yielded great results, and others want the new experience of buying online. No matter what you prefer, know that there are good options to fit your wants and needs.
