How To Gain The Best Price Possible When Shopping For Computers and SOHO
(Small Office, Home Office)
Retail Products.
Computers are a high value retail item and as such are a prime candidate for you the customer to gain a very good negotiated discounted price. With computers the higher the price, the higher the store profit margin, (generally 5% - 10% on low end computers, 10% - 15% on middle of the range computers and up to 15% -20% on higher end computer systems). However to gain this discounted price you are going to have to put just a little work in. You will hear as a reoccurring theme on this website of the need for you to shop around and this is an absolute must, if you want to gain the right price you simply want to pay. Computer models change very quickly and so always does the price. A new release computer will drop hundreds of dollars over a month because of an urgency to shift that model quickly so that room can be provided for the next model. (The retail store doesn't mind this Recommended Retail Price drop because they get rebates back on the products from the manufacturer to cover this RRP change). Sometimes it can be really smart buying to find the exact model that you want and just simply wait because the price will always come down. If patience just isn't your thing simply price shop really hard for the exact model that you want.
Value Tip:
- It is my advice to never walk into a retail store to buy a computer without doing any research on what computer you want. Computers are a salesman dream when customers are unsure about there own needs. You may end up being sold a computer that simply is to much for what you want, or a computer that simply doesn't just do enough for what you require. You should never ever rely solely on what a salesperson says, because their only set goal is to get your money. Always remember the salesman is not the one who is going to be using the computer ...You Are!
Computer add-on accessory products are an item on which you can also gain really heavy discounting, (as are all accessory based items for all retail consumer electronics products, generally 50% - 1000% profit margins). So you have to always remember to price hunt not only just for your main product purchase, but also to always price hunt for your additional add-on products as well.
Because within every retail electronics store a good salesman will always offer you the following computer add on products...
For example with the purchase of a main product item such as a laptop computer the following add-ons will always be offered and almost always taken if the salesperson plays the selling game right.
- A laptop bag: (generally 50% - 100% profit margins).
- Different software products: (generally 10% - 15% profit margins for brand name products).
- Blank media such as DVD's and CD's: (generally a 15% - 20% percent profit margin for brand name products, no-name based products will be a lot higher with 50% - 1000% profits margins).
- Surge protection: (generally 50% - 100% profit margins).
- An extended warranty: (40% - 80% profit margins).
- A ram upgrade: (generally 10% - 20% profit margins, a ram install will generally be always charged at a 100% profit margin).
- An extra laptop battery: (generally a 20% - 50% profit margin).
A good salesman will also attempt to add on about a million cross matching products that will go with any computer purchase such as:
- printers :(generally 10% - 30% profit margins for brand name products).
- cabling: (generally 100% - 1000% profit margins).
- speakers: (generally 20% - 40% profit margins).
- broadband products: provider based usb wireless broadband etc, (generally a 30% - 60% profit margins).
- cooling pads: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
- wireless mice: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
- wireless keyboards: (20% - 50% profit margins).
- notebook stands: (20% - 60% profit margins).
- wireless routers: (20% - 50% profit margins).
- external hard drives: (10% - 30% profit margins, prices really depend just about always on what prices competing retail stores have there hard drive products marked at, the profit margins can be a lot higher on this product at times).
- external burners: (10% - 30% profit margins).
- warranties for and on each item: (40% - 80% profit margins).
This list has the potential to be virtually endless...
I am sure you can clearly see what I am getting at. You have to do your research and really think ahead to what additional products you may be interested in purchasing with your main product. If you don't, I am sure you can see how a good salesman could and would, given even the slightest chance, sell you every additional product that could be possibly ever be added. And they are all products most people would never consider shopping around for, to find the best available price.
Inkjet Printers/Laser Printers/Fax Machines are another item which vary greatly in price within every retail store, (generally there is a 10% - 30% profit margin on these type of products). So do your research and focus on the exact product you are after and shop for that printer etc at the best possible price. You will need to ask yourself what type of printer are you after, is it one that is a multifunction which means it prints, scans and copies, some multifunction's also include a fax and others even print directly onto disk as well. Maybe you're after a high quality photo printer with a DPI (Dots Per Inch) of 9600? What I am trying to get at is that there are so many products types available so you need to now exactly what type of unit is going to suit your needs in what you are going to use it for perfectly.
Here is an excellent website link that explains all about...
- And here is another outstanding website link to really get you started on your search for a printer will suit your needs: CNET Reviews
And remember once you have found a printer at the right price you are more than likely to need cabling. (Sometimes it is included with the printer sometimes not. So you will need to check this.)
Cabling is the always an overpriced item in a retail store, no matter what the cable is used for. Good printer cables cost about $3 and sell for $20 -$40. You can see what I mean, so ask for the best price for this type of item, because you now know what they cost on average :)
Printer Ink/Laser Toner Cartridges do make sure that you include this factor also into your printer research, (generally a 10% - 30% profit margin on brand name products). Find out the associated ink costs for the printer and work out how much ink the printer will use over time. If you don't do this you may end up buying yourself a so-called 'throw away printer'. Have you ever heard the saying the printer is cheaper than the ink ...It's True.
Value Tips:
- If you really want to save money on ink or laser printer toner you should really look into buying it online. You will really save yourself heaps of money. Or if you do choose to buy this type of product in a retail store make sure that you have first done your shopping around, because this type of product does vary wildly from store to store. And once you have found the right price always remember to negotiate for an even further discount.
- If you want to conserve your printers ink I would suggest changing your printer preference to the Draft Setting. I use this setting all of the time when I am just printing out items for my own personal use. You can double and even triple your ink cartridges last-ability by just using this very simple method.
Paper how many people have ever considered shopping around for a ream of paper, (generally a 5% - 30% profit margin is in place). You would be surprised by how much you can save. I have seen the same product, high standard A4 plain paper 500 ream vary in price up to $2.50 between different stores. This may not seem like a lot, but it all adds up very quickly. And Photo Paper is the same, there is a huge price difference from store to store, (generally a 20% - 100% profit margin). There are a huge variety of generic no name brands that make this type of product and it can be really cheap, (even with a generally 20% - 50% profit markup). My advice is to buy a small pack of this type of generic paper and try it, if it works well for you simply buy yourself a bigger pack. You will save heaps of money by doing this.
Assorted Products:
Computer Flat Screen Monitors come in various sizes, styles and specifications, (generally a 10% - 40% profit margin for brand name screens).Screen refresh rates and contrast ratios are of a real importance dependant on what you are going to use the screen for. So this point needs to be considered carefully. Monitors will again always vary greatly in price between stores so do your research. A lot of generic no name screens have hit the market lately and some of them are not bad at all. So again do your research online and offline by visiting stores and always make sure that you see a particular monitor model turned on and working before ever considering to actually buy it. Also make sure that the monitor is playing a DVD etc so you can see for yourself exactly how the screen performs with movement.
Cordless Telephones are an essential item to be stocked in any SOHO department and again there a lot of different specifications and styles, (generally a 10% - 40% profit margin). You need to make sure that the phone will work in the environment you require and this factor will depend absolutely on the actual specifications of the cordless phone unit itself. Again this type of product varies widely in price from store to store. So shop with purpose to gain your best price.
If you would like further detailed information about this topic here are two really informative links.
Other Computer/Soho Products:
There are a lot of other products that fall directly into this category such as:
- Keyboards: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
- Mouse Pointing Devices: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
- Speakers: (generally 20% - 40% profit margins).
- Paper Shredders: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
- Laminators: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
- Business Software: Office Programs, Accounting Software etc. (generally a 10% - 15% profit margin for brand name software products).
- Other Software: Anti-Virus, Photo Packages etc, (generally 10% - 15% for brand name products).
- Wireless Home Networking Gear: (generally 20% - 50% profit margins).
This list is really endless especially with so many new products currently entering the market...
The whole point I am trying to get at is, that no matter the product you need, you have to do your research and know exactly what you want. This is the only way you are going to save money. Because once you know the exact product you need, you can start shopping around for the best price you can get for that particular product. Remember no matter what item you are after, the price is always negotiable. You do want to save money don't you?
Value Tip:
Customer rebates are starting to appear very regularly and they can offer an enhanced reason for a customer to purchase a product. Rebates are good, as long as you fill-in the claim form correctly and follow the process through fully. A lot of these rebates must be claimed within a 14 day period. And you may even have to wait for up to 12 weeks for the refund. A lot of companies are using the rebates as an advertising exercise to promote their brand and it does work. But the lesson here is to follow the process of the claim correctly otherwise you will be out of pocket. You could even tell the salesperson that you want to be able to submit the rebate in-store before you will even consider buying the product. This really does work I have seen customers do this many times.
It Is Really Important To Note:
Retail stores make really big money through customers who...
- 1) Do not shop around for the best available price
- 2) Those who do not ask for price discounts
- 3) Those who do not know the product they are buying
It does not matter what type of computer or SOHO product you are buying you must always do the following...
- 1) Research your product. Absolutely know your product.
- 2) Shop around for the best available price on every item you intend to buy and then even ask for a further discount.
- 3) Get into the habit of always asking for a price discount no matter what type of retail electronics product you are buying.
- 4) And you must know how to handle and control a good salesman. For complete information about this very important topic please refer to the section about: How Salesman Sell
- 5) Consider before you shop if you really need to buy an extended warranty on a product? A salesman is always going to ask you this question. So you need to know your answer beforehand rather than just making a spur of the moment warranty buying decision.(More is discussed on this issue via the link at the top of this web page.)
Remember knowledge is the absolute key if you want to save money when shopping for any Computer/SOHO based items. You need to have a real knowledge of the products themselves, as well as a real knowledge of how to gain exactly the right price for your money.
- If you want to start your computer knowledge search, here is a very good link on About.com: Click Here --> Computing & Technology
Some More Very Helpful Product Advice:
The most popular item in this whole product area is always going to be the computer itself.
So I will now explain to you the 4 most valuable product information points that will be of the most value to you when you are looking to buy any computer.
- 1) The operating system currently used in computer systems on the market is Windows Vista.
Windows Vista
The latest operating system to be released by the Microsoft Corporation in the Windows line is Windows Vista. This new operating system has been hailed as the next great wave of operating systems with new, improved features and a user interface like no other.
What can you expect to see new in Windows Vista?
Most significant in Windows Vista is the way it looks. It has brighter colors, more graphics and capabilities for keeping multiple windows open on the same screen. Think of it as a computer version of picture in picture. This is referred to as Windows Aero and is a completely new graphical user interface.
Here are some other highlights you can find with Windows Vista:
- Basic file backup and restore.
- Improved DVD support with the ability to easily create custom DVD movies.
- Easy transfer, a feature that allows you to easily transfer files from an older computer to the new computer.
- Instant search available through all Explorer windows.
- Self-healing, the ability to automatically detect and correct problems that may be encountered on the computer.
- Shadow copy, a feature that allows you to recover deleted files.
- Improved photo gallery and control of photographs.
- Windows Sidebar and gadgets that allows you to add an almost endless list of different gadgets.
- Improved Windows Calendar, with the ability to set tasks and appointments.
As was the case with other releases of Windows, the new Windows Vista is not without its critics. The biggest complaint among users of this operating system is that its system requirements are so high that you need a very large memory just to install the software. It takes up so much room on the hard drive that the computer just runs slower.
Even though Windows Vista is flashier and looks prettier, many people have trouble adapting to the new features. It’s sometimes difficult to change over to something you’re not use to. With everything that’s new in Windows Vista, it can be overwhelming, but this is where you take it slow and explore your new operating system thoroughly.
Most of the problems and bugs in Windows Vista simply require a workaround or a change in the way you use it. Overall, Windows Vista has been hailed as a great new product ushering in a new era in computer technology. The choice has to be up to you whether or not you want to upgrade, but if you do, we’re relatively sure you’re in for a wonderful experience.
If you would like more information about the Windows Vista operating system here is a nice little free ebook guide. (Simply Right Click & Save On The Link Below)
- 2) The amount of RAM Needed in a computer system.
* Windows Vista – Microsoft’s newest product has rigorous system requirements. To run Windows Vista, you must have a minimum 800 megahertz processor with 512 MB of RAM and a DirectX 9 class graphics card. Your hard drive capacity must have at least 20 gigabytes of memory with 15 gigabytes available.
Windows Vista is also available in different versions.
- 1) Vista Basic which requires an absolute minimum of 512 MB of RAM to run. This version of Vista is found on baseline market entry computers. It is a no frills operating system which lacks the features of the next version...
- 2) Vista Home Premium requires a minimum of 1GB of Ram although more RAM is better and this extra RAM can be added to a computer system easily. This is the flash and dazzle version of Vista, and it also includes Windows Media Center.
- 3) Vista Business requires a minimum of 1GB of Ram although more RAM is always going to be better. This version of Vista is simply a new improved version of XP Professional.
- 4) Vista Ultimate requires a minimum of 1GB of Ram although more RAM is always going to be way better. This is as the name says the Ultimate operating system. It includes the features of all the previous versions plus a whole lot more.
- 3) The size of the graphics card.
If you are into gaming, graphic design or high level video editing then you are going to need a good sized dedicated graphics card.
- The graphics card is the primary element that will always increase the price of a computer system. If graphic requirements are not an issue then you have just saved yourself a small fortune. Because a baseline or middle of the road computer is going to suit your needs perfectly.
An important note: This is the one of the main differences between laptops and desktops besides the obvious difference of portability. You can update or change the graphics card in a desktop, whereas in a laptop you simply cannot. In a laptop the graphics card you purchase it with, is the one you will always have. There are also only 2 graphic card performance types, the shared and dedicated. Shared cards simply take RAM memory away from your system and are useful for only normal basic graphic purposes. And Dedicated graphics cards which have there own RAM built into them and are useful for more advanced graphic functionality.
- 4) The size of the screen on a laptop.
Screen sizes as well as laptop weight can effect price. The normal screen sizes of laptops mostly found on the market are 14.1", 15.4" and 17" with a full keyboard, which simply means that the keyboard includes a numeric keypad.
17" laptops with a full keyboard are always going to be high end purchases. So are really ultralight laptops which provide for ultimate portability, but this portability may come at a price and that price may be pure system operating power.
If you want a laptop with a full keyboard but it is out of your price bracket you can always simply buy an external full keyboard or simply buy an external plug-in numeric keypad. Both these items are also available wirelessly as well.
If you are after more information you can download this great free ebook. (Simply Right Click & Save On The Link Below)
And if the above information has got you really hungry for even more knowledge just keep reading.
The following section contains all the information you will ever need to know about How a Computer Operating System Works and Computer Programming 101 The Beginners Starting Guide.
And before you go just remember that the information on this website is constantly being added to, so don't forget to bookmark this site right now.
* Did You Know These Absolute Facts?
- You will always get the best price when you shop online!
- There are no offline retail technology stores that can compete with online prices!
So Do You Want
The Best Value Online Technology Deals?
If you are in The USA, Australia, Canada, The UK, France, Germany or in just about any other country in the entire world and you just want the best technology prices online then I recommend you visit TigerDirect.
