Saving on Electronics

Stereo amplifiers are measured in watts. The more watts, the louder the system. Most of us can get along fine with a 50-100 watt system. Tailor your electronics purchases to your lifestyle and the size of your living space.

The electronics industry is tremendously competitive, with discounts and markdowns being the norm. Check the Sunday paper for 'super specials' at the local electronics store. Often, these sale items are loss leaders, selling below the store's cost to coax you into the store. Just be careful to avoid buying other items like accessories that you don't really need.

Why buy a cell phone with video capability if you're only going to use it twice? Buy the phone that does what you need it to do and save the bells and whistles for when you truly need them.

Car dealers make money on selling you the extras. One of those extras is the super-deluxe sound system with a 12 CD changer in the trunk. You'll pay up to 100% more than you will buying the basic system and replacing it at any auto sound system place.

When DVD players first came out, they sold for up to $700. Today, you can pick one up for $49.95 as you walk out of your local drugstore chain. The electronics market is fierce and prices come down and come down fast. You can buy a laptop for less than $600 today, down from $3000 just 10 years ago. Wait to buy the next electronic gizmo and save big bucks.

Buying electronics from a pawnshop, you don't get any guarantees. That big screen TV could blow a gasket a week after you buy it. But smaller items like amps, CD shufflers and other gear, are usually okay, though make sure you test it before buying.

You don't have to spend a bundle on a state-of the art, TV surround sound system, complete with sub-woofer. Simply run a standard audio jack (stereo cable) from the "audio out" plug on the back of your TV or DVD player. Plug the other end into the auxiliary input of your stereo, usually labeled 'aux'. Switch your stereo to the 'aux' setting and your TV sound will play through your stereo.

Modern technology has enabled stereo manufacturers to cram big sound into small, inexpensive packages. You can pick up an all-in-one system that includes a CD player, AM/FM/satellite radio, a decent amp and speakers for less than $200. So why clutter up a small bedroom with a high-priced, full-sized sound system?

The worst enemy of electronics is heat, which will cook the innards of any gear faster than a Thanksgiving turkey. Never put CDs or other items on the heat vents of your electronics, and dust those vents regularly. Your electronic gear will last years longer, saving you a lot of money on replacements.

"Factory refurbished' is music to the ears of electronics fans, especially when it comes to items like laptops and printers. You can often buy directly from the manufacturer or from sites that specialize in selling refurbs. These items were returned to the factory, completely checked, cleaned and repackaged, and you won't be able to tell the difference from new. And they come with a full, factory guarantee.

If you're about to replace your old computer, don't toss it or give it to your brother-in-law. Donate your older computer to your school system, a teen center, halfway house or some other good cause and write off its estimated current value on your next tax return.

Many E-bay sellers are actually brick-and-mortar businesses that sell on E-bay to subsidize in-store sales. Because you bid, you can often pick up anything from an I-Pod to a network hub for prices that are low, low, low! Always check out the seller's feedback to make sure you're working with a professional. Then buy - and save.

Some electronic stores sell electronics under their own brand, but the actual products are made by the brand-name companies - Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Sony and so on. Buying a generic brand DVD player can save you 25% off the exact same item with the Toshiba label.

A lot of electronics stores will sell you the merchandise right off the floor. It may not come with the original box, but it does come with the full, factory warranty, the user's manual and any other accessories that came with the item - like the remote. To boot, the item has been bench tested for a couple of weeks so you know it is running properly!

Many big name national retailers boast a "best price guarantee" where they offer to refund the difference if you find a better price within two to four weeks. You can keep an eye out in the Sunday Circulars for a better price on the same item, or try logging on to cairo.com, or salescircular.com where you can track advertised prices in your area. Of course, you still need to go back to the original store to claim the refund.