Christmas will soon be here. The latest devices and gadgets are hitting store shelves just in time to keep up with the rush. Social media, blogs, magazines, television screens and the web are brimming with advertisements and reviews of the latest technology you can buy.
Before you rush out to buy the gadgets you’ve been waiting all year for, consider a few important questions before handing over your hard-earned cash.
What Problem Do I Need Solved?
First, you must ask what problem you are trying to solve with a new piece of technology. The most important thing to consider is how adopting your new device will improve on what you had before.
Also remember that it is all not work and in some cases, a sleek new gadget or device for fun and play is ideal.
When you’ve answered this question, you should consider whether there is other tech or competing devices out there that can perform even better.
Is Being an Early Adopter Good?
Early adopters are people that can’t wait for new tech to be released, they wait in line on release day and pride themselves on having the latest gadgets as soon as they hit the shelves. If you recognise yourself in this description you are likely to snap up the latest devices the day (or very soon after) they are released. This eager anticipation, however, is not always the ideal way to get the best deals or the best gadgets.
Companies often rely on new product hype to give sales an early boost. Waiting a short time for the marketing and hype to subside, can save a lot of money.
As the honeymoon period dies down and initial sales fall, companies often mark down their prices to keep their devices attractive and sales high. As newer, competing devices get released, companies also cut prices to maintain strong sales figures. For the budget smart consumer this is an opportunity for a bargain. A device good enough to buy on launch day is well worth waiting for (especially at a cheaper price!).
Have You Read The Reviews?
With all the information available on the internet we have access to seemingly unlimited amounts of information at our fingertips. Often weeks before a product is released, reviews are written and posted to various websites across the web.
One of the best things you can do when considering a new device is to watch and read a wide variety of product reviews. It also pays to be cautious of reviews that are particularly glowing or too downbeat as they may be a paid for review by the manufacturer. Keep an eye out for middle of the road reviews that fairly weigh the pros and cons of each device.
Have I Found the Best Deal?
There are many ways to keep an eye out to make sure you get the best price on the device. If you can, monitor prices over time to see how they rise and fall to find the best time to purchase.
When purchasing online, many sites include a box to add a coupon code when you are ready to buy. It sometimes pays to jump over to Google and search the website name and ‘coupon’ or ‘voucher’ to see if you can find the coupon code. A quick search can save you as much as 10, 15, or 20 per cent on some purchases.
Sometimes companies send out offers to appeal to groups they want to market to. A companies Facebook page may get different offers or vouchers than its Twitter followers or newsletter for example.
It can pay to search around for offers and vouchers to get money off before you checkout. A quick 5 minutes search can potentially save you a huge amounts of cash.
Speak with a Friend or Colleague
Do you know of someone who has a good grasp on technology? If so ask them about what you are about to buy and what their thoughts are of it. They may even know of a another website or shop to purchase the item from that offers a better price and / or service.
Purchase in Confidence
If you have asked yourself these questions, done all your research, and found the answers you are looking for then you may well be ready to buy.
You can now do so with the confidence that you have done all your research and you are getting the best deal and gadget for your money.
If you are still confused then let us know and we can help take the stress out of purchasing new technology: Give DP Computing a ring on 08 8326 4364 or su*****@dp*********.au .
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