Chances are there’s a local computer exposition that takes places a few times a year near where you live. I’ve attended several of these over the years and I can honestly say that yes, you should go to one if you haven’t.

There’s usually only one reason to go to one of these: To buy computer stuff.

What type of stuff will you see at an expo? For the better ones, anything and everything computer.

Is it true you’ll save a few bucks buying stuff from an expo? It depends what you’re looking to buy. More often than not the answer is yes because you’re usually buying things "direct" at a discounted rate.

Tip 1. Never buy RAM from a vendor that doesn’t have a RAM tester at the booth.

Any good vendor who sells computer memory always has a RAM tester right there to test it before purchase. This is only way of knowing the RAM you bought is good or not.

Tip 2. Beware of boxes with damaged corners.

Whether it’s a new video card, motherboard or anything that comes in a box, if the corners are crunched a bit, give the box right back and get one that’s completely undamaged. Ones that have perfect boxes haven’t been dropped.

Tip 3. Always call the return center phone number before purchasing.

Better vendors will explain to you that if you want to return a product for a refund to call a certain number listed on the receipt or in the documentation. CALL that number right there at the expo with your cell phone to see if anyone actually picks up. If there’s no answer, don’t buy because if it breaks you’ll never get your money back.

Tip 4. Always buy in cash.

When you buy in cash you can wheel’n'deal a bit and get the price knocked down for some vendors desperate enough to sell stuff. On credit you can’t do that.

Tip 5. Prices will change depending on when you go.

At the beginning of an expo everything is listed at full price. But at the near-end of the expo vendors are desperately looking to get rid of stuff even if it means selling at a loss. Granted, there won’t be as much selection but you’ll notice the prices have magically dropped at that point.

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Hey, it’s that great service Windows Live Expo! Everyone’s using it, right? RIGHT?! Actually no. No one’s using it and you probably never heard of it either.

This site like many others is now gracing the pages of Ghost Sites because it’s more or less dead as a doorknob. The particular article Steve wrote about Expo is here.

An excerpt from that article basically nails it:

MSFT keeps demonstrating a failure to master the simplest principles of Internet Marketing 101, including the principle stating that you must have a catchy name whose meaning bears some close resemblance to what the function of your property is. The name “Live Expo” sounds like some kind of virtual trade show, not a classified site. “Live Marketplace” or “Live Classified” would have been a far better choice, but even the word “Live” (used by its flagship search engine, “Live Search”) is practically meaningless, unless what you’re selling is longevity products.

You’ve got to admit, “Expo” doesn’t sound like anything to do with classifieds, does it? Right. But that’s what Expo is about.

Go figure.