How To Buy Computers And Computer Parts In A Flattened Market

Starting in 2010 and continuing on into 2011, you’ll notice these days that when buying pretty much anything computer-related be it for PC or Mac that the traditional storefront meets or beats the prices you pay when buying online.

A simple example of this is blank optical media. Recently I purchased a 100-pack of Verbatim DVD+R discs. The price was $23.99. Yesterday I went to a CompUSA (they still operate storefronts in Florida) and the price was $17.99. Even with tax, the storefront price was cheaper – for the same thing.

I also noticed that for things like power supplies, monitors, cables, fans and so on, almost everything was on par or lower than the price I could get online.

This said one thing to me loud and clear, "The market has officially flattened."

How to buy computer stuff in today’s flattened market

As consumers we’ve been buying computers and computer parts online so much that we simply expect the online price to always be cheaper, but that’s simply not true anymore.

My recommendation is that if you have a major electronics outlet near you, such as a Best Buy, go there the next time you need any computer-related items. You’ll be surprised at what you find.

Fact: There are many computer-related items never sold online

When you examine what’s available at the store, you’ll immediately notice there are many items, good items mind you, that simply aren’t available for purchase online anywhere. This is because the storefronts wised up over the years and signed exclusive deals with specific OEMs to carry items that are only available in-store and nowhere else. Items like this are never advertised; you simply have to go to the store to find them.

Fact: Many of the items you buy can be found in-store for as much as 35% less – without any special discounts

You’d expect the in-store price to always be higher for everything. Not true. Again, you have to go to the store to see what’s there.

Fact: Price comparison shopping between online and in-store isn’t effective anymore

Traditionally what most people do is find an item online and then compare it to the in-store price. If the store doesn’t carry it or if it costs more, the decision is to buy online.

I strongly recommend not to do that simply because as said above there are many items never sold online, so you can’t compare product prices exact-to-exact. It is much better if you compare like-to-like.

Fact: The return policies in-store are always better than online – and have no shipping costs involved

The standard return policy for most items is 30 days. For others it might be as short as 15 days so you always have to ask when at the checkout. Even with shorter return policies, bringing items back to the store in case you encounter a defective product is always better compared to the online method. There are no phone calls to make, and all you have to do is drive to the store to return the whatever-it-is.

How to price compare like-to-like

For this example I’ll use hard drives.

Step 1. Find the HDD you want to buy online first and note its specifications.

Physically write down on a memo pad the make/model of HDD, its size, RPM speed, connector type(s) and so on. Also note the price with shipping included.

Step 2. Know your local area’s sales tax rate.

For most places in the US, the tax is between 4 and 7%. Know this rate before heading out to the store.

Step 3. Go to your local big-box electronics store, find exact or similar model

It’s unlikely you’ll find the exact model, but if you do, price-compare it. Use your cell phone’s calculator function to calculate the tax.

How to calculate tax (this is easy):

Price x Tax Rate + Price

If the item costs $49.99 and the tax rate is 7%, this is how you use the above formula:

49.99 x .07 + 49.99 = 53.4893

The price rounded up is $53.49.

If you cannot locate the exact model, seek out similar models made by the same company. You will find them.

Step 4. If there is less than a 10% difference in price in-store, buy the item

10% sounds like a large number but it really isn’t.

If the item online sells for $49.99 + $2.99 shipping, the total price is $52.98.

A price 10% higher than $52.98 is $58.28, so roughly speaking, if the price with tax included at the store is under $58, you buy it there instead. Consider the 10% extra cost a benefit for no-hassle returns should the item be defective, because if you bought online and had to return the item, what you pay for return shipping is ridiculous.