Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this info, free of charge,from the Rosenberg Group, for blog posting purposes. I received compensation, for it's post. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post/review. Nor was I told what to say, all opinions are my own, and yours may be different.
Electronics are on the back-to-school shopping lists of more than 55% of families with school-aged children this year, , according to a National Retail Federation survey. If you’re among those planning to buy a computer, tablet or smart phone for your kid, Kiplinger’s has 8 simple tips to help you spend less on these back-to-school electronics!
2. Shop online—shopping online makes it easy to compare prices from several retailers. And there are plenty of sites that do the bargain hunting for you. Dealnews.com has a page devoted to the best computer deals; Amazon and PriceGrabber are good sources for comparing prices. Some online companies have loyalty programs that reward your for shopping, provide 2 day shipping and onsite repair, like Dell Premier. This type of program may get you extra supplies or accessories for free, and be a big help if there is a problem with the item and it has to be repaired.
3. Take advantage of price-match policies—if you find a good deal online but don’t want to pay shipping costs, you might be able to get the same price in a brick-and-mortar store if it has a price-match policy. For example, Best Buy and Target will match Amazon prices. We did this on our TV shopping and saved 15%!
4. Buy refurbished—you can save a lot by purchasing refurbished tech items, which are used but restored to like-new condition and usually have a one-year warranty. Try Apple.com, BestBuy.com, Dell.com, Newegg.com and Walmart.com to find refurbished electronics. Just make sure what all is covered and where it has to be returned to be fixed at (this can be a problem if your student is out of state and far away from where it was bought).
5. Take advantage of trade-in programs—one way to pay less for new tech items is to trade in a used item. A number of retailers, including Best Buy and Radio Shack, have trade-in programs that offer cash, a gift card or credit that can be applied toward the purchase of a new item.
6. Look for bundles—look for bundle deals, which are popular back-to-school promotions among tech retailers. The deals typically include a gift card, printer, gaming console or other accessory along with a laptop—at a price near what you would expect to pay for the laptop alone. Just remember that that $19 printer may require $80 in ink every time it runs out, and might not be the best choice for busy students, so check out reviews on it before thinking it is a super bundle!
7. Get a free phone—mobile phone service providers, such as AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, often offer free smart phones when you sign up for a two-year service plan (note: Sprint and AT&T now have one year trade in programs as well) . Considering smart phones usually cost $200 or more, this can be a major savings. Or you could buy an unlocked phone and cut the cost of a service plan by more than half by opting for a prepaid wireless provider.
8. Don’t splurge on features you won’t use—when buying a laptop for your child, look for systems with a dual-core processor (not a pricey quad-core setup). And you’ll spend about $270 less if you opt for Intel’s Ivy Bridge system—which should meet a student’s needs—rather than its new Haswell system. Also, say no to tech support and retailers’ extended warranties—your credit card might offer an extended warranty- be sure to check BEFORE you buy- as sometimes you get a discount at Purchase time, and not after!
So what are YOUR best tips for saving on electronics?????
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