Tips for the holiday tech shopping season
The holiday shopping season is almost upon us! It’s a great time to buy computers, gadgets and other electronics — for gifts or for yourself. This year, we’ll likely see some inventory issues with certain items like gaming consoles, appliances, mobile phones and other tech. So, it’s even more crucial this year to be on top of it. If you have specific gadgets you want, do your research and buy as soon as you can, especially for those popular items. Here I share some tips that can help during the shopping season:
Plan ahead for Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping: There are some great — and also some notso-great — tech deals from big retailers on Thanksgiving and the days after. Before heading out, I suggest doing some research and planning. You can view all the ads online at websites like www.theblackfriday.com. Unlike the paper ads, you can conveniently click on the items to see more details. Keep in mind, for the most popular items you must get in line well before the sale time as the stores have limited quantities. For some of the items, they hand out a limited number of claim tickets to the people in line wanting that particular item before the opening time. You might give the store a call beforehand to see if your desired items will have claim tickets.
Don’t buy the super cheap electronics:
Although those extremely inexpensive deals, like $30 tablets or $99 laptops, seem tempting, you typically get what you pay for. The cheaper tablets typically have poor quality touchscreens, for instance, and may lack the official app store. The cheaper laptops usually have such slow processors and little storage space to be practical for everyday use. There are still some good deals out there, but I suggest forgoing the cheapest.
Do online research before shopping:
Before buying any electronics, I suggest checking online reviews and pricing on websites like www. amazon.com or www.google.com. If you aren’t sure how to check, find a friend or family member that can, or even consultant a professional like myself.
Evaluate payment and service plans if buying from cell providers:
Before buying a smartphone, tablet or anything from a cellphone provider, carefully consider the fine print and service contract. Many times you must sign up for some type of contract or payment plan. You usually have to carry a data plan as well, which might make sense on a smartphone but might not be needed on a tablet. Furthermore, the sales associates might try to sell you a bigger data plan than you need. It’s a good idea to bring along someone while shopping who understands this all, or at least get advice beforehand.
Wipe any electronics before you trade or get rid of them: Your electronics can contain passwords and other sensitive data. So, before getting rid of them ensure you properly reset or wipe them, so anyone who gets their hands on it later can’t recover your personal info.
Get details on the extended warranties before buying: Retailers usually push you to buy extended warranties, service plans and insurance on electronics. But before you buy them, at least have a basic understanding of the coverage, what it does and doesn’t include, any deductibles and the claim and repair or replacement process. This is also a good thing to research before you go to actually purchase the item.
Think about batteries and other accessories: When buying electronics, check for any required batteries and look at the optional accessories, too. For instance, if buying a smartphone or tablet, I really suggest buying a good case to protect it.
Get help with the setup:
If you aren’t a techie type of person, it’s best to get help when setting up your computers and electronics. If you don’t have a friend or family member that can help, consider getting a professional.
Eric Geier is the owner of On Spot Techs, a computer repair and IT services company currently offering on-site service at homes and businesses and with a storefront coming soon in Moraine. For more information, visit www. onspottechs.com or call 937315-0286.