Insiders' Guide.(Consumer electronics)

Insiders' Guide

Tips for wearing a hat well, cooking better at home, making a luxurious bed, and more.

How to Shop for Electronics

An Interview With Brian Cooley Cooley is an editor at large for CNET, a website that reviews technology. These days, thereOs really no excuse for getting ripped off when buying a new television, camera, or computer, since so much information is at your fingertips. Do your research, ask the right questions, and youOll end up with a bargainNnot a lemon. [yen] Consider your options. Before purchasing anything, first look at the unbiased product reviews and editorsO top picks on sites like ZDNet, PCWorld, and, of course, CNET. Then, learn more about the models you like on the manufacturerOs website. You might find the version that costs $100 less is missing only one feature that you didnOt want anyway. [yen] Get a feel for it. Test out the item at a store like Best Buy or Circuit CityNitOs important to experience a flat-screen televisionOs picture quality or digital cameraOs design. Compare the storeOs price to what you saw online during your research. If itOs similar, shopping at a big chain has advantages: TheyOve got good return policies, and you donOt have to pay for shipping. [yen] Click and save. Still, Internet merchants offer the lowest prices, since they have almost no overhead and donOt usually charge sales tax (which can be a huge savings). Just make sure youOre dealing with a reputable site certified by a consumer-protection group such as Verisign, Bizrate, or the Better Business Bureau Online, and check that their return policy wonOt sock you with some outrageous 25 percent ...