Buying Electronic Equipment
Feb. 11, 2008
Here are two tips for buying electronic equipment.
First, when you search for a product, add "Amazon" to your search terms.
Amazon offers reviews by customers. It posts used and new units by ascending price. Most important, sellers don't want complaints from buyers on Amazon. This could get them kicked off.
Second, if you find a site that offers the item more than 10% below the lowest price on Amazon, be suspicious. Use Google to type in the company's name. Then add the word "complaints."
I did this with two companies that were selling the $650-$750 Canon HV20 high definition camcorder for $419. I had been warned about this by Bill Myers (www.bmyers.com). In both cases, I found Better Business Bureau postings with hundreds of complaints each regarding high-pressure sales tactics to get buyers to buy high-priced, non-essential secondary products. They delayed shipping products for weeks until the person bought the supplements.
I then searched two companies on the Amazon site: the $650 and the $660 sellers. No complaints. BBB approval. I bought the $650 unit.
Don't pay retail, but don't believe in tooth fairies, either.