Computers are a fairly major purchase. They are just like other consumer appliances and we expect them to last for several years.
The price ranges for laptops and desktop PCs can vary greatly though. There are ways to find ways to save money on a computer purchase. Below are a list of some of the different methods for getting a PC for less than standard retail pricing.
Use a Coupon
Many people don't realize that it is possible to get some good discounts on computers and computer related gear by using a coupon. Sure, they tend to be electronic coupon codes rather than physical but they have the same end result. In fact, if you are looking to order a computer direct from a manufacturer or even via some online retailers, the coupon codes may just be given to you when you view the site. The main reason that the companies like coupons is that people tend to forget about them and buy the items at full price. So it is always a good idea to see if there is some sort of discount code available to get that product for less.
Buy A Slightly Older Model Computer
Computer product cycles run from roughly one year to every three months. In general, new products add some improvements to the overall performance, capacity and features of a laptop or desktop system. Most manufacturers make their highest margins by selling these new systems. But what about their previous models? The manufacturers and retailers tend to discount them heavily to clear up inventory space for new models. These savings can be dramatic allowing consumers to buy computers with roughly 90% of the performance of a newer model for sometimes as little as half as much.
Buy A Refurbished Laptop or Desktop PC
Refurbished products are either returns or units that failed quality control checks and were rebuilt to the same level as a brand new unit. Because they didn't pass that initial quality control process, manufacturers tend to sell them at discounted rates. A typical refurbished laptop or desktop computer can be found for anywhere between 5 and 25% off the standard retail price. There are things to be aware of when purchasing a refurbished system though. This includes warranties, who rebuilt it and if the discount really is less than what a new comparable system costs. Still, they can be a great way to get a computer for less than retail.
Purchase A System With Less RAM and Upgrade It
Computer memory is considered a commodity item. As a result, prices of memory modules can fluctuate dramatically. As a new memory technology is released, the costs tend to be extremely high then gradually decrease. Manufacturers buy up memory in bulk meaning that they may be stuck with large inventories of expensive memory compared to the retail market. Consumers can use these market forces to help them buy a laptop or desktop computer with a minimum memory configuration that they can upgrade the RAM on and still pay less than the original retail system price with the same level of upgraded memory at purchase. This is an especially good tip for premium brands or performance class systems.
Upgrade An Existing PC Rather Than Buying New
If you happen to have a desktop or laptop computer system already, sometimes it may make more sense to do some upgrades on it rather than buying a completely new system. The feasibility of upgrading rather than replacing depends upon a variety of factors such as the age of the computer, how much access the user has to install upgrades and the overall costs to make the upgrades compared to a new purchase. In general, desktop computers are better suited towards upgrades than laptops.
Build Your Own PC Rather Than Buy One
Computer systems can be extremely expensive. This is especially true if you are looking at purchasing a high performance system for things such as desktop video or PC gaming. Manufacturers use these as high margin items. They may offer more support than a traditional computer, but they are doing so at a much lower cost than the markup on the computers. Building a similar configured computer from parts can general save a consumer hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars over buying one. This method really only works for those looking at getting a desktop computer system rather than a laptop computer.
Use Rebates to Get the Best Deal
Rebate offers are extremely popular with technology companies. This is because the majority of consumers just don't like to be bothered with the hassle of filling out paperwork in order to get cash back on a laptop, desktop, software or computer peripheral purchase. Of course, if there are rebates available, they can be a great way to saving some significant money on the purchase of a system. Using rebates requires more knowledge than average. One has to be able to judge the value of the rebate purchase compared to a non-rebate purchase to determine if the savings make up for the time required to post and receive a rebate.
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