Shopping for DVR, DVD player etc. for your home entertainment system
We at Kiosk know how important price, service, and selection are to consumers, especially when it comes to major buying decisions like consumer electronics. You have your Netflix account, but now you need the best DVD player and Flat Screen TV with surround sound to get the theater experience. Or, maybe you’re just shopping around for the best DVR box on the market. Either way, you might be surprised on where to find the best deals.
According to this article in the Mercury News, online retailers are at the top of the list for customer satisfaction. The survey rated all major retailers on four points: price, service, selection, and information available.
At the top of the list were online retailers like Crutchfield.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com, J&R.com, and Buy.com. Retailers like Costco that have physical stores as well as online stores ranked higher online.
Of course there are trade offs. Service and instillation ranked low in online retailers. Then again, service is also poor at Wal-Mart and Costco, though the price may be comparable to online. Unsurprisingly, stores like Tweeter and Radio Shack ranked higher in service and installation, but of course it’s made up for with higher prices. So the real question is, what’s important to you?
Tips on how to get the most bang for you buck without giving yourself an aneurism:
–Do research beforehand. Internet retailers and manufacturer Web sites offer a plethora of product details and specifications — not to mention information that the item you were eyeing may already have its next model out, possibly with more features at only a slightly higher or even a lower price.
If talking to a real person is more your preference, Consumer Reports says you’ll probably be out of luck at places like Target or Wal-Mart, where sales staffing is minimal. Places like Tweeter, Ritz Camera, RadioShack and Ultimate Electronics were rated among the best in service.
–Visit a few stores to touch and examine the products first hand, but save time by calling ahead first to make sure they carry the brands and models you seek. While on the phone, ask for the price, too.
–Narrow your prospects to two to four finalists. Note the model names and numbers and the features you must have.
For delivery and installation services, walk-in stores have the edge, especially for large-screen projection TVs and wall-mount plasma or LCD screens.
If you want something immediately, you may be able to walk out with a product when you buy from a nearby store. With online retailers, you have to wait days or pay more for rush delivery.
If you’re not in a rush to buy, shop when the electronics you want tend to go on sale.
The best deals on digital cameras and camcorders are in the spring, and camcorders tend to also go on sale in winter.
You’ll find lower prices for DVD players in April and July, and lower prices on TV sets in July, November, and January, pre- and post-Super Bowl.
Good luck hunting for your ultimate entertainment system. If you have any tips, tricks, or favorite retailers, feel free to list them bellow in the comments section.