Getting the BEST Deal on Big Ticket Purchases

Shopping. It's an everyday duty that some hate, some love, and ALL do. So how do you know what is a good deal or not?

Research is key to finding a good deal on big ticket items. By big ticket items, I mean cars, computers, fitness machines, pretty much anything costing over $200. When researching, remember there are 3 steps.

1) The browsing step - this step includes going to stores, getting a hands on feel for the item (at this point don't buy, leave your cash, checks, and cards at home if you have to.) You are "window shopping" per say. You want to get a feel for many makes/models and brands, also get informed product knowledge from the stores you visit. Keep prices in mind, but don't compare yet. At this stage you want to rule out things you do/don't like and get a few models in mind.

Example: You are buying a treadmill. You found that the Pro-form has a good reputation, but is more expensive then the Image, which offers a lower price and 2 extra features, the Nordic track has the best ratings but is double the price of the Pro-form, the Health Trek isn't well know and has basic features only. From this you decide that you like the Pro-Form and the Image models. Pro-Form is an average of $85 more then the Image.

2) The compare step- This step involves more research, and a computer, well at least Internet access. Log on to sites like http://www99.epinions.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/ and type in your product information. Read reviews from consumers who have the exact product you are considering purchasing. At this point start going to Internet site that sell the product you are looking for and gather prices(including tax&shipping). Compare these to the prices you saw in the stores.

Example: You have now found that the Image has a 4.5 star rating. You found that the most common complaint about the Image treadmill is it gets squeaky after long term use. You also found out that the Pro-form model that you were considering is the lower end model that Pro-form makes, and it only has a 3.5 rating. The most common problem is its hard to put together, and the motor wears easily. From this you have decided it's best to go with the Image model.

3) The decision step- This is the final step. Take all the information you have and decide where you are going to make the purchase. Weight out the pros and cons for each option. (It is not recommended to buy cars on-line, however you can browse dealer inventory on dealer website, with out the pressure) If you go on-line make sure you know the actual condition of the model you are looking at. If you notice, a lot of on-line retailers sell refurbished, used, or like new items, it all up to you which you choose, just be informed. Also make sure you buy from a reputable company. Usually sites like http://www.pricegrabber.com/ and http://www.bizrate.com/ have actual customer ratings of the store itself and it's practices.

Example: If you buy from Overstock.com you can save $103.00 over your local Sears, this includes the shipping charges. However you have to build it yourself, Sears offers to put it together for only $49.00, overstock does not offer this option. You also saw it refurbished for the same price as overstock, but again, you would have to put that together yourself. From this you decide to Order on Overstock which has a 5 star rating from bizrate, and decide to put it together yourself. You also noticed Overstock is selling the extended warranty for $59.00 and with the money you saved over your local Sears, you decide it's worth the investment.

If you notices a bit of work goes into finding the best deal, I hope you also noticed it was worth it. Stores market to impulse buyers. The whole "1 Day Sale" "Weekend Savings" and "Monday Only" sales appeal to buyers because we feel we are getting a once-in-a-lifetime deal. However stores, on-line or around the corner are always in business for profits. Some stores make small profits on each item, and sell a lot, so it adds up quickly, others make huge mark ups on each item, so they are not pressured to sell items too quickly.

In the end, all stores want your business, but it's up to you to decide who get it. Information is your biggest coupon.