What are the downsides to purchasing a laptop in-store rather than online?
Question:
My family has always purchased computer stuff from on-line sites (Dell, Alienware, etc) but in-store (ie. Circuit City, Target, etc) laptops are much cheaper and sometimes come with better options than online. But is there something extra from in-store items that would nip me in the back later on??
I'm not certain on this one. Plz help. Thanks!
Answer:
The number one advantage of purchasing from a store is that if you have problems with the machine, you can immediately bring it back without having to worry about shipping. And if you need to get accessories for your new machine, they're right there.
I purchase parts and accessories online a lot, but I like to get my mitts on a machine before I buy it. Plus, it's less likely to be damaged in shipping.
You can test them out at the store and get advice on the best one. I just bought my first in store computer from Circuit City and it is awesome and cheaper than online.
Compare prices at Circuit City and Best Buy and ask for rebates, etc.
The only downside is the fact that you are buying the computer in one place and she is going to college in another place. Make sure the store you buy the computer from has an outlet where she is going. That way any repairs can be made locally and she doesn't have to mail the computer off.
When you buy computers from in store, you are pretty well limited to the options they put in. I think on line ordering is much better, you can build it the way you what you want and I think, is cheaper.
Buying in the store is easily the safest way to purchase a big-ticket item:
* Ease of getting assistance
* Ability to haggle on price
* Dealing face to face - less problems with mis interpretation
* No delivery charge
I would think the only down side would be that you can't customize the computers in the stores for example get rid of things you don't need or add more of what you need. It's pretty much just here is what it comes with and thats what you get.
Also I know when you buy online from say Dell you get a warranty and if anything goes wrong with the computer they send someone to your house to fix it for you. I'm not so sure that computers from the stores have such a warranty or if you can buy it and how much.
Both are good, but with something this expensive I would by in-store. I have bought both ways [wouldn't have anything but a laptop - bye, bye to all those wires and lost space] and when I bought in-store I knew exactly what I was getting.
The one I'm using now I bought on-line, and I wasn't thrilled when I got it. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not what I thought it would be. It's clunkier and heavier and bulkier - but I couldn't take it back as I got it from another city - we don't have that store here.
If you do buy in-store, ask them to ship it for you, and then they are responsible for getting it there in tip top shape, unless it's a chain and there is a store where your sister lives.
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