Money-saving tip: Don't overspend on electronics

In light of what looks to be a difficult holiday shopping season for consumers on a budget, Consumer Reports is here to be your resource for frugal gift-shopping.

Consumer Reports veteran deal-finder Tod Marks recently launched his new blog, Tightwad Tod, as part of the CR Money Blog. Tod highlights ways to cut costs and sounds the alert on scams and dubious "bargains." Be sure to check it out for daily money-saving tips.

The CR Electronics team is also here to help you buy high-tech gear without emptying out your wallet. Our recent report, "Buying electronics," rates the best electronics retailers and offers 10 money-saving tips.

Here's one example:

You don't have to pay top dollar for outstanding performance.

Many readers who look at our product Ratings believe that the top-ranked model is the only one to buy. Not necessarily. Models that rank a few positions lower in our Ratings often offer fine performance at a lower price.

Don't just look at the Ratings order. Check a model's overall score and scores for the attributes that matter most to you. You might find there aren't major differences between a model at the top of the list and another in the middle. Also be open to products that score very good rather than excellent. The differences between a TV rated very good and excellent for picture quality can often be very subtle, most obvious when the TVs are viewed side-by-side. Our model recommendations—which take price into account—can help to narrow down the list.

Check out the other nine tips in "Buying electronics" from the December issue of Consumer Reports. And if you have a tip for saving money while electronics-shopping, share it in the comment section below.

—Nick K. Mandle

Comments

[Eli]

Everett, I have since discovered the Olevia problem. How can thay honor a warranty, etc. I called their CS number, and waited 1/2 hr, then a sudden high-pitched, piercing ring in my ear, and phone went dead.

Conclusion: NO OLEVIA!!

We can continue this in the newest blog above on LCD and Plasma...

[kera]

I am so glad I came upon your site before Christmas. My daughter wants one of those mini lap tops that can be just hers I have no idea where to find the best deal for one or which one to buy. I have a vio laptop I love but It doesnt matter what brand, She says the one she wants is way smaller. Also my son wants the PSP2 the hand help one where do I find the best by for that. DO I wait for black friday for either of these? PLease help if you can!
Thank you

[Eli]

Sorry, I meant PANASONIC!!!

[Eli]

Everett, the Polaroid is looking better and better especially since CR just listed it as the 2nd best in 42" Plasma right behind another Polaroid. It even has better sound quality than its cousin.
Thanks again...

[everett whitney]

Eli - " Various Olevia sets ..."

Opps - did you forget older post about they're being in serious, serious trouble, have been sued/fined by Uncle Sam + under bankruptcy? Whose ever going to refinance that mess now ?

No ..LG .. for P.C. usage, since it's only 720p & for "up close" your eyes would prefer .. 1080p ... in short order.

[Eli]

OR, do I go with the Olevia 37" 237T 720p at Target for $598? The only negative is it doesn't seem to have a PC input. They also have a 47" Olevia 1080 #247TFHD for $898. Of the 3, which sounds the best? All are LCD's...

[everett whitney]

TO: Eli - " LG @ C.C. or pass ...?"

PASS .. you can not buy any extra plan w/ C.C. & that needs one.

The Th-42PX80U is still a much better buy at $763, no tax, free, guar del'y onto your living room TV stand!

[Eli]

Everett, have I got a dilemma right now.
I've got a Circuit City $30-off on anything over $300 coupon that expires tomorrow 11/18. The best deal they have today is an LG 37" 720 LCD regular $1000, now $710. With the coupon, that makes it $680 for me.
Should I wait, or jump on this?

[everett whitney]

Eli - 15 Nov - " Greater Reductions after Jan 01 ...?"

Certainly could be, but, the way in which these "leaks & previews" about Black Friday are coming fast & furious, it might also be possible to find stocks gone on certain very popular sets - i.e.- these extremely-reduced samples, etc..

There might be too many in inventories of the $2,500 & up varieties to "sell out" compared to the demand with folks loosing their jobs by the thousands.

But, it's a lot easier to take a chance on a $699 set, hoping for the best !
everett

[Coupon shipping]

Good tips! Thank you for sharing!
Pascale

[Eli]

Everett, again, thanks for the tips. Will check out the Panasonic. Given the economy, would you recommend waiting til after XMas to make the buy? Do you anticipate prices dropping even further, depending on holiday sales?

[everett whitney]

TO: Eli -13 Nov - " VIZIO ..?"

Definitely has risen within the HDTV universe very well during these past years - BUT - just a year ago, it never had Any local servicing agents, either in or out of warranty !

In other words, it seems that they are still 'learning' how to compete in the larger scheme of things ... definitely buy their own extended warranty with the funds saved & the bigger .. 37" display is a definite "Must have" ...

I feel that the Panasonic TH-42PX80U @ $700-$760 at many sites as well as Sear's / Costco's would be a Much better / safer / more satisfactory purchase.

eli

[Eli]

Everett, thanks for the info. Especially on the Energy Star ratings. I wish the government site for energy was more like the fueleconomy.gov site that shows gas mileage by rating each model. Oh well, here's the latest "deals" I've found this week. Best Buy had a Sharp 32" for $499. Sears has a Vizio 37" 1080 for $699 this Fri/Sat. Is Vizio dependable?

[m hil]

Isn't circuit city going bankrupt? Seems to me I just read to stay away from purchasing big ticket items there due to the nature of bankruptcy and the possibility that should the items become defective, you would have no recourse to return it for a refund or replacement.

Also, businesses are only allowed to have any given item on sale once every 3 months or something - I've forgotten. So, what they do is make three of the same item (like a dishwasher - this information from the Sears guy) and they change one or two features, and give it a different model number. That way - there is a perpetual sale on similar items.

[everett whitney]

TO: ELI - " Brands to avoid for new 32"...?"

A reminder ... Olevia's parent IS still under a huge fine by the US for having continued to bring in & sell non-compliant HDTVs after multiple notices! The chances of them surviving their current bankruptcy status - particularly in this horrible world climate - IS nil !

And, there are more like WH than can be listed ! ..Polaroid, Emerson, Magnavox, Philips, ... etc., - essentially any / all the old, popular "names" of the distant U.S. past. Now, only licensed or sold to very marginal manufacturers / assemblers in Asia. Throwaway / Disposables.

Sony reduced their 32" to $599, even at their own stores, so, less on-line!

[Jason]

Another great way to save, especially on computers, is purchasing from manufacturer-operated Outlets (DELL, Toshiba, HP, etc). All of them sell "Certified Refurbished" units, but DELL also sells "Scratch & Dent" and "Previously Ordered New" models, too. I've purchased several computers for myself and as gifts from the DELL Outlet in the last few years and I've been very pleased! Even the "refurbs" are packaged like NEW and looked as good as new.

Pay special attention to the warranty on these products, however! DELL includes the same warranty coverage on Outlet models as if the product was new. At the very least, a full one-year warranty is standard and on some business models, a full three-year warranty is included!

[everett whitney]

To: Eli - 11 Nov - " Energy Star - best HDTV ..?"

Those Energy Star ratings strictly have to do with power used when TV is "OFF" - only! Not a single thing to do with consumption during viewing.

Although certainly important in the ... all 50 states / many millions of sets picture ... but useless as far as one's individual electric billing as well as a totally misleading criteria for choosing a specific HDTV over another !

IF one wants to "save" the national power system, do without a dual tuner hard drive HD Recorder or the Surround Sound System ... Each of these DO consume more than double the power of a 52" HDTV !

[Eli]

Another thing, does anybody know the best LCD TV brands that are "Energy Star?"

[Eli]

Gary, great post. I've noticed the same thing. Target has a Westinghouse 40" LCD with built in DVD for $780 that has a slightly different ID than what's listed on the Westinghouse website. But after reading this blog from 07 on WH, there's no way I"ll but WH. Every post talked about how the TV eventually went bad.

I"ve narrowed down my picks to a Sharp 32" for $499, Samsung 32" $599(both at Best Buy) - an Olevia 32" at Target for $480, and I'm kicking myself for letting a 37" Vizio get away at Sears for $550.

Any advice? What brands beside WH to avoid? Should I wait? Problem is, I've got a $30 off coupon from Circuit City that expires on 11/18...

[everett whitney]

TO: Chris - 09 Nov - " Sets for bedroom ...?"

Sony just reduced their 32" by $100 to $599.

Those smaller may need "help" with internal audio.

[Gary]

You know what really trips my trigger? Manufacturers change model numbers for their key accounts to prevent comparison shopping. They make small cosmetic changes to the unit, then add or change a digit to a model number or change one letter. Is the Canon "MF 7640" printer at Office Max equivalent to the "MP 7600" reviewed in Consumer Reports? Is the "Pixma MP 610" reviewed in Consumer Reports the same as the "Pixma MP 620" at Circuit City? I suppose it's legal but it's so irritating. I'd love to see Consumer Reports do a piece on this. Maybe you could recommend retailers that don't buy into this practice.

[Chis]

any tips on small tvs for bedrooms.
(small but not tiny :)