Where should I buy my computers and electronics?

Where to buy all of your stuff? Especially computers and electronics that tend to break, is a good question.

A few weeks ago, I would have recommended Costco. Costco had a liberal policy, practically unlimited if you kept the box and parts for consumer electronics, and a six month policy for computers. I don't encourage abuse of return policies, but I had frequently paid up to an extra $200 for a computer at Costco, for the benefit of knowing I could return when it started to crash or freeze after a few months.

Now Costco has a new policy of 90 returns. I hope they are lowering their prices, because there is no reason to pay more, pay sale tax, etc. in order to buy at Costco and not be able to return. They are offering a policy of extending manufacturers warranties. I'd encourage any comments from someone who knows the details or has used this policy. I have similar policy on my credit cards and I've found there are so many requirements to use one of these policies that it isn't worth it.

For now I'm going back to my old electronics computer plan. Go down to Best buy or CompUSA and try the product. If you like it, go online and find the absolute lowest price. Hopefully through ebates or qdeals.com where you can add a rebate and coupon. Order without sales tax and free shipping. Carefully check the consumer reviews if you haven't ordered from the store before, there should literally be thousands and read the most recent reviews. Since this is a product you will not likely be able to return, get it for the absolute lowest total price!

Also read reviews on the product. Be careful. Bloggers could receive incentives to pump up a new product, so read several reviews, check major publications, or at least go with a reviewer whose current and past reviews some credible. That's what I do.

Except for the gas, I have almost no reason to go back to Costco anymore. It was actually $3.11 the other day in the Simi Valley California, so Costco may be done as far as I'm concerned.

Be Well.

Dr. Doug