Why are digital camera prices on Yahoo! Shopping way less than anything I’m seeing in national chain stores?
Not that I’m complaining, but it just seems odd that these seemingly smaller businesses are selling the camera I’m looking at (Canon PowerShot A540) for up to $70 less than what I’ve seen it selling for in stores like Best Buy, Sears, Circuit City, etc. I am nervous about ordering from these online stores despite their good reviews because their prices are suspiciously low. Anyone know why this is?
Easy – no overhead. They don’t have to pay for high priced buildings, parking lots, security, security systems and guards, cash registers, display cases, and usually they have very few employees. All that overhead gets added into your purchase price.
If you are worried about making an online purchase, then this is what I recommend.
1-Look at the ‘about us’ on the website you are considering making the purchase from. Where are they based? (here or overseas) and do they have a phone number? If so – call them and see if anyone answers. Ask them about the product you are ordering (new, used, refurbished) and if they offer a warranty and what their return policy is.
2- Go look up the reviews on the store. You do realize that Yahoo Shopping offers Merchant Reviews right? Reviews written by actual customers that have shopped with that store? You might want to hit Yahoo Shopping and check it out. You can not only get the prices of the item you are looking for right there, you can also check the merchants out and the reviews in one handy area.
3- If you are ready to make a purchase but are still unsure – go to your bank and get a pre-paid Visa or MasterCard gift card. Works the same as any other credit card, however unlike a debit card it is NOT tied to your checking account, and unlike regular cards you cannot run up a charge. Pre-paid means just that – it is good for only the amount YOU decide to put on it (if you know your purchase will come to $78.00 or so, buy one for $100 and use the extra to fill up your gas tank )
I hope the above tips help you shop the internet with an easy mind. Remember, there are some good trustworthy merchants out there. Just do your homework and you WILL find them.
Consumer Education – Online Shopping – Tech
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