Your Friendly Philosopher & Guide

Later as you grow up with time, and when you are able to touch base with reality that you cannot afford the best always, you start compromising. You say average looks are fine (instead of good looks), average education is ok (instead of high intelligence), and average figure is acceptable (when you had dreamt of a woman like that of a blonde). And end of the day you are happy/unhappy with what your destiny wanted you to take home.

A similar process is involved when you plan to buy a technological gadget from the market – which could be an iPOD, a digital camera, a music system, a washing machine or a MP3 player. There are always ‘better’ products available, and the old is outdated within a span of 6 months or 1 year’s time. So how do you make the best choice in the present scenario?

Do an initial check about the following three important factors –

*Why do you need the product?
*What is your budget?
*How urgently do you need the product?

Why do you need the product?

This is the most important factor you need to consider. Are you going for a product just for the sake of passion or you really want to use it to the maximum after you buy it. Handycams, digicams (unless you are professional photographer) & music systems are products we buy just out of passion and products like washing machines, fridge, and microwave ovens are ones which we buy to meet a particular need. Hence when buying products for passion, don’t go for the best brand, as your passion will die in no time, and you might want a better product soon. Target just for a year, and invest accordingly.

And the products that you need, you can go for a better brand that which gives you the maximum warranty period, because you aren’t going to change them at least for 3-4 years.

What is your budget?

While buying an electronic product, we always tend to exceed our budget. For instance when you have made up your mind to buy a particular product for Rs 4000, people would say another 1000, and you will have this extra feature included. And you forget the fact that, when you thought about investing in the product your budget was just Rs 2000, which eventually reached to Rs 4000 now. So Rs 5000 is Rs 3000 more than where you had started, and it is not Rs 1000 more than Rs 4000.

Try to drag the product in your budget, and ignore flashy features, which you might not use at all. For instance – when you have a computer at home, you need not pay few thousands more to buy a computer compatible TV, which you would hardly use (if your budget is less). The purpose of TV is just to provide clear picture and clear sound. Or when buying a washing machine, you don’t need an automatic program – because in any case your wife is going to be near the machine while washing clothes.

How urgently do you need the product?

It is always better to buy an electronic product 6 months later. The prices would have come down, and also a new model would have hit the market. That way the ideal time to buy any gadget is just 6 months before you die – that way you would have possessed the latest in the market, and by the time the new model comes into market, you would have left the planet.

But that is not practically possible. Hence you can probably postpone buying something you want for a couple of months – that is only if you can resist yourself. Or else ignore all and go and buy the product that you always wanted to have.

Few other important tips

*Never buy second hand electronic goods
*Avoid buying electronic goods online (on the internet)
*Try not to buy electronic goods on installment, instead save money and then buy –that way you will buy it after few months, and by the time you buy the prices would have come down. Also when you have cash on hand you can bargain with the dealers to get the best bet
*Do a minor market study before you buy any product
*Stop thinking about other products, after you have made the purchase
*And lastly don’t listen to anyone (including me). Follow your own inner light