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"__An Interview With Brian Cooley__\\n\\n\\n\\n*Cooley is an editor at large for CNET, a website that reviews technology.*\\n\\nThese days, there's really no excuse for getting ripped off when buying a new television, camera, or computer, since so much information is at your fingertips. Do your research, ask the right questions, and you'll end up with a bargain\u2014not a lemon.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0__ Consider your options.__ Before purchasing anything, first look at the unbiased product reviews and editors' top picks on sites like ZDNet, PCWorld, and, of course, CNET. Then, learn more about the models you like on the manufacturer's website. You might find the version that costs $100 less is missing only one feature that you didn't want anyway.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0__ Get a feel for it.__ Test out the item at a store like Best Buy or Circuit City\u2014it's important to experience a flat-screen television's picture quality or digital camera's design. Compare the store's price to what you saw online during your research. If it's similar, shopping at a big chain has advantages: They've got good return policies, and you don't have to pay for shipping.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Click and save.__ Still, Internet merchants offer the lowest prices, since they have almost no overhead and don't usually charge sales tax (which can be a huge savings). Just make sure you're dealing with a reputable site certified by a consumer-protection group such as Verisign, Bizrate, or the Better Business Bureau Online, and check that their return policy won't sock you with some outrageous 25 percent restocking fee. If the site doesn't prominently list a street address and an 800 number for customer service, that's a red flag, too\u2014head elsewhere.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Hold out.__ If you want the most up-to-date electronics, wait until September. That's when most of the new items arrive in stores and online. Otherwise, look for markdowns after Christmas.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Protect yourself.__ Most electronics are well made, so you probably don't need an extended warranty. The only exception is laptop computers. They can be delicate and expensive to fix, so you may recoup the cost of the warranty when yours inevitably conks out.\\n\\n#### See Also\\n\\n- [The 8 Most Unbelievable Beauty Innovations](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/2011/beauty-innovations\\\\#slide=1)\\n\\n\\n- [2011 Readers' Choice Breakthroughs](http://www.allure.com/beauty-products/readers-choice/2011/2011-readers-choice-breakthroughs\\\\#slide=1)\\n\\n\\n- [How to Score Amazing Dollar-Store Beauty Steals](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/how-to/2011/how-to-score-dollar-store-beauty-steals)"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.allure.com/story/how-to-shop-for-electronics>