Item:
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Description:
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Reasoning:
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1
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Research, Research,
Research!
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Obtain and Use
AppleSpec,
Read MacAddict,
MacHome,
MacToday,
MacWEEK,
MacWorld
and all of the Mac
News Sites you can.
MacTalk
Radio is one of
the best and most entertaining ways to keep up to date on
what's happening in the Mac community. Get a copy of
Real
Audio and join the
fun!
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2
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Make sure you know
what you want and the alternatives you'll
"entertain".
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Salesmen's job's are to
sell you things... Things they have... If
they don't have something you want they
will try to sell you what they
have. Know what you'll consider, at what price
and stick to that. Otherwise you might end up with
something you don't want, and buy something they
have on hand and want to unload anyway they
can...
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3
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Know what the product you
want costs, and who else has it for a comparable
price.
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- By having a good idea
who is selling what for how much you have leverage
when trying to make a deal with one firm... If you are
looking for CPU #1, Monitor #2 and Printer #3 and
Sellers A, B and C have the best price for each of
them you have a pretty good idea what you might be
able to pursuade one of the three to put together a
package with everything for a quite competitive
price.
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4
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- Document, Document,
Document! Take notes as to who you called and all
of the details. You may find them vital in tracking
things down.
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Use a Word Processor,
Database, Spreadsheet, Newton, Steno Pad, whatever you
feel most comfortable with but if the guy (or gal) you
talk with hears you typing away they assume that
you are taking copious notes...
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5
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Be sure to ask what the
DOA return policy is, who pays for shipping
of DOA's
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"Why should I have to
pay to ship their defective merchandise
back to them?"
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6
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- Specify that the
machine is New in the Box and not a Refurbished
product.
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Unless of course you're in
the market for a Refurbished unit... Otherwise realize
that there are a large number of "Pre-Owned" unit's out
there that sales people are looking to sell. Usually with
only a 90-day warrantee (or less).
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7
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- Ask what the
restocking fee is.
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Of course, no one
expects to have to return the product,
but...
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8
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- Inquire about the
warrantee.
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- Else you might not like
the warrantee (if any) you get...
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9
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- Determine the
surcharge for using a Credit Card, and if there
is sales tax.
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- Most places quote cash
prices, most charge a 3% surcharge for Credit Cards,
some even charge extra for American Express. But if
you have extended warrantee coverage on your AMEX it
can be well worth it...
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10
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- Ask if there is any
special procedure for shipping to a work
location.
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- Most of us can't afford
to stay at home and wait for delivery, so delivery to
the workplace is a necessity... However due to "Cases
of Credit Card Fraud" some places will not ship to an
address that is different than the Bill To Address
unless you register with your credit card a secondary
ship to address. This can be done and done reasonably
quickly (20 minutes) but it is a hassle.
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11
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- Ask them how soon do you
need to get damaged items back to them for
credit or exchange.
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- Some places expect you
to get a damaged item back to them in as little as 3
days... I can't guarantee that if I'm in Chicago,
they're in San Diego and the airport is closed due to
a blizzard... If you are ordering items "Over the
Border" there are often Customs issues that may need
to be handled...
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12
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- Make sure it's in
stock and when it will ship...
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- Nothing is worse than
not getting your package and finding out that it
wasn't in stock when you ordered it...
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13
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- Avoid Ground
Shipping or "unspecified delivery" as much as
possible... I always try to have something shipped to
me 2 or 3 day air as opposed to ground...
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- With x-Day shipping you
are quoted a definite delivery date as opposed to a
vague "window" of delivery like 4-5 days. I like to
know when I'm going to get my purchase. That way I
know when it's late...
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14
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- Make sure you know
who the shipping company is (FedEX, UPS, etc.),
and what time during the day they guarantee delivery
by...
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- This way you know which
day and roughly which time the machine is going to
arrive. If you are having it delivered at home you can
arrange for someone to be there, or you can arrange to
bring in a luggage cart to help cart it
home.
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15
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- Ask when you can get a
tracking number, and get it so that you know
when it's coming...
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- If you have net access
it is usually far easier to track it yourself than to
have them do it... Especially when you have links
to:
- Airborne
Express,
AE
Tracking;
- DHL
Worldwide,
DHL
Tracking;
- Emery
Worldwide,
Emery
Tracking;
- FedEx,
FedEX
US Tracking;
- Roadway,
Rodeway
Tracking;
- UPS,
UPS
Tracking; right
here...
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16
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- Realize that all
electronic equipment is a commodity these days...
The prices
- change on a weekly,
sometimes daily basis and that Ad's even in MacWeek
are placed a week or two in advance. The Web is
usually the best place for up to date prices. I have
most of the sites referenced in MacWeek on my
Mac
Page under
Equipment...
Best
Bargains is a
godsend!
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- Most places have a HTML
guy on hand and make daily if not hourly updates...
With the ability to do this (instant updates) they
become the prime source for pricing, not a weekly or
monthly magazine...
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17
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- Try to Avoid Airborne
Express whenever possible...
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- Why? They are
based out of an old Air Force base in Ohio. The reason
the AFB closed: Frequent foggy and bad weather
conditions that were below FAA minimums. Hence it is
quite reasonable to expect delays in shipment of stuff
sent via AE... Airborne also tends to take a more
casual attitude about getting things delivered on time
than UPS or FedEx. They usually only promise delivery
by 5:30pm versus 10:30am, Noon or 3:30pm. I
mean they do get the stuff to you but you have a much
greater chance of delays with AE than most if not all
other carriers.
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18
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- Inquire if there are
any other "Gotcha's"...
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- They probably won't
admit to any but it puts them on guard, and they can't
say you didn't ask.
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