Issue 33.11
Part 2
Last week we looked at a number of the good deals available at local merchants during their back-to-school sales that are going on currently. This week we are tackling the technology available if you can’t afford new but still need a computer or other technology for school or your student (or even just for yourself).
The first thing is to decide what you need. Then you may need to know where to look for it. For example, the new tablet computers that are all the rage right now are so new, it is almost impossible to find any of them for sale used or even discounted to any great extent. Reliable laptops are notoriously hard to find used, but are available if you look. On the other hand, desktop computers are relatively easy to purchase used from a variety of sources.
When looking for used technology, the first place I look is on www.craigslist.com. They have the advantage of listing items available locally and you can often find a good deal within easy driving distance. The classified ads at www.ksl.com are also useful and you can limit by zip code and distance how far away the ads can be from. Freecycle is another resource that is local, but is a little confusing to sign up for and you have to be a member to look at the items (or post them), but everything is free. It is being given away by someone in your community.
Locally, thrift shops and pawn shops have gotten into the technology market more and more. I visited one pawn shop recently that had over a dozen computers displayed and running so you could try them out. Their prices were slightly higher than I would charge for used systems, but there were still some good deals to be had. If you need something local and want support for your used item, and if none of these options appeal to you, you can call me or visit my web-site (noted below) and I will help you find something you can afford that will hopefully meet your needs.
If you don’t mind waiting for your items to ship (and paying shipping) you can find some good deals on eBay and other online auction sites. Be careful however about so-called “penny” auctions that advertise ridiculously low prices for technology (such as $28 for a new I-Pad). You may actually win an auction at that price, but the bids go up incrementally by a penny each time and you have to pay (sometimes as much as a dollar or more) for each bid you post. Most people give up after ten or so bids, having spent all the money on making the bids and never get the merchandise.
Whatever you decide, be careful, have fun, and remember to make sure you have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has been in the computer industry for 30 years (locally with Musicomp & Bits ‘N’ Bytes) and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions, you can reach him through his website at www.bitsnbytescomputers.com or at 668-7118.