The price ranges for laptops and desktop PCs vary widely, but there are a few ways to save money on computer purchases. There are many things to consider before buying a PC , so once you've decided how powerful your PC needs to be , you can compare prices between comparable systems.
01
of 06
Buy a Slightly Older Model
New models of the same device are often released every few months. In general, new products add some improvements to the overall performance, capacity, and features, but the improvements are usually minimal. Since most manufacturers and retailers make their highest margins by selling these new systems, they sell previous models at a discount to clear inventory space for the new ones. You can buy a computer with roughly the same specs as a newer model for half as much.
02
of 06
Buy a Refurbished Laptop or Desktop PC
Refurbished products are either returns or units that failed initial quality control checks and had to be rebuilt, so manufacturers sell them at discounted rates. A typical refurbished laptop or desktop computer can be 5-25% less than the standard retail price. There are several important factors to consider when purchasing a refurbished system including warranties, who rebuilt it, and if the discount is less than what the equivalent new system costs.
03
of 06
Purchase a System With Less RAM and Upgrade It
Buying a computer with a minimum memory configuration and upgrading the RAM might be less expensive than buying a newer, more powerful PC. This is an especially good idea for premium brands or performance class systems. Manufacturers buy computer memory in bulk, which means that they may be stuck with large inventories they need to sell at a discount.
Some computers, such as Chromebooks and ultrabooks, have fixed memory that can not be upgraded.
04
of 06
Build Your Own PC
High-performance systems for PC gaming are significantly marked up for consumers, so building a desktop computer from parts can save you literally hundreds of dollars. You can also build custom laptops from a white box chassis, but it's often cheaper to purchase a budget laptop.
05
of 06
Upgrade an Existing PC
If you already have a desktop or laptop, it may make more sense to upgrade it with new parts rather than buying an entirely new system. The feasibility of upgrading rather than replacing depends upon a variety of factors such as the age of the computer, how much access the user has to install upgrades, and the overall costs to make the upgrades compared to a new purchase. In general, desktop computers are better suited toward upgrades than laptops. Solid-state drives are an excellent example of how to make an older computer feel a lot faster.
06
of 06
Search for Coupons and Rebates
When ordering a computer online, keep an eye out for digital coupons on the website. Companies like coupons because people tend to forget about them and buy items at full price, so it's always a good idea to see if there is some sort of discount code available. Like coupons, rebate offers are extremely popular with technology companies because the majority of consumers don't bother filling out the paperwork required to get cash.
Use the Honey browser extension to search the web for coupon codes at checkout.
Documentation or Conveyance Charges
Though it’s reasonable for you to have to cover the cost of your title and registration (typically 1 to 3 percent of the vehicle’s cost), dealers often charge extra—sometimes hundreds more—for processing these and other documents.
The fix: You might not be able to avoid this fee entirely, but you can try for a discount or ask for something in return, such as dealer-installed accessories like winter floor mats.
Registration Charges
You have to register your car in order to drive it, no matter where you live. While you can take care of registering your new vehicle on your own, it’s more convenient to have the dealer take care of it for you. But this creates an opportunity for the dealer to pad the bill a bit.
The fix: Before going to the dealer to finalize the deal, check the department of motor vehicles website for your state to find out the costs associated with registering a new car. Then have the salesperson or the business manager who is handling the paperwork itemize all the registration costs, and make sure they are the same as what you found online.
The dealer may add a fee for the convenience of doing this work for you, and you’ll have to decide whether you want to contest it or if it’s worth paying.
Sales Tax
Almost every state requires you to pay sales tax on your new vehicle. So unless you’re in one of those few that don’t charge it, you will have to pay up when buying.
The fix: In some states you can deduct the value of your trade-in vehicle from the purchase price, which will lower the tax you end up paying. Applying available rebates and incentives can also do this. Research in advance whether your state applies sales tax to the net (post-trade-in or post-incentives) or the gross cost (the negotiated price of the car).