Don't rush into splurging on the latest gadgets. Quell the temptations of instant gratification. Buying the latest must-haves entails a premium: IT gadgets plunge in prices extremely fast.
Wait a few months for that sexy gizmo you have been eyeing and you could be paying 30 per cent less.
There are four big IT shows every year - IT Show, PC Show, Comex and Sitex. They have become centres of cut-throat competition, so the bargains are really good.
Also wait for good premiums before signing a contract for a broadband Internet package. The mobile phone business is saturated so you can't expect great deals.
For broadband, there is still space to grow. If your telco isn't giving you a free laptop or Xbox 360 for that two-year contract - wait till it does.
Retailers of certain big-ticket items like LCD TVs are prohibited by some big brands to sell below a certain minimum price.
The sales strategy is often to offer you more value for the same price when the price can no longer go any lower. Courts, for example, is now offering a free DVD player and a 32-inch LCD TV when you buy a 42-inch one.
A more compelling strategy is to offer good trade-ins to bring the price down. Audio House currently has a trade-in campaign.
For example, bring in an LCD TV, from 15 to 30 inches, and get $300 off.
Be aware like the wise owl
You need to know the best buying haunts. Here are my recommendations.
For games and consoles:
Tec-Drome, 05-78 Sim Lim Square - Always my first choice for games, especially PC ones. Prices are competitive but, most importantly, the sales staff are knowledgeable and honest. I have been a regular for over 10 years.
Seow Choon Games, 13, 15 Jalan Besar (www.seowchoon.com) - The grandfather of console gaming has been around for 20 years. It's my first choice if I want to buy a new console for any platform or accessories like a Hori joystick. It has console games too.
Challenger Superstore, Funan DigitaLife Mall, sixth floor - For anything to do with Xbox 360, Challenger is a good bet. It has one of the largest selection of Xbox 360 titles and peripherals.
There are some good deals too on older Xbox 360 titles, some going for as low as $49.
Best Denki outlets - The only one of the four giant electronic stores which has a strong selection of console games on PlayStation 3, PSP and Xbox 360. Strong in Xbox 360 stuff.
Gamescore, 05-05 Funan (www.gamescore.com.sg) - The 'in' place for younger console gamers, Gamescore has a huge fan club. Its website lists upcoming products.
Funz Centre, 02-08 Ang Mo Kio Hub - A hit with console gamers in the heartland.
For cameras:
Alan Photo, 01-38 Sim Lim Square - Gives good value for cameras and accessories.
Cathay Photo, 01-07 Peninsula Plaza - Very popular among camera enthusiasts, with a very good range of lenses and accessories.
For consumer electronics:
Audio House, Best Denki, Courts Superstore and Harvey Norman are the usual big boys that come to my mind.
Carrefour at Suntec City is also worth checking out because it has cheap deals.
Some people swear by smaller shops like Parisilk (www.parisilk.com) in Holland Village which apparently offers competitive prices.
For those looking for cordless phones which are even clearer than the standard DECT ones, try the refurbished 2.4GHz cordless phones at shops on the second floor of Sim Lim Square and shops at Sim Lim Tower. They call it 'export' models but they sell it to locals too.
Be unyielding like the ferocious tiger
"Despite the shopkeepers' protests, you can always get a discount - even at the big electronics superstores. Stick to your guns and bargain."
Despite the shopkeepers' protests, you can always get a discount - even at the big electronics superstores. Stick to your guns and bargain.
Pay cash - you get a better price paying cash than by Nets or credit cards. (Retailers can pass the savings from the 2 to 3 per cent transaction fee on the plastic cards to you.)
Another tip: Locate the distributors of the individual products. They are often willing to sell to you the same products at a much better price. Distributors can't be seen marketing directly but if the customer comes to their doorstep, they won't mind making the extra cash.
This article first appeared in The Straits Times Digital Life on Sep 10, 2008.
