| So you're thinking of buying a new
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| | room" on the price.The reality is that
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| computer...Where do you start? There are
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| | most computer hardware - the physical
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| so many brands and models of computers
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| | pieces like the computer, monitor and
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| available, and it can all be a little
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| | printer - is sold at very low profit
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| overwhelming when you start to look
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| | margins. Often, computer systems are even
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| around.How do you decide what type of
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| | sold at or below the dealer cost. When
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| computer you need? And perhaps more
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| | you're buying a computer, it never hurts
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| importantly, how do you decide what the
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| | to ask for a better deal, but don't be
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| best value is?I have sold computers
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| | surprised if you only get a few dollars
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| professionally for almost 20 years, and
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| | off, if anything.Over the close to 20
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| there are certain "tricks of the trade"
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| | years I've sold computers, I watched the
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| that most computer stores and salespeople
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| | profit margins go from over 40% to less
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| use. Knowing these secrets can make your
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| | than 5%. It's almost embarassing to offer
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| decision easier and will help you buy the
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| | a $20 discount on a $2500 computer
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| right computer for your needs.1. Buy What
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| | system, but that could mean the
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| You Need, Maybe a Little MoreOne of the
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| | difference between making and losing
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| most important things you can do when
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| | money on the sale.What you can do to get
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| buying a new computer is make a list of
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| | the best price is to do some comparison
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| the things that you will be using it for.
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| | shopping. Most computer stores offer
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| There are so many different models - with
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| | price-matching guarantees, so if you find
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| different capabilities - that you can
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| | your computer for less at another store,
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| easily buy more, or less, than you really
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| | most dealers will match or beat that
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| need if you don't.If this is your first
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| | price, even if it means they lose
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| computer, this can be a little tougher.
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| | money.4. How Do Computer Stores Make Any
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| Until you've used a computer, it's hard
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| | Money?You might be wondering how these
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| to know exactly what you might want to do
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| | computer stores make any money if they're
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| with it beyond the obvious, like
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| | selling computer for so little
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| connecting to the internet.Regardless,
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| | profit.Their money is made on add-on
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| you should think about some of the things
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| | items. The highest profit areas in most
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| you might want to do. Some possibilities
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| | computer stores are cables and
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| include:
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| | "consumable" products such as printer ink
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| Connect to the internet
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| | and paper.Printer ink is a huge
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| Play games
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| | money-maker for most computer stores
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| Digital photography
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| | (even more so for the printer
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| Digital video
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| | manufacturers). Why is this? Once you've
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| Type documents
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| | bought a printer, you're going to have to
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| Accounting
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| | replace your ink at some point, and
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| Design websites
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| | continue to replace it as it runs
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| Programming
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| | out.Most chain computer stores and office
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| Digital scrapbooking
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| | supply stores that carry a large
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| Geneology
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| | selection of ink cartridges make more
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| Some of these things need more power
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| | from ink than they do from the computers
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| than others. For example, connecting to
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| | themselves.Cables also have huge markups.
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| the internet really doesn't need a lot of
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| | A cable that costs the store $2-3 will
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| power. Even the most basic computer
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| | often sell for $20-30. That's ten times
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| available will probably work just
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| | their cost!If you're buying a new
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| fine.Digital video and many games need a
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| | computer, you will likely need to buy
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| lot more power. If you don't get a fast
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| | some cables. Some items - printers, for
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| enough computer with enough memory,
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| | example - don't often include the cables
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| you'll be disappointed with the
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| | needed to hook them up.Many printers also
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| performance.Knowing what you're going to
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| | come with "starter" ink cartridges that
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| be using your computer for will help your
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| | are only half-full. You might also want
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| salesperson, whether they're on the
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| | to pick up some extra ink cartridges.This
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| phone, the internet or standing in front
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| | is where you should be able to negotiate
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| of you, recommend the best system for
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| | a better price. Don't expect the
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| your needs.As a general rule you're
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| | salesperson to throw them in for nothing,
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| always better off buying more power than
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| | but they should be willing to offer you a
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| you need rather than less, but buying too
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| | better price. After all, if you're happy
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| much can be a waste of money.2. Warranty
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| | with their service, you'll probably
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| ConsiderationsComputer warranties are one
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| | continue to buy your ink, paper and other
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| of the most confusing and obscure parts
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| | products from that store in the future.5.
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| of your purchase. Most manufacturers have
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| | What Software is Included?The last secret
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| cut back on their customer service to the
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| | of buying a new computer has to do with
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| point where poor service has become a
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| | the software that is included. Most new
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| given.The three most common options are
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| | computer systems include quite a few
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| onsite, carry-in or manufacturer's depot
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| | programs and sometimes the value of the
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| service.Onsite service can be helpful,
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| | software can be quite high.Something to
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| but think about whether you want to have
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| | watch out for when looking at the
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| to be available for a technician to come
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| | included software is "trial versions" or
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| and diagnose your computer, and possibly
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| | "limited editions".Many programs that are
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| have to come back with parts at another
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| | preloaded are either crippled versions
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| time.Carry in service is a good option,
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| | that don't have all the features of the
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| but find out whether the service center
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| | full program, or trial versions that will
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| is factory authorized for warranty
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| | only run for a certain amount of time
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| repairs, as well as whether the
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| | before they expire.Computer are often
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| technicians are all certified.Shipping
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| | sold with trial versions of the following
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| your computer to a factory service center
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| | types of software:
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| can take a long time - sometimes a number
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| | antivirus
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| of weeks. It also creates risk that your
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| | firewall
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| computer will be damaged or even lost in
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| | MS Office or other office suites
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| shipping. In some cases, the manufacturer
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| | Accounting - both business and personal
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| will even replace your computer with
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| | The computer manufacturers generally
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| another unit and ship it back to you,
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| | don't make it easy to tell whether the
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| rather than repairing it. This can result
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| | software on their systems are trial
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| in your losing any information that was
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| | versions or limited versions. This is a
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| on your system and having to reload all
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| | question that you should specifically ask
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| your software.Another aspect of the
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| | if you can't find the answer in their
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| warranty to find out about is technical
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| | promotional information.If you're buying
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| support. Find out if the computer
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| | a new computer with trial versions of the
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| manufacturer offers a toll-free phone
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| | software, keep in mind that you will need
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| number and what the quality of service is
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| | to pay to continue using it after the
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| like.The better computer salespeople will
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| | trial period is over. This is an added
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| be honest about this and tell you if a
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| | cost that you need to consider as part of
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| company's service leaves something to be
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| | your overall budget.These five "secrets"
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| desired. You can also do some research on
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| | of buying a new computer are fairly
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| the internet - most of the computer
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| | common sense, but they are not always
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| magazines like PC Magazine and PC World
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| | made clear up front. Knowing what to ask
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| have annual customer service comparisons
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| | will help you in two ways. First, you can
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| that rate the larger computer
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| | be sure you are getting the right
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| companies.Always find out how the
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| | computer for your needs.Second, if the
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| warranty is handled before making your
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| | salesperson or company that you're
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| decision. Even if it doesn't influence
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| | dealing with explains these things to you
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| your choice, knowing what to expect if
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| | without being asked, you'll know you're
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| something does go wrong will save some
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| | dealing with someone who is honest and
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| nasty surprises down the road.3. Can You
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| | upfront.Knowing you can trust the people
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| Negotiate the Price Down?A computer is a
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| | you're dealing with is an invaluable
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| relatively large investment - anywhere
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| | feature of your new computer system.John
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| from a few hundred to a few thousand
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| | Lenaghan offers easy-to-understand advice
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| dollars. Many computer buyers expect that
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| | at the Computer Help Squad website.
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| there is a significant amount of "wiggle
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| |
|
