Before You Buy

[lcaillo]

Service is something that most people never consider until something goes wrong. With the proliferation of new technologies and the wide variety of prices and purchasing options, there is also a wide variety in serviceability. If Value means more to you than Price alone, you may want to consider some of these suggestions.

Brand
Brands vary greatly in their willingness and ability to provide service and support. Ask who will be servicing the product and where it will be done. Many people are surprised to find that many brands have no service network and do not provide parts and service support at all. Check the Manufacturer and Vendor Reference Information forum for contact info and understand what the service options are before you buy.

Dealer
If you are confident in your ability to deal with system design and application issues, and if you do your homework thoroughly, you may be OK buying from a box mover or online. Check out the more service oriented dealers in your area, however. Some can be very helpful and can provide a level of service and support that can be very valuable. Often, prices are not much different other than on the loss leaders that the box movers advertise.

Model
Don't assume that every model from a particular manufacturer is good or bad based on reputation. Every vendor has their "dogs." Some manufacturers do a particular type of technology well or poorly. Ask about specific models before you buy. You can post a question in the Manufacturer Service and Support forum and we sill be happy to provide feedback. Asking service technicians who work on lots of different products can often be enlightening.

Related items
Sometimes, add-on purchases can be essential, sometimes they are a profit center for the seller. Extended warranties are often overpriced and a poor value. Surge suppressors are essential protection in some area, but people are often oversold filtering and backup features. Using the correct cables to get the most out of your system is important, but very often sellers will sell overpriced products based on hype rather than sound advice. Check out what you need on the forums here before you buy. There is a great deal of consumer, sales, and service experience here to draw from.

The bottom line is, to get the best value
ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU BY!
Don't buy until you get the answers that you want or that make sense for YOU.