3 ways to save on electronics

BOSTON — All week long we're taking a look at how to save money on all of your back-to-school shopping. A student's supply list used to be as simple as a few notebooks and pencils, but now more than ever, expensive electronics are on the must-have checklist.

Here are some ways you can save money when shopping for big-ticket items.

CHECK FOR DEALS
"Deals are happening all the time." says Gerritson. He says, though there's been a spike in sales for ipads, laptops and cellphones, you can still save money buying these electronics, just by doing some research, "Check out all the reviews. Check not only the retailer you're buying from but also the model that you're looking at as well."

Students like McDonnell agree, "If you just start online and work your way through all the websites, it's pretty easy now."

BUY REFURBISHED OR USED ITEMS
But Gerritson says buying brand new items isn't always the best option, "Refurbished is a great way to go. It's a heavily regulated industry. I think people get a lot of value from refurbished. As well as items that might not be the newest item in the line."

Bryan Harwell, owner of the electronics store Replay'd, warns what to look for when buying used electronics, "You want to make sure that you can test an item before you purchase it. You want to make sure that you have a warranty. Try not to buy things off of craigslist because you have no background."

BUY OLDER MODELS
And both Gerriston and Harwell agree that buying older models is just as cost friendly as buying refurbished.

Harwell tells me, "If you want to save even more money, you can go all the way back down to the first generation. This item is still supported by apple, still has all the same features, it might not be the latest and greatest, but it is an incredible deal."

Cox Media Group