Buy accessories online. Compare the price of the cables you buy at retail stores versus the price of buying them new on ebay, Amazon, etc. A $20 USB cable can be had for less than half that online (even after shipping). A $100 HDMI cable (for HDTVs) can be had for under $15 after shipping. Or compare blank CD or DVD discs. Ar check the prices of any other accessory.

Things like printers, computers, DVD players, etc usually have very little retail markup. Accessories, on the other hand, have huge markups.

For me it's just buy things from the USA, even with shipping costs it is still cheaper then getting it down here (and usually before they are released down here).

I was amazed to find out how tiny the markup is on a Mac. Jeez, why bother selling them?

Yes, the peripherals are where the money is. Gillette doesn't make jack selling shavers....but they make a fortune selling blades.

However, as a muso, it's certainly worth the extra money to go to a music store and buy strings and picks...I'd like for that store to still be open when I want to shop for an instrument.

There are a few big names living here on this island (hopefully I can get a gig with Mick Fleetwood since John McVie never stays for long). George benson frequents the local store, and he's their least favorite customer....goes in and plays with all the guitars, then goes home and orders them online. :rolleyes: Jeez, you've got the money, so pony up once in a while, G!

Yup. HP will basically give you a printer for nothing knowing that you're in for $100 every time you change ink in the thing over the next few years.

However, as a muso, it's certainly worth the extra money to go to a music store and buy strings and picks...I'd like for that store to still be open when I want to shop for an instrument.That's fair. If there's a mom and pop store you want to support, go ahead. But when it comes to the corporate likes of Best Buy, CompUSA, or Office Depot, I say screw 'em...

I got my laptop at Best Buy...

For me it's just buy things from the USA, even with shipping costs it is still cheaper then getting it down here (and usually before they are released down here).

Really? Our prices here are very comparable with the US even before shipping and taxes.

But when it comes to the corporate likes of Best Buy, CompUSA, or Office Depot, I say screw 'em...

Oh, well that's different...I have to be some kind of desperate to want to enter one of those.

One could easily say the same for an Apple Store, sadly...they're pretty dispicable also. What they do is let Mom&Pop store enter and prime the market (MacAuthority, for example), and then drop an Apple Store in to run them out of business.
Business has jumped up since Brian took over as manager for the local Mac dealer on Maui...I wonder when an AS is gonna show up?

Well, I don't blame Apple. They needed a good national retail option. But I agree that it's a shame for all the good local Apple retailers who are getting killed. They didn't start their own retail stores to kill off their best supporters, but that's how it will work out in the end. It has worked very well for Apple, which I do like.

But I wouldn't pay for accessories at an Apple Store, either...

Really? Our prices here are very comparable with the US even before shipping and taxes.

It really depends on what it is.

I mean you look at the price of a PS3 (and 360) here and there and it would be cheaper to just buy it over there (as with the games).

DVD players are real cheap here now. So there wouldn't be any difference.

I got my laptop for $1200AU over there when I am pretty certain it would be worth at least $2000AU down here if they sold this particular model.

btw are you on Euros as currency?

btw are you on Euros as currency?

Nope, people here decided they had some weird kind of affection for our own currency (seriously, the main argument was that people wanted the Queen's likeness to remain on our coins....). Of course, our currency so closely tied into the Euro anyways, it probably doesn't really matter much financially anyway.

The GBP is allot stronger then the Euro as currencies go. Euro is allot more lucrative because it is not linked to one country though.

Todays trading:

1 USD = 1.9661 GDP = 1.2962 EUR

The GBP is allot stronger then the Euro as currencies go. Euro is allot more lucrative because it is not linked to one country though.

Todays trading:

1 USD = 1.9661 GDP = 1.2962 EUR

You got that one the wrong way around.
1 EUR = 1.2962 USD = 0.659320 GBP
1 USD = 0.771515 EUR = 0.508675 GBP

1 AU = 0.774503 USD
1 AU = 0.597541 EUR
1 AU = 0.393970 GBP (wow)

seriously, the main argument was that people wanted the Queen's likeness to remain on our coins....


WTF is up with that? Have the people figured out yet that the royal family are NOT of divine heritage?

WTF is up with that? Have the people figured out yet that the royal family are NOT of divine heritage?

Oh no you did-unt... I know you did-unt just go there.

Oh yeah, I did :yes:

And BTW, it's di-unt ;)

Speak for yourself... we enunciate in my trailer park.

For most of my computer related purchasing, I use zipzoomfly.com. I still use Newegg.com, but not as much since they started charging Tennessee sales tax. Stupid Memphis warehouse! Anyway's they usually sell hard drives, keyboards, and stuff for a lot less than you can find in Wal-Mart or Officemax. The closest Best Buy to me is about 50 miles away, so I don't really care if I patronize them or not. The last thing I bought from Best Buy was a DVD-Rom and an ATI AIW 8500DV. Those two items were like $500 all together. Of course, this was about 5 or 6 years ago before I knew about Newegg.com. I may never buy anything from Best Buy again. :grrhee:

Oh, and if you are looking for a cheap copy of Windows XP or Vista, Newegg will let you buy an OEM version (which is cheaper) if you purchase a cheap hard drive or motherboard. Check it out!

http://www.pricewatch.com/

Solid site to find what you are looking for at a good price.