This same cycle works for many other industries as well. Unless you simply must have the latest fashions, you can save by waiting until the next fashion trend is just about to begin. Pre-shopping research expands your awareness of the buying environment and the marketplace. This research includes knowing what you want to purchase, where to purchase it, what pricing techniques are being used, and what is the most reliable source of information about the product. Based on marketplace factors, you can create and evaluate a list of product attributes.
Most purchasing situations have several acceptable alternatives.
Each alternative should be evaluated on the basis of the factors you determined when you originally decided to make the purchase. A number of studies have shown a low relationship between price and quality, especially for expensive technical equipment like a computer. Price analysis is critical. However, price is only one factor in the purchasing decision. Other important factors are the quality of the product, the service contract that comes with the product, and the terms of the manufacturer's warranty.