Where will you buy everything?

Deciding where to buy the goods can be the most difficult decision of all. I'm just like everyone else: I love a good deal. Far too often in the computer industry, getting a good deal means getting cheap hardware and/or little support or warranty. As a tech, I used to think it didn't really matter who I bought from as long as the component was of high quality. Now I'm not so sure. When looking at prices, you may want to keep in mind the cost of phone calls or lost time when deciding whether a "real steal" is actually a time bomb.

For instance, I use a 3.2GB Quantum Fireball hard drive purchased from an Internet auction for $20 less than I could buy it anywhere at the time. However, the warranty only lasted 30 days, and now the business no longer exists. If I ever have a problem with that drive, I'll have to eat the loss.

However, I don't think every component has the same need for support. The parts I would require a warranty for are: CPU's, Hard Drives, Memory, Monitors, and possibly sound cards or video cards. Anything that will have a high cost to replace and/or is likely to fail at some point (Hard drives) should have a warranty. For other things like modems, speakers, floppy drives, and other peripherals a warranty is pretty much unnecessary.Think of a warranty much like insurance: Make sure it's included when you won't be able to afford a replacement, but be aware it will probably cost you a little initially.

When buying the goods, it is a good idea to jot down the full name of the salesperson and any quoted prices, especially ones that might be disputed. If you order from different vendors write down what you ordered from each. Also, pay only with a credit card. This makes it easier to return a defective product because it gives you a little leverage (They haven't received the money yet). Also, several of the credit card companies will work on your behalf. BTW: If free shipping is offered by a company, try to buy your heaviest stuff there (monitor, case, printer). This can save a lot of money when added up. One place I buy my cases from is TechStore because of their policy in this matter.

Personally, I usually buy over the phone. I do this for a couple of reasons. 1. Several times I've called a vendor regarding prices on their website or on Pricewatch only to find that the price has changed. However, any self-respecting reseller will honor the lowest price between the two prices. 2. (I know this is subjective) I believe I can get a certain feel for a company after talking to their sales staff. It also makes support calls easier (IMHO) because I've familiarized myself with the company.

Editors Note: Resellerratings.com is an excellent place to help you choose a reputable reseller. Over 10,000 users have submitted evaluations (ratings and comments) of over 640 PC hardware resellers. All of that valuable advice can help prevent you from making a big mistake by buying from a dealer that has a horrible reputation, for instance. Besides resellerratings.com, here are a few other sites which can help you find a reseller based on price, rather than customer experiences:

» Bottom Dollar
» Shopper.com
» Pricewatch

Also, I agree with Joel that you should always pay by credit card. However, I believe that ordering over the 'net is far better than ordering over the phone. Not only is it quite a bit faster, but you can do it at 2am on a Sunday morning if you feel like it :). Plus, I have ordered hundreds of products on-line for years, and have NEVER had a problem with a vendor or having my CC# misused.

Upon Reception of the parts...
As soon as you start receiving the different components, open the shipping box to make sure all the items were included, then go ahead and open the items and make sure all the components were included. When you have the case, motherboard, CPU, video card, and monitor, begin the construction.

While you are waiting for all the components, it's recommended to create a folder for each of the vendors you bought from. Include any notes you took over the phone, any warranty documents, and all receipts and invoices. Put these folders in a safe place because it could be a real lifesaver if you have trouble down the road.