Thinking of buying a computer? Use current magazines to get future prices

MSE_Martin

What's this? Check future prices now?

Exactly. The trick is in the publication dates. Many PC magazines' publication dates are a month or two ahead of when they're actually published ie buy one now and it's likely it'll have February's publication date on it.

So what?

This means these magazines can be a very useful tool for researching computer/technology prices before you go out and buy. Check prices online and in-store but also check the computer magazines to see which way prices are heading. If it's likely the same machine will be cheaper then either to go to a store and ask for a price match or wait until the machine's availabe at that price.

nuthatch

...... browzing through magazine .... a good way of passing Christmas afternoon when everyone is snoozing.Thanks Martin

John_Gray

Martin, what an odd idea!

All the PC magazines have adverts with current prices in them -- they just have dates on their front covers which are anything up to two months ahead, so that they don't look out-of-date in the newsagents! (Additionally, the magazines were probably put together about a month before they were delivered to subscribers, or to the shops).

Advertisers may well have to hold the prices of the goods until the end of the month indicated on the front cover, but that would only be of use if there had been a price increase! You'd much prefer to buy the same model cheaper, and not be concerned about what any magazine price said.

John

intel

A good idea is to subscribe to an email letter... Its free.

gizmoleeds

Computer magazine dates are a joke. Originally they were released on the 1st of the month or a couple of days before, but certain magazines realised that if they started putting the release date back a few days it would increase their sales - if someone came in the last month of December and saw three December edition magazines and one January they would by the January one.

Gradually they put the dats back further and further until they got to releasing them 6-8 weeks before their publication dates. If you ever see a competition in one of them you will see that the final entry date is normally before the publishing date!

So, sorry Martin, but it is just a fake date scam....