You Should Ask Yourself These Four Questions Before Any Major Purchase
Shopping means putting on your outerwear, going out and finding the things you want in retail stores. But now shopping isn’t so much an event as something you can do on your phone when you’re bored. And while shopping online is definitely more convenient than shopping, its simplicity can also be a downside – the vast majority of people have seemingly endless choices, including features and products they may not have considered before.
Fortunately, Consumer Reports has recently come to the rescue with a guide to becoming a smarter shopper . Here’s what you need to know.
Questions to ask before making a major purchase
According to Consumer Reports, shoppers must answer these four questions for themselves before heading into virtual aisles:
1. What do I want?
Sometimes you already know exactly what you are looking for, right down to the brand, color and price. Other times, you might not even know which features are best for your needs. If you fall into the second category, Consumer Reports editor Samantha Gordon suggests looking for the “best” brands / models of a particular type of product. Even if you don’t end up buying something from the list, it will at least give you an idea of what is currently available and what you might want to look out for as you continue to shop.
2. Does this product meet my needs?
If you’ve narrowed it down to just a few products, do some more work on things like the company’s / store’s return policy (so you know if you’re stuck with an item after trying it). Also check out product reviews on retailer and company websites, and scroll through their social media page to see if disgruntled consumers have left complaints or other messages. (Just keep in mind that not all reviews you read online are legitimate .)
3. How much does it cost?
Some of your needs are within your budget. Yes, you should compare prices across sites and stores, but also be realistic about what you can afford. Just because something has tons of striking features doesn’t mean you need all (or some) of them.
4. How big is it?
This isn’t always a problem, but if you’re shopping for an item that needs to fit in a specific space, be sure to take your measurements and then compare them to your grocery list. Photos can be deceiving, so get out a tape measure and don’t look at it.
Also find out how the goods will be delivered. For example, if it is a sofa, will it be fully assembled or piecemeal? If it arrives in its entirety, will it go through your doorway? This is what you need to figure out before the truck arrives at your house.