Here are some tips and tricks you can employ in order to score new gadgets while also carrying out your due diligence [File]
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Whether you’re a gadget geek with their eye on the latest smartphone, or a tech user upgrading to a better device for work, you are likely waiting for Amazon’s annual Prime Day Sale that runs between July 4 and 6 in India this year in order to bring home more electronics.While waiting till Prime Day might sound like a smart way to save your wallet, it’s important to make sure you are getting the best possible deal.Here are some tips and tricks you can employ in order to score new gadgets while also carrying out your due diligence.Check out local storesBefore buying a new or unfamiliar gadget through Amazon, see if you can try it out at a local brick-and-mortar outlet in order to know what to expect. This is especially useful to understand gadget weights, design finishes, durability, button placements, and camera quality.What’s more, there’s no harm in asking your local retailer if they’ll match the gadget prices you find on Amazon, or possibly even throw in other benefits in order to sweeten the prospect of buying from your neighbourhood store.Use price history toolsA vivid red discount label next to an Amazon price-tag might just convince you to add that shiny new gadget to your cart, but are you actually saving a meaningful amount of money?Third-party price history tools — many of them available for free just by searching online — can analyse Amazon product URLs to help you understand whether you are actually buying the product at its lowest possible price.Several price-tracking tools come with detailed metrics and dashboards that show price changes in the preceding months, so you can decide whether the Prime Day deal is worth it, or if you can afford to wait a little longer.Be wise about EMIsPaying a nominal sum of money in order to hold an ultra-premium phone or laptop in your hand might sound like a dream, but doing so for multiple devices can soon disrupt your long-term financial goals.Do your research when it comes to EMIs and budget appropriately, so that your more essential expenditures and investments are not affected by gadget purchases. If you are unsure, speak with a financial adviser in order to understand exactly how much of your monthly budget can be allotted for EMI payments.Furthermore, some credit card discount offers apply to EMI transactions while others apply to non-EMI transactions, so read the terms and conditions carefully before heading to the check-out menu.Scroll with careDon’t try to buy the very first product you see popping up on a page. Many of Amazon’s top-listed products are sponsored items that might be coming from newer or less popular sellers, and may not align with what you had in mind. Make sure to read product listings with care, and assess customer review numbers. After all, would you rather buy a 5-star rated gadget from a seller with 10 reviews, or a 4-star rated gadget with several hundred reviews that’s located lower on the page? Make an informed decision and resist the urge to buy impulsively.On that note, be sure to check gadget model variants, the correct manufacturing year, storage specs, etc. to make sure you are not overpaying for a lower-tier gadget.Browse privatelyAmazon product prices can change sharply based on which device or platform you are using to shop for goods. As you scroll through your Amazon app or account wishlist, also cross-check how the product is priced when you are privately scrolling in Incognito mode, or when you are using a VPN tool.An Amazon product you’ve repeatedly come back to via your account might be priced differently from the same product another user is looking at for the first time.Fix your old devicesExchange offers can look attractive, but they often come with fine print. Adding on to that, older devices lose their exchange value far more quickly than you might imagine. Keeping this in mind, make sure to get old or broken devices repaired well ahead of Prime Day so that you can compare the cost of reselling it or using it longer to the Amazon-designated exchange value.Devices should also be clean and in working condition in order to raise their exchange value. Needless to say, make sure all sensitive and personal data has been erased from your old devices before you hand them over to an Amazon professional for the formal exchange. After backing up your data, reset the device and revert to the factory settings. Published - June 24, 2026 02:02 pm IST
