1. Shopping for tech gadgets online [update]
If you aren't a stranger to online shopping, the ongoing Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales would have
already tempted you into doing some (Internet browser) window shopping. Shopping online can be a
relaxing experience, allowing shoppers to skip the crowds and long queues at the cashier during this
end-of-the-year holiday season.
However, shopping for electronics online isn't always a straightforward affair--there can be hefty
shipping costs, international taxes and unfavorable currency conversion rates that can all add up. Well,
that's what this updated guide is for. We've even added a new segment on cashing in on those fleeting
Black Friday online deals.
Spotting the deals
Before you can actually make a purchase, you'll need to find the best online retailer to shop at. If you've
ever searched a product name and model number on Google, you might have noticed that price
recommendations occasionally appear--usually giving quotes from various merchants. This is a good
place to start but shouldn't be your only tool to snag a bargain.
While Amazon.com would be the first online store to come to mind, there are other retailers as well
such as Newegg (computers, PC accessories and other electronics), B&H (mainly camera related gear)
and DealExtreme (affordable computer accessories), too.
If you're not sure which place has the best price, Amazon.com does offer deals from other retailers so
you should click on those if you aren't satisfied with Amazon's price--do note that smaller retailers may
charge extra for shipping and could be less reliable. Additionally, you can also browse sites that compile
the better online offers such as dealnews and GottaDeal.com, just to name a couple.
For those of us that don't live in the US, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving (which falls on the
fourth Thursday of November) that also marks the first day of the Christmas shopping season. It's also
typically a day that major retailers reserve for some of the best bargains of the year. Cyber Monday, on
the other hand, is the Monday that follows and is the day that online retailers take advantage of the
shopping frenzy.
However, if you're shopping at online US merchants, the discounts can start showing up weeks before
Black Friday. Large online retailers such as Amazon.com and Newegg.com should already have some
good offers up, and so do the respective brands themselves. Many deals are available for a limited time,
and some sites even state when certain deals will be available, so while the deals may be great, the

2. different time zone we're in also means you may have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to
enjoy the discount.
Keep in mind that many major online retailers do not ship electronics overseas while some don't even
accept non-US credit cards. These limitations can sometimes be avoided with a good freight forwarder,
which we'll cover a little further down.
Adding stuff to your cart
So you've found exactly what you want at a great price. It's time to add stuff to your cart. Some tips
when adding products to your cart-- ensure you've keyed in the correct quantity and check that the
price you saw on the product page matches that in your virtual cart. Some online sites even display a
better price after the product has been "carted". Do note that it's better to already have an account
with your online site of choice to avoid losing out on limited time offers (popular during Black Friday and
Cyber Monday) as registering can take a few minutes.
Getting additional discounts
While you may think you already have the best deal on that latest tech gadget, there are some sites that
provide coupons for further discounts. These additional savings could apply to specific products bought
from a certain retailer or just give you free shipping. Sites such as RetailMeNot and Ultimate Coupons
could be helpful in saving you a bit more cash. These sites are also great places to start shopping if
you're just browsing for offers and don't have something specific in mind.
Making the purchase
A little common sense goes a long way toward safe online shopping. You should always check for the
credibility of the site and that the site isn't a copycat version that's part of a phishing scam. The left side
of your browser's address bar is a good place to start--it should show https (a secure connection) or a
lock symbol in the payment page--so check for these if you're unsure. Also, as a general rule, stay away
from dodgy-looking sites you've never heard of.
Some ways to make payment include using your credit card or PayPal account. These methods allow you
to dispute charges should the merchant fail to deliver your package. However, do keep in mind that
credit card companies may have different terms and conditions as well so do check with your own bank
for more information on this.
Shipping your product
If you're buying from a local merchant, shipping and delivery should be effortless and usually cost very
little. However, major online retailers in the US may not always ship their products to Asia, especially
when it comes to tech products. So there are two things you should check before making a purchase:
Does the retailer ship that product to my country and how much it costs?

3. If your favorite online store doesn't ship to where you live, there are freight forwarders that can help do
that for you. These services work by giving you an address in the country you're buying from—thus
making it a local delivery--and will ship the package to you from there. Companies such as Borderlinx
and comGateway provide users with a unique address to ship their products to.
While freight forwarders are a good idea, there are some things to keep in mind before using these
services:
Taxes: You will have to factor in local taxes in the country of purchase and where you live. However,
freight forwarders such as Borderlinx will allow for purchases of up to a certain amount (it's S$400 in
Singapore) to be taxfree.
Volumetric weight: Where possible, you should ask merchants to pack your goods in as small a package
as possible. You will be charged for both the weight and total size of a product.
Prohibited items: You may not be allowed to ship certain products to your country of residence. While it
goes without saying that drugs and weapons will land you in trouble, do check with local customs on
whether there are restrictions on other products as well.
What about eBay?
Shopping online will land you some good bargains, but you do need to be a streetwise and be able to tell
the deals from the scams. Also, you may be wondering why we didn't include eBay. The auction site may
have deals that are even better than online stores, but users will have to be more careful since most
sellers on eBay are individuals, not companies. There is also a higher chance that you'll land yourself a
counterfeit or defective product.
But if you know what you're doing and find a good deal from a trustworthy seller, eBay does have a
large selection of electronics that could be yours for great prices. Just remember to check seller ratings
and watch out for offers that are too good to be true.
Caveats of buying electronics from overseas
We're sure that many tech shoppers in Asia are a little envious of the prices of gadgets in the US, but
there are some caveats you should be aware of before clicking the "Buy" button on your favorite online
retailer. The most important one is obviously the lack of warranty support for most tech products, so if
you're worried about that, buy a local set.
Other things you should be aware of include compatibility with systems where you live, whether it's the
power supply, telecommunications network or a power plug that won't fit your socket. Due to these
issues, we generally wouldn't recommend buying tech that needs to be plugged into a wall outlet to
work (unless the savings are phenomenal); although rechargeable devices should be fine (USB ports can
charge many tablets, for instance). Phones are another purchase that may be problematic. The last
major issue is mass--the bigger and more expensive products may not be so cost-effective to ship. Here's
a summary of what you should look out for in various products:

4. TVs: Power supply may not be compatible, hefty shipping costs, may lack Asian language support,
possible TV system incompatibility (PAL or NTSC).
Phones: Need to be unlocked, network incompatibility, language support.
Cameras: Power adapter may not be universal, may lack Asian language support.
Laptops and tablets: May lack Asian language support, larger models can be expensive to ship.
Speakers: In-built power supply (for powered speaker and subwoofers) may be incompatible, larger
speakers are heavy and very expensive to ship.
Blu-ray Discs: Region codes may not be compatible with disc players in some parts of Asia.
E-book readers: Some e-book stores don't sell books to those without a local credit card.
Solid state drives: Larger capacity drives are expensive and may incur high taxes when shipped,
expensive to ship drive back if faulty.
Household appliances: Power supply may be incompatible, large appliances are expensive to ship