How to Shop Online for Projectors

Panasonic’s PT-AX200U projector with Da-Lite’s Designer Contour Electrol screen.

Looking for a good deal on a projector? Take some quick advice from two industry insiders and avoid some common buying mistakes.

ProjectorPeople.com specializes in, you guessed it, selling projectors online. We asked company VP of Internet marketing Kelly Lamison and Internet content manager Jennifer Andrews for advice on shopping the web for a projector this holiday season.

When someone decides to go the online route for purchasing a projector, what should head his checklist of steps?
Determine must-have features - When searching for a deal you will most likely need to make a compromise in one way or another. Usually you get what you pay for, but you may come across a deal so tempting you forget to consider your actual need. For example, you may find a native 1080p display at a great price, and come to find that there are no digital inputs, that it is actually a native 4:3 aspect ratio, the video processing may have noticeable lag, or some other catch. By establishing your list of “must haves,” you can help save you from jumping on a stinker in a deal’s clothing.

If you are buying a projector, you should determine the following based on your needs before you start shopping seriously.

• How large do you want your image to be? (Usually 92-inches or larger. Projector throw distance will factor in here.)
• What resolution you do you need or want? (Do you want HD? 720p or 1080p?)
• Which inputs are compatible with your current setup? (Do you have HDMI or component video on your DVD player? Do you need s-video?)
• Are you really ready for HD? (You will need an HD source to go truly HD. Is your cable box or DVD player HD?)

Shop for prices both online and in the store - Some big-box stores will have a great price on a particular product, but they usually have average prices on most items and don’t offer all items. But when there’s a deal, you get immediate gratification. You also have a face to complain to if there is a problem. Online stores often offer price breaks on more products than the big-box stores, but don’t give you the luxury of seeing the product in person. You also might save yourself the sales tax if you purchase from an online store operating outside of your state of residence. You might have to pay a shipping expense, but many sites offer free ground shipping (projectors don’t weigh as much as LCD or plasma TVs and cost less to ship). When you order online, you won’t have a face to complain to if there’s a problem. You’ll have to express your concerns over phone or email. Just remember, the lowest price is not always the best value.

Purchase at the right time - Rebates usually end at the end of a month, and sales cycles in the U.S. are also typically on a monthly cycle too. Even if the sales people you are working with aren’t commissioned, end of the month sales goals are pretty typical, and may give you leverage for a better deal. Of course if a product is very popular, you may have to take it when you can get it.

Check your credit card limit - Be sure to check your credit limit before you place an online order for a big screen display. Many credit cards have limits on the amount you can spend in a day. If you don’t get approval ahead of time you may have to wait for the company to contact you before your order is shipped, which may mean the difference between enjoying your new big screen this weekend or next.

What are three common mistakes people make while shopping online for projectors or displays?
Shopping for lowest price only - Sometimes what seems like the lowest price online, isn’t. Remember to factor in other costs like shipping and sales tax, and benefits like tech support, product knowledge and return policy. Knowing you can trust someone you deal with in cyberspace offers a peace of mind that’s worth something.

Not purchasing from an authorized dealer - There are plenty of scam web sites out there that will try to sell you the accessories that are included by the manufacturer, tell you they have items in stock when they don’t while they hold your money, and make it very hard to get your money back. Get an idea of what the average street price is on a specific unit, and then find a reputable authorized dealer you click with.

Missing out on coupons and additional savings - Calling the web site’s toll-free number can sometimes save you money. Authorized dealers often have to adhere to manufacturer guidelines that regulate the prices that can be advertised; however, dealers can sometimes sell the product for a lower price if they want to.

What are three rules of thumb consumers need to keep in mind?
Value – The best deals include more than just the lowest price. If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Trust – Buying from a trusted reseller is worth its weight in gold, particularly when there is a problem.
Knowledge – Talking to a knowledgeable sales person before you buy can save you a lot of time, research and possibly even money. Knowledge is power before you buy.

What kind of red flags should consumers be on the lookout for?

• Old products listed and missing product descriptions.
• No listing in the Better Business Bureau.
• Customer service phone numbers hidden. (Test that phone number!)
• No physical address on the web site.
• Products advertised for hundreds of dollars below the larger-name competitors.

Are there some web sites you recommend that will help give consumers resources for comparison shopping?
There are loads of consumer websites for comparison shopping. Some examples include PriceGrabber.com, Shopper.com (from CNet), Froogle.com (via Google), Shopzilla.com, just to name a few. Some of these comparison shopping sites include user product reviews that can be helpful, though in most cases that function is not frequently used. CNet and PriceGrabber seem to have a greater tech focus, so they are good places to comparison shop for displays.

Keep in mind that not every advertiser offering their prices is authorized, and that most products require authorized resellers to advertise at a specific price (called Minimum Advertised Price, or MAP). If you see one price advertised repeatedly in a shopping comparison, that’s probably the MAP price, and those are probably authorized resellers. That means to see the lowest prices from the authorized sellers you will need to click through to the respective websites, or call the resellers for their lowest selling price.

If you are shopping for a projector, ProjectorCentral.com has a good comparison shopping area as well as product reviews and an archive of older model projectors. ProjectorReviews.com also includes in-depth reviews and product information.

How can consumers assure they are getting the best prices for the products?
Calling a salesperson is recommended if a price is listed without a discount. Many buyers would rather not speak to a salesperson, but for some products it’s the only way to find the lowest price. This may be truer for higher ticket items like displays than it is for a simple cable or DVD player, but you might find a better deal on a cable with a phone call too.

It’s also good to keep in mind that chasing technology is never a money-saving proposition. The folks who find the best deals are the ones that wait patiently by while the stuff they want becomes readily available and prices drop. For example, you can find some fantastic deals on 720p projectors right now, with a new Panasonic PT-AX200U coming out at a street price of $1,299. That’s a $700 drop from its predecessor released just one year ago. The patient purchaser saved $700 for waiting as little as six months to buy. Of course they missed out on six months of fun too. So, whenever you buy, set your budget and stick to it. Then enjoy your purchase without regrets. Watching prices drop is best left to those waiting to buy.

Any other tips you can think of for getting the best possible experience online?
Don’t shop while intoxicated! And by that I mean don’t shop while you are so excited about buying something that you can’t think straight.

Displays are a purchase that many would consider to be fun rather than necessary. You can dream about getting your brand new display home so much that you don’t think about whether the product you are getting a great deal on is the product you need. You want to avoid those unhappy surprises - like “This projector won’t connect to my DVD player.” Or “This TV is too big for my living room!”  You avoid them with proper planning on your part, or by chatting up an experienced sales person to walk you through all the important stuff.