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Never has there been a time like the present, where the consumer electronics department is filled with rivalry and advancement. Consumers are faced with many tough decisions when buying products for audio, video, communications, and other electronics fields.

Buying with Fear

The tough decisions for electronics consumers usually have to do with formats. A shopper decides to by a new DVD player, but is faced with several formats that are competing. These formats affect everything else, from the type of television the consumer buys to the types of movie DVDs they buy. If one format outweighs the other in consumer demand, that format will be preferred in all related products. Therefore, if the consumer chooses the format that "loses out," they're just out of luck!

Another example from the video electronics industry is formatting for televisions. There is HDTV, SDTV and Blu-Ray. Other formats are sure to pop up eventually. Buying an HDTV also means buying a new DVD player with HDTV compatibility.

When to Buy

Consumers can avoid format wars somewhat by waiting a while before making a purchase. They don't have to rush out and buy the latest audio or video product. There's no need to buy the brand new cell phone with all latest features. Music equipment can usually wait as well.

If consumers can wait a little while before buying, the best format will be revealed by consumer demand and the number of related products that will support that particular format. If an electronics product is released in fall, consumers can wait until the following spring before buying. When waiting is not possible, research can help. The Web offers a wealth of information on just about any product.

Product Updates

Another woe of buying consumer electronics is the tendency of companies to continue releasing updated versions of their products. For instance, video games and consoles almost always have a Part 2 and Part 3. Parents end up buying a new console every holiday or birthday. And, of course, they must buy new games and accessories to go along.

Electronics Online

The great thing about electronics today is they are readily available online for consumers to shop and compare 24 hours a day. There are many sites that specialize in electronics, so consumers can find products easily. Some sites carry video and audio products, music equipment, communications products such as cell phones, and more all in one central Web location. Web shoppers can browse electronics by category and take their time to compare. It's great to shop without pressure.

Buying electronics doesn't have to be stressful. Thorough research can lead to smart purchases.