Where Is the Cheapest Place to Buy an iPod

So where is the cheapest place to buy an iPod? The answer to that question will most likely involve some research, but you can simplify your quest by reading below. The tips and advice in the following paragraphs offer unique ideas you may not have thought of when trying to answer the question "where is the cheapest place to buy an iPod?"

Brick and mortar retail stores like Best Buy and Target typically have standard pricing when it comes to Apple products, especially iPods. If you find the new 8 GB Nano at one store for $179, the same iPod will mostly likely be the same price elsewhere. There are two ways to find cheaper iPods at retail stores.

First, see if there are any refurbished iPods available. This is a viable option because you can get a like-new product that has been sent back to Apple and refurbished under an Apple certified program. Apple does not return these to stores unless they pass inspection, so you can be assured that the refurbished iPod you purchase will work as if you bought it new. The difference is you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 less, depending on the model and what markdowns the retail store took.

The second way is to find any iPods that have been returned. Two of the most common reasons customers return iPods is that they didn't like them or couldn't afford to keep it. This can work to your advantage because stores are not allowed to repackage and sell them at full price. The store must mark them down. How much just depends on the store and quite honestly, who happens to be marking them down that day. You still receive a full warranty as if you had purchased it brand new in a box. If you feel that the marked-down price isn't enough, don't be afraid to ask for an additional amount off. It's really hard to sell opened merchandise, so a manager may be willing to knock another $5, $10, or even $20 off to get rid of it.

The next tip requires you, as the consumer, to do consistent research. Instead of looking to answer the question "where is the cheapest place to buy an iPod," trying to determine what deals you can get in addition to a regularly-priced iPod. Since there is very little room to put iPods on sale without losing money, some stores have package other accessories with the iPod for great deals. For example, a store may offer a better set of headphone, a case and a car charger for an additional $20, which would have cost you $50 if you purchased them separately.

The online marketplace is a good option to find a cheap iPod, if you're willing to use an older generation of the MP3 player. Retail stores will have discounted and/or shipped out older models because they won't be carrying them anymore. Online places such as eBay and Half.com have a healthy supply of older iPods because the product inventory is user generated. Other places to try:

• Buy.com
• Overstock

The only thing to be wary of is that sometimes, refurbished iPods are touted as new ones so ask the seller a question and keep any communication and receipts in case you need to dispute the transaction.

If you've never heard of Nextag, you should check it out. It is a comparison shopping site that lists prices of various online stores for products that you search for. When you search for an item, it lists the price range and how many stores it found. Then you can pull up a list of those stores and compare each price individually. This is a great tool to simplify searching for a cheap iPod.

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