It’s almost holiday shopping time again! But before you click add to cart on what seems to be a great Black Friday or Cyber Monday bargain, use these three online shopping tips to ensure you’re getting a deal and not a dud, especially when it comes to consumer electronics, TVs and TV accessories like antennas and Tablo whole-home DVRs.
TIP 1 – Check the Vendor (Official vs. Third Party)
While you might expect a deal listed on eBay to be sold by a random person, this can be the case even when you’re shopping on the website of a major online retailer.
Third-party sellers can take over what’s called the ‘buy box’ if a product is out-of-stock or higher priced via its official vendor on an online retailer like Amazon.com.
In that case, when you hit ‘add to cart’ you’re not buying directly from the retailer (e.g. Amazon) or the company that makes the product (e.g. Nuvyyo/Tablo), but a separate entity that could have no official ties to the product’s manufacturer, sales, or support.
Why does this matter?
When the seller you purchased from isn’t the manufacturer or an official vendor, you may not get the product you’re expecting if it arrives at all. It could be used, damaged, or even missing components. Not to mention the fact that your purchase would not likely be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and typical return policies may be different or not apply at all.
In addition to purchasing direct from TabloTV.com, the official retailers for new 4th generation Tablo OTA DVRs are currently Best Buy (in-store and online) and Amazon.com. (Remember to ensure it says ‘Sold By Tablo TV’ when you click that ‘Buy Now’ button!) For a complete list of current authorized vendors of all models of Tablo OTA DVRs, check out our warranty & returns policy.
To avoid problems with your purchase, make sure the online listing says ‘sold & shipped by’ the retailer or manufacturer you trust, or better yet, buy directly from the manufacturer’s website so you know you’re getting the real deal.
TIP 2 – Check the Device Model & Details
Technology moves fast these days. New and improved models of your favorite gadgets are coming out all the time.
But before you jump on that older model clearance sale, make sure you understand the differences between the two generations of products and if the older model is compatible with your devices and eligible for future software updates and support from the manufacturer.
All Tablo DVR models manufactured from 2014 on are still eligible for firmware updates and ongoing technical support.
That’s not the case with all gadgets though, so buyer beware!
TIP 3 – Check the Product Status (New/Used/Refurbished/Open Box)
When buying a new product from an official retailer or manufacturer, it should be brand new.
If you’ve purchased what should have been a new product, but the seals on the packaging have been broken, the device is missing an accessory that should be in the box or contains another consumer’s data because of a supply chain error, the vendor should be happy to offer you a fix or a replacement.
For example, no vendors are authorized to sell open-box Tablo products because each device needs to be reset and refurbished at Tablo HQ. If you receive an obviously used or opened Tablo device that was sold to you as ‘new’, there may have been a supply chain error and you should notify your point of purchase to replace it with the new, sealed product you ordered.
When buying used consumer electronics to save some cash, unless you like to gamble, look for gadgets that are re-processed or refurbished at the factory or the manufacturer’s HQ like Tablo DVRs vs. ‘open box’ options.
Unlike ‘open box’ electronics, not only will these refurbished devices be checked for damage and defects, but they’ll include all the correct power adapters and accessories and should ensure you are getting the latest software update. Some even have full warranties!
The Tablo web store is the ONLY place to purchase officially refurbished Tablo OTA DVRs and as we mentioned above, no vendors are authorized to sell open-box Tablo devices.
As you might expect, buying a used gadget from a random eBay seller, a user group, or elsewhere online is a gamble. The seller should be willing and able to answer questions about the device’s history or state. If not, it might be best to walk away.
Why? Along with a lack of warranty, components could be broken or missing. The device could even be locked to a user account that’s not yours if it hasn’t been properly reset.
If you follow these common-sense online shopping tips you can score some great deals on consumer electronics and save even more when you switch to watching free TV.
