I remember years ago when I was a student, owning aCheap Laptops - Credit desktop computer let alone a laptop was not a simple thing. There weren't many retail shops selling computers like today. Bringing a laptop into a lecture hall was something most students wished for and it engendered a sense of pride and respect. However, the reality was that the computer labs were always crowded with students deeply engaged not on social networking but with their academic work. If you asked them whether they would buy their laptops on credit, most would have answered in the affirmative. Of course I eventually got my very first new and ‘cheap laptop' on credit even though I ended paying spending over one thousand pounds on the laptop. Just to remind you that things have got better and these days you need less than an average weekly income to buy a new or refurbished laptop.
So would you buy a laptop today on credit? Some would quickly say yes if it is a Mac. Some would say they would rather save and pay for it up front. Before we delve further into this topic, let us ask ourselves what has changed so as to render buying a laptop on credit less desirable. We have been through the boom years and most people have had jobs, students can easily access student loans and grants. Most importantly, the prices of laptop computers have come down significantly and the entry of netbooks in to the market enables the low end purchasers to buy netbooks from as cheap as one hundred pounds. As a whole, things have got better; there are lots of cheap laptops around that are truly affordable and value for money. These are not simply refurbished laptops but top cheap laptops that are high performers. So, it can be rightly said that most people should be able to buy new or used laptops without any need of credit and thereby saving themselves some cash for better things unlike me who had to pay a lot of interest on my first laptop. Why then do I ask if you would buy a laptop on credit?
As a follow on an article on the general health of the UK high street electronic retailers like Currys, Argos, Comet, Best Buy etc and why they are not doing well (all of them save Dell reported losses last year). I will endeavour to point out that easing off their credit hold a bit might be a quick fix solution to their appalling sales figures. You can find the previous article entitled ‘Is it doom and gloom for the UK high street?' in my blog.. To start, it might seem ridiculous to suggest that credit should be available for items such as laptops that cost less than £200. Well, it might seem petty, but looking at the current economic climate, this proposition might seem quite plausible. First, let us ask; who is it that might require such a facility? The truth is there are many people out there who might use it if it is available. Some might not have the courage to ask for it. Students are definite takers, and the already over-burdened working class who are just tottering on the edge might benefit from it. With the inflation rate predicted to hit 5% and the freezing of workers pay added to the rising cost of energy (gas, electricity and petrol), there is little cash left to splash out. But the grim truth is that these retailers need to offload their stock otherwise they will be forced to sell them at throw away prices. They need an urgent turnover.
To back up my point, let us take a look at the banking industry. After the reckless lending in years of boom when banks were phoning people up with very handsome loan offers, we know the credit crunch set in and ever since, the banks have been tight on the funds. The businesses are literally begging for funds but to no avail. The working class is even worse off; you must be squeaky clean to stand a chance of getting a loan. Consequently, the high rate interest lenders e.g. payday loans are having a field day raking in profits and growing at terrific rates. When the high street closes the door, these alternative lenders are cashing in and because there is a demand that is not being satisfied by the stingy banks, they are left a huge chunk of share in the market. The same observation can be made in the electronic retailing. I am not surprised that a lot of companies have stepped up of late advertising ‘the alternative to high street or mainstream online shopping'. They offer the very stuff sold in the high street and on mainstream online shops but have a variety of payment methods. For example, they offer weekly payments without rigorous credit scoring and I won't be surprised to see massive turnovers by the end of the year. They are plugging a hole left by the credit crunch and austerity measures introduced by the government. I sympathise with the high street retailers because they have to walk the thin rope of risk management and profitability, between their customers and shareholders.
It is during tough times like this that great entrepreneuring minds come up with strategies to steer their businesses out of the stormy seas of uncertainty. There are no easy or quick fix solutions but there is an urgent need to turn the tide and steer these great companies back into profitability and one sure way of doing this is by increasing turnover. There is demand out there, people need cheap laptops, students as never before are reliant of notebooks, netbooks and are increasing using tablets such as Iphone's ipad, Samsungs galaxy, Blackberry's playbook etc. Most people are now acculturated into the cutting edge technology and are as never before upgrading their computers. There is demand out there but it might require thinking outside the box to rope this in.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/laptops-articles/would-you-buy-a-laptop-on-credit-5144282.html
So would you buy a laptop today on credit? Some would quickly say yes if it is a Mac. Some would say they would rather save and pay for it up front. Before we delve further into this topic, let us ask ourselves what has changed so as to render buying a laptop on credit less desirable. We have been through the boom years and most people have had jobs, students can easily access student loans and grants. Most importantly, the prices of laptop computers have come down significantly and the entry of netbooks in to the market enables the low end purchasers to buy netbooks from as cheap as one hundred pounds. As a whole, things have got better; there are lots of cheap laptops around that are truly affordable and value for money. These are not simply refurbished laptops but top cheap laptops that are high performers. So, it can be rightly said that most people should be able to buy new or used laptops without any need of credit and thereby saving themselves some cash for better things unlike me who had to pay a lot of interest on my first laptop. Why then do I ask if you would buy a laptop on credit?
As a follow on an article on the general health of the UK high street electronic retailers like Currys, Argos, Comet, Best Buy etc and why they are not doing well (all of them save Dell reported losses last year). I will endeavour to point out that easing off their credit hold a bit might be a quick fix solution to their appalling sales figures. You can find the previous article entitled ‘Is it doom and gloom for the UK high street?' in my blog.. To start, it might seem ridiculous to suggest that credit should be available for items such as laptops that cost less than £200. Well, it might seem petty, but looking at the current economic climate, this proposition might seem quite plausible. First, let us ask; who is it that might require such a facility? The truth is there are many people out there who might use it if it is available. Some might not have the courage to ask for it. Students are definite takers, and the already over-burdened working class who are just tottering on the edge might benefit from it. With the inflation rate predicted to hit 5% and the freezing of workers pay added to the rising cost of energy (gas, electricity and petrol), there is little cash left to splash out. But the grim truth is that these retailers need to offload their stock otherwise they will be forced to sell them at throw away prices. They need an urgent turnover.
To back up my point, let us take a look at the banking industry. After the reckless lending in years of boom when banks were phoning people up with very handsome loan offers, we know the credit crunch set in and ever since, the banks have been tight on the funds. The businesses are literally begging for funds but to no avail. The working class is even worse off; you must be squeaky clean to stand a chance of getting a loan. Consequently, the high rate interest lenders e.g. payday loans are having a field day raking in profits and growing at terrific rates. When the high street closes the door, these alternative lenders are cashing in and because there is a demand that is not being satisfied by the stingy banks, they are left a huge chunk of share in the market. The same observation can be made in the electronic retailing. I am not surprised that a lot of companies have stepped up of late advertising ‘the alternative to high street or mainstream online shopping'. They offer the very stuff sold in the high street and on mainstream online shops but have a variety of payment methods. For example, they offer weekly payments without rigorous credit scoring and I won't be surprised to see massive turnovers by the end of the year. They are plugging a hole left by the credit crunch and austerity measures introduced by the government. I sympathise with the high street retailers because they have to walk the thin rope of risk management and profitability, between their customers and shareholders.
It is during tough times like this that great entrepreneuring minds come up with strategies to steer their businesses out of the stormy seas of uncertainty. There are no easy or quick fix solutions but there is an urgent need to turn the tide and steer these great companies back into profitability and one sure way of doing this is by increasing turnover. There is demand out there, people need cheap laptops, students as never before are reliant of notebooks, netbooks and are increasing using tablets such as Iphone's ipad, Samsungs galaxy, Blackberry's playbook etc. Most people are now acculturated into the cutting edge technology and are as never before upgrading their computers. There is demand out there but it might require thinking outside the box to rope this in.
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/laptops-articles/would-you-buy-a-laptop-on-credit-5144282.html
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