This is especially important during the holiday season, when you need to get the most out of your gift budget. You want the best price, but you don't want to get ripped off.
The wacky world of Internet commerce has two basic types of merchants:
Authorized retailers agree to abide by manufacturer-imposed rules, such as maintaining a minimum advertised price (MAP).
Unauthorized retailers usually set as low a price as they can afford.
Some retailers are shadier than others, and manufacturers often don't honor their own warranties on products purchased from unauthorized merchants. If you see a price that's too good to be true, it's best to do some research before you click.
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David Katzmaier, CNET senior editor for home theater and a TV reviewer with five years' experience, has color bars and a resolution chart tattooed inside his eyelids.
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