Holiday Sales Can Help…a Tad
Apple usually will discount the iPod touch around the holiday season, but you’ll be very lucky to save 15%. A 10%-off sale is more likely, at most. Sure, saving 10% is nice, but if that only adds up to $20 or so, is it worth it to months to get such small savings?
Buy the Previous Generation to Save Money
You can always save a few dollars (and sometimes a lot more) by buying an older model. If you’re planning to buy a new iPod touch soon, check the Apple rumor websites and be patient. If you can resist the temptation to buy the latest and greatest, wait until just after the newest model is announced or released. Instead of buying the brand-new model, buy the model that just got replaced. Retailers will still have older models on hand and they usually discount older models to clear space for the new ones. While this technique won’t get you the latest model, you’ll still get a good, cheap iPod touch.
Buy a Refurbished iPod touch
If you absolutely must have the latest model, you can get a cheap iPod touch by buying a refurbished model. To do this, you’ll need to wait a few weeks, or maybe even a few months, after the model is released for Apple to start offering refurbished models. And even though these models have been repaired by Apple, you don’t have to worry about quality. Refurbished devices sold by Apple always come with an Apple warranty and are generally as reliable as new models (though you may want to buy an extended warranty). Though the discounts aren’t huge if you buy this way, you’ll save some cash and get a good warranty at the same time.
Buy a Used iPod touch to Save
Sometimes finding good deals requires buying from somewhere other than Apple. Craigslist, eBay, and companies that resell used devices are a good place to get a cheap iPod touch. The drawbacks here include that these iPods are used, often don’t have warranties, and probably won’t be the latest generation. Beyond that, if you’re buying from an auction or classified ad, you might not get what you think you’re buying. Research the seller’s other transactions before buying, if you can. If you’re willing to take a little more risk, though, buying used is a sure bet for saving money.
Trade In Old Devices
This option won’t change the price of the iPod touch you buy, but it will give you more money to spend on the purchase. Virtually any smartphone, MP3 player, gaming device, or other electronic gadgets can be sold for cash to use to buy an iPod touch. There are a ton of companies buy and sell used gadgets. Check your drawers for old gadgets and then check what these companies will pay for them. Your old gadgets may only be worth $25, but you could get lucky and come up with $100 or more in trade-in value. That’s a big chunk of the cost of a new iPod.
