Download the pdf of the decision grid

Making a Purchase Decision
and the
Decision-Making
Major Steps in Making a Purchase Decision
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Identify what you want.
Determine how much you can or want to spend.
Find out what products or services are available in your price range.
Choose the features you would most want to have.
Use a decision-making grid to analyze the alternatives.
Watch out for hidden costs.
Make your choice.
Buying a New Computer or Digital Camera
You can use the decision-making model and grid for any consumer decision. Assume you want to
buy a computer or a digital camera. Fill out the decision-making grid that follows and decide which
computer or digital camera to buy. Find the alternative models at electronics superstores, computer
or camera stores, or online stores. List the camera or computer options down the left side of the grid.
Develop your criteria (what is important in making the selection among the alternatives). Criteria
could include size, cost, memory, disk capacity, speed, audio and video capabilities, etc. Choose
the criteria that are most important to you, and write them across the top of the grid. Rate each
alternative with a + or – as you consider how they meet your criteria. You are ready to make a
choice by looking at the alternative with the most + in the grid.
Criteria
Alternatives
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