By Josh Riverside

An accessory is an additional item for a product that helps in contributing to its utility. There are many accessories available today that add useful functionalities to a computer. In a market cluttered with many different products, brands and types of accessories, a buyer has a tough time in selecting the right ones for his computer. Some accessories come along with the computer when it is purchased. There are many others that users purchase separately. Pricing is a key factor while purchasing a computer accessory and therefore, it is common for prospective buyers to shop around for a discount.

There are many reasons why computer manufacturers, dealers and resellers offer discounts on accessories. All manufacturers typically have unsold computers and accessories in their warehouses. To reduce the exposure from unsold items that could become obsolete, they offer discounted rates to clear the stock. Dealers and resellers offer seasonal discounts and promotional offers when the sales are low. Special discount sales are organized for this purpose. These are usually for a limited period of time and are widely advertised. Buyers can find information about such discount sales by visiting the Web sites of manufacturers and dealers.

Discounts are also offered by retailers and wholesalers on products that did not meet internal quality standards. Such products may have been rejected by a quality assurance team from a batch intended for exports. As long as the functionality of the accessory is achieved, many users are satisfied with products with minor defects that may not be visible or perceptible to an average user.

Discounts on accessories such as keyboards, camera batteries, desktops, digital cameras, floppy drives, hard drives, input devices and memory chips are provided when a bulk purchase is made. Large organizations and educational establishments such as colleges and schools purchase large quantities of computer accessories and benefit from wholesale rates.

It is important that a buyer does not make an impulse decision while buying an accessory. The promotional discounts being offered by a manufacturer or a dealer should be weighed by checking the product thoroughly before purchase.