When I bought my scope I found it helpful to go to a reputable dealer who gave me lots of advice I would never have thought of considering. I also found it reassuring as I knew there would be a someone to come back to if there were any problems.
With telescopes, unless you can test the optics personally or as already mentioned here, rely on sound published reviews, you don't know if you're buying a lemon. At first I was tempted to buy something cheap but I'm glad I didn't.
I don't know if you're a beginner or an experienced observer but I've added a link in case you're interested. If you know this stuff already, please just disregard it.
SkyTonight.com - Choosing Your Equipment - A Guide to Choosing a Telescope
Madz