buying a guitar

Ideally, you will try playing your guitar before you buy it. However, some people would really prefer to save money and you will save a bundle if you comparison shop and purchase your guitar online. Ebay and amazon are great resources for guitars. If you chose to bid on a guitar, look at the seller's rating. Most vendors are pretty trustworthy, but there are a couple on there that have had unsatisfied customers. You do not want to purchase from a seller who has unsatisfied customers.
If you are purchasing a used guitar, look at the pictures of the scratches and damage. No used guitar is going to be without a few scratches, however this will likely not impact the sound quality.
Amazon is a great online marketplace. Often you can read the reviews of other customers who purchased the same product. You can read what other people have to say about the quality of the musical instrument and look at their satisfaction level before you buy.

Brand choice is a personal preference. For beginners, Yamaha and Fender seem to be the most common choices. They both have an inexpensive line of guitars for the new players. Beginners and young learners alike appreciate the level of quality found in the Yahama C and CS series classic guitars. These guitars deliver outstanding cost performance with exceptional playability and superb tone. The C series are full-size instruments with a level of quality only Yamaha can deliver. Yamaha guitars are designed for beginners with an eye and ear toward quality and affordability.

There are benefits to learning on both. While I recommend that your first purchase is acoustic, you may enjoy the sound of an amplifier and appreciate the lighter, smaller feel of the electric guitar. Your fingers will definitely become stronger when you practice on an acoustic guitar, but you may the smaller neck and lighter feel of an electric guitar make it easier to practice. Acoustic guitars are less expensive because you do not need to purchase an amplifier. It comes down to personal preference. It is a great idea to go to a music store and play a few different guitars to get a feel for how they handle.