By Steve Graves, Lexington Junior High School, Cypress, CA
There are generally three components to consider: Cymbals, Hardware, and Drums.
Cymbals are the most expensive component, and can cost as much as the entire drum set itself, but don't have to. A good option that has become popular is buy cymbals in "packs", that often include the most often used cymbals - a pair of high hats, a crash, and a ride cymbal - for a much lower price than if you purchased them individually. The downside is that you cannot choose them individually, but for someone starting out, it's a great option! Preferred brand names are Zildjian, Sabian, and Paiste. All have higher end and lower end models of their cymbals, but all are generally of good quality. The packs are generally the lower and middle of the spectrum.
Hardware is anything else that is not a drum, including cymbal stands (usually two regular stands and one high hat stand), snare drum stand, bass drum pedal, and throne (the stool). The stand part for mounting tom toms on the bass drum is almost always included with the drums, as is the bass drum pedal. Some drum sets are sold with hardware, and some are sold without. Sets sold as "shell packs" are just the drums, with no hardware. There is lighter and heavier duty hardware, and for starters, lighter is fine, and less expensive. The brand of hardware usually matches the drum manufacturer, but not always.
Drums are just that - the drums themselves. While they are often packaged with hardware and cymbals, it is common practice to sell the drums with minimal hardware and no cymbals, or just the drums (the "shell pack" mentioned above). There are many drum manufacturers, and the brands represent a wide spectrum of quality and price. Trusted brands include Pearl, Tama, Yamaha, Ludwig, Gretsch, DW (Drum Workshop), Pacific (a lower-priced version of DW), Mapex, and others. All of these manufacturers have "entry level" drum sets that are of good quality. Generally you are looking for a "5 piece" drum set, although a "4 piece" is also very common. The "pieces" simply refer to how many drums only. Drums included are typically a snare drum (usually 14" X 5" or 6 1/2"), two mounted toms (sized ranging from 10" & 13"), a floor tom (usually 14" - 16", and it has three legs on it - hence the name), and a bass drum (usually anywhere from 18" - 24" in diameter, often with a tom mount in it). There are many off brands that can suffice for a beginner, but if you can get an entry-level name brand set, it is a much better investment.
Local chain stores, such as Guitar Center, Sam Ash, and Music & Arts, will usually have some very good deals on certain sets that they purchase in large numbers, often packaged with hardware and cymbals. When comparing these to online vendors, consider that drums are larger and heavier than most shipped items, so you want to factor the shipping cost into whatever "deal" they might be offering (this is where "free shipping" is huge). It's also good to compare these prices to your local music stores - sometimes they'll beat the big store's price, just to get your business.
A good used drum set of a major brand is another option to consider. The often unrealized savings is that most people selling a used drum set will also be including their hardware and cymbals. Look for wear on the finish of the drums themselves (ignore the heads for the moment), and the condition of the hardware (not missing pieces, no rust, etc.). Cymbals can be easily polished up to look great. Old drums can also sound fantastic with new drum heads (the tops and bottoms), which can often be replaced for around $100.