RE: OT: UK Internet based computer shops

["Michael McAree" <michaelj@xxxxxxx>]

Yes,

I always got the online price even if I walked in off the street. They
were not the cheapest but after sales support was very good and it was
mostly the location and ease of use that I liked.
I am using Dabs now and have had no problems. I buy thing for work
mostly and put it on my CC (which has airmiles) and get reimbursed by
the company. You can now get airmiles from Dabs so I win both times ;-)



-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Kilgore [mailto:amkilgore@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 19 July 2003 11:50
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] OT: UK Internet based computer shops


Michael,

I assume you're talking about ComputaStore here...?
I've never had many dealings with them but, in my opinion, they were
ridiculously expensive. Also the fact that if you happened to be in town
and remembered that you needed to buy something, you could go to the
store and pay one price for it OR you could go home order it via their
online store and then go and pick it up for a completely different price
(sometimes as much as 15% lower). What's the deal...?

Out of the stores mentioned, I've only had dealings with a few:

Scam
Bought once from here many moons ago - needless to say they're now
"blacklisted". Bought some kinda PC bundle for my dad, put it
together,
switched it on and enjoyed all 6 seconds before the PSU went bang. It
took me 2 weeks to get someone to answer the phone at Scam. Then we
entered the lengthy and painful returns process. All was well in the end
but took forever.

Simply
Used to use them quite a lot in the beginning
Had no problems or complaints
But switched to dabs because at the time dabs offered free delivery to
NI

Dabs
Personally, my experience with dabs has been a relatively positive one.
They are reasonably cheap and efficient delivery-wise. However, things
do go wrong occasionally and it can be difficult to get them sorted via
the CS email policy, but I prefer that to sitting in a telephone queue
constantly at position 31...

But the BEST thing to remember about dabs is that their screw-ups are
2-way. Sometimes they screw you, other times they screw themselves...
I'm saying no more except I'm well up on them!!!

Thanks,
Andy.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael McAree" <michaelj@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 11:33 AM
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] OT: UK Internet based computer shops


> That's my big problem!!
> Since that store closed in Belfast my options are much more limited. I

> put all our business through them and am now having to look at some
> eTailers which makes this thread good!! I tend not to buy so many
> components anymore so maybe I have been lucky with online retailers
> and faults. Glad of your advice on this matter.
>
> Regards
>
> Michael
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Lowe [mailto:ian@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 19 July 2003 11:18
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] OT: UK Internet based computer shops
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael McAree" <michaelj@xxxxxxx>
> >
> > >Personally, I would use an over the counter supplier 99.9% of
the
> > >time
> > now: the risks of dealing with the Internet cowboys are simply
too
> > great
> > >>compared to the cash savings.
> >
> > What risk? Hassle more like. There used to be a shop in Belfast
that

> > sold components over the counter and had a great range etc. I
even
> > had
>
> > an account with them. They closed down out of the blue in May :-(
> > The only over the counter place you can get components in Belfast
is

> > probably PC World or Maplins!
>
> The risk is that the Internet supplier will ship known faulty or
> second hand equipment, scoff at any notion of customer service, and
> flip you the finger when you ask for a replacement.
>
> *IN MY EXPERIENCE* this is a very real problem, and happens frequently

> enough that saving a couple of quid over a good local store is simply
> not worth the pain.
>
> Perhaps we are lucky in the West of Scotland, to have some really good

> PC suppliers, (people like Creative Computing, Infinity Computers and
> Kustom
> PCs) but when I have been fixing PC systems around the country, I have

> always been able to pick up a spare part when I need it by simply
> asking someone for the local "PC bits shop".
>
> As I said in my original  post: "as always, your mileage will
vary".
>
> I.
>
>
>
>
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