need to return hardware?

[gordonhall]

Like many others on these forums, I repeat the advice - "stick to your guns".

On several occassions, whn having not been happy with hardware bought from PC world, I have attempted to return it with the usual crap answer that "we can only accept the item if it is broken".

After a while of getting rather sick of this repsonse, my usual pat answer now is "wait 30 minutes, and I'll make sure the item is returned to you broken then..."

I'm usually told that I can't do that, but they then have a choice, take the said item back working, fit for resale, or accept it back "accidentally" broken. Strangely enough, they always seem to go for the former.


Just my humble opinion.

[Bookworm]

Except that they are within their rights not to accept an item where the non-working status can be established to be due to misuse, which you have just admitted you're going to do.
One of these days, you could end up with a broken item and no refund.

[gordonhall]

Correct - thankfully I've never needed to actually break anything so far, the threat has always worked.

[seylectric]

I agree it's a very dodgy strategy to use though. Most of these retailers have CCTV with sound everywhere, there's a chance that if they say no and you return with it broken half an hour later you could be threatened with a possible fraud charge and they have the evidence of the "threat" on tape.

On the other hand you could always buy online, there's a 14-day returns policy (but don't use the "collect at store" option) and items are often discounted online too.

[Retro1972]

Why would you buy anything from PC World anyway? Their prices are extortionate compared to other online companies.

[seylectric]

Check out their website on bank holidays etc., they often have half-price or less offers for a few days (even instore) that can be pretty unbeatable.

I got a Linksys Wireless G ADSL Gateway Notebook kit back in January including ADSL Gateway, notebook adapter, all cables and microfilter + 6 months Norton Internet Security licence all for £39.99 instore. Can't fault that.

Buy online via a discount site like I do and get cashback too.

[gordonhall]

I'm self employed in computer hardware/repairs, so know the market relatively well, and whilst they are generally far too expensive, there are sometimes exceptional deals - never rule them out!

[Retro1972]

I don't rule them out totally and have to admit to buying a laptop from them although their after sales service left alot to be desired. In the main tho' it's always worth checking other online stores.

[Rich44]

Always check their website out more often than not you can run through the process of "buying online" then at the last minute choose collect from store and get it locally the same day for the same price as on the website.

Ive done it a number of times as their website is quite often competitively priced compared to other retailers.

For example I picked up an HP Colour Laserjet 2600n for £199.99 through the website when it was £249.99 in store, ran through the online ordering and collected from Norwich store 1 hour later paid £199.99, nice!

I have many trade accounts across the IT industry and sometimes PC Worlds prices (on offers) are better than the cost price of the item from a trade supplier so its always worth a look.

[mailmannz]

Ive even been in a pcworld shop where the guy has used one of the terminals to go to the pcworld website, order the item and click on "collect at shop" to generate the "code" and then got the discount.

Sometimes their staff can be plonkers but more often than not Ive found the staff to be very helpful

Mailman

[Rich44]

Really ive never yet met a helpful and/or knowledgable member of staff in PCWorld

I have been in there before and been looking at something and had people come up and say excuse me you look like you know about this stuff (what gave it away? was it the anarok, the thick glasses or the thermos of weak lemon drink?) and talked to people about what they want to buy, I have thought about invoicing PCW for my services hehehehehe

[cazpoppies]

Mailman,

God, we just can't win can we?
I work in PC World and yes we do show customers our website and if the price of the item they want is cheaper then we place a collect at store order for them.
This practice is actively encouraged by management and I'm sorry if you don't understand why we do this, call it good customer service if you want.
What it does do is it promotes our website, encourages customers to use it for themselves in future and as the slogan says, it offers "the best of both worlds"
Who else can offer this?

As a coach in PC World I do welcome your comments about the staff in the branch you frequent. PC World is trying hard to move away from a sales environment and into a more customer friendly shopping experience. This will not happen overnight as we have a lot of bad perceptions to try to overcome, but it is a start.

[Rich44]

So if you are going to do this with the website why charge more in store in the first place if it isnt to get people who are less savvy about it to pay for the ones who are clever enough to check first.

A friend of mine went to the local store today bought an HP 2600n colour laser printer and paid £259.99 for it on the website its £219.99 (I bought one months ago for £199 thru the website and I thought the printer was crap and sent it back as it worked beautifully on a PC but the image Q was terrible on the Mac and HP said thats just how it is)

So for not checking first (and not being offered this) she got conned out of £40 not bad really, this practice is in my opinion disgusting and is right up there with "price promises" all a price promise says to me is we will charge what we think we can get away with and leave it up to you to make sure you dont get fleeced, then they usually try every trick in the book to weasel out of it (certain store beginning with C).

The excuse for the price difference on websites and store was always that it reflected the cost of transport etc so if they can now offer these prices "in store" if you use the website first then it just goes to show what a crock this argument was in the first place.

That was the excuse of Comet, Currys and Dixons (PC World) when confronted over pricing in store to website (Comet still do this) using collect at store this argument is proved to be rubbish as its the same stock that was on the same lorry that came in on the same boat etc as the one next to it on the shelf priced up at £xx more

I'll be the first one to say PCWorld is like a million bazillion times better than it was 9 years ago but thats not really saying that much as it was sooooo terrible back then, their prices have gotten much more realistic and the staff occassionally treat you like a human being (when you can get one to talk to you that is lol).

I would call good customer service as charging ALL customers the LOWER price rather than subsidising your "offers" by taking advantage of the uninitiated or ignorant personally

[mailmannz]

Rich,

The easy thing to do is not just not shop there if you arent happy.

Im happy with PC World, its convenient to where I am and more often than not the "thing" Im after is in stock. I could order online through someone else BUT I dont want to have to wait a week for my order to arrive (if it arrives at all).

I dunno, I have come across some real losers at PC World BUT that is the exception and more often than not their staff are helpful.

Mailman

[Rich44]

The staff dont bother me as I dont need to talk to any of them save get me that box down.

You're just missing the point I don't care that they do this for me I know they do it and I know to avoid their cashing in on ignorance, what they are doing is immoral in a similar vein to what the banks are doing they're chancing their arm that the person doesnt know that they can get a cheaper price by going through the website and the Dixons groups argument that the website prices are cheaper is wrong they have blown their own argument, its ridiculous.

It doesnt bother me per se I go there if I need something urgently if not I use my trade accounts to get the stuff.

This one price for one and one price for another is wrong, if anyone was doing it one price for you and one price for someone of another religious group or ethnic background (ok slight exageration) then people would be mad and it would be illegal what they are doing is discriminating against people who dont know about the website.

I take it on board that some staff are ultra helpful and sort this out but they shouldnt have to and to say just dont shop there is a little patronising when I was just attempting to highlight what they are doing tbh

As for ordering online and waiting a week I dont know who you are ordering from but ive never waited more than 24 hours for anything and thats including a 75Kg colour laser printer, perhaps you need to use a more reputable supplier instead

[mailmannz]

They are a business mate, there to make money. If you dont like them dont shop there but you are a fool if you think these are the only guys who do this.

Mailman

[cazpoppies]

Rich,

Take your points, however, as I said it isn't going to happen overnight!
Can't accept your argument about playing on peoples ignorance though.
Not when the staff are actively mentioning it to customers and also there are lots of press and tv adverts explaining the benefits of "collect at store". At the end of the day PC World are a retail outfit and need to maximise profits at ALL times.
Much as I hate to admit it because it's a horrible statement, mailman is right, you do have the right to buy elsewhere.