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Thread: Insecure?

  1. #1
    DR
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    Insecure?

    Last weekend I was out and about on my travels and wandered past a small computer shop, this was down in Havent. Anyway I went in to find out what people are really buying off the streets. This was both interest and market research.

    I spoke to a member of the sales staff, and looked at what they had on offer - all of their products on the shelves appeared to be a little out of date.

    However, they did have some ECS boards, and I was suprised to see some Athlon 64 products.

    I also asked if they sold many A64s - they stated Sempron was their biggest seller and that they sold the customer what they wanted not what they think they want.

    They didn't sell many Intel proccessors, because 'We don't like them'

    But they didn't have any processors which I would class as 'modern' in stock - and they only had an 8500DV which they could sell me. Their PSU range featured Rys' favourite product - the Q-Tecs. When asked they stated they knew they were bad but they were clearing stock out.

    They mentioned it several times (infact more times than they tried to sell anything) and this appeared that their biggest gripe was the fact NovaTech was close to them and they were annoyed when people would drive to NovaTech to pickup a product rather than buy locally. So what they want you to do is pay £10 to £15 more, and they will order it for you (probably from NovaTech) and then give it to you in the middle of the week.

    I doubt this situation is unique, how can any store like this offer a compelling reason to purchase from when we have more proffesional operations avaliable. Infact, I dread to say this - I would buy from PCWorld over them. Maybe if they spoke more of their buisness and didn't try and sell to me with tatty bits of paper they would be more sucessful.

    I have been to several retailers - as well as production places (such as Corsairs, Dells, Intels plants) and this was the most shocking one I have seen to date.

    What is your local computer store like?

    Update
    I have just done some searching - all I can find on 'Cambridge Computers' is a phone number and an address - their website is not even setup yet.

    No wonder NovaTech and other stores do so well.

  2. #2
    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    My 'local' (well it isn't the closest, but it's the one I visit the most often) is a place called Quay Tec. It's located in Princes Quay in Hull, hence the name, although that does mean it's quite amusing to see them selling Q-Tec PSUs.

    I have in front of me a pricelist from roughly a month ago. They have about 40 graphics cards listed, three of which are PCIe. They even list a "6800GT ULTRA" whatever one of those is. The fastest Radeon they had listed at the time was an X800. To be fair to them, they do sometimes get stock in and not have it listed; you have to ask, or actually look around the shop. However, in general they don't have the most up to date stuff.

    They almost exclusively stock ASRock motherboards, it would seem, although there are a couple of appearances from ASUS and Soltek, and perhaps a Chaintech board or two, though they aren't listed on this price list. They have two Socket 939 CPUs listed for last month, and they're more likely to be Newcastle core than Winchester, in my experience.

    There isn't an online store based in Hull that I can think of, not a major one anyway. There are several little stores, all competing. I think one of the biggest problems for these folks is getting hold of new stock - the heavyweights suck the channel dry because they can shift the stuff cheaper and they have a bigger customer base.

    Judging from the people that visit the shop (it is always busy) and some of the questions that get asked, it's not a haven for techies. It's semi-techi kids, or adults who are sort-of into computers. Amongst Hull's techie collective, places like this are often known for being overpriced and with dated stock, but we will visit if we need something desperately.
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    No more Mr Nice Guy. Nick's Avatar
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    The only local independent near me sells what I'd call mid to low range gear. They have a huge array of cables and the like, but these rarely go 'out of date' like GFX cards, mobos and CPUs do.

    They're great for ordering stuff from as they get everything pretty much by midday next day but what they offer in the shop itself is uninspiring.

    Basically, they just don't have the funds to hold expensive high-end gear in stock, so they stock mid-range stuff at best and very, very little of that.

    There's always customers in there but the staff say that they sell the stuff they stock as no-one wants the top end gear... I suppose they just respond to the local demand, and with PC World a short drive up the road, most people would go there.

    There are two other 'computer' shops in town, but both of those are console only shops.

    When I use to live in Aylesbury there was a wealth of guys trading from their homes who were getting top end kit all the time... if they didnt have it, they'd get it for the next day... buggered if I can find anyone like that around here though..
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    Hexus.net Troll Dougal's Avatar
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    My locals are 1hr walk away.

    Maplin is atrocious and I don't count it as a computer store really (flame me if you want, I have perfectly good reasons) sells everything high priced and stocks Fox and ECS mobos with one Gigabyte. Almost no CPUS and hard drives are limited (ask pvtpyle)

    There's PCWorld but minimal selection of components down here. Mainly premodded case.

    Opposite PCWorld is a small shop that seems to do adequate trade but mainly repairing systems.

    90% of people I know go online when buying components due to larger selection and more choice.
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    Almost in control. autopilot's Avatar
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    Come to Shrewsbury. There are 3 of these 'Local computer shops for local people' in this town. My experience with all three of them is much the same as yours David. It's not even the cost of products there that puts me off (I like to support small local business where I can), it's the attitude of the people there and the quality (low quality) of the items they stock. When i try and make any kind of suggestion, such as buying in some proper quality cases or decent grade DVD/CD media, they look down at me like i have insulted thier grandmother. Some of thier staff are so arrogant and they do themselves no favours at all. But they do tend to employ a lot of teenage wanabies who can be like that I suppose.

    I guess they make thier money selling cheap and nasty "internet ready" basic office systems to older people/new PC users and small business. But as soon as someone walks in asking about low latancy RAM or something, they just crap themselves and stop talking to you. I think as people become even more internet shopping savvy the are going to lose even more customers. It's a shame, i like seeing small private business do well. But they can't even stack thier shelves well and thier displays just look shabby and dirty. All they do is grumble about not being able to compete with the big boys. Sure, its damn near imposible these days, but they could at least try a little harder. They do serve a useful purpose, such as grabbing a molex splitter the same day in a hurry, but's thats are far as it goes for now.

    I'll be sticking to the likes of Scan for now. Professional customer service and quality products over price anyday, but the amatures in Shrewsbury's three small independant stores can't get either right.
    Last edited by autopilot; 21-07-2005 at 07:46 PM.

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    Ah, Mrs. Peel! mike_w's Avatar
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    I'm in Hemel Hempstead, and the computer shops I've seen have been overpriced with poor quality parts (the best example being, of course, Q-Tec PSUs). Having seen others buy from those shops, you get a much better service online - cheaper prices and better parts.
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    My local PC place is A2Z Computer Products, there generally not as cheap as ebuyer nor do they have some of the more exotic stuff in but if ur desperate there local and I've never had any trouble sending stuff back...

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    My local (where my friend works) is Number One Computers...
    They claim to have the largest collection of computer games in the island. Not really a bit achievement tbh...although Im not even sure its true with HMV and things...
    Cause my mate works there it has improved, even if only a bit, but I never but stuff from there any more. No need.
    I hardly ever need anything urgently, so I can wait for postage and save money and get exactly what I want online.
    I think most of these shops tend to survive on repairs and services rather than selling stock.
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    I am moving to weymouth in dorset soon, the only hardware store in the town i know of is advertised on radio. The shop is quite small and retro looking and i was really amazed to see them have labels on geforce 5200's (i think they were 128mb) that claimed they were perfect for running 'modern intense games like doom3 or half life 2)

    what alot of crap i own a 5200 currently. (im getting a new pc in the fortnight loaded with a 7800gtx ) the 5200 is only just capable of running new games ad fails to play slightly older ones well... i didnt really notice what else they were selling, i guess after seeing that i figured it wasnt worth it

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    DR
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    I think the other problem is people do actually kick these stores for fun.

    Akill - I am in Weymouth soon - whats the name of the store; let me check that out.

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    Almost in control. autopilot's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by David
    I think the other problem is people do actually kick these stores for fun.
    Thats true. I have been at the receiving end of this myself in PC/Electric goods retail. Maybe I was being a little harsh in the above myslef aswell. The atitude of many customers does not help things either. I would like to be able to use these local stores, if more people used them maybe things would get better for both the stores and the customers. But thats not going to happen, it's a bit of a catch 22.

    One of the examples of small independant PC retailers that has done well is KustomPC. Mainly because of thier good online shop (supporting thier small shop) and friendly customer service.

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    My local, DS Computers in the small village of Kells, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

    http://www.ownapc.co.uk/

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    There's like 2 local computer shops outside of my office in Sheffield Uni, and they literally have NADDA! They sell mostly 754 socket A64, and forget it... no 3700+ or 3400+ variant.. only plain old 3200+.. not even slower models like 2800+ or 3000+.. The graphic solutions are still stuck on the 9800 age... HDD are the only thing that they're stuffed with... Any make and model, you name it, they have it.. but do they know the difference? Well.. They won't tell me, they just stuffed one at me and said it'll work.. and asked for 70 quids for a 160GB Maxtor HDD...

    The shop opposite is a little better, managed by some middle east ppl and several chinese engineers.. at least the chinese engineer knows a little more.. They sell mostly 530's all the way to 570J.. Their A64 stock are no slouch as well.. virtually have the entire series, except the FX and X2s... but, you'll have a hard time communicating with them... You've made a VERY clear request for a SAMSUNG 160GB HDD... and he shows u a Hitachi variant.. and I'm seeing the Samsung variant just next to the hitachi... Honestly, I speak a little of Mandarin.. but no... I don't understand what he said.. and I'll assume he doesnt understood wat I said...

    Also prices in local shops are always a tad more expensive.. you add scan's price, throw in double the shipping cost.. you get their product..
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    DR
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    Trouble is the cost to run a low volume operation is high - they can't afford to have FX or EE cpus in if they don't sell - thats a lot of stock kicking around

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    Living in the North East of England, I can say there are no decent computer shops in the area. Most are sheisters (sp?) and the owners of most of the shops are related.

    They tend to be middle-low end stuff, although one in Sunderland does get the new graphics cards in pretty rapid.

    Customer service is non-existent.

    As a result I tend to buy most of my stuff mail order unless I need something urgently, or if somewhere has an offer on and I'm prepared to take the risk. Pity as I do build and upgrade quite a few systems so they would potentially get a bit of business from me.

    Some of PC World's prices are that bad these days if you use Collect@Store. I've even found a few things cheaper there. Pity about the non-existent staff and when you do find one they are completely useless, like the time my ancient 19" goldfish-bowl monitor died and I needed a new one sharpish as I worked from home at the time. I went to look to see what TFT's PC World had in. I asked 3 different assistants about response times to which all three just pointed to the refresh rates. I carefully explained the difference but I might as well have been talking to myself.

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    If your 5555... Swafe's Avatar
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    I dont have a local PC store, nearest is PC Wrold ~3 miles away, theres a Maplin or two, but I wouldnt class them as a PC store as there prices are still ridiculously exspensive once compared to the likes of Ebuyer and even Dabs. Its because PC World are just a normal shop, and seem to have a minimum spend of 9.99, and prices in increments of 20 pounds, where places like ebuyer will willing sell a componant at a weird price, says 54.55, just because they recently saved a few pennies from their suppliers and have dropped it accordingly, where PC World would be 79.99 and after a year or so, might just jump down in the sale to 59.99.

    Theres a couple of PC shops in coventry, but there still a bit pricey, taking petrol into consideration, its still cheaper to get it from Ebuyer, and paying for postage, just a matter of whether you can wait or not, I guess.
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