QOTW: Which tech companies are you loyal to?

[Glyce]

None, I'm here for the money.

[Euphonium]

I have a degree of loyalty based on past products, such as Noctua coolers and Seasonic PSUs
I have no loyalty to mobo or gfx card makers, although for reasons of historic drivers I have tended to lean nVidia for GPUs. Not any more though, GPUs is solely on features & value.

For CPUs, I have preferred AMD since the K6/III but that didn't stop me buying Intel in the Sandy Bridge-Haswell era.

In general though, brand loyalty only really kicks in when products are otherwise functionally closely comparable

[Lordhawkwind]

Absolutely none. They deserve no loyalty as they don't show me any.

[jm101]

Asus because they really do honor their warranty and have solid tech support.
Epson because i have yet to have one of their printers or scanners go bad and they update their drivers.
Corsair - quality backed up by a solid warranty that they have gone overboard to honor.

[g8ina]

Only 2 really. Scan as Ive never had a single issue with them in however long it is Ive used them, and Virgin Media. Been with them 10 years and have had no issues at all, except for one 48 hr loss of internet service.

[malculator]

I have a few loyalties for certain branded tech products, but I try not to limit myself. Logitech for mice, Noctua and Phanteks for fans, Corsair for PSU's (though recently purchased a Seasonic), and I prefer ASUS for motherboards.

[Iota]

Only 2 really. Scan as Ive never had a single issue with them in however long it is Ive used them, and Virgin Media. Been with them 10 years and have had no issues at all, except for one 48 hr loss of internet service.

Wouldn't you define Scan as a retailer? While technically a company, is it a tech company? I assumed the question meant companies such as Asus / Gigabyte etc etc.

[Saracen999]

Wouldn't you define Scan as a retailer? While technically a company, is it a tech company? ....

Both, perhaps?

Sure, they retail tech stuff, but they're also a system builder/integrator with a value-added in, for example pro graphics and pro audio.

I mean, yeah, I took the question to be more referring to Intel, AMD, Seagate, Samsung, Logitech, etc, etc too but I'd say at least the 3XS bit of Scan fell into that .... like Dell, etc.

[g8ina]

Yeah, a bit open to interpretation innit.

But if you mean mfrs rather than retailers, I suppose Goldring Lenco. I tart up their old 1960s turntables and they come out smelling of roses

Ahhh, or did you mean computer type manufacturers rather than any old techie company.....

[Phrontis]

Used to be I wouldn't touch any other power supply than Enermax. All the rest back in the early 90's were utter cr*p. Now there are loads of decent ones to choose from.

[big_hairy_rob]

what tech companies are loyal to me?

[The Hand]

I've got a fair bit of Corsair kit, though I doubt I'd consider myself loyal to them. Maybe loyal to dead companies such as Commodore lol. I've still got my first computer, an Amiga 600 in good condition

[Iota]

Both, perhaps?

Sure, they retail tech stuff, but they're also a system builder/integrator with a value-added in, for example pro graphics and pro audio.

I mean, yeah, I took the question to be more referring to Intel, AMD, Seagate, Samsung, Logitech, etc, etc too but I'd say at least the 3XS bit of Scan fell into that .... like Dell, etc.

Hmmm, I guess you're both right. I mean I have never had issues with the retailer side of Scan and the after sales support has always been exceptional. So in terms of that side of things, I'm pretty loyal assuming the price is right or within a margin of error.

Yeah, a bit open to interpretation innit.

But if you mean mfrs rather than retailers, I suppose Goldring Lenco. I tart up their old 1960s turntables and they come out smelling of roses

Ahhh, or did you mean computer type manufacturers rather than any old techie company.....

Heh, yeah it is ambiguous. Turntables count as tech, it certainly did when I was growing up prior to PCs becoming a "thing"

[neepheid]

None - they can all go poke it. The last year has left a very sour taste in my mouth with regard to tech companies in general.

[Demontoad]

As long as they're in the same price/performance bracket as everyone else, I will prefer MSI for the time they replaced my video card 3 weeks past its warranty expiring.

[philehidiot]

Loyal to? None.

Avoid? Those that have either given me good personal reason to avoid, or something publicly known, such as certain recent PSU problems.

But it is true that where I have repeated experience of a company's products, without trouble, it encourages me to risk them again rather than a shot in the dark. Even better, arguably, is where there has been a product issue and the company has demonstrated top class customer service in how they deal with it.

An example of the first of those is Seasonic. I tend to prefer their PSUs because none have ever given me problems. I don't know what their CS is like, having never needed to call on it. Similarly, though not recently, Enermax and Delta.

What I am certainly willing to do, though, is to pay a bit of a premium for products from a company whose past product performance has impressed me. If it continues to do that, it's worth a hassle-avoidance premium, aslong as it's not overdone.

This.

Blind loyalty Vs experience and measurable benefit by going back. The only time I won't do that is when the price for my repeat business is excessive.

Apple, for example, have proven to me by personal experience that they are not worth the risk. Prices are high and support doesn't justify that outlay. Samsung however, have shown how product recalls should be done and took responsibility for their Note 9 battery problems, even though they had the option to blame the companies who made the battery. That gives me more confidence that Samsung will address issues rather than shout loudly "our customers are too stupid to hold the phone correctly". Not a guarantee, but it generates confidence rather than loyalty.

Corsair has been very good. Nvidia may be joining Apple on my long term "don't risk it" list.

It's about risk management rather than loyalty.