As much as I like supporting the little guys, poor experiences have driven me away. Unless you're a common repeat customer they always try to sell you things you don't need, much like large chains. The only pc store I'll go to now to ask questions would be NCIX. The few times I've gone the staff were actually very helpful. I was looking for fans, wasn't sure what I wanted but the salesman actually knew about the static pressure and all that, and he helped me pick out some new fans for my h80. It also seems that they are also crazy enthusiasts so they've tried a variety of different products out and gave their own personal reviews of each. When I was there I felt like I was having a conversation instead of dealing with a salesman. They weren't pushy or anything, and when I did finally select some fans (which were expensive noctua ones) the salesman gave me 25% off for no reason plus a free game code, so they've earned my business. Also had a very positive experience with returns and RMA's with them when a friend had a DOA power supply, they tested it, exchanged it and off we went. The 2nd replacement was rather loud and they let us exchange that too without a restocking fee, which was awesome. The odd time I'll also stop into tigerdirect since it's very close to me but I dislike the staff there, they don't know very much and they always just want to put sticky notes on your purchases with their names so they get commission, even if they didn't help you. On numerous occasions I've removed said stickies from my purchases because the staff haven't actually helped me with anything, they just picked the box off a shelf for me.
take it, its the CIT one here http://www.3000rpm.com/acatalog/CiT-Shade-Black-Micro-ATX-PC-Tower-Case-500W-PSU.html LOL these shops should not be able to sell usb drives let alone internal computer parts
Exactly that one, they argued with me that is standard ATX. Completely contrary to what their own website says. Decided I am in an arsehole mood tonight so have sent them the link to 'ATX' page on wikipedia on their facebook page... oooh I'm mean.
LOL......To be honest its a lucky escape CIT cases are utter sh*t I am sure you will do better online from Scan with free delivery. (this is if the case was actually a FULL ATX case which its not) They must put Rasbery PI's in them
I avoid all computer shops when I can, in fact only ever buy little things that I need urgently. I.e three pin fan Y cables or extenders. The prices on HDD's and other things are over priced when they can be sourced online. I did direct a chap in a local maplins to a computer shop as he was after a fan for a Freezer Pro 7. As his has died. I suggested replacing the entire HSF and his best bet was that shop. They are ok and whilst they sell CIT and the like they also sell branded products and do proper custom builds. Most pre build systems come with standard cheapo parts. PSU's etc as it keeps the costs down and prices high. I admit my system was bought from a shop not build by me, but I did specify what I wanted at the time. And six months into owning it I voided the warranty. Changing fans, cooler and adding a SSD. Having learnt more from Bit Tech about what I needed and reading instructions etc I avoid PC World for anything I require. Though I bought a laptop from them a year ago for my now ex girlfriend as her laptop was under powered and unfit for use even to load a web browser.
There are loads of PC shops in Nottingham but only two of them are actually any good: Web Systems and Cougar Extreme, both up in Bulwell. They are the only shops that sell the latest stuff, at prices comparable to Scan & ebuyer, and actually employ people that know what they are doing. The other shops though.. particularly the one in the city centre <cough>compuplus<cough> are rip off merchants.
I can't ever remember a time when local PC shops around here had anything other than a bad name. I won't even go into detail because there just seems to be no end to how unprofessioanl, unqualified and inexperienced members of staff in IT retail shops can actually be, but suffice to say that at least one in five of my own customers has been to "the local PC shop" with their technical problems at some point in the 12 months prior to calling on me, and not a single one of them ever has anything good to say about their experience. I was in a jam a few years ago and needed a DVI extension or just a longer DVI lead in the middle of an install in town, so I popped into the local (storefront, two floors and all) PC shop and asked for one to buy. In turn, I got told something along the lines of "we don't have those" then got asked "why would you need that anyway?" in the most incredibly arrogant tone. I told the guy as calmly as possible that the monitor I was connecting the computer to was mounted on the wall above it, and a standard DVI lead wouldn't reach. He actually had the stupidity in him to suggest taking the monitor off the wall. At that point I left without saying another word. I can't recall setting foot in the place since.
I smashed the glass in my MacBook screen. Went into the local shop in Chester to see if they can replace it (heat up the glass and melt the glue and pop a new one on). Been in twice promised they will email me a quote and both times never bothered. Doesn't even seem like they want my business
I need the case today, not in tomorrow to accept delivery. Plus, its for a home server anyway which will be completely invisible so looks are not important in the slightest. Actually having built it up, its better than any cheaper cases I have used in the past, rolled edges so not cutting of the hands, lots of 120mm fan mounts, it does have cable tidying holes, however the space behind the mobo tray is so thin you can barely fit a SATA cable
This ^ i think they believe it'll be a great business, they'll make lots of money and have fun, when in reality they sit on their bottoms browse-ring the internet all day, probably fixing 1-3 computers a week? Then when they do get customers they try to make up for the lack of trade by charging large amounts and ripping people off. Not slating anyone here who works in a computer shop, but damn it must be miserable.
Nice thread. It's got to the point where I can't even be bothered trying to help people with their computers now because they just spout drivel back at me. Over christmas, I friend wanted a custom gaming build. I offered to do this for him, for free, with warranted parts from Scan, which he well knows is the best retailer. After christmas, he told me he's had a custom build done by the new local computer shop, with a much worse spec and cheaper parts, for 500GBP, instead of the 350GBP I quoted him. Why? Because he "trusts a German who works on computers".
There's one in town here which isn't too bad staff-wise, (admittedly have never asked anything too complicated) but all I really use them for these days is blank dvds... They do nice printable ones, £10 for 50 which (after some hurried Amazon-ing) actually isn't that bad a price. Even if I could get them slightly cheaper online I like to think by continually buying them from these guys I'll keep them open long enough to cover me that one time I need some in a mad hurry
£20 isn't that bad to remove viruses really though is it? It might only take you 5 mins to install and run a piece of software, but they have limited workspace and charge because of that. They're called overheads, businesses have to pay them in order to be there. You'll probably find that the overall decline is because of 1) Internet shopping + big name shops such as PC World etc. People think these places know everything about PCs and because they have NO idea how these things work, only shops such as these must know what they're doing. 2) People just buy new nowadays when somethings broken, it's all so cheap.
"Back in the day" I would get called to into my old local computer shop to "trouble shoot" an issue multiple times a week and receive "charitable donations.." for resolving said issues from the shop owner. He was fine with most "idiot user" problems or teaching people who otherwise were new to computers how to search the internet and use a word processor and such, but major repairs and diagnosis was a little bit of a gap in his knowledge base. Most local computer shops were really only good at selling consumables like ink, and optical media, their technical ability at resolving problems was at best questionable. However since Tesco's rise to superpower and its ability to delivery all that is required to the dribbling masses, the local computer store will die out along with Woolworths.
The decline is due to there being no real money to be made anymore in this sort of business. Anyone who knows more than a little about computers won't waste time trying to run a shop to sell £20 computer cases and £5 pen drives.
So someone goes to a shop they A) don't know how to do something they need and/or B)Don't want to do something they need. Shop charges for said service. I don't see what the problem is here....
20 quid is a bargain for that. We couldn't afford to run our company charging that little for virus removal etc
I understand this completely. We've two "PC shops" here in Daventry, and both of them wouldn't know how to fix a PC, even if there were step by step instructions on how to do it. I've only bought stuff from one of them, but the other hasn't got much luck either, even if they do know what they're doing: everything is on super-long backorder, they don't stock motherboards, and complete systems take weeks to get built and shipped, even in quiet periods.
Oh boy they are thick. This is the argument on facebook so far... Me: Them: I actually cannot believe these guys, this will be a fun reply.
