Rant just why bother?

Why bother ordering from Amazon, newegg, frys, ebay,
when you could go directly to your local shop and get
the same item for not much more $?
I mean why bother with Amazon + 3rd party merchant + UPS?
I just went thru a real hassle with Amazon.com
about a DVD burner. I was charged, it was shipped by UPS,
but I wasnt home when UPS arrived, so for some strange reason
it was immediately shipped back to the seller.
After asking them to re-ship the drive, they instead refunded
my $, but not the s/h fee. An email sent to me by Amazon.com
did state s/h fee will be refunded, however, they offered me
store credit or something instead.
Utter BS and a waste of time!
Had I went to my local computer store, I would've had a DVD burner 2 weeks ago.

 

The reason I don't shop local: because I live out in a hicktown and there are no computer specialty shops. Otherwise, I defiantly would. But for me, the interwebs are the only option.

That sucks about your bad service with Amazon though. I had a friend who was getting a phone line hooked up at his house, and the guy came a day early "to be nice", and since my friend wasn't home, the guy left, and didn't come back the next day. A phone call to Shaw, and they said that they would send another guy in... about two weeks after.

 

I use amazon for books that I just can't get here in Belgium. Ebay for bargains...
A bunch of other online stores because they really can be 20-30% cheaper then a local store.
I really haven't had any problems. I have everything delivered at my job though.. where I can receive the goods in person...

 

Because Newegg has better hardware and much better service for a lot less. I'm talking anywhere from $20 to $50 for a $50 (at Newegg) item, even after shipping. Supporting local businesses is good, yes, but when their prices are in the rip-off territory, it's time to go somewhere else.

 

Because it's newer hardware for lower prices.

 

the local shops here charge about 50% more for major components, and up to 20x the price for accessories, even after you factor in shipping. no thanks. NCIX.com Cheesecake

 

saves time?
i get my stuff delivered to my desk at work. so awesomely lazy it's unreal. i never have to venture out in public!

 

Few of us have this type of pleasure. These types of good distributors aren't, themselves, distributed enough to serve all of the clientele. I'm very lucky to be living in a metropolitan area with many of these bargains, but it accounts for a very small portion of the nation's computer enthusiasts.

 

where i live its simply impossible to buy new hardware in shops (except you want crap at too high prices)... there is only ordering...

 

A lot of the time the local shops have to have high prices to generate any profit, as they sell so little. Their prices are continually being undercut by large chains, and people are turning away as it's easier to internet shop. Then they have to pay for shop rental etc, so it's a bit of a never ending circle.
One part says "support you're local shops", the other part says "they put up this business knowing what could happen and took the risk".

That being said, a lot of local shops are doing very well, but they tend to sell lots of cheap items (e.g. 2nd hand games) where you can be assured of what you're getting.

In Henley there is a small computer shop in the 'back' streets, that has expanded into another location across the road - they are clearly doing fine. However they are the only supplier in what could possibly quite a large market (quite a lot of residential / businesses there). Admittedly yes they are more expensive, but it's the 'I want it now' bit that appeals to people I guess.

There are very few independent shops around though it really is a shame. In France, there are virtually no chain stores (only the 'Casino' (Tesco)), all the shops in the towns are independent, and they get on fine.

 

Because local shops near me (all of them) sell old hardware, and inflated prices like I've never seen before, a 3 year old graphics card for £50?, that's why I shop online.

It might be different in the USA, but in the UK, I think most people order online.

 

I think it was nice of amazon to offer to refund the delivery charge, hardly there fault you wasn't in at the time of delivery was it! It seems your problem is with UPS and not amazon!

 

Why bother? I think the point is that we don't bother.

 

I thought you'd written us a poem at first glance. I left disappointed.

<A88>

 

I bought online because my 1500 dollar pc was quoted at 3000 dollars to buy from a local store. Shipping was free, so, why pay an extra 1500 to save on a small hassle on the off chance that some part doesn't work when it arrives.

 

Even if shopping locally was an option (it's not), the lack of human interaction in a transaction where I know what I want to buy is always a huge plus. No upsells, no stupid questions, no lines. I rather prefer book-shopping locally, but that's because I never know what title I'm looking for and browsing Amazon is nothing like browsing a proper bookstore.

 

PC World do 8800 GTS 320mb's at a wonderful 340 quid .

BARGIN!

 

thats 700$ only for those in the usa questioning why we order online in the uk

 

I try to order locally unless the prices are crazy. MicroCenter has some things for the same price as newegg, or a bit less because of shipping costs, but other things are crazy expensive, same thing with the only other computer store, Fry's. One thing though, video cards, cost on average $30 more in a store then on newegg.

 

I order from newegg because:

• I trust them. I've never had a problem with their customer service whatsoever. I don't trust the morons at Best Buy and the other big-box computer stores nearest me. There are no smaller computer stores any where around here.
• I can order today, and have my package on my doorstep tomorrow.
• Prices. I can buy the same thing from Newegg as I can get from Best Buy, but at Newegg it is sometimes up to 15-20% cheaper. Shipping is often free, and if not it usually is only $4.99 or so, which is still less than the $10 of gas it would cost me to drive down out of the mountains 45 minutes to the nearest Best Buy, and back up into the mountains again.
• Selection. If I want a PC case for example I can browse Newegg for hours until I find the one that exactly matches what I want. Or I can go to Best Buy and choose from one of the 2 or 3 models of case they carry.
• Loyalty. While Newegg is a business, and businesses exist to make money, it seems that they subscribe to the policy that the best way to get and keep customers is to treat them well. Best Buy and the other big box stores however just want to screw the customer over as much as possible. And therefore I do my best not to give them a single red cent if I can help it.