Currys electrical's... Grrrrr

[Northerner]

Yesterday was that most hallowed of days (payday), and I had planned to buy myself a new laptop. Currently using an old XP thing that gets less speed than a tortoise on horse tranquilisers...

So, anyhow! I popped in on my lunch break to discover a Sony Vaio with the header below it "Grab a Bargain, better than half Price" "Was £759.99, now only £379.99.

Looked at the specs and thought "Bargain"! Had seen it on their website but were all sold out, so I thought this was my day.

It was the last one in stock so the salesman took it to the customer service desk and packed it up. I also bought a copy of Kaspersky and a laptop rucksack. Summed them up in my head to be less than £450 - Within my budget. He packed it up, took my debit card and put the receipt in my bag. Quick service, as I was on my lunch

Happy Days...

Got home, awesome laptop. Better than I expected...

Then got up this morning, went to the bank machine. Virtually cleaned out

In my haste and excitement I failed to look at the receipt. The laptop they had above the sign saying "Grab a Bargain" was a much higher spec and cost £799.99, and with the bits I bought on top my bill was over £860 So after my rent and this little shopping spree, my monthly salary turned to a few pennies....

And so the long haul back to that branch (on my day off work), to argue with the customer services over what they should do. Sadly, at no point did this salesman tell me the price was £799.99, despite my obvious reference to the "bargain", and he was oh so quick to hide that receipt in the back, with the laptop bag, but the actual laptop in another bag..

Finally I have a refund (minus the Kaspersky and mouse, I keep them as I opened them)...

Just got to wait for the 3 to 5 days for it to go back into my account.

Thanks Currys, looks like Comet is my store of choice from now on

[triple5]

I'd steer well clear of the lot of them. Currys, dixons, comet, pc world, all run by morons who are out to rip off folks. Shop online, I got mine from Laptops Direct, delivered in 48 hours

[Northerner]

I'd steer well clear of the lot of them. Currys, dixons, comet, pc world, all run by morons who are out to rip off folks. Shop online, I got mine from Laptops Direct, delivered in 48 hours

Think I might give them a try

[triple5]

but how you going to get online with no laptop

[Northerner]

I am using an old laptop, XP thing. Pentuim M.. Slow as

But gets me there in the end

[laurel]

Was in Currys myself this week, along with the other big names................and the service is diabolical. Doesnt help that ive just got back from the Phils where service in my mind is excellent. I wandered around Currys for over ten mins and not one single sales assst came to see if i needed any service, and believe me the shop was almost empty.............The other big names dont compare any better either. The attitude generally stinks IMO

[keithAngel]

Was in Currys myself this week, along with the other big names................and the service is diabolical. Doesnt help that ive just got back from the Phils where service in my mind is excellent. IMO

Its true I miss the light bulb testing department

[walesrob]

I'd steer well clear of the lot of them. Currys, dixons, comet, pc world, all run by morons who are out to rip off folks.

Not true, and I'd be careful about branding people like that. With so many price comparison websites around, its easy to get the lowest price. As for Laptops Direct, how about Ebuyer, Dabs, CCLonline, MicroDirect, etc?

[triple5]

Not true, and I'd be careful about branding people like that. With so many price comparison websites around, its easy to get the lowest price. As for Laptops Direct, how about Ebuyer, Dabs, CCLonline, MicroDirect, etc?

What's not true You've only got to see a PC world advert to see their target audience are those who know next to nothing about PCs. And like Laurel says their customer service is an absolute joke.

[KeithD]

What's not true You've only got to see a PC world advert to see their target audience are those who know next to nothing about PCs. And like Laurel says their customer service is an absolute joke.

They aren't 'ripping' people off though, people are given the choice to buy cheaper online or a much higher price from a retail outlet.

You actually get a much better deal online and can also research in detail all the specs and compare them with many other laptops and sites. You would find it hard to beat Dell these days though who are offering some good deals during the recession, and you spec your own machine.

[Dedworth]

Dixons, Curry's, PC World - all part of DSG International I avoid them like the plague

[KeithD]

Dixons, Curry's, PC World - all part of DSG International I avoid them like the plague

You can't really avoid the plague unless you live at the North Pole

[walesrob]

What's not true You've only got to see a PC world advert to see their target audience are those who know next to nothing about PCs. And like Laurel says their customer service is an absolute joke.

Your making sweeping generalisations, I could claim all people living in Rochdale are fat and stupid, but you and I know its not true. Of course staff in PC World know something about computers, otherwise they wouldn't be there. As for the adverts aimed at people who know next to nothing about PC's, thats utter rubbish, why would DSG buy prime airtime on ITV just to target "some people who know nothing about computers?" I bought one of the Advent netbooks for £269 when it first came out and advertised on TV, and that was a genuine bargain even for an experienced computer literate person like me.

In my personal experience I've found DSG stores very good at customer service, and at PC World I've returned an item bought in error and they had no problems issuing a refund.

Yeah, PC World are expensive compared to online retailers, but your paying for the convenience of walking into a store and getting the product you want there and then, rather than waiting for the courier to bring it to you in a few days time.

Oh, I did used to work for Currys by the way, hated every minute of it

[triple5]

Advent, the notebook you can fry an egg on it gets so hot My mum had one of those and she only goes online about 2-3 times a week for half an hour, but it was falling apart after a few months. Don't know if things have changed but when I tried to find some help on it not even an Advent website

It's like anything, if you have a bad experience you don't go back.

[les_taxi]

I'd steer well clear of the lot of them. Currys, dixons, comet, pc world, all run by morons who are out to rip off folks. Shop online, I got mine from Laptops Direct, delivered in 48 hours

Im with triple5 on this especially pc world what a joke tech guys know .... ...

How about this bargain at pc world a pack of plain a4 std white printer paper only £12.99 lol
Online for me everytime.

[Dedworth]

Im with triple5 on this especially pc world what a joke tech guys know .... ...

How about this bargain at pc world a pack of plain a4 std white printer paper only £12.99 lol
Online for me everytime.

Laptops - I've had a couple of good Toshiba deals from CCL Online

Wilkinsons top spec Xerox paper £2.17 500 sheet pack

[Florge]

ahhh.. that's why more shops are closing as shopping online is better... i agree though.. much better to shop online then go to stores only to be "greeted" by sad and cold sales personnel.. bugger!

[Arthur Little]

Im with triple5 on this especially pc world what a joke tech guys know .... ...

ME, too!! And I'm also inclined to go along with what YOU [nearly] said about 'The TECH GUYS'! Buggers charged me £70-odd back in June 2008 ... less than 24 hours after I'd taken out a monthly subscription with them as a precaution against anything going wrong with a new Windows Vista I'd bought from PC World the previous day.

Not being a technically-minded person myself, I was having some difficulty in getting the new computer to function properly. *PC World maintained I would need to pay a call out charge to *them ... because the Tech Guys were under contract to deal with "faults" only, and not 'installation' problems.

[Northerner]

ME, too!! And I'm also inclined to go along with what YOU [nearly] said about 'The TECH GUYS'! Buggers charged me £70-odd back in June 2008 ... less than 24 hours after I'd taken out a monthly subscription with them as a precaution against anything going wrong with a new Windows Vista I'd bought from PC World the previous day.

Not being a technically-minded person myself, I was having some difficulty in getting the new computer to function properly. *PC World maintained I would need to pay a call out charge to *them ... because the Tech Guys were under contract to deal with "faults" only, and not 'installation' problems.

Now a smaller retailer might have tried to do this as part of customer service

[Arthur Little]

Now a smaller retailer might have tried to do this as part of customer service

, Sean ... you'd have thought so!

[les_taxi]

ME, too!! And I'm also inclined to go along with what YOU [nearly] said about 'The TECH GUYS'! Buggers charged me £70-odd back in June 2008 ... less than 24 hours after I'd taken out a monthly subscription with them as a precaution against anything going wrong with a new Windows Vista I'd bought from PC World the previous day.

Not being a technically-minded person myself, I was having some difficulty in getting the new computer to function properly. *PC World maintained I would need to pay a call out charge to *them ... because the Tech Guys were under contract to deal with "faults" only, and not 'installation' problems.

If ever you want any help with pc let me know the problem ans i will see if I can help

[Arthur Little]

If ever you want any help with pc let me know the problem ans i will see if I can help

Many thanks for the kind offer, Les ... I'll certainly bear that in mind!

[Northerner]

I'd steer well clear of the lot of them. Currys, dixons, comet, pc world, all run by morons who are out to rip off folks. Shop online, I got mine from Laptops Direct, delivered in 48 hours

Ordered one today from them Should have it tomorrow. Basic thing really. 2.1ghz dual core Pentium, 3 gig of RAM (I will upgrade that to 4 myself) 250gig HD, Windows 7, decent graphics for what I need... Photoshopping and stuff! Not a bad price either.

[nigel]

I kind of like Maplins myself...

[laurel]

I kind of like Maplins myself...

Yeah agreed , but i was always forced to go in for the fancy dress competition as a kid which i didnt like...............or maybe im thinking of another Maplins...anyway Hi de Hi

[KeithD]

I kind of like Maplins myself...

Owned by the same group as PC World I think, or anothe big corporation....and very expensive.

[aposhark]

I often buy in Curry's.
Yes, they are a little more expensive but when I bought my new £700+ HP laptop last month it was helpful to inspect the specs of all the other laptops at the same time.
I find it helpful to see things out of the box before I buy.

[rayofLight]

...me and my husband had a bad experienced in buying my laptop,only this month.. because all of the computer store ..(curry;commit;pcworld)..have no stocks...which i didnt experienced in the philippines....always plenty of stocks...
at the end we bought the display...because they dont have any stocks...i really like the size..a 13.4inches.....ilovemy HPpavillion dv3....it's my baby now..

[Dedworth]

I often buy in Curry's.
Yes, they are a little more expensive but when I bought my new £700+ HP laptop last month it was helpful to inspect the specs of all the other laptops at the same time.
I find it helpful to see things out of the box before I buy.

Check 'em all out in store then use the internet to get the best deal...... only works if the buyer has a couple of days patience and is not the "I want it and whatever the cost I want it now" type

[aposhark]

Check 'em all out in store then use the internet to get the best deal...... only works if the buyer has a couple of days patience and is not the "I want it and whatever the cost I want it now" type

My laptop was about £40 cheaper on-line and I think the benefit of being able to take it back to Curry's is worth this amount.

The manager also gives me sweeteners as I am a good customer.
This time I got £25 off a great Logitech PC sound system....

I researched my laptop for weeks before buying at Curry's