The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

eightiesclassic

Very interested to hear people's experience of prices altering.

I saw this machine (Toshiba A100-147) on Currys website for £499.99, shopped around a bit but couldn't better this. Went back onto Currys a few days later only to find it there for £599.99! Phoned the number on the website and talked to a bloke who had to "go away and check", only to be told that this was a mistake and would soon be reinstated to its previous price. Ok, I thought...

Checked it again the following week, still displayed at £599.99. Phoned again to ask what was going on, and was told that £499.99 was a sale price and that the sale was now over. There was nothing to indicate this, though. She then told me to keep checking the site, though, as prices can fluctuate.

So, who was telling me the truth? They either a)don't know what they're talking about and just fobbing me off, or b)Cynically hiking the price every now and then to catch people out. I feel for the people above who got stung for the higher price

Oh yeah, checked the site today and it's back at £499.99! What is going on?

I want to get this machine but am now going to wait for the sales. Has anyone seen a machine of this spec for less?

And how do these money off codes work? Where do they originate, and how come these shops honour them?

eightiesclassic

Very interested to read other acconts of price altering.

Was quite interested in the Toshiba A100-147, found it on Currys website for £499.99. Shopped around, couldn't better this so went back to the site a couple of days later to find it at £599.99. Phoned the order hotline to enquire, the bloke had to "go away and check", came back to tell me that this was a mistake and it would be rectified that day. Checked again a couple of days later, still at £599.99. Phoned again to ask what was going on, only to be told that £499.99 was a sale price, and the sale was over. Eh?

Now, either a) They don't know what is going on and just want to fob you off, or b)They cynically raise the price every now and then to catch punters out.

Checked the website again today, back at £499.99!!

Sod it, I'm waiting for the after xmas sales now.

Anyone seen a similarly specced machine for cheaper?

And where do these discount codes originate, and what makes the shops honour them? Would they work at sale time?

consultant31

Do I hear an echo???????????:rotfl:

Carlsbrosound

Hi,
I'm interested in the Toshiba A100-147 from Currys but need 2 so I'd appreciate the latest discount code (TENEMAIL ran out yesterday). Anyone got the latest?
While I'm on any comments on the choices I'm looking at:
HP NX6325 with AMD Sempron 3500+ (1.8Ghz or 2.0Ghz?)
Toshiba A100-147 Core Duo 1.6Ghz
Compaq V6133EU AMD Turion 64 X2 TL50 1.6Ghz
All have 1G ram and similar otherwise and are around £450 (with discounts)

phillip3153

Try XMASFREE199 - its good till XMAS.

johnd_2

phillip3153 wrote:

Try XMASFREE199 - its good till XMAS.

Sorry - doesn't seem to work.

littleange

Carlsbrosound wrote:

Hi,
I'm interested in the Toshiba A100-147 from Currys but need 2 so I'd appreciate the latest discount code (TENEMAIL ran out yesterday). Anyone got the latest?
While I'm on any comments on the choices I'm looking at:
HP NX6325 with AMD Sempron 3500+ (1.8Ghz or 2.0Ghz?)
Toshiba A100-147 Core Duo 1.6Ghz
Compaq V6133EU AMD Turion 64 X2 TL50 1.6Ghz
All have 1G ram and similar otherwise and are around £450 (with discounts)

over299 10% should save you £100

spike87

PC World and Dabs.co.uk have Fujitsu Siemens laptops for around £360.

Pc World's one was in The Sun today and https://www.dabs.co.uk is offering one for £359.98 inc VAT:

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=4B8V&InMerch=1

simon42

Hi,

I've been following this thread and thought I would add the following for general information:

The Toshiba A100-147 is being sold for £499.99 in the Grantham branch of Curry's. I nipped in this afternoon for a quick look.

It is also listed at that price on the Currys and Dixons website at the moment.

Which is to be expected as they are both owned by DSG International plc, but so is PC World... PC World want £595 for the same laptop!

I would also be grateful if anyone out there does have a valid promotional code as I'm also keen to grab a bargin. I've tried all those listed before and haven't had any luck yet.

GeordieLad_2

As Little_ange mentions above (thanks!), over299 still gets you 10% discount at Curry's.

I like the look of the Toshiba too, my only question would be whether it is better to buy a laptop before Christmas - or will there be significant reductions to be had in the January sales? I realise that this is not necessarily easy to predict, but any thoughts welcome. For example, is some new processor technology likely to be released then, meaning that firms will want to get rid of older stock?