PC World selling second hand/demo as new?

facingthefuture

I went in to a store today and was looking at a pc. I asked would the demo model ever come on sale at a reduced price - the answer astounded me. I was told it would be sold as new - with a full guarantee at the full price. I said that it wouldn't be new as it was switched on for months as a demo model - he said they did this across all their stores with everything including tvs!!!!!!!!!!He cited car dealerships doing the same - I said they didn't, they were reduced as demo models and in fact the log book showed both them and pre-reg models as being owned and the purchaser would be the second owner.
This guy must be wrong, what do you think? I can hardly believe it...surely trading standards wouldn't allow it. He said it would be new because it would have a full warranty but thats hardly the point is it - it would make you insist the box was sealed of any model you purchased - otherwise it could be 6 months old no matter what any piece of paper said!!!!:rolleyes:

Alias_Omega

When you would of bought the computer, you would of been given 12 months warranty on the item from the date of purchase.

I purchased an ex-demo laptop this way through PC world. It was priced up at £260 when over £500 in other shops still selling them

Windows 7 should be here now, so old Vista computers in the back will be up for reduced prices.

I agree through, on display isnt new. Its ex-display/demo/used..

facingthefuture

Sure, if it is clearly marked as ex -demo whether it is reduced or not then at least you know - he was suggesting they regard them as new yes with a full guarentee, rebox them and sell them as such without any discount. He must be mixed up - that could hardly be a policy of the shop could it?

facingthefuture

Your deal sounded fair for a computer that was effectively second hand - I agree it was just pre-owned and used by the shop, nonetheless if turned on, it's used.

ZarZar1990

Hey I'm a part time employee of PCW, when we sell ex-display stock we always have a non-pristine label which we leave on the product when we sell it.
We usually always sell the stock off the shelf and explain to the customer that it is in fact the last one but if they'd like it we can go and find the original box for them to box it up.
Well, thats what should be done anyways, thats the general policy that we're all told, basically: make it clear its ex-display even if its blindingly obvious, just to avoid confusion.
Yeah 12 months warranty is still there, as are all normal rights...

hope this has helped, sorry if the guy confused you, he was probably either new, or having an extreme blonde moment, or just didn't explain it properly (I, myself have had my words in a right jumble before when talking to a customer)

facingthefuture

Thank you ZarZar, I am glad to know he was not reflecting PC Worlds policy. I was incredulous and asked him twice to explain it further and my sis heard it too .

I will in future though make real sure I only buy things that are in a sealed box just to make sure (unless they are seriously discounted).

Jakg

They have a legal right to inform you if they are not as new.

However they do not discount for display goods, and they are sold in the same way new goods are (i.e. no discount, boxed up again etc).

TV's depends on the store - again no discounts, however the boxes are thrown away in a lot of stores as there just isn't the space to hold them.

ZarZar1990

Yeah, safest bet tbf, I normally wouldn't personally buy anything off display unless its a particularly good price, and yeah, normally there is a difference in price from the original price, but its not discounted *that much*.
Normally managers will offer accessories for the product free of charge, rather than barefaced discount, like if the customer needs an external hard drive or something?
Occasionally though they will offer a bit of discount if they've got room to. (fairly strict discount policy from head office) xxx