PC World - Make sure you check the shelf tickets!

ThatFishingGuy

Hi guys, I've come to you with a bit of advice/warning when buying a new computer.

I'm an IT technician and I recently bought a new ASUS All-in-One PC.

I needed a TV in my new flat, and my laptop had just died, so bought something that acts as both. Luckily I'd just sold my motorcycle, so I had a bit of cash.

I bought the PC in store after a couple of hours of comparing specs and then took it home. It was £499.99.


The advertised specs were AMD A-10 quad-core with 8GB RAM 1TB HDD, dedicated graphics and a and touch screen. There were two models, the higher spec one was £700.00. Which seemed a bit steep.

When I got home I found it had 6GB RAM and a dual-core A-8, 500GB HDD, integrated graphics and no touch screen.

I wasn't best pleased. I specifically wanted one with a quad-core processor, and a good video card as it would be an improvement on the laptop.

Luckily, or rather not so much luck than what I normally do, I photographed the shelf edge ticket specs to make sure it had everything it was supposed to.

I went back to PC World and mentioned it to a sales assistant on my lunch, I didn't have the PC with me, I just wanted info.

We looked at the display model and compared it to the ticket. I was right, it was totally wrong. They had a better PC on the shelf than it was priced for. But when you buy it, you get the lower spec.

I had thought it was an honest mix up, and the chap just told me to bring it back and swap it.

That night I look it back down to them and went to the customer service desk. I explained the situation and asked for it to be changed.

No can do... the shelf ticket is right. So they'd changed it while I was away. Cheeky Monkeys.

I had four guys around me and the lady on the service desk arguing the toss that I'd just bought the wrong thing, but I could pay the extra and get the £700 quid one.

So, secret weapon time. I had the evidence. I showed them the picture.

Oh they changed their tune. Oh sir, you're right sir, sorry sir.

I said I'll have driven 120 miles by the time I got home that night, to get this PC, and I wasn't leaving until they'd resolved the situation (it was almost closing time). They offered me an i3 Packard Bell piece of nonsense and some rubbish Acer thing for the same price (granted they were now being heavily discounted for me) but weren't even mentioning the ASUS. Which I wanted...

You might think I'm a brand snob, well I am, but only with cars and electronics. Well not so much brand snob, and more a quality snob.

So after 10-15 minutes of talking I got them to reduce the high spec ASUS to £570.00. Job done.

The guy on the desk actually said "nicely done" and gave me nod as I left.

Moral of the story? Check what you THINK you've bought with what you ACTUALLY bought. EVERY TIME.

macman

Good result. But why, as an IT technician, are you giving your custom to PCW/DSG in the first place though?
They're usually not that cunning, just reliably clueless.

StuC75

But what did the box say that you picked up? personally I would always check what been given anyway..

steviebabes

Just don't buy from Currys/PC World, they are clueless and will sell you any old refurb/display items as new. I always buy electronics from John Lewis as their customer service is excellent.

NiftyDigits

The only problem with your story, is that ASUS don't have an AIO with an AMD A10 CPU.
Lenovo do... at the price point that you mention. Though PC World were selling them for £599.99 before they were removed from the website. IT Tech eh?

Kernow666

so you still ended up paying more for the higher spec one that you thought you was buying in the 1st place

a win for PC world i think

Cisco001

Question: Why don't you check your the box and receipt before you leaving PCW first time?

I always check receipt before leaving the shop.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Ive always found PCW to be dubious in the way the describe their "PC"s anyway.
often ive had a laugh looking round the local one here,
Sale on now buy a pc for just £299.99 lift the box and check the barcode it says Reconditioned unit on it, and the supposedly ones powered by Nvidia (demo has the sticker on it) when you search the specs on other sites it makes no mention of a Nvidia chipset mobo or dedicated GFX card funny that!.


I never buy a premade from PCW IAO or DESKTOP or LAPTOP, ill get a component if im hard pressed to find one elsewhere and need it ASAP and they have it in stock (which is very rare).

Strider590

An IT technician would never buy from PC world.

I'm totally self taught in IT and computers, I build high spec gaming rigs for friends and friends of friends.

I can't even walk into PC world without wanting to punch the first "sales assistant" that tries to tell me a pack of lies.
Not to mention current PCs all ship with Windows 8, which is just terrible if you need to get at any advanced windows features, it's like trying to use a giant touch screen smart phone.

ThatFishingGuy

@NiftyDigits

I don't really appreciate what you're implying, but I'm not about to get into a flame war over it.

It's an A10 - and it's the only model they made.

It's the same socket, so why would you be surprised? You'll probably say that those models don't come with 6/8GB RAM either. They do. If you look at model codes, they always have a separate code on the end, this is for the variation.

And you are all right about the PC World thing, they are shocking. I usually build my own, but I wanted THAT particular model, and they were the only place to have it in stock.

And not really a win for PC world, I got £130 of the price, 200 off the rrp, if they even mean anything to anyone haha. As for checking the receipt, doesn't have the spec on it.

Should also say that the boxes don't actually differ, and have specs on. All the new ASUS stuff has gone recycling mad and just has a barcode. The units are identical inside and don't any sort of spec sheet. You have to boot them to find out. The actual physical difference was that there was a vinyl sticker on the touch screen model. Obviously I couldn't have known that by having the one without first.

Johnmcl7

Strider590 wrote: »

An IT technician would never buy from PC world.

There are good deals to be had in PC World from time to time, I've bought from them in the past and will likely do so again as it's just a store. I would echo the OP's point about ensuring you get the right machine given it's not unusual for there to be several variations of the same machine and I wouldn't necessarily trust the store to get it right.

I'm totally self taught in IT and computers, I build high spec gaming rigs for friends and friends of friends.

I can't even walk into PC world without wanting to punch the first "sales assistant" that tries to tell me a pack of lies.
Not to mention current PCs all ship with Windows 8, which is just terrible if you need to get at any advanced windows features, it's like trying to use a giant touch screen smart phone.

Actually, I find Windows 8 a lot better than Windows 7 in particular the main improvements are the advanced windows features - I find a dedicated power users menu far better than the old start menu, the new task manager showing far more detailed and useful information on the hardware such as core, socket and virtual counts, whether virtualisation is available, the current number of sticks of ram installed, their speed, the disk/network usage speeds, the new individual logs for hardware is very handy as well particularly as it shows exact driver changes.

Even all that aside, you don't need to use the touch screen if you don't want to and for those less tech savvy it takes a couple of minutes to install the likes of classic shell which makes it look and behave like Windows 7 while getting the various performance and efficiency improvements 8 offers.

John