Currys / PC World. Again.

PhylPho

Grrrrr. This predatory outfit gets a deserved bashing on here time and again. You have to wonder if it's even worth the effort of saying: DO.NOT. SHOP. THERE. But, well, here goes: another little addition to the catalog of its sytematic rip-offs of the naive:

A friend of mine called me this morning because his computer monitor no longer displayed anything. He'd been dusting and vacuuming (good chap!) his study and moved his PC to do a thorough job. Only trouble was, in moving it he'd messed up what must have already been some dodgy connectivity: a somewhat bent HDMI to DV-I adapter, plugged into a port at the back of his PC with t'other end of the cable in the monitor's HDMI socdket.

Seemed to me, having finally extricated the adapter, that he'd be better off with a straightforward cable HDMI to DV-I rather than a weird chunk of technology stuffed in between. I reckoned a 6ft cable length would be more than sufficient: his monitor's on the top of his desk, his upright PC is under his desk. Simples.

I hadn't time to sort that out this morning so I told him I'd be back this afternoon. When I arrived, he said, 'great: let's be off then!' I asked where. 'Currys PC World. They have it in stock!'

I appreciated his initiative in discovering a supply source, but was a bit surprised: he'd fogotten that the last time he needed anything like this -- on that occasion, a simple straightforward HDMI cable -- Currys/PC World had attempt to flog him a "superior" one at £39 when I got one which did the exact same job for three quid.

As now. Currys/PC World want £19.99p. Amazon, instead, will deliver tomorrow, post-free, the same item for £5.37p.

If only people learned . . .

Peter999_2

I don't personally have any problem with Currys/PC World. They've come in handy many times for me when I've needed things there and then for work.



I've bought PCs, laptops, TVs from them with no problems whatsoever. I do listen to what the salesman says/advises, but always keep in mind that that is exactly what they are - salesmen. I wouldn't buy a cable from them for those sort of prices, however, they do come in handy for more bespoke cables and if you need it there and then, so be it.



I've only been ripped off by them once, when I was 21 and bought an Amiga with extended warranty - it broke and they claimed it had been water damaged, which it hadn't. Never again have I taken out an extended warranty.

Hermione_Granger

Les79 wrote: »

1. How much corporation tax does Amazon pay to the UK and how much does Currys pay?

They pay everything that they are required to pay and if they can get away with paying a paltry amount using methods which HMRC deem legal, then why wouldn't they or any other sensibly run business do this?

I pay a fair amount of money in income tax and if someone showed me a way to legally reduce what I paid I would do it.
Wouldn't you?

pmduk

If Currys Dixons could legally pay less tax, do you honestly think they'd think twice about it?

Exile_geordie

PhylPho wrote: »

As now. Currys/PC World want £19.99p. Amazon, instead, will deliver tomorrow, post-free, the same item for £5.37p.

If only people learned . . .

One shop sells something for more money than another SHOCKER!!

Exile_geordie

Amazon - 16 locations in the UK
Currys PC World - 500


Maths may not be the OPs strong point but i would hazard a gues that they have a lot more to pay than amazon does

z1a

So it's Currys PC Worlds fault that your "friend " is clueless?

mattyprice4004

Curry’s have more overheads, you pay for convenience and I’m sure it’s not actually the exact same product.

Then again, the above seems fairly obvious when you think about it

mattyprice4004

Just to add, that ‘weird chunk of technology’ does exactly (to the letter) what the cable does - so I don’t see how it’s any different

macman

It won't be only £19.99 at Currys. You'll need to purchase that essential extended warranty as well, sir...

SuperHan

To be fair, Currys will also price match Amazon if it's the same product and sold by Amazon.

They have more overheads and therefore their prices will generally be higher. It's the normal online vs bricks and mortar shop argument. And just think, if he had purchased that £39 cable he would have helped towards keeping thousands of people in a job (most paid fairly and above minimum wage), contributed towards keeping a lively high street / physical shopping experience and paid more into the UK economy for infrastructure and public services.


I get the £34 remaining in his pocket is great but I have quite strong feelings on this incessant need for things to be cheap cheap cheap - especially when people can afford more and have the money they would have spent sat in a bank account doing no good - while people complain about being paid too little and having failing public services. The two are inextricably linked.


There are fair criticisms of Currys on here, but I do think nowadays there are just as many unfair ones.