PC World (PC World)

Member Name: chris212

Product:	PC World
Date:	23/06/09 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Store most items PC related

Disadvantages: High price - Staff a bit hit and miss

PC World is the United Kingdoms biggest retailer that specialise in selling computers or computer related products. PC World comes under the DSi Group of store chains, that also owns Currys and Dixons. Normally you can find a store near you as they are normally located on all big cities and towns. In Cardiff where I live, there is a large store located on Newport Road, also with a smaller store situated in Newport itself.

The store portrays it self as the leader in the computer products area. Although in the large store not all of the store space is taken up with either computer or laptops. This may be Ok it you are looking for products other than a PC, but a ain if you are looking for a laptop or a desktop. As one of the reasons I prefer going to a PC World store or anyother store is to actually view thr product. As it is not the same, viewing the product on the website to actaully viewing the product with my own eyes.

In terms of the other products that are avalibale to buy in store range from products that can be bought to go inside the computer, such as the a CD drive or RAM stick; to printers and scanners.

One of the problems that i have with the store is the price of the products that are sold. While the computer and laptops may be cheap while on special offer, the other products are not that cheap. The problem that PC World has is that the store is often under cut by online stores, that offer products cheap, such an example is the Ipod Nano, that is sold for £106, while on Amazon the Ipod is sold for £97.

The way that PC World tries to combat this is by allowing people to order or save products on the website to be collect in the nearest store. Although the prices in the website are not the cheapest. One of the problems with the click and collect system, I have found is trying to find the place in the store where you collect the good. As a number of times I have ordered goods that I want to collect, gone to the desk that is clearly labelled as the place to collect, only to be told that there is another place to go and collect. When I have actually gone to the right place there is a button that you have to press to alert staff that you are there to collect. Half the time that I have gone to collect the goods that I have ordered, no one has come to give me the good and I have had to go and find a member of staff that can help me, which I though was unacceptable.

In terms of the staff, the majority of the staff try to be helpful, but do not always give the best advice. As while they may have all the will in the world to help you, staff members need to have a certain level of knowledge of the products that they are trying to sell. In terms of the stores nearest to us, strangly it appears that the older staff know more about the products that the younger members of staff.

There are other members of staff that are part of a specialist group, The Tech Guys. The Tech Guys are the people that have the indepth specialist knowledge to on how to solve any problems that you may have and the best way to solve the problem. These are also the people that do any services on your computer such as upgrade parts or do a health check. But I cannot comment on whether the service that the Tech Guys provide is any good, as so far I have not used the any of the services that they provide.

In terms of the store, I would recommend it to a friend, as usually they will store any product item that you are looking for. Although the avalability comes at a price, as some of the time you will be paying more than the internet sit. But I would advise a person to at least give the store a chnace.

Summary: Would advise to at least give a chance