Biggest Isn't Always Best !! (PC World)

Member Name: IainCmartin

Product:	PC World
Date:	13/08/01 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Product range

Disadvantages: Staff, prices

PC World, we probably all know it and I suppose most of us have ventured inside at one time or another.

Well, what can you say about it ?

When you go in to the typical branch you see the size of the place - it's big !! You see (probably) the neat displays and the product ranges unfolding in front of you. Then wht do you see ? Depending on the time of day you are either accosted by eager assistants determined to sell you something or, you see one or two assistants skulking in the background, averting their eyes every time a customer approaches.

OK, they've got the products so how do they compare on this score ? Well, in my opinion they score well on product range (I have seldom left unable to find the product I wanted) but generally I feel the prices are a little on the high side. I must admit however, that that comment isn't always the case - after much decision making I bought my current PC from there a year past February and I bought my printer from there last January. (I also bought my USB hub and mouse from there, but those owed much to the fact that I had some Dixons Group vouchers !!). I find that when their prices are good, they are often very very good, but when they are bad, they are awful !!

Recently I priced up some new hard drives and CDRW drives - I couldn't believe the price differential between mail order and PC World - but then PC World is convenient, you can buy today and take it home, there are the overheads to consider as well and the fact that you can return goods to a store and talk to somebody !! But, for the price conscious customer I feel that unless the goods are on special offer PC World may be too expensive.

OK, they have the products, and they might have the prices but what about the customer service. Well my general opinion would be that their staff lack real product knowledge and are poorly equipped to deal with the customers (particularly any customer who wants to ask a detai
led question). I have found answers of "you don't really need to know that" or "it shouldn't really matter" being given to questions that were important to my purchasing decisions - needless to say, in those circumstances I walked away !!

So, what can I say about PC World ?

If you need to go and the goods are at the right price then it might be the place to visit, but if you are on a budget or need advice than you may find that somewhere else is a lot more suitable.

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