Not all bad, but not great by a long shot (PC World)

Member Name: seanblee

Product:	PC World
Date:	22/06/02 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wide range of stock, Good game selection/prices

Disadvantages: Ill-informed sales staff, Brusque, unknowledgeable technicians, Overpriced PCs

As most people know, PC World are a national chain of computer stores, offering PC hardware, software and advice, together with repairs and upgrades.
Overall, their stock isn't too bad, and they're fine to deal with on their special offer products. They're also fine if you know exactly what you want.
However, their sales staff are fairly ill-informed about most things; ask them basic questions and they're fairly OK, but if you want to know anything complex, they'll have to go and find someone who actually has a clue!
Their MasterCare after-sales package (same as the whole of Dixons Retail Group) is overpriced and isn't even slightly good value. The technicians you get when you call them out are almost as ill-informed as the sales staff in the store! A guy I know once called them out when his PC failed. The engineer unplugged everything and took the PC to pieces, replacing the hard drive in the process. After reassembly it wouldn't power back up. He was all set to take it back to pieces when my friend pointed out that he hadn't plugged anything back in again! I mean, you could understand forgetting one plug, but forgetting everything?!? On top of that, the guy was reportedly downright rude, which doesn't help.
The PC systems they sell seem overpriced for what they are; you're far better off going mail-order, unless you're really desperate for the 'high street experience'!
Their software choice, however, is pretty good. It's one of their redeeming features. They've always got a wide range of titles, and they're normally quite reasonably priced too.
All in all, I don't think I'd want to be without PC World; however, I wouldn't want to buy anything major there.

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