Only good for browsing! (PC World)

Member Name: fluffypup

Product:	PC World
Date:	22/07/00 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for browsing when girlfriend's getting her nails done

Disadvantages: Customer services, technical support & prices

I've read all the opinions about PC World and experienced their products and after sales-(non)care. I totally agree and relate to what everyone has said.

PC World are only interesting in taking you if you are seemed to be buying one of their top of the range PC's or other major purchases. They aren't interested if you want to buy a PC game, book etc, because they probably don't get commission. It seems to me that they get commission for every major purchase which probably includes selling extended warranties on products! I might be wrong?

As for their customer care and returns desk. It has to be the most uninspiring places in the whole store. They must have a tough job and I feel sorry for them, because they seem to be undertrained and get loads of abuse. It's not their fault they haven't been properly trained. It is PC World's organisation's problem! Complaining the the ex-school leaver behind the desk won't solve the problem. Complaining to the manager by official letter which is also CC'ed to the head office will probablt work. Either that or shop elsewhere because what we all seem to be getting short changed. There are other smaller PC retailers both mail order and lurking locally which can match PC World, but have customer care and products which work first time every time (Example: IT computers Wellow Hants). They know if something goes wrong it looks bad on them. A huge organisation like PC World its just a small ripple in a huge ocean to them.

Ok, I shamefully admit to buying a PC from PC World about 5 years ago - before I knew anything about PCs. I bought a scanner for my parents for Xmas about 2 years back. When I opened it the scanner lead was too short to reach the PC. It was about 1 metre in length. I went back to PC World to enquire about a longer lead. The answer I got back was "We don't do them!", in which I replied "Why don't you do them?". In which
the bod replied, "Its got something to do with the resolution problems if the lead is extended. Hence we don't do them". In a sterner voice, "So what am I meant to do? I've got a scanner we can't use because the lead is too short!". Which got a non-sympathic "Sorry! But we know there are manufacturers around which make and sell longer leads!" By which time I was annoyed and fed up and left! All we had to do was rearrange the PC equipment to suit the scanner either that or get a new computer desk!

So the long and the short of it is; if buying a PC or other equipment from PC World is to get them to install, get it running and operating in the store before you take it home. If it doesn't work then you know and they know its not your fault. If they refuse, take your custom elsewhere. On reliability terms for electronic devices, if something will go wrong it will fail usually within a year or fail within about 3-5 years. Its called the bath tub curve of reliability. So warranties during 2-3 years aren't really worth it, unless you have an accident with whatever you bought.

Another tip when complaining in PC World is try to do it during a week day when its not so busy. You don't have to stand in a queue for hours waiting to get served your temper goes up as well as other peoples - its not benefitual! When complaining make sure you raise your voice and try to be polite as possible to the member of staff (because its not their fault that it doesn't work). If it doesn't work even after you've got fobbed off with some excuse remember the Sales of Goods Act and demand your money back if not satisfied.

Finally, to end on a good note. PC World does have its benefits you can browse around the store whilst your girlfriend is off having her nails done. The staff know that you're not going to buy an expensive piece of hardware so you'll be left alone for that whole hour.

Summary: