Currying disfavour... (Currys)

Member Name: Andyc

Product:	Currys
Date:	22/06/03 (160 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Big name, Local, Competetive prices

Disadvantages: ZERO product knowledge, Poor customer service, Bad delivery/installation

Recently I've been looking to buy a new PC for my new flat.

I'm tight-fisted at the best of times, so was sure to check out all the local stores for the best deal etc. One I could get cheaply that did what I wanted, with the right package, right accessories, software etc. (I'm sure I'll write a review of my PC once I've had it for a while!)

Anyway, I finally decided on my local Curry's megastore, because I could choose what I wanted and walk away with it... surely, it being a megastore and all.

Wrong.

I'd also chosen a big name store, as I knew they'd have the products on display, so I could touch and look at them and ask questions of the staff.

Wrong.

The Curry's staff knowledge of their products was shockingly bad. I know it's a cliche, asking about a product and the helpful assistant just reading you the label on the machine... but it was just like that. The poor guy looked so bamboozled to be asked a question, it looked like he'd never even seen a PC before. That's fine, he can't be expected to know ALL the store's products, so he called on a colleague... who made it seem like we were the biggest inconvenience in the world, asking questions, probably as he didn't know the answers either. I found this unbelievable. Here I am, about to part with the best part of £1000 for goods from their store and I'm treated like an irritating insect.

When, some 20 minutes later, we located someone in the store who did know a PC from a Police Constable, we fumbled through our basic questions. It's not like I was asking how many centimetres of cable came with it. All I wanted to know was what software it came with... hardly rocket-science. Eventually, we got there... ish.

Fortunately, for them, I had some idea of what I wanted and the products themselves were fine and not unreasonably priced.

So, when parting with my hard-earned cash

the previously clueless sales-assistant launched into the lengthy speel on the after-care extended guarantee. 'Surprising' how Curry's have trained him in this diatribe, yet neglected to teach him anything about the items he's selling... an indication of their priorities perhaps?

After checking on warehouses etc. it turns out I can't have my PC today. I CAN have the printer and monitor though, great use they are without the PC... in FACT I HAVE to take them now, as they're NOT in the warehouse, so I can't just have it all delivered in one go, oh no. That'd be too logical.

But I digress. Displayed on posters and running on the PC's screens in the section there were signs and displays saying how Curry's would deliver AND install for free if you spent over £300. Yet, when I get to the till £11.95 is added to my bill. Once again, some lengthy explanations (and elementary reading classes for the staff) later, the delivery charge is deducted from the bill... but I have to install it myself. Personally, this is fine. I quite like setting up my new equipment on my own... but why advertise a service/offer, if you have no intention of actually fulfilling it?

So... monitor and printer in hand, I left Curry's some cash lighter and wondering why after all that time a) I had no PC and b) why the heck I'd chosen Curry's in the first place. Not a mistake I'll be making again.

Summary: