Avoid if you want something specific or a fast delivery service (microdirect.co.uk)

Member Name: bored_at_home

Product:	microdirect.co.uk
Date:	22/09/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap

Disadvantages: Low stock, frequently changing availibility, poor service

Microdirect is a computer shop based in central manchester that sells computer parts and accessories (printers, cables etc.). The credit crunch must be hitting them as they now sell fridges and ovens.

These guys are very cheap for the majority of their range but their levels of service are constantly flawed. I live close to their store and when you know what you're talking about and are prepared to walk in and haggle over whats actually in stock then they provide a useful service. If youre after something specific or don't know what you're talking about when it comes to PCs then generally I would not recommend them. Their stock fluctuates rapidly and in the 15 minute drive there I can find that even if I write a few things down that were in stock I'm left with my last choice. Their range seems to get smaller and smaller and they quickly discontinue stuff due to their small warehouse.

My most recent altercation with them involved ordering from the web by next day when I was busy which just went from bad to worse. Completely ignored by email and phone by customer services and no tracking information provided for my next day order (that costs more). I went down to their store at the end of the working day that my order should have arrived. They confirmed they hadnt even sent the order and would have sent it a few hours after I got there to be delivered tomorrow. To confirm, they don't just say "Next Day", they say the exact date that your order will arrive on before you buy. No explanation as to why or an apology, I had to jaunt between two stores that are 15 minutes apart to sort the problem out and I have to keep ringing some random guy at the original store I went to for a delivery refund.

Everytime I have attempted to return something I have come across problems. If you return something that they decide isn't faulty then they take a chunk of the price. I ordered a power supply that constantly short circuitted because it was badly constructed that they refused to accept back. I Had to pay a fortune to return a faulty motherboard that they insisted was fine and their cheap unbranded memory was incompatible with some motherboards.

Would avoid in future and not recommend as the first port of call.

Summary: Small, limited online retailer