This post is really to warn people shopping for computers in PC World to be careful. This is a blog, and I fully expect it to rank Well for the terms: PC World Ireland and PC World Blanchardstown…
I bought a computer from PC World Blanchardstown last year. I wanted the computer and it had the specs I needed; plus the thought of having a brand new computer really appealed to me. But I didn’t get a brand new computer, I got a display model. Thats right, I wanted a new computer, I was told they had it in stock, and I was expecting to get same, I had even paid for it, but I didn’t get it. I was told that they didn’t have any new machines left… a contradiction to what my sales guy had told me.
I went back to them a week later becasue one of the cd drives made a lot of noise and I wasn’t happy. They told me I could bring it back (which was fair enough) or they would offer me a e50 gift voucher. I took the voucher and decided to live with my display model and that is fine with me. They offered me something and I took it. Full Stop. I am not complaining about my result, just telling people to be very careful with what they think they are buying in PC World, and actually what they get…
Wow,
I had the same experience with PC world in Limerick. I went in, money in hand (literally) to buy a Laserjet 1320n, a cool 329 euros. I saw one on display, and the salesman, who obviously didn’t want to be there, went looking for a boxed version of it.
When he came back, he condescended to tell me that the only one they had there was the display model.
Okay, I said. Is there a discount for that?
No.
Riiight, I said. Well, what about ink? Does it come with ink?
Yes, but a sampler, it only does 1000 pages. The full ones do 5000.
So I’ll need to buy an extra cartridge?
Yes.
How much?
95 Euros.
Now the price is 424
Fine, I say, box it up and lets go.
He saunters, saunters off to the backroom and produces a box. Honestly, this guy couldn’t have given a shit. He didn’t look me in the eye once.
He comes back, and starts boxing up the printer.
No ink cartridge, he says.
OK
Oh, and you’ll have to buy a usb cable, another 20 Euros.
Really? Why don’t they come with the printer?
He shrugs.
Right, I say, give me a discount on the printer, and we’ll see.
I have to ask the manager.
Fine.
He saunters away again, and talks to a fair haired lady for five minutes.
No discount. We can order you another printer in, but we don’t do discounts.
How long will that take?
A week or two, or something.
Screw that. Goodbye.
These guys passed up a 400 euro sale by simply not giving enough of a shit to listen to the customer, who, unusually, knew what he wanted and had the cash ready to buy it there and then. No coaxing or salesmanship required—just a little care and courtesy, and a flexibility to move inventory.
What about people who aren’t as motivated to buy? These people are losing PC world a fortune.
But I don’t blame the ignorant Indian salesman—I blame PC World. Obviously these guys aren’t on comission, they’re just drones who hate their jobs, and its not in their interests to sell PC World’s stock for them.
So fuck them, businesses like that don’t last through hard recessions. Things are fine now because everyone has loads of cash. But let things slow down, and we shall see how PC World fares.
The display model is still there as of this weekend.
Steve
Comment by Steve — 24 August, 2006 @ 11:50
I had trouble with PC World in Southampton,My friend wanted a laptop and as she doesent speak english very well I went with her. She wanted a laptop that would allow her to talk via the internet to her daughter in America. The Salesman said the laptop would be loaded with all the latest software that she would need to use it in english and also the Russian language, All lies just to make tha sale. I will never go to PC world again.
Comment by bob coombs — 26 August, 2006 @ 07:59
my boyfriend bought a laptop from pc world for a gift to me,the sales person writes “28 days refund”at the back of the receipt.i went to store in leopardstown and willing to get refund,the manager told me that i can’t get refund because i opened it and he also told me that the person who signed the receipt he doesn’t know.there is no this person works in this store.i said that it has to be a refund per the writing at the back of receipt….at the end that manager said if i don’t leave the store he will call Garda.then he called Garda to let me go.this is the worst experience for me since i came to Ireland.i am a foreign girl, never met the terrible things like this,i will never go back PC world again and also let my friends know my understanding…it was really upset me…
Comment by Susan — 12 August, 2007 @ 19:13
Yeah P.C world Limerick again.Bought a new laptop €900
and what do I get with it Microsoft Works.That software is as old as the salesman who was running around trying to look after five customers at the same time. Definitely on some kind of commission
Comment by Thomas — 25 August, 2007 @ 00:53
When I went to buy a camera in pc world they informed they didnt have any of the one I wanted in stock, only the display model was left. After inspecting the piece for cosmetic damage and to ensure the thing worked I decided to go for that one and got it at a reduced rate, 15% off I think and even got the memory card they neglected to remove from it.
So its not all bad but i would however advise that people steer clear of the cover plan service. Having to deal with them to make a claim is tremendiously painful.
Comment by strat — 6 September, 2007 @ 14:59
Bought a Gaming PC in PC world Limerick for 1600euro. Games kept freezing up with a display error when using intensive graphics. This was under Vista, installed XP on the machine and still same problem with graphics card. So obviously a problem with Graphics card or PSU to system, all other checks passed etc etc.
Re-installed Vista and returned machine to settings as I had bought it.
Brought system back to PC world and wanted it to be repaired (1 month old) and was told that it wasn’t covered under warranty as I had installed another OS and I couldn’t get my money back because it was just over 28 days old.
Customer “care” person was Enda, who was a rude and pompous individual who clearly didn’t want to help in any way.
Tried contacting PC world on numerous occasions on phone 1890-700001 number to no avail.
STAY AWAY FROM PC WORLD! THEY ARE TRICKSTERS!
What can I do now? I bought a Gaming PC for 1600 euro and can’t play games on it?
Comment by Rev — 6 October, 2007 @ 14:26
Hi Rev,
That is a shocking story. I know they say your guarantee is voided if you install a new operating system, but I would look into it further if I was you. What companies say and what the law is are often two completely different things.
I think in the States they recently brought in a law to this effect. Get in touch with the consumer rights people and see what your options are.
Ro
Comment by notnem — 31 October, 2007 @ 12:47
I bought a desktop PC in Powerworld last year, it started off at around €500 however, but the time I purchased the software, a few games, and a printer, and nortons, I was paying over €1200. The shop assistant asked me to take out a 5 yr cover plan on the computer, and said that I could throw the computer down the stairs in 5 years time and claim a new one on the cover plan, it cost a lot of money for the cover plan. As I was leaving the shop, I said to the assistant that I will be back in a few years with a smashed up computer that I threw down the stairs and she laughed and told me to do that. What a load of rubbish, I bet they would replace the computer with no questions asked too. At that time I wished I had a little recorder on me…Seriously, Is this the training they get?? Get some decent managers in there, get some graduates and train them up, some good business graduates and rid of those crap staff.
Comment by Ann Marie — 13 November, 2007 @ 17:29
I stumbled across your blog while looking for PC World in Ireland - and I couldn’t agree more with your comments.
I recently walked out of PC World in Limerick, having told the assistant that I wanted to buy over €1200 worth of laptop, mouse and wireless router.
I thought that was enough to be spending, and - more importantly - is what ALL I needed! But, was he satisfied? No. He badgered me about insurance; spyware, virus checkers and bloody adapter sockets! I told him in plain English (after I has said twice, “I don’t want anything else”) that if he continued I would walk out - leaving all the items on his desk.
“Oh,” he said, “I just have to do my job and my boss wouldn’t like it if I didn’t tell you about the other offers we have”.
At which point, he continued to remind me about the value of insurance. At which point, I left the shop and went to Maplin around the corner. I wonder if his boss liked that??
Comment by Stephen P — 27 December, 2007 @ 20:50
PC World hits hard times:
http://www.pcworld.ie
Comment by pchelptech — 4 January, 2008 @ 15:06
I went into PC World at Airside park, Dublin.
I was after a PS/2 to USB adaptor, as I had mistakenly bought the wrong keyboard, and didn’t want to buy another one. When I got there, I asked the sales person if they stocked the item.
I got a long lecture about how such a thing doesn’t exist. I am a hardware technician, and this is something that I know to be available. I said to the guy that I knew them to exist, and that it was OK if he simply didn’t stock them.
He continues in the most amazingly condescending way to inform me that I am totally wrong, that USB architecture speed couldn’t possibly work on PS/2 architecture speed. (WTF?) He told me that it was possible to plug a USB keyboard into a PS/2 slot, but not the other way around. When I laughed and said (Again) that I was sure that they exist, he (again) told me that I was wrong, that there is no such thing.
So… I walked out, went next door to Harvey Normans, spoke to an excellent sales guy called Damien, and bought a PS/2 to USB adaptor. Took all of 2 minutes.
So. Sale lost to PC World. Future sales lost too… I do all the hardware and software buying for my company, guess which PC company just got erased from my list? Not only was their sales guy wrong, rude and unhelpful, he also went out of his way to be patronising as he told me I was wrong… when in fact, I was right.
Ah well… lesson learnt. Stay away from PC World. Who needs that kind of obnoxious service in their lives?
Comment by Ezra — 11 May, 2008 @ 15:14