I recently had a surprise when a company told me: "You don't want to buy that here." And the company was right.
Some time ago I built myself a web server for next to no money. I bought all the bits that I didn't have lying around in the shed from PC World, for the princely sum of a couple of hundred quid.
This week, I decided to build myself a 64bit PC, because there's more and more software dropping on my desk that's 64bit only - which makes it kind of hard to review on my assorted x86 hardware. So off I went to PC World in Norwich.
I collared a helpful-looking chap, whom I won't name for obvious reasons. I told him that I wanted to build a 64bit PC, and asked what deals they had on the bits I needed. His response was a little surprising to say the least, since it was along the lines of: "To be honest, you're probably best going somewhere else - we don't stock very much so it could work out expensive." He suggested dropping by Maplin, which has recently moved onto the same retail park.
So I took his advice ended up at Maplin. Half an hour later I was on my way out of the door with all the bits I needed to build myself a spanking new 64bit box... for less than 250 quid.
So well done, Mr. Anonymous Good Guy at PC World - the advice you gave me was spot on, and I'll definitely be back when it's time to buy something that it's sensible to buy from you.
And well done also to the assistant at Maplin who knew his special offers so well that he kept saying: "This one would normally be the cheapest, but actually there's an offer on this better one that makes it cheaper."
David Cartwright is technical editor at Techworld.
Comments
tom said: Its a bit twisted to mention that it was the Norwich branch involved especially when you charmingly herald your blog as Ten out of ten for honesty PC WorldIts what we now call the Tory Osborne technique
ITiot Detector and Gary said: Maplin and PC Wd are two of the very places where you can walk in a shop and pick up a piece of kit Of course there are cheaper online alternatives but thats not what this blog is about Its refreshing I think to hear that someone in IT retail sales actually has the balls to recommend a customer goes to a competitors store Lets just hope his boss doesnt find out - although I wouldnt be surprised if someone at PC Wd Norwich gets their P45 in the next few days
Gary said: I also discovered recently that Maplin are very pricey Strange blog that advertises PCW as cheapWaitrose are cheaper than Harrods Come come sir
ITiot Detector said: You are a dream sucker mateMaplin are truly extortionateIf you want a proper deal then buy on-line from the usual suspects that pro builders useNever heard of a Google searchTech editor for Titworld is more accurate for a guy who want to show off that he has belatedly stumbled onto 69 bit pcingAnd can we all expect you to be soon sucking on the amazing Vista cream tube