tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post5714754308337138381..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: How Does PC World Stay in Business?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-68835464065581109392010-10-24T23:29:58.533+01:002010-10-24T23:29:58.533+01:00They were probably struggling to find a "65GB...They were probably struggling to find a "65GB" ipad! Seriously, agree with your comments - but for gods sake in order to write the article you know better than to sponsor Dixons (in all their guises; Currys, PC World, Curry's PC World, Dixons onlin etc) with YOUR money.<br /><br />They are truly the WORST retailer in the UK and you should have known better.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321973139491939456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-50089849980351141682010-10-19T01:38:45.680+01:002010-10-19T01:38:45.680+01:00My letter to PC World, on my new blog. Thought you...My letter to PC World, on my new blog. Thought you might approve...<br /><br />http://www.borisbacker.com/2010/10/18/dear-pc-world/Boris Backerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17611153413294232586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74716776171247437902010-09-08T20:56:13.560+01:002010-09-08T20:56:13.560+01:00I did wonder myself how PC World survive. Dreadful...I did wonder myself how PC World survive. Dreadful barns, full of overpriced rubbish.<br /><br />They don't even pretend to try: Their discounts are fake. They stock Belkin stuff. The TVs are purposely set up so that you can't compare the displays in a meaningful way. Misleading shelf tech spec information. They've been known to sell repackaged goods as new. Their Tech Guys don't listen to your clear explanations. They also assure you that they won't reformat your hard drive, and then do exactly that, charging you the earth for what you could have done at home yourself using the recovery partition. Often what you want or have seen advertised is out of stock, and apparently PCW don't use computers themselves, as you can never find out when a particular item will be back on the shelf again.<br /><br />So how do they get away with it? Careful observation indicates that PCW thrive on impatient people, impulse purchasers, people pressed for time or otherwise desperate, and those people who need their advice (God help them). Some of their customers are also distrustful or older persons, who don't like using their plastic online. There are more of all these types of people than you might think. Where I live (South London), they also get a lot of business from the large number of people who don't actually have access to plastic or even private broadband. For those that do, they make at least as much profit again per item from'0%' HP agreements. Then of course there are the little side extras like flogging your personal details as mentioned.<br /><br />I notice that the smaller an item is at PCW, the more outrageous the relative price, and the PC sector is notable for the number of cables, memory sticks and other small doodads necessary.<br /><br />I can't imagine why anyone would buy an iPad from them, but if you are that instant gratification addict, or just need some printer's ink, then from a customer service point of view, it is slightly better to have your printer beep on a weekday than a weekend.<br /><br />You do have to laugh at PCW's current tagline: 'The expert's choice'. Lie much? That's corporate chutzpah on a level with McD's insisting that their establishments are restaurants.Cling_peacheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14400427211512731834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73276764687463533742010-09-08T16:49:16.317+01:002010-09-08T16:49:16.317+01:00Found an assistant? You lucky bastard! Never happe...Found an assistant? You lucky bastard! Never happens to me in PCW.<br />Anyway, Carphone warehouse is worse, far worse.Charlie the Chumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16832064387374505668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33902550079198550672010-09-07T22:13:03.434+01:002010-09-07T22:13:03.434+01:00This is actually why I rejected Three's notion...This is actually why I rejected Three's notionally cheaper tariff for O2's: Three demanded both credit card AND bank details, along with all the credit check minutiae, even though they only charge by direct debit and the plan is a PAYG one - all in broken English from a call centre which obviously wasn't anywhere near the UK. At the end, I was told I had been put on the £15/month tariff - not the £7.50 one I had wanted all along - and that it was now "too late" for Three to correct their mistake, but I retained the option to cancel if I wanted. Of course, when I immediately called back to cancel, I was told it was still too early to cancel, so I would have to call back later...<br /><br />With O2, on the other hand, I put the SIM in, entered my credit card details on-screen, and was online. The end. Well worth an extra £2.50 per month, even if it didn't get me WiFi access in a lot of places as well!jas88https://www.blogger.com/profile/05563592458314214904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-62510479747605205552010-09-07T17:59:31.945+01:002010-09-07T17:59:31.945+01:00well i would say congrats on buying your shiny new...well i would say congrats on buying your shiny new toy but sadly i just cant.<br /><br />you ask how a company like pc world can stay in business and i'm sorry to answer because of people like yourself, it makes no difference how pretty an item is, what matters is if it can do the job required and sadly the i-products fall in to the former category, sure they look nice but i'd rather have access to all of the internet than access to part of it and i'd rather have the freedom to run the apps i wanted not be told which ones i'm allowed to buy.<br /><br />i hope your website doesn't use "flash" because if it does there will be no new posts appearing unless you get to a cyber cafe or find someone with a far cheaper and much better tablet computer that does a proper job rather than look pretty.<br /><br />oh and btw rumour says ipad 2 will be shown in January so you just bought something that is not only overpriced and under equipped for the real world but its about to be outdated too.<br /><br />welcome to pc world.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12284648572695471892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-18055853713980913052010-09-06T11:28:56.790+01:002010-09-06T11:28:56.790+01:00HAY Crater face! Shut your mouth and give your zit...HAY Crater face! Shut your mouth and give your zits a chance!Furor Teutonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13856575077967523322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70021158603080379312010-09-06T09:55:54.308+01:002010-09-06T09:55:54.308+01:00You state that PC World is "staffed by acne-r...You state that PC World is "staffed by acne-ridden, monosyllabic teenagers". Perhaps you might consider the offence and upset you and others cause to people who suffer from acne by trotting out this nasty rhetoric. You wouldn't write "blind, monosyllabic", or "black, monosyllabic", or "female, monosyllabic". So why do you feel it is acceptable to mock people with acne, who often feel extremely self-conscious and intense psychological pain.John Slingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05519979148876538578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75481981131948193692010-09-05T20:52:52.896+01:002010-09-05T20:52:52.896+01:00BBC Basic IS state of the art! :)BBC Basic IS state of the art! :)LibCynchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13025602133865137272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25463079294801414092010-09-05T20:07:24.365+01:002010-09-05T20:07:24.365+01:00Is 'buggered' a term you should be using.H...Is 'buggered' a term you should be using.However good critique of an awful establishment, if you think Tumbridge Wells is bad you should try the Lakeside(Essex)branch, there you can lose the will to live.It is a pity that a director of the DSG Group cant read your comments as they are probably unable to use a computer as no training is required to work there.Lauchlan McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01589914629555123064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19902918554975300662010-09-05T18:00:07.893+01:002010-09-05T18:00:07.893+01:00The only good thing they have ever done is to unma...<i>The only good thing they have ever done is to unmask the ghastly Glitter being</i> (elby)<br /><br />Thta's because they snoop through your computers when you put them in for repair.<br /><br />Remember that <a href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Computer-Repair-Shops-Illegally-Accessing-Personal-Data-From-Customers-Hard-Drives-Sky-News-Investigation/Video/200907415343630?lid=VIDEO_15343630_ComputerRepairShopsIllegallyAccessingPersonalDataFromCustomersHardDriv" rel="nofollow">Sky News investigation last year</a>?Steven_Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05029437876479574883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82628309657042653752010-09-05T17:53:23.628+01:002010-09-05T17:53:23.628+01:00It's safe to say that PC World is pretty awful...It's safe to say that PC World is pretty awful, even by the low standards of the high street today. I don't think your depiction of their staff is entirely fair, but I would say they have a horrible penchant for endlessly pestering their customers. If I want help or want to buy a product, I will tell them I want to do that. They don't need to come up to me every 2 minutes asking that. You do get some staff who are excellent, but they are hard to find.<br /><br />Service standards tend to be higher from Monday to Friday, I would say. You get a lot more teenagers and such come the weekend. Nothing wrong with that, but many of them are there simply to earn their crust. Mind you, considering the pittance most service sector staff get paid, I'm not surprised the sector is plagued by disinterested and apathetic workers.<br /><br />I really must find out if Gordon Brown has ever said anything positive regarding PC World. If he has, that would explain why the place appears to be cursed.The Grim Reaperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15190441504002736960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34045871260040114382010-09-05T16:41:16.000+01:002010-09-05T16:41:16.000+01:00Furor Teutonicus said..
I have had similar. At th...Furor Teutonicus said..<br /><br />I have had similar. At the time someone said "Oh just invent one. They will never know, and it will mess the system up."<br /><br />Working on the adage that "garbage in = garbage out" I always misquote my details in some way. Saves a lot pf arguments in the shop!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12073019640077080501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33631590084415622222010-09-05T15:24:55.366+01:002010-09-05T15:24:55.366+01:00Your marital status? FFS. If I get any question in...Your marital status? FFS. If I get any question in a form which none of their business, it is answered quite simply with<br /><br />"None of your business". <br /><br />Easy really. If it means no transaction, then fuck 'em - someone else will have my money, that's for sure. I hope you asked the assistant what his marital status was, and how many credit cards he has? <br /><br />Mind you, anyone who shops at PC World is asking for it. The only good thing they have ever done is to unmask the ghastly Glitter beingElby the Beserkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15060519682739666145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-71555673041214543252010-09-05T15:10:48.149+01:002010-09-05T15:10:48.149+01:00(Richard.Blogger) "The private sector just tr...(Richard.Blogger) <i>"The private sector just treats you as the holder of a credit card."</i><br />Which wonderful state-run computer shop do you recommend then?Little Black Sambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16699227938165106710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-59300531592300839142010-09-05T15:00:40.807+01:002010-09-05T15:00:40.807+01:00Yep - PC World are crapYep - PC World are crapAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65361491312278378482010-09-05T14:26:42.591+01:002010-09-05T14:26:42.591+01:00I have had similar. At the time someone said "...I have had similar. At the time someone said "Oh just invent one. They will never know, and it will mess the system up."<br /><br />THAT totaly misses the POINT!<br /><br />What the HEL and WHY the Hel should they need/get my address?Furor Teutonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13856575077967523322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53142070975577340792010-09-05T13:07:27.164+01:002010-09-05T13:07:27.164+01:00If you think PC World is bad, you should try buyin...If you think PC World is bad, you should try buying something from a Screwfix shop. Their systems won't allow you to pay unless you give them your address.. even if you are paying in cash!<br /><br />Charlatans the lot of 'em.chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12265417776531745914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80362002886495238902010-09-05T12:40:33.471+01:002010-09-05T12:40:33.471+01:00Now I understand why you need an Executive Assista...Now I understand why you need an Executive Assistant to keep the world at arm's length.<br />Most companies ask for apparently unnecessary information to assist their marketing and advertising people with selling you more stuff. Vodafone information probably = commission for the company.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87755222227103533772010-09-05T11:50:49.948+01:002010-09-05T11:50:49.948+01:00"How Does PC World Stay in Business?"
B..."How Does PC World Stay in Business?"<br /><br />Beats me.<br /><br />I use Misco, for better pre and after sales service, technical support and prompt delivery.<br /><br />Your description of PC World matches my own experience exactly.<br /><br />As they say on Ebay feedback - AVOID!<br />...Twighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698620636313191152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70688038208734184962010-09-05T11:49:12.274+01:002010-09-05T11:49:12.274+01:00He then asked how many credit cards I had. Er, non...<i> He then asked how many credit cards I had. Er, none of your business, I said. </i><br /><br />A bit slow on the draw are we not?<br /><br />The bastard would have been nursing a broken nose and a bucket full of teeth at the "marital status" stage if it had been me.Furor Teutonicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13856575077967523322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8777629341868447372010-09-05T10:26:49.551+01:002010-09-05T10:26:49.551+01:00Andrew, But I wasn't buying it on credit. And ...Andrew, But I wasn't buying it on credit. And the monthly charge for the SIM was on direct debit, and I am an existing Vodafone customer. So there was no justification for obtaining this information.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11401351925121290372010-09-05T10:07:22.517+01:002010-09-05T10:07:22.517+01:00They actually used to have better trained people a...They actually used to have better trained people at PC World, but they found it was cheaper to drive them out and use masses of part time staff. The normal zero hours contracts etc.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08980634129484815656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-85813914349458543852010-09-05T02:49:39.974+01:002010-09-05T02:49:39.974+01:00In a rash moment while in sixth form, I decided I ...In a rash moment while in sixth form, I decided I needed a job. So, I got myself down to Currys (owned by the same folks who own PC Worlds, and the two stores often share stock) and got a job selling and working on the tills. So for a few months at the end of 2007/start of 2008, I was the precisely the employee you bemoan. I knew nothing about electrical items, I'm sure I had a spot of acne, and yes, when the computer asked me to take information, I did so.<br /><br />But there seem to be fairly obvious reasons for doing so. If someone's buying something on credit, we clearly needed to do a credit check. If someone's buying a television, we were legally required to take certain information for licensing purposes. And yet people like you always get huffy about it: as if 1. Currys would make sale of the item contingent on receiving the information if it wasn't a legal/financial necessity, or 2. The individual employee is going to sell you the item without taking the information that they are contractually obliged to take. It's their job. They have to do it.<br /><br />Ultimately, I was always more willing to help customers who were polite and didn't act as if evrything was my fault. It's inevitable that in an organisation like Currys or PC World, not every salesperson can know all there is to know about laptops - but if you're polite to staff, they're a) generally willing to help you acquire the information you want and b) more likely to help find you a cheaper way of getting what you want.<br /><br />Urrrrgh, rude customers.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10145091509113709137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47515134219004161542010-09-05T00:30:35.947+01:002010-09-05T00:30:35.947+01:00Iain,
My 80 year old mother, who has never typed ...Iain,<br /><br />My 80 year old mother, who has never typed a letter or used a computer in her life, has fallen in love with the iPad we bought her a couple of weeks ago from PC World in Preston.<br /><br />Before you go any further in you "dissing" of PC World, may I take this opportunity to remind you <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Kalms,_Baron_Kalms" rel="nofollow">who</a> started the business....<br /><br />Yes....<b>that</b> former treasurer of the Conservative Party, Iain....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com