Five PC Hardware Items You Shouldn’t Buy Online

by on Oct 2, 2008 | 6 comments

Generally speaking, buying computer hardware online is always cheaper than the store. The reason for this is because you skip out on tax, the middleman and so on.

However there is some tech hardware that you should never buy online if at all possible no matter how much you’d save.

Monitors

When purchasing any monitor online there is always the possibility it won’t work when you receive it. Or it will work but have things wrong with it. A classic example of this is the "dead pixel policy" many online retailers impose. NewEgg for example states you must have at least 8 dead pixels else they absolutely will not accept a return for any LCD monitor sold.

The vast majority of in-store retailers on the other hand will accept a return no-questions-asked – even if you just didn’t like it. However watch out for "restocking fees".

Keyboards

If you plan on spending any more than $20 on a computer keyboard, buy it in a store. You are going to see – and moreover feel – things with the keyboard you that you can’t experience online via a product photo gallery.

Mice

Yes you will spend about $10 more for any mouse you buy in a store. However there’s only one reason you do this – the return policy.

Most modern-day mice come with blister-pack style packaging even inside a box. Ridiculous? Yes. But true. At least when you purchase from a store you can bring it back with the packaging all messed up (you have to just to open the !@#$%@ thing) if it doesn’t work or you don’t like it.

Any networking gear

Of all the computer stuff I’ve purchased over the years, personal experience has taught me never to buy any networking hardware online because it has the highest probability of arriving DOA. This includes modems, routers, cabling, hubs, switches, etc.

Sound systems

The obvious reasons you don’t want to buy this stuff online is because:

  1. It’s bulky.
  2. You can’t hear it before you buy it (unless a friend or neighbor has it and you heard it there first).
  3. Return shipping costs will be high if you have to send it back and the retailer makes you pay to ship (which a lot of them do).
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  • http://myexplodingbrain.com/ Steven Van Tilburg

    I agree with everything except the network gear. I’ve purchased a lot of network stuff over the years online. As with all purchases, a reputable retailer makes a big difference.

    Not exactly PC related, but the thing I’ve had the biggest issue purchasing online is cell phones. Both times I’ve purchased cell phones online, I’ve had to exchange them because they were somehow defective.

  • Martyn

    Bought online – routers, cabling, monitor etc not had a single problem, not even a single dead pixel. As long as you read customer reviews before u buy you’ll most likely get a good product.
    So far i have never had to take any item that a have bought for my computer back. I did build it myself and sourced all components online except for mouse and keyboard, due to the ‘feel’ factor.

  • http://www.twitter.com/andrewpearce Drew

    I agree with Martyn here.

    Also, with regards mice and keyboards – you can still save money by purchasing online obviously. But if you want to check it out first and feel it to be sure you’re comfortable with it, then just go to the store first to do so.

    LCD’s and sound systems though I would most likely get in store though. Mainly due to shipping costs when buying online. I was prepared to buy a Logitech 5.1 Surround Sound computer speaker package online due to the savings in cost, but when working out the difference plus shipping, purchasing from the store was the most logical solution.

    Unless there is a huge difference in price and in the return policy between the online and the ‘brick and mortar’ stores, I still purchase online whatever I can (providing my staff discount doesn’t get me the item cheaper at work) :-)

  • Jester

    I do not agree with the routers; especially for linksys. Most in-store retailers sell the wrt54g and gs but they do not sell the GL. If you want to use open source firmware like dd-wrt the GL is the best way to go as it does not use the cruddy vxworks chip.

    I have also bought mice and monitors online and never had a problem. I do agree with keyboards as they are the most important ergonomical part of any desktop system. You really need to feel out a good keyboard that is comfortable with your typing style.

  • Ben

    I actually bought my last monitor on bestbuy.com and picked it up at the store – $50 savings by purchasing online. So it can really pay to shop around.

  • william p kervin

    I buy everything online, and have saved, saved. In 10 yrs. have had a DOA HD (maxtor) and some generic RAM. Things I look for are price matching, MIR’s, and good reviews. I used to insure, get special shipping etc.(all those little extras) but no longer, and save even more money (at my risk). I forgot to mention I mess around with computers for a hobby so probably buy more than the average person. If I only had one computer, I would buy it from a local store. I only bought one item in the states, which came UPS, took a 2 month, cost an arm and leg in extra fees on the shipping. Anyway I stick to Canada and the main store I deal with is great.

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