Computer Stores in your area?

[highrisemech]

Hi everybody,
I'm getting a little curious. I live in a major US city
and we have quite a number of computer stores in my area (about 5). One in particular,
I mean this place is like computer heaven there are toys there that I have not even bothered or have had the time to tinker with. One item in particular and some of you may be familiar with it is a a digital amplifier that is the size of a cdrom drive and goes into an open bay. The front of it looks like my sterio for crying out loud and it sounded great price $68.00 It does hook up to the IdE don't ask me what it does lol. The walls
are lined with shelves loaded with anything from fans, cases, cables, keyboards ,mouse almost anything you can think of plus there is a glass case the length of a wall with used and new parts ig.. motherboards, cpu's, video cards. Then there is Comp USA which usually has any particular software that is on the market. Do you have stores like this in your area? Or do you rely on mail orders and long drives? What is it like getting what you need where you live?

[Gintaras]

In my area are: CompUSA and MicroCenter.

But I don't go there anymore because everything is way overpriced, rarely there is something worth to buy if it comes with rebates only.

Regarding software, I have much too much- too much than the time to play and to learn everything.

[HAL9000]

Well, I help to run a computer shop, so I rely on distributors for all my new toys.

[audiyoda]

Well we have CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Gateway Country for the big national boys. We've got a local shop called DigiLink that does a fairly good job with custom builds...but they are still lacking in many accounts.

Most of the small, local shops are idiots. This guy right down the street from me is so behind the times that his current top of the line offering is a P4 1.5 and T-Bird 1.0 Gig. I asked him about the XP and he looked in this ratty old parts book and couldn't find it -- after he went into the back for another customer I check the price list he referenced -- dated Spring 2001. I honestly don't know how he stays in business -- sells primarily to the older folks in the area. I guess everyone's got to have a niche.

-Craig

[mc2phat]

When I lived in Baltimore, there was a shop every three feet. I found two that I frequented. They were honest, and cut me a small break after I bought so much from them. I still used mwave extensively though. In this part of Missouri, every decent small store has switched to doing something else (i.e. refilling toner cartridges)or gone tits up, and the big ones are ripoffs. I especially like seeing those crappy five dollar Avance Logic sound cards for $39.95. So, it's online all the way for me here. I haven't checked them all, there may be a good shop or two here, I just have too much going on to drive around.

regards,
-phfat

[azscary]

We also have CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Gateway Country. I happen to live less than a 1/4 mile from Fry's Electronics. They are not specifically a computer store, but they do have a LARGE selection of Brand Name computers and peripherals as well as Rows, upon rows, upon rows of computer parts, cases, drives, memory, chips, boards, monitors and everything so you can build your own. You have to watch what you buy though. They deal in new and Manuf refurbished stuff. They also deal in discontinued. If you see one particular item with a whole lot of "returned" stickers on them then RUN AWAY and go to a diffferent manufacturer or model.

[Gintaras]

I don't even call Best Buy or Circuit City as computer store- these are general electronics stores.

[LawyerRon]

I'm close to Best Buy, CompScrewSA, Frey's, ect., as well as a chain called PC Club. PC Club caters to builders but I never shop there as I'm spoiled; Mwave's big warehouse is only 20 minutes away. They blow everybody away in terms of price and selection.

[lil Jimmie]

There are a few small pc shops here in town: however they don’t have a large inventory of parts or the markup is too much for me. I do 90% of my buying online with mwave and newegg.

[DrZaius]

I used to do all of my parts shopping at Fry's, but I got tired of their junk "white label" (return sticker) parts. I then switched to PC Club for a while (decent prices, but never have anything in stock), but like Ron, I soon discovered the joys of MWave "will call" pickup (about 30 mins drive from where I live).

[Xayd]

I've got both Best Buy and a local shop, local shops are definitely nice to have, especially for big items like monitors and cases. I always buy those locally to avoid shipping and what not.

[audiyoda]

Just make friends with a Best Buy employee for your monitor needs. ViewSonic's accomodations for Best Buy employees is awesome. Just got a new 17" flatscreen for $300.00 and change from my friend. ViewSonic was even kind enough to send it postage paid.

-Craig

[highrisemech]

Best Buys is ok but I hate when the sales guy starts his sales pitch for different equiptment, not realizing that I know more about it that him.
You can definitly get deals there though like the HP printer that I got for $79.00 plus a $30.00 rebate. Then last week the Maxtor 20 gig for $49.00
Three years ago I messed up there buying a computer, it was a Pentium II 350 mgz
after I bought it though I realized it had no USB. Not that I care me and the guys at work use it now to surf the web. Nothin like getting paid to surf lol.
It always freaks me out though when I'm shopping in the computer store, there is always some geek walking in with an old 75 mgz Hp asking if he can get it fixed. I always have to hold myself back from breaking out laughing when the
store accepts it for repairs and tells him will give you the cost when you come pick it up. I'm still wondering what they tell the person when they go pick it up. I still don't understand it, I mean wouldn't you tell the guy right off get a real system.

[audiyoda]

Ya know, I'll say one thing for Best Buy, at least they are not on commission. They may not always know there stuff, but they don't point you towards what pays them the highest rates. They do puch that service plan, but they you just say no.

-Craig

[highrisemech]

Speaking of that they called me last week to renew my extended warranty on the computer I bought there. Apparently I bought the warranty when I bought the computer there. Funny thing I did not even know I bought the warranty.
Suffice to say I obviusly did not renew.

[audiyoda]

I usually don't buy the service plan unless it's a hellufa deal. 10 years of audio speakers is pretty good considering they will replace them if the foam gasket becomes even a little degraded. I'd also buy one on any digital camera with a LCD screen -- even my professional cameras screens die out after two or so years. And I'd buy one on a laptop -- too costly to repair.

-Craig

[highrisemech]

I wish I would have bought the extended warranty for my sterio from Circuit City
my son jammed the door for the cd player. I paid $500.00 for this sterio and only had it a year. It holds 50 cds. And I hate to mess with it myself.
Moral of the story......
It does pay to get the extended warranty on some products.

[audiyoda]

Yeah, my buddy that's a manager at Best Buy was telling me tonight when he got out of work about this guy that had just purchased a 60" Pioneer widescreen projection HD monitor. It was delivered on Tuesday and this morning his little kid was playing with the dog and ran right through the screen. The guy didn't buy the service plan and the mfg won't cover the screen if no screen protector was purchased. When Best Buy refused to take the unit back as a return (he did admit it was his fault), this guy called a friend of his at the Lansing DA's office (a clerk, not an actual attorney) who tried to play some strong armed tactics. Well Best Buy's attorneys called the State Attorney Generals office who called the DA's office to remind them that within the Consumer Protection act of Michigan there is a clause for consumer fraud, which is what this guy and his buddy were trying to pull off.

So I guess the Attorney General's office is going after this guy and his buddy now for attempted fraud. What a dumbnut. He paid almost $5000 for this HD monitor but wouldn't shell out another $250 for a screen protector or $300 for a four year extended warranty. And now he's got the AD after him for fraud. Just stupid.

Moral - Don't be a dumbnut.

-Craig

[RayH]

I live in San Francisco, CA. Silicon Valley is 45 minutes away! Except for Fry's (I like their DVD selection), usually more than one outlet of every major player is available to me within 20 minutes. Within 1/2 mile of my home are five custom computer build shops.

Prices are so competitive, I have to watch purchases at computer shows. They used to be hands down 20% cheaper at least. Now, sometimes they are more expensive than what I can find on the street. I still buy my cases, ink refills, cables, etc. But I stay away from motherboards and microprocessors. I can do better on the street.

Many of the vendors on Price Watch are within a decent drive of my work or home. What more can I say? I only use electronic mail order to send out of state. I don't purchase through them. The savings generally aren't enough. I'd rather be able to walk into an establishment and make any necessary adjustments. Besides, my local little guys give me all kinds of help!

[alber]

Fry's about a mile from work(i spend at least one lunch break a week in there)(i love the place, i'm surprised people in this thread kind of a gave it a bad rap)..Comp USA about a 1/4 mile from apt.(don't go there much, not when they want 14.99 for an ide cable)

[pcoopers]

There are getting to be more stores here in backwoods Arkie-Saw, if you
can live with the prices.

I drive a truck, so I check out the stores I find along the way.

PC-Club is the best I've found, located in Cal, OK city, They have
a web site advertizing their deals.

I bought 256 meg of PC133 last year for $59, the stores near me were
selling 128 meg of PC100 for $129 at the same time.

Take a look at http://www.pcclub.com

The only thing bad about shopping so far from home, it takes time to decide
what I want, go get it, bring it back and install. I made one purchase
which didn't even get home til the 30 day warranty had expired!

[Mr N8]

I'm in southern Wisconsin. We've Got the standard BestBuy, Circuit City, and Gateway Country(which I think is going under) A couple of independants (Microcomp is actually a good independant.) Milwaukee PC is a short drive, but use a lot of AOpen crap. The BIG bonus, is that both krex.com and CDW warehouses are less than a 30 minute drive!!! With my little 4banger, the drive is a lot cheaper than the shipping.

NAte

[highrisemech]

For me mail order has been great it just takes a long time to get everything.