Never listen to backstreet PC Shops!

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Zenduri

Zenduri

Zenduri

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Had a bit of a shock today when my neighbour asked me to have a look at their new pc as it was "running slow"

Bless them they obviously dont know anything about PC's bar how to turn them on and basic use. They had bought a PC from a local backstreet PC shop for general home use and occasional gaming for £250 inc of monitor mouse+ keyboard.

When I sat down and started looking at its spec I nearly died inside. Its a p4 2.8 with 512mb mem and a x800xt running win 7 RC and their son had been trying to play GTA 4 on it which they were assured by the shop owner it would run fine.

Needless to say im going to the shop with them and this "PC" on monday morning to A) demand the money back b) knock the guys block off for being such a scheming little rat
It still shocks me people get away with this kind of thing still, he makes such highstreet retailers (purple shirts) actually look half decent with what they sell.

Anyone else come accross little scrotes like this Shop owner before? Also any advice re dealing with the little rat. Im sure hes in some violation selling a pc with Win 7 RC surely?
 
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I believe it is a violation, but I'm unsure. Release Candidates have an expiry date on them before they must be forced to buy Win7 full copy, you may need to double check that... but the specs for £250 w/monitors and keyboard and mice may not be all that bad?? I'm not sure...

Good for you for standing up to them.
 
I wouldn't pay more than £150 tops for what they have and to be honest you can get a lot better for that off the bay.
 
I sold a very similar system on for £20, had 1GB tho. Wouldnt ever suggest it running games.
Im sure Consumer watchdogs etc might have something to say.
 
I'd be polite about it mate, when you go back to the shop, explain they wanted something capable of modern gaming, explain that their son was disappointed and he couldn't play his game properly.

Get them on your side, get the money back then don't deal with them again. Don't go seeking blood.

Explain to your neighbours what they need and get it ordered from OcUK for them :D
 
As much as i do want to wrap the tower around the little runts head (Exchange the r for the 3rd letter of the alphabet). I'll try to be as polite as I can for their sake but im more interested as how they stand with him installing windows 7 RC. Im sure theres some trade infringment there just need some advice re that to be honest.
 
Ask a salesman if he can sell you something, chances are he can.

Still, occasional gaming can mean anything.

My local backstreet shop is on a main road actually, a computer resale place in cambridge. The guy running it actually said they only really make money on repairs. They buy in old business and educational computers I believe, scrub them a bit and sell them. Pentium 4s everywhere :)

They've got stockpiles of old graphics cards, modems, drives, mice, keyboards, the occasional huge projector just sitting there among boxes of sorted computer innards like a beached turtle.

Went in the other month looking for an old PCI-E card to check my 4890 was not dead... they said they didn't have any because PCI-E was too new o.0

So they mainly do old tech and repairs - well software repairs at any rate. Somehow I think if you went in asking for a gaming computer you'd possibly get a funny look. Mostly cheap boxes for students.
 
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£250 for a system, monitor & peripherals isn't that bad.

The only thing you will get is the money back. Then try to build something with that money yourself... Using new components.. Think it will be a rather similar spec!
 
I've thrown out or given away PC's better than that! What are you lot on? Just cus it works doesn't make it a good deal when you can get modern spec for another 100 quid or so.

You say not to go guns blazing and I agree but imagine if someone diddled your mum in that way, you'd want their ballbag mounting above the fire place.

Scum.
 
elpedro said:
I'd be polite about it mate, when you go back to the shop, explain they wanted something capable of modern gaming, explain that their son was disappointed and he couldn't play his game properly.

Get them on your side, get the money back then don't deal with them again. Don't go seeking blood.

Explain to your neighbours what they need and get it ordered from OcUK for them :D
Click to expand...

Exactly my advice. If you were after a gaming PC, you're usually better with a self build, but £250 won't get you much.
 
I'd want the shopkeepers side of the story before going in with any attitude, far too many assumptions being made in here.
 
Hmm?

Who said it was a good deal. They're not GIVING it away. It's a business.

You throw away or give away what you can't or don't want to sell. I'd love to sell the old P3 with 3/4 of a GB of SDR memory I've got but a buyer is another thing.
 
Im sure hes breaching some law selling a pc with win 7 RC on it if anyone can help with regards to the legality then i can hold him accountable
 
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I think you are flogging a dead horse by complaining about that!

Even with the cheapest OC components under £40 a pop, you still cannot build a PC INC mouse keyboard monitor and an OS for £250?

Though I personally would expect no less than an E3200 with a gig of ram and a 320gb HD.
 
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