Dixons

[Adrian Brezhnev]

I've been visiting the place for twenty years, but usually against my will- in the absence of there being any other electronic shops on the high street any more- well, on most High Streets anyway.

What I don't understand is how they get away with the fact that they appear to be even more awful than ever.

· We all know that Dixons is a famously lousy retailer, more interested in selling you extended warranties than actual goods, but even it astonished a neighbour of mine this week.

He needed an indoor aerial for a television. He went into our local Dixons, saw a dozen on the shelf, and took one to the register.

The assistant tapped a number into the computer, and the following conversation took place:

Assistant: I'm afraid these are out of stock.

Customer (my friend): They're not, there's a big pile of them over there.

No, they're out of stock.

Well, can't I buy it anyway? Since it's here and we know how much it costs?

I'll have to ask the manager.

Manager (after pen tapping, sucked teeth, etc): I'm afraid these are out of stock.

Customer (trying to hold on to patience and last shreds of sanity): Look, over there, there's a dozen of them, on the shelf. Why can't I buy this?

Manager: Because it's out of stock.

Customer: I've got the exact money here. Why don't I put it on the counter, walk away with the aerial, and you can sort it out later?

Manager: I can't let you do that. You see, it's out of stock.

Did he get his aerial? Of course he didn't. Don't be daft.

which did make me laugh a lot as it occurred to me that there must be a vast number of people who have had similar, or worse, experiences in retail outfits such as Dixons, PCWorld, and Currys....

Sorry, there are some nice things about Dixons, but I can't think of any of them at the moment.

[Lee]

No there aren't Adrian. Dixons are shit, and with no redeemable features. Every single purchase I've made from them has been fraught with problems and usually ends with a return or refund.

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Oh right.

[Frinky]

No there aren't Adrian. Dixons are shit, and with no redeemable features. Every single purchase I've made from them has been fraught with problems and usually ends with a return or refund.

And yet you didn't learn?

[Lee]

No. It's usually my only option when it comes to electrical purchases. If I can avoid it, I do.

[Suttonpubcrawl]

Never buy computer components from PC world. I've seen things in PC world costing as much as 5 times more than they can be bought for on the internet.

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Bastards. They do it, because they can!

[Utter Shit]

This is as good a place as any to ask about buying computers. I think I've asked before but may as well ask again, like.

I have about £500 to spend. Want basically as good as possible for that price. Main things I want are fast processor (2.8ghz+), 512mb RAM and large hard drive (no less than 80gb). Not at all arsed with video cards, flat panel PCs or special free gifts including but not limited to various exotic fruits. Preferably from a reputable dealer, not some online clown who's website is done entirely in Comic Sans MS.

http://meshcomputers.com/updated/spec_mat3100deal.htm

That Mesh one is as good as I've seen so far, but if anyone knows any better...they can give me a cuddle.

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Whatever you do, please don't go to Tiny.com

[Suttonpubcrawl]

I buy all my computer stuff from [corrected] aria.co.uk. Very good prices, fast delivery and good customer service.

[Utter Shit]

Whatever you do, please don't go to Tiny.com

Yes, I've heard this before. If you like, you can embellish this post by including a couple of references involving pineapples, rectums and violence being preferable to buying a PC from Tiny

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Not really, as sadly, I don't like pineapples.

[Suttonpubcrawl]

Whatever you do, please don't go to Tiny.com

Yes, I've heard this before. If you like, you can embellish this post by including a couple of references involving pineapples, rectums and violence being preferable to buying a PC from Tiny

Out of interest, could you say what's wrong with them? I just like hearing stories of appalling incompetence.

[Lee]

Well from my experience of Tiny, the only thing that's wrong with them is that they're computers are shit.

[slim]

I buy all my computer stuff from aria.com. Very good prices, fast delivery and good customer service.

It's aria.co.uk, the link above goes to a different company. I've not seen them before, so thanks - I'll see how their prices stand up.

[Suttonpubcrawl]

I buy all my computer stuff from aria.com. Very good prices, fast delivery and good customer service.

It's aria.co.uk, the link above goes to a different company. I've not seen them before, so thanks - I'll see how their prices stand up.

Blimey, I don't know how I made that mistake, I type the address in all the time and I know it's aria.co.uk!

[Utter Shit]

Out of interest, could you say what's wrong with them? I just like hearing stories of appalling incompetence.

I think the issue with Tiny is mainly that they have very poor backup service if your computer goes shit. Which coupled with the fact that their PCs are by no means perfect (while not being all that bad) means you can end up fucking about for ages trying to get it fixed.

I've heard nothing but good things about Mesh except for one guy who was absolutely adamant that Mesh are terrible, anyone able to give an opinion?

Dell might well be the way to go...more expensive, but at the end of the day you get what you pay for.

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Dell wouldn't be where they are today if they had not offered excellent products, service, and backup over the years.

Yes, Mesh are really rather good.

Tiny, well, the kind of people that buy from them are the kind of people that have never heard anything about them before, but have been taken in by their never-ending advertising campaigns for "great value" products.

I only ever bought from them once, but that was my first PC in 1992. I looked at every retailer at a computer fair at Earls Court, and they appeared to have the best offer.

Well, they did, in terms of specs and price- but it was only a matter of weeks before I found out why they were cheaper than everyone else.

Having to drive down to Redhil to visit their shabby depot in a vain attempt to get my computer fixed was one of the most annoying days I have ever had in my life.

And there have been a lot of very annoying days in my life.

[The Duck Man]

My Tiny PC works fine, as has done for two years.

Utter Shit - my friend used //www.ebuyer.com to build his PC.

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Not all Tiny PCs break down within 2 years.

[terminallyrelaxed]

Dixons are'nt that bad - they'll replace your iPod because of the battery long after Apple's warranty runs out. PCWorld on the other hand, its fun dealing with them. They constantly send me the wronf thing, even when I've phoned up the specialist and got him to confirm the exact product code I need. Amongst an order last week I ordered a usb flashdisk, and they sent me an external DVD burner. I have literally a pile of cardboard boxes in my office desk-high of stuff to go back they've sent in error.

[God's own fruit machine]

Never buy computer components from PC world. I've seen things in PC world costing as much as 5 times more than they can be bought for on the internet.

PC World must make some phenomenal profit margins on peripherals/components. I haven't been in there for a while, but the last time I did they were selling some very out of date kit for the full RRP. I'm sure they would have been able to buy it for next to nothing (or pull it out of a skip, for that matter). They just didn't have anything vaguely up to date in stock.

They do have a good selection of computer books, though.

[Cardinal Tit Storm]

...

[God's own fruit machine]

The whole of the Dixons Group treat their customers with utter contempt but never seem to get their comeuppance. Where are the competitors? There's clearly a groundswell of shoppers that want shop elsewhere. The market clearly isn't working in this case.

Has anyone here every worked for any of these companies? What training do you get? What's the attitude passed down from management? Is there any focus on customer service or is it just sell, sell, sell the extended warranties?

I work in a service industry and the attitude is keep the client satisfied whilst screwing as much money as possible out of them. Dixons seems to skip the satisfaction part.

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Tandy could have done so well.... had they gone more in the direction of Radio Shack, rather than going down the toilet.

If they got their act together, they could have wiped the floor with Dixons. But Dixons had stronger management.

[Frinky]

Has anyone here every worked for any of these companies? What training do you get? What's the attitude passed down from management? Is there any focus on customer service or is it just sell, sell, sell the extended warranties?

I have an extensive history with PC World, but not enough time for the tales :)

[Adrian Brezhnev]

Is it past history, or still current?

[mook]

Current history? How's that work then?

[terminallyrelaxed]

The Story of the Raisin, from Colonial past to Tourist present.

[Hobo]

Due to a lack of choice (and an urgent need since the last one stopped working) I had to buy a Fridge-freezer from Dixons.

I have in the past had the usual crap service from them and vowed never to step foot in the shop again, necessity forced my hand.

This time was strangely different. The service was good, the price reasonable, the sales person knowledgable, (and attractive) and she didn't even push the 'extended warranty' (I have checked the receipt and contract - no mention) all in all it was a painless experience.

However, this one occassion does not make up for the dozen or so times I have been treated like shit.