Be careful at "Computer Shows"

  • Thread starter Thread starter William W. Plummer
  • Start date Start date
W

William W. Plummer

I was trying to buy an APC battery backup. The seller went routing around
in the box to find a "good" one but it didn't seem to work. When he turned
it over, there was a sticky saying, "Returned. Doesn't work.".

Probably a lot of what you can buy at these shows are just some company's
junk box, rather than outdated, but new stock.

Caveat emptor.
 
William W. Plummer said:
I was trying to buy an APC battery backup. The seller went routing around
in the box to find a "good" one but it didn't seem to work. When he turned
it over, there was a sticky saying, "Returned. Doesn't work.".
Click to expand...

I wonder if they remembered to hook up the battery.
 
I was trying to buy an APC battery backup. The seller went routing around
in the box to find a "good" one but it didn't seem to work. When he turned
it over, there was a sticky saying, "Returned. Doesn't work.".

Probably a lot of what you can buy at these shows are just some company's
junk box, rather than outdated, but new stock.

Caveat emptor.
Click to expand...

IMO, you would go into such deals knowing you migh get something
needing repairing. If you want a device that surely works, you go and
but a new one.
 
ToolPackinMama said:
I wonder if they remembered to hook up the battery.
Click to expand...

We got a batch of UPS's here at work and many of them "didn't work".
Turns out they were shipped with the battery unhooked (clearly
detached and taped out of the way). Unfortunately, not everyone
installing them knew this, so many of them "never worked right".

Jeff
 
I was trying to buy an APC battery backup. The seller went routing around
in the box to find a "good" one but it didn't seem to work. When he turned
it over, there was a sticky saying, "Returned. Doesn't work.".

Probably a lot of what you can buy at these shows are just some company's
junk box, rather than outdated, but new stock.

Caveat emptor.
Click to expand...

In my case I had a mobo that went bad on me within a week. I called
the number on my receipt and they told me to just catch them at
another show to exchange it for another.
Well, that is exactly what I did. That particular vendor is one I
always see at computer shows. This vendor and like a lot of them do
have stores also. So I would believe they are for the most part in it
for the long haul.
 
A month or two ago, I went to a computer show for the first time in a
while. I wasn't too impressed. The selection was only okay, the
prices weren't any lower, and in most cases higher, than name brand
websites (Newegg especially), and I would have had to pay sales tax.
Why bother?

And by the look of the show, alot of people seem to agree with me.
When I used to go to these things, they looked pretty prosperous.
This one looked like it was barely alive.
 
A month or two ago, I went to a computer show for the first time in a
while. I wasn't too impressed. The selection was only okay, the
prices weren't any lower, and in most cases higher, than name brand
websites (Newegg especially), and I would have had to pay sales tax.
Why bother?
Click to expand...

I'd agree with you. Several years ago, I used to frequent computer shows.
You had to pay $10 a head to get in. Generally, I either wouldn't buy
anything at all, or I'd only buy a few small items like HDD mounting
brackets, cables, etc. The prices were a little better than Best Buy and
the like, but no comparison to quality online vendors.

Plus, that admission fee bugged the heck out of me.
 
I'd agree with you. Several years ago, I used to frequent computer shows.
You had to pay $10 a head to get in. Generally, I either wouldn't buy
anything at all, or I'd only buy a few small items like HDD mounting
brackets, cables, etc. The prices were a little better than Best Buy and
the like, but no comparison to quality online vendors.

Plus, that admission fee bugged the heck out of me.
Click to expand...


The high point of the dealer shows was before google, ebay, and
pricewatch made it easy to find just about anything, new or used. I
used to get more than my gas and admission charge back every time I
went. I never bought big items, just lots of parts that I was able to
use on my day job.

In the same timeframe the magazine "Computer Shopper" was the monthly
catalog of parts and systems we used to read. This was a newprint
monthly the size of the Sears Roebuck catalog (does that comparison
even make sense anymore?) I believe this morphed into pricewatch.com.
 
In my case I had a mobo that went bad on me within a week. I called
the number on my receipt and they told me to just catch them at
another show to exchange it for another.
Well, that is exactly what I did. That particular vendor is one I
always see at computer shows. This vendor and like a lot of them do
have stores also. So I would believe they are for the most part in it
for the long haul.
Click to expand...

It could easily have turned out differently. Such as never finding
the vendor again, anywhere! Also amazing how much "no name"
merchandize they pan off.

With outfits like NewEgg I wonder how the computer shows even manage
to exist.
 
We just called Computer Shopper the phonebook. I always knew I'd be
buying a new computer when I started unconsciously buying phonebooks.
 
MikeW said:
A month or two ago, I went to a computer show for the first time in a
while. I wasn't too impressed. The selection was only okay, the
prices weren't any lower, and in most cases higher, than name brand
websites (Newegg especially), and I would have had to pay sales tax.
Why bother?

And by the look of the show, alot of people seem to agree with me.
When I used to go to these things, they looked pretty prosperous.
This one looked like it was barely alive.
Click to expand...

That is almost what I thought about a year ago. I was going to build a new
P4 system . Looked at everything I wanted at Newegg. At the show I found
the motherboard about $ 15 cheeper after tax. Saved a good bit on a case
due to the high cost of shipping. If it had not been for the case and just
something to do that rainy day , by the time I payed the cost to get in , I
did not save much if any.
When the cost was much higher several years ago I could save a bunch at the
shows. Now it is hard, but it can be done if you know what the prices are
and sometimes ask if they will take less, especially if it late in the day.
Also the used stuff is not that much cheeper than the low end new stuff and
the new sutff is much beter/faster.
 
The high point of the dealer shows was before google, ebay, and
pricewatch made it easy to find just about anything, new or used. I
used to get more than my gas and admission charge back every time I
went. I never bought big items, just lots of parts that I was able to
use on my day job.
Click to expand...

What got to me was going to these shows when I intended only to browse, not
to buy a specific item. Those were the times when I invariably would walk
away with a few CD-ROM audio cables as a consolation prize ($1 at the show,
$15 at the big brick-and-mortar shops). Most of which are still in my
parts bin, now that I think about it.
In the same timeframe the magazine "Computer Shopper" was the monthly
catalog of parts and systems we used to read. This was a newprint
Click to expand...

Ah, CS. I remember it fondly. :-)
monthly the size of the Sears Roebuck catalog (does that comparison
even make sense anymore?) I believe this morphed into pricewatch.com.
Click to expand...

It does if you're older than thirty.

I remember poring over the Sears catalog at Christmas when I was a little
kid. Back then, there wasn't the constant barrage of advertisements for
flashy plastic toys. The Sears catalog was THE source for Christmas wish
lists.

The anticipation, the excitement... I wonder if kids still feel this way
today, with so many other sources for information?

Old fart signing off.

Back to your regularly scheduled power supply/DMM flame wars. <G,D&R>
 
lol
I still go to the computer shows. I often will go with a friend with his
sons, it is a great learning experience for them. You can often get a good
deal, but you shouldn't go there without doing any research first. You can
find the same things online, for a better price, but added shipping.
"Let the buyer beware," for sure!
 
Robert B. Clark said:
On 16 Dec 2003 13:17:42 -0500, (e-mail address removed) (Al Dykes) wrote:

I remember poring over the Sears catalog at Christmas when I was a little
kid. Back then, there wasn't the constant barrage of advertisements for
flashy plastic toys. The Sears catalog was THE source for Christmas wish
lists.

The anticipation, the excitement... I wonder if kids still feel this way
today, with so many other sources for information?

Old fart signing off.

Back to your regularly scheduled power supply/DMM flame wars. <G,D&R>
Click to expand...

Yeah I remember those days also I couldn't wait for the Xmas edition to be
released. The Xmas edition did have one draw back though, there were fewer
bra and panty pages.

Hank
 
Yeah I remember those days also I couldn't wait for the Xmas edition to be
released. The Xmas edition did have one draw back though, there were fewer
bra and panty pages.
Click to expand...

LOL!!

Thanks for the laugh--it was sorely needed today. :-)
 
MikeW said:
A month or two ago, I went to a computer show for the first time in a
while. I wasn't too impressed. The selection was only okay, the
prices weren't any lower, and in most cases higher, than name brand
websites (Newegg especially), and I would have had to pay sales tax.
Why bother?

And by the look of the show, alot of people seem to agree with me.
When I used to go to these things, they looked pretty prosperous.
This one looked like it was barely alive.
Click to expand...
I don't think the computer show is totally successful at undercutting
the bare-bones prices of the local shops, or the major retailers with
the rebates!

But, I have 400 sealed, retail boxes of great games and software that
all cost me about $3 to $4 a box! Yes, current to about 5 years old,
but, every one is exactly what I wanted! http://marketproshows.com

In Florida, a bunch of great vendors of local stores shows up,
consistently, with NEW stock, at about 10=20% OFF their already low
store prices. Cheapguys is one such store! Anything bought in the
store or at a show, is returnable. They aren't the only ones! But, they
now surpass any major chain of computer stores... http://cheapguys.com

I make it a point to stop in, to get repair parts, used, totally
functional computers, and great bargains on NEW and used pieces! (last
show, the 500 Mhz systems were running about $200, included keyboard,
and mouse, 40Gb hard drive, CD burner, installed OS...(though I run the
Debian install from Knoppix) http://knopper.net/knoppix Monitors $22 to
$75 with warranties...

I bought 6 APC UPSs for $30.00 (One of them is complete with line
regulation!!!). Three worked AFTER I PLUGGED IN THEIR BATTERIES!!! (and
charged them for 24 hours before use (following the manual)... NO ONE
READS THE INSTRUCTIONS!?!? $160.00 worth of great UPSs for $30 is a
good deal!

I do like to see used stuff, and the new stock, both at huge discounts,
that I can see, feel, buy, and take home, today! Yes, be careful, but,
experience has taught me and serves me well.

Neophytes should only buy cello wrapped new hardware, at full retail
prices... and make that purchase as soon as a new device hits the market!!!

Let us old timers get the 'leftovers' at 2 cents on the dollar...
http://pricewatch.com http://compugeek.com
 
William W. Plummer said:
I was trying to buy an APC battery backup. The seller went routing around
in the box to find a "good" one but it didn't seem to work. When he turned
it over, there was a sticky saying, "Returned. Doesn't work.".

Probably a lot of what you can buy at these shows are just some company's
junk box, rather than outdated, but new stock.

Caveat emptor.
Click to expand...


When I go to those shows I STEAL everything I can get my hands on.
If the vendors wife is hanging around I steal her ass away for
30 minutes and BANG! EVERYTHING THAT WILL FIT INTO MY BAG IT'S
MINE!

Nick - posting from Ely State prison
 
JAD said:
<Nick - posting from Ely State prison>

Obviously not very good at it.
Click to expand...


But Jad did you get a chuckle from my reply? The prison thing
was the KEY. JOKE!

Nick
 
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