It's tough buying stuff
Peddle Up!
Posts: 2,040
It’s time for a new laptop so I did my homework, decided on a model and looked up prices and availability.
I like to support local businesses and I don’t mind paying a little extra for the privilege of examining the stuff before buying, as well as the feel good factor from putting something back into the local community. That said, some retail outlets don’t help themselves.
My local PC World said the laptop was available, although at £10 more expensive than my usual online supplier. I drove to the store only to find out that “available” means that I can pay for the laptop whereupon it gets delivered to the store so I can collect it. :roll: I tried to argue that whole point of a local store is the physical presence of “stuff”, but they didn’t seem to know what I was on about. Even if they had only a demo laptop in the store I would have gone ahead, but honestly what’s the point?
So, with a weary sigh, I left and ordered it online for guaranteed delivery first thing.
I like to support local businesses and I don’t mind paying a little extra for the privilege of examining the stuff before buying, as well as the feel good factor from putting something back into the local community. That said, some retail outlets don’t help themselves.
My local PC World said the laptop was available, although at £10 more expensive than my usual online supplier. I drove to the store only to find out that “available” means that I can pay for the laptop whereupon it gets delivered to the store so I can collect it. :roll: I tried to argue that whole point of a local store is the physical presence of “stuff”, but they didn’t seem to know what I was on about. Even if they had only a demo laptop in the store I would have gone ahead, but honestly what’s the point?
So, with a weary sigh, I left and ordered it online for guaranteed delivery first thing.
Purveyor of "up" 
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Comments
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I wouldn't class buying from PC world as buying local. I'd class buying local as buying from a local independant store where you are dealing with the person that makes the profit0
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Brakeless wrote:I wouldn't class buying from PC world as buying local. I'd class buying local as buying from a local independant store where you are dealing with the person that makes the profit
+1
Like calling Halfords your LBS0 -
Ballysmate wrote:Brakeless wrote:I wouldn't class buying from PC world as buying local. I'd class buying local as buying from a local independant store where you are dealing with the person that makes the profit
+1
Like calling Halfords your LBS
Fair point.Purveyor of "up"0 -
When it comes to things like small electronics it's not really about 'supporting local business' so much as 'supporting bricks and mortar'. At least PC World is usually fairly local to most people. Even if Amazon, say, is local they aren't going let you 'feel the width' are they?0
