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Should you buy a desktop computer from a retail store?

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by travis.tipps 2 views

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The answer is NO! Most people find computer manufacturers, such as, Dell, HP, Compaq, eMachine, etc. to be a good deal because they offer a monitor, keyboard and mouse with the "bundle" deal. In my day to day profession I talk to customers that are interested in purchasing new computers from these retailers and explain to them that MOST of the time these desktop computers are not worth the time or money. The truth is most desktop computers you purchase from a retailer have obsolete technology involved. Long story short you buy them and most of the time will have to upgrade within a couple years. Having one custom built is usually a little more expensive but much more satisfying. Computer components have become cheap due to the economy being in a slump, so the cost to build a custom build computer seems to make more sense.

27 replies

by rray5

Sorry for your negative experience, but consider the source of the computers. I have built, sold hundreds of CUSTOM NEW systems and have had none returned, or faild,and most clients come back for another system.

by tony hopkinson

Mine I chose the parts, and the OS, they put it together (and would have told me if they could n't. More costly , but no stuff I didn't want, the OS version that I did, no OEM and no crapware.

Now if you mean custom as in high end business PC, or GamePlayer,s workstation, longevity wise thay are usually as much of a joke as a budget buy from PCs-R-Us

by travis.tipps

I have found that finding someone knowledgeable in hardware design is very important. Being able to "mix and match" hardware to create a compatible configuration is an obvious must. Someone that just slaps hardware together without knowing the difference in hardware configuraitons will almost always run into problems.

by travis.tipps

Im curious...what was wrong with them? I have built over 100 custom computers and never had a real problem and neither have my customers that I know of.

by purpleskys

something generic type from a local pc shop built with our own specs...this way, we know what can be upgraded down the road; and a bit of a bonus with our fave shop is we never have any trouble when it comes to support

by tony hopkinson

and is "as cheap as chips", yes you should.

Just remember you get what you pay for. The cheapest components possible, the hardware minimum as per the price, OEM home edition winders, and a heck of a lot of crapware.

by robo_dev

Let's walk through a couple of scenarios:

1) If I go to my local mom-and-pop computer store and buy a white-box PC, for less than $200, they are going to sell me the cheapest box you've ever seen. Noisy sleeve-bearing power supply fan, likely to last a year, some buggy nVidia-clone video adapter, and a motherboard brand nobody heard of which probably has a 50% DOA rate.

2) If I go next door to Fry's electronics, I can buy all the good stuff and bolt it into a white-box for $300 or so.

3) Or at Fry's I can buy the horrible crap and put it all in a white box, and spend $200 or so.

4) If I go to Dell.com, I can buy a Certified Refurb Inspiron 530 with a 250gig SATA, DVD-RW, 2Gig RAM and Windows XP for $229 with a one year warranty and free shipping.

5) Now if I walk over to Best Buy, I can get an eMachines or an Acer in the ~$350 range....not such a good deal.

But, if after a two months, the box breaks, how are you going to get it fixed the fastest?

Lets say the motherboard goes 'Poof'.

Assuming the mom and pop are still in business, they might swap my mobo out.

Fry's electronics? Good luck with that...their return policy won't help you as it's 30 day return, and most of their stuff has, at most, 90 day warranty.

With Dell they would send you a return ship label and cross-ship you a new unit, done.

With Best-buy they might take a return, but more likely they would want to attempt a repair...good luck with that.

In summary "Custom Built" can mean custom-built crap, or it can mean custom-built-quality. But at the end of the day, the company that stands behind it when it breaks is what matters the most....

by travis.tipps

I do agree with you on most of what you said...however Dell's and any other retail computer you purchase most likely has a propreitery setup. Meaning that they are extremely limitied on upgrades...so in 2-3 years you are going to spend that $229 again and again and again. I build 'em all day long (in a sense)...never had one come back. Spend $500-$600 on the good stuff and stay ahead of the technology advancement curve.

by charliespencer

So I can spend $229 every two or three years and get a new machine with possibly a newer version of Windows; or I can spend $500-600 for a machine that's good for ... four or five years, and behind the technology curve after three?

by nicknielsen

If all you want to do is check your email, browse the internet, and work with basic office documents (letter & simple spreadsheets), the basic OEM PC will more than suffice for several years and be more economical up front to boot.

Do these people you convince to buy custom systems come to you for them? If so, I suspect self-interest plays a large part in your post.

by travis.tipps

Nick, of course they come to me for these service from time to time. I was more interested in the opinions of other techies out there on the matter. I do agree with the average Joe buying a rinker dinker computer for the average tasks. Still you have the issue of future upgrades on a propreitary computer.

by charliespencer

But if he did, I've never had a problem getting 'off the shelf' parts to work in a Dell, Compaq, or HP since the mid-90's.

by nicknielsen

Always keeping two definitions in mind:

State of the Art - Any technology you don't have.

Obsolete - Any technology you already have.

by jck

With any of them, you are getting mediochre parts they get incredibly cheap.

It's like I showed a friend once:

-Took the spec for a HP computer from Wal-Mart's website.
-Built a config for a homebuilt PC with the same attributes
-Came out over $100 cheaper.

And anyone who knows anything about big computer firms nowadays...their computer support...$uck$.

I just build my own. Part goes bad, I just replace it.

by charliespencer

Not everyone lives where there are 'brick and mortar' alternatives to the 'big box' electronics retailers. Several TR members in central SC agree there is no reliable independent computer dealer, vendor, custom builder, or repairer in our area.

That aside, as to having to replace the 'name brand' systems within a couple of years, I have never had less than five years use from my last three systems (one Acer, two Dell). The only upgrades I've made have been RAM.

I do agree with you about bypassing retailers. When I'm looking for a new system for myself, I hit the major vendors' 'outlet' web pages and look for returns, repairs, refurbs, or other discounted systems that still carry the full warranty.

by travis.tipps

Unless you own a laptop...computer warranties are a joke. To utilize the warranty, most "name brand" computers (Dell, HP, Compaq, etc.) want you to ship the computer in. This could take weeks, and never the less, still cost money.

Most people are not willing and can't wait weeks to have their computer back up and running. That is why ripoff GeekSquad and some of these other "big box" computer repair stores exist. They take advantage of the fact that you can't wait weeks to get your work laptop or desktop running and charge you an arm and a leg to have it fixed.

by charliespencer

I've never had any problem getting parts shipped to me from those same 'name brands', usually within 2-3 days, or returning them in the same container with shipping already pre-paid by the manufacturer.

by forum surfer

Every Dell, HP, E machine, Alienware, Compaq or whatever I've dealt with has always sent me the warranty part NBD. No one has ever asked me to send in a pc. A laptop with poor customer service (such as Acer), maybe...but never a desktop.

by jamesrl

..that we have someone of your experience to guide us in our ignorance.

I guess I was mistaken and never got Dell to service my computer, or those of my friends. All of which by the way, were purchased USED, but when they still had a few months left on a warranty. Sure we had to transfer ownership, but it wasn't a big thing.

There are options when buying a name brand, often, as in with Dell you can upgrade your warranty.

So how is it going to work if one of your customers has a parts failure in the warranty period? Are you going to provide a loner? Can they get warranty from the manufacturer, when you have all the invoices? Are you going to get the part for them at no cost?

I've built my share of computers, but for many tasks, the bargains that some of the big chains provide are more than adequate and cheaper to boot. Plus they get a real warranty.

James

by tony hopkinson

but that was a decade ago. I am sreiously out of date now.

I paid a firm to do it for me.

The choices I made were based on their advice, and they must be pretty good, because they made what I picked work.

by travis.tipps

I have many friends that have summoned my expertise to do upgrades. Most of them have wanted custom built computers because they are tired of the cheapos (Dell, HP, Compaq). They are more comfortable knowing what is going into their system and knowing what to expect the day they turn it on. In other words, when you buy a "retail" computer...they are loaded with crapware. They are using your buck to throw free advertisements at you. A computer is a machine and WILL break (that is why im in business). In my opinion, I believe that a well built custom computer is much better than a "cheapo". If something breaks just fix/replace it. No dealing with shipping your computer in and waiting weeks to get it back. Most people don't have the time for that and rather call someone like me anyway.

by forum surfer

I just helped my retired/disabled father buy a new pc. For a little less than $400 we received a quad core intel rig with 3 gigs of memory and a crappy gfx card. Granted, he won't be gaming anytime soon so this is irrelevant. A 22" monitor was also included. I've built many, many pc's both high and low end so naturally I spec'ed out the best balance of quality/price/free shipping on parts I could find on newegg and tiger. The end result was around the same price, but without windows.

For someone on a budget like retirees and single moms, there is no reason to justify $200 or more dollars on a custom build. It's a computer, nothing more and nothing less. If they're using for internet and the occasional office doc, their needs aren't that great. A college student who will be playing games and more than likely may never shut the pc down may need something beefier. Other than that, retail pc's work just fine. My father's old pc was a single core amd E-machines piece of junk that was running like clockwork for the last 5 years, albeit like slow clockwork.

Take the needs and income into the picture. No way will I recommend someone buy a custom rig from me when I know a retail model will suit their needs cheaper, all so I can make a buck or two off of them.

by charliespencer

can usually get discounts on name brand systems through the school.

The original post and TT's subsequent comments are close to being canned pork by-products. I haven't pushed the button because he's had the decency not to mention his business by name or include a link to it. On the other hand, in the six months he's been here this pitch for independent dealers is the only participation in his record.

by forum surfer

Next thing you know you can have a gaming system cheaper than you can actually build one with the same hardware. All name brand pc's aren't utilizing old tech as the op stated. You can get cutting edge equipment (stable and one step under bleeding edge not so stable) from Dell XPS, Alienware and few others. The price difference between having a ready to go fully warrantied box and a custom built, marginally better performing box is a decision that should be left to the consumer.

Though if I relied on building pc's for a living I may resort to the same FUD he's throwing out.

:)

The moral of my story was that store bought pc's are just fine for any purpose, presuming you match the hardware to your needs.

As for me, yeah all of mine are custom because it is a hobby I can involve my young children with. These crazy kids love clear side and top panels with blinky lights everywhere. They have yet to figure out I know when they go to bed because of the warm blue glow emanating from under the bedroom door when the pc is on. Who says kids are the sneaky ones? But if it weren't for involving the kids in the build, there would be an XPS on my desk spec'd out to my liking. I've got things to do with my time that I enjoy more, but the kids like it so we're constantly modding and upgrading.

:)

by locolobo

At home I have a PC from one of the now defunct retailers. It was the second cheapest they had. My previous PC died horribly and I needed a new one quickly. Do I like it? NO. But it is fine for email, surfing, and other home uses.

That was 2 years ago. I'm still not ready to spend money on a new one. However my data is on an external HD.

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