This is the new Online Experiences with Retailers thread. Mainly made because half of the first thread has very little relevance towards the quality of the stores these days as they are up to 3 years old. I will keep this thread updated as much as possible. If you disagree with a rating of a store here, or have suggestions, feel free to PM me

The best site to find the cheapest prices for your PC components is www.pricespy.co.nz

This thread is for reviewing retailers - hopefully, sorting out the legit/excellent stores from the scammers or stores with shoddy
service. The idea is, if you're dealing with an unfamiliar retailer, you can look here and see if anyone's had a good or bad experience with them.

Format as such:

Code Retailer: Rating: Total cost of purchase: Comments:

*** NEW RATINGS SYSTEM ***

Decided to clean this thread up and make more sense of the rating system. Now using a "star" system to judge quality of store. Ratings:

***** (5 stars):

These stores are absolutely fantastic. They VERY RARELY make problems - if ever. Most of them are somehow involved on the forums and remedy problems really quickly. RMA services are fantastic, often giving you a replacement on the spot.

**** (4 stars):

These stores are highly recommended. They Rarely make problems. Some of them may be involved on the forums and generally remedy problems in a timely manner. RMA services are generally good, sometimes giving you a replacement on the spot.

*** (3 stars):

These stores generally do the job, they are "average". They can be problematic, but are generally not. RMA services are average, you usually have to wait several weeks for a replacement, rarely getting a replacement on the spot.

** (2 stars):

These stores are generally unrecommended. They are at times problematic when it comes to RMA services taking very long. It is relatively rare for these stores, but they sometimes try to sell off 2nd hand goods as new. *** WARNING *** - These stores are relatively susceptible to an economic recession such as the one we are currently in as they generally rely on a high volume low profit system. There is a chance that they may shut down and that you might lose your money! Read up on C1 ShoppingMall for more info: http://www.gpforums.co.nz/thread/348020/?s=

* (1 star):

These stores are VERY poor. Buying from these stores is just asking for trouble. RMA services are very poor and generally take extremely long or "they don't know ya" after you've handed your money over. It is not unusual for them to attempt to sell you 2nd hand items or returns as new. On relatively rare occasions these stores may sell fake goods. E.g. hacked USB drives.
*** WARNING *** - These stores are most susceptible to an economic recession such as the one we are currently in as they generally rely on a high volume low profit system. There is a chance that they may shut down and that you might lose your money! Read up on C1 ShoppingMall for more info: http://www.gpforums.co.nz/thread/348020/?s=

*** RATINGS *** (by quality of store)

***** (5 stars)

Computer Lounge (www.computerlounge.co.nz) *Free Shipping*

****1/2 (4.5 stars)

Playtech (www.playtech.co.nz) *Free Shipping over $50*
Mightyape (www.mightyape.co.nz) *Free Shipping over $50*
Ascent Technology (www.ascent.co.nz) *Free Shipping*
Paradigm Pcs (www.pp.co.nz) *Free Shipping*

**** (4 stars)

Ifocus (www.Ifocus.co.nz) *Free Shipping over $100*

***1/2 (3.5 stars)

QMB Computers (www.qmb.co.nz)
Mytoys (www.Mytoys.co.nz)
Acquire (http://www.acquire.co.nz)
Elive (http://www.elive.co.nz/)
Aquilatech (http://www.aquilatech.co.nz/)
IT Direct (http://www.itd.co.nz/)
F1rst Games (http://www.firstgames.co.nz/) *Free Shipping*
Modster PC (http://modster-pc.co.nz) *Free Shipping*

*** (3 stars)

NoteBook City (http://www.notebookcity.co.nz/)
Custom Built Computers New Zealand (www.cbcnz.com)
Digitalcity (http://shop.digitalcity.co.nz)
PCTronix (www.pctronix.co.nz)
Peps PC (www.pepspcs.co.nz)
XP Computers (www.xpcomputers.co.nz)
ETC New Lynn (www.etccomputers.co.nz)
NFC Technology (www.nfc.co.nz)
DTC Systems (http://www.dtconline.co.nz)
Esquare (www.esquare.co.nz)
ITexpress (http://www.itexpress.co.nz/)
Mamakuku (http://www.mamakuku.co.nz/)

**1/2 (2.5 stars)

Smart PC (www.smartpc.co.nz/)
Tech Master (http://www.techmaster.co.nz)
Digital Shop (http://www.softwareshop.co.nz/)
ExtremePC (www.extremepc.co.nz)
Global PC (http://www.globalpc.co.nz/)
Dick Smith Electronics (http://www.dse.co.nz)
PB Tech (www.pbtech.co.nz)

** (2 stars)
DragonPC (www.DragonPC.co.nz)
Pcpacific (www.Pcpacific.co.nz)
SuperCheapPC (www.Supercheappc.co.nz)
Tastech Computers (www.tastech.co.nz)
UEC (http://www.uec.co.nz/)
PC Gear Dunedin (www.pcgear.co.nz)
Xtremesystems (www.xtremesystems.co.nz)
Noel Leeming (http://www.noelleeming.co.nz)
Bond & Bond (http://www.bondandbond.co.nz)
PC Online Shop (www.pconlineshop.co.nz)
Parallel Imported (www.parallelimported.co.nz)

*1/2 (1.5 stars)

OCZone (www.oczone.co.nz)
PC Gear Dunedin (no site?)
SuperServices (http://www.superservices.co.nz/)

* (1 star)

Expert Infotech (www.einfo.co.nz)*


*** RATINGS *** (in alphabetical order) [NOT UPDATED]

Acquire (http://www.acquire.co.nz)***
AquilaTech (www.aquilatech.co.nz/)***
Ascent Technology (www.ascent.co.nz) *Free Shipping* ****1/2
Computer Lounge (www.computerlounge.co.nz) *Free Shipping* *****
Custom Built Computers New Zealand (www.cbcnz.com) ***
Dell (www.dell.co.nz) *Free Shipping on Most Electronics Purchased****
Digitalcity (http://shop.digitalcity.co.nz) ***
DragonPC (www.DragonPC.co.nz) **
Expert Infotech (www.einfo.co.nz)*
ExtremePC (www.extremepc.co.nz) **
Mightyape (www.mightyape.co.nz) *Free Shipping over $50* ****1/2
Ifocus (www.Ifocus.co.nz) *Free Shipping over $100* ****
Modster PC (http://modster-pc.co.nz) *Free Shipping* ***
Mytoys (www.Mytoys.co.nz) ***1/2
OCZone (www.oczone.co.nz) **
Paradigm Pcs (www.pp.co.nz) *Free Delivery* ****
Parallel Imported (www.parallelimported.co.nz) *1/2
PC Online Shop (www.pconlineshop.co.nz) *1/2
Pcpacific (www.Pcpacific.co.nz) **
PCTronix (www.pctronix.co.nz) ***
Peps PC (www.pepspcs.co.nz) ***
Playtech (www.playtech.co.nz) ****1/2
PB Tech (www.pbtech.co.nz) ***
QMB Computers (www.qmb.co.nz) ***1/2
SuperCheapPC (www.Supercheappc.co.nz) **
Tastech Computers (www.tastech.co.nz) **
XP Computers (www.xpcomputers.co.nz) ***
Xtremesystems (www.xtremesystems.co.nz) **

- Stores which provide very good service and have done that little extra have been coloured green (Playtech, Mightyape, Ascent Technology )

- Store(s) which provide amazing service and have done a LOT in terms of communicating with gpforums users and sorting out their problems have been coloured green in BOLD (at this time only Computer Lounge has achieved this).

Retailer: Custom Built Computers New Zealand (www.cbcnz.com)
Rating: 8/10
Total cost of purchase: $213.56
Comments: Shipping is really good at $9 flat rate. Items came well packaged. Recommended.

Why are we specifiying online? surely the experiences of people in the physical store are important too, like the hotness of the staff etc.

one_red_god wrote: Why are we specifiying online? surely the experiences of people in the physical store are important too, like the hotness of the staff etc.

true, edit the title if u want

Retailer: Ascent
Rating: 10/10
Total cost of purchase: About $30,000 over the last 5 years or so
Comments: I've never had a bad thing to say about Ascent, which is why I'm willing to cop a small price premium for outstanding service. Every time I've ordered a component from somewhere else, I've regretted not being faithful to Ascent for one reason or another. Their returns policy is absolutely second to NONE. I've RMA'd several items with them - the day after I email them, a replacement part is on my doorstep, with a courier ticket for the old part. Forward replacements are the ONLY way. Ascent have never been late with on order (and we're talking hundreds of components over the years here), and respond to emails and phone queries promptly. I will never shop anywhere else, and with my recent experience, I'm unlikely to even purchase second hand again over Ascent.

I found the last one to be of limited value. What it ended up as was ratings by people who had made one purchase.

Which tells you nothing. Even Supercheap will happily complete a sale with someone, its the after sales service that sorts the cowboys from the quality shops.

So rating a shop on a purchase is completely pointless.

+1 for Acent and their hot receptionists, only reason I buy from them

+1 for Ascent, and personally I'd give PCOnline Shop a higher rating, dealt with them a couple of times. They even delivered personally to my house when one item was back-ordered. Although they did have some stuff that wasn't in stock even though they said it was, so maybe the rating you've given is warranted.

pctek wrote: I found the last one to be of limited value. What it ended up as was ratings by people who had made one purchase. Which tells you nothing. Even Supercheap will happily complete a sale with someone, its the after sales service that sorts the cowboys from the quality shops. So rating a shop on a purchase is completely pointless.

Thats a good point - I strongly reccomend that when you RMA something to a store that you post your experience here again.

Add pricespy to the top.

http://modster-pc.co.nz
Free Shipping (until such time), fair prices but not as cheap as others, has a decent range.

http://legionenterprises.co.nz
$5 Shipping, mainly specializes in components for cooling and accessories.

http://itd.co.nz
$9.75 Flat Rate Shipping. Electrical, Mobiles and Computers.

Parallel Imported is avoid like plague? I recently bought a digital camera from them.

siimo wrote: Parallel Imported is avoid like plague? I recently bought a digital camera from them.

Well from my experience they are, and since I haven't seen any other reviews there I put them into the bottom category.

They sold me a 'new' headeck which was actually an open-box, used (scratches everywhere), and had a missing $30 connector.

Also, to everyone, feel free to discuss retailers and anything about them in this thread. This may fill pages up quick but I will keep the first post up to date so there won't be a need to sift through the pages.

+ 1 for ascent. awesome service

siimo wrote: Parallel Imported is avoid like plague? I recently bought a digital camera from them.

Like I said, buying from someone is no indication at all of their service.

Parallel Imported have a bad reputation for after sales service, so you better hope you don't get a problem with your camera.

my 2c..

Retailer: DragonPC(.co.nz)
Rating: 8/10
Total cost of purchase: ~$3000 in about 5 different purchases
Comments: Dragon are quite good, much better if you're in chch and can go into the shop. Generally reply to e-mails pretty fast and have had no problems honouring warranties on two HDDs and a network card.

Retailer: TasTech Computers (www.tastech.co.nz)
Rating: 7.5/10
Total cost of purchase: ~$6000 over 10 or so purchases
Comments: Usually pick things up (chch) but have had them delivered a few times. Sometimes doesn't answer e-mails often but send another or call and you get served eventually. No problems with warranties so far, have to return a motherboard when he opens again though...

EmergeTech was pretty good back when they were still around too...

Retailer: Computer Lounge
Rating: 10/10
Total cost of purchase: Over $300 over last year+
Comments: Pretty cheap, always have products within 3 working days. Had a faulty DVD burner once and they replaced immediatly along with an apoligy.

Retailer: Playtech
Rating: 8/10
Total cost of purchase: Over $500 over 2 years
Comments: Over all one of the cheapest places i have dealt with. Have had to send back a few harddrives tho due to a "bad batch". Could take a bit more effort to send their harddrives - personally i think one layer of bubble wrap isnt enough

TeXeL wrote: my 2c.. Retailer: DragonPC(.co.nz) Rating: 8/10 Total cost of purchase: ~$3000 in about 5 different purchases Comments: Dragon are quite good, much better if you're in chch and can go into the shop. Generally reply to e-mails pretty fast and have had no problems honouring warranties on two HDDs and a network card.

i had quite the opposite experience with dragonpc...
i ordered my monitor and deposited the money, but the monitor wasnt in stock (which didnt show on their site), so i asked for my money back, i sent numbers of email and did not get a reply, and few months later, i received the monitor... =.=

also emailed them about getting a gamepad, which they just stopped emailing me back...

poor communication from dragon...

Just ordered a Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme off ascent, said it was in stock, just got informed that it won't ship till the 22nd, thanks ascent



(that didn't stop them from billing my CC though)

Retailer: AquilaTech
Rating: 10/10
Total cost of purchase: $117
Comments: Paid yesterday morning, got confirmation straight away. Received the package 24 hours later (aka next morning). Motherboard was packaged properly and signature required was used for the delivery. Mike was very quick at replying to my emails as well

A++ would trade again.

Retailer: QMB Computers
Rating: 10/10
Total cost of purchase: Over $3000 over the last 2 years.
Comments: Everything i order from them as i pay for them with ASB and they have a ASB account i get things either the same day or the next morning.
never have charged me more than $6 for shipping. Had a fault with some ram one time, they replaced it promptly with no hassles. Next day delivery with a courier pack to send it back.

Retailer: C1 Computers
Rating: 6/10
Total Cost of purchase: 120
Comments: Ordered an OEM product and they did'nt send me part of the package, emailed n rang them two days straight n either phone engaged or not replying email...had to drive all the way down to their pick up shop and ask them in person and got told they ran out of it but sent it to me anyway.... so I was sent an incomplete product and they never told me about it... now I had to wait another 2 days... not happy with C1. Previously bought over 1000 worth of stuff and that was fine but this OEM product - -

Retailer: Affordable Computers
Rating: 10/10

Bought an el-cheapo keyboard. They really should be classed as a retail store as they have two stores and well, unlike a lot of comp stores, it isn't packed to the brim and is well layed out (in both stores, been to both). Good quick service.

Retailer: www.elive.co.nz (I know they're not currently listed, but should be.)
Rating: 9.5/10
Total cost of purchase: $3,000ish (an 8800GTX, a 24" LCD widescreen, 750MW PSU, 2 500GB SATA HDs, 2xCorsair DDR2 1GB 667 RAM.) Prices were average to good compared with most other online retailers I visited.
Comments: Great, great service. Really good selection, and delivered very fast indeed-3 working days for the lot. The only reason I'm not marking them 10 is that their billing system isn't particularly intuitive-you get a "printout" with a reference number, and then have to use electronic banking to make the transaction. Since most banks have a $1,000 limit on this sort of one-off bill payment, it can involve multiple payments all with the same reference number. Because of this, I managed to stuff my order up quite majorly (made the same order three times, cancelled, tried again, etc-basically ended up lookin like a tool.) That's where their customer service really kicks in-they were prompt and helpful with getting everything sorted, even offered to refund a $20 overpayment that occurred due to my entering the orders incorrectly. They also offer free advice as to whether what you're buying is compatible with your current system if you need to check.

ariosto wrote: Retailer: www.elive.co.nz (I know they're not currently listed, but should be.) Rating: 9.5/10 Total cost of purchase: $3,000ish (an 8800GTX, a 24" LCD widescreen, 750MW PSU, 2 500GB SATA HDs, 2xCorsair DDR2 1GB 667 RAM.) Prices were average to good compared with most other online retailers I visited. Comments: Great, great service. Really good selection, and delivered very fast indeed-3 working days for the lot. The only reason I'm not marking them 10 is that their billing system isn't particularly intuitive-you get a "printout" with a reference number, and then have to use electronic banking to make the transaction. Since most banks have a $1,000 limit on this sort of one-off bill payment, it can involve multiple payments all with the same reference number. Because of this, I managed to stuff my order up quite majorly (made the same order three times, cancelled, tried again, etc-basically ended up lookin like a tool.) That's where their customer service really kicks in-they were prompt and helpful with getting everything sorted, even offered to refund a $20 overpayment that occurred due to my entering the orders incorrectly. They also offer free advice as to whether what you're buying is compatible with your current system if you need to check.

Do they not do eftpos?

one_red_god wrote: Do they not do eftpos?

What i was thinking