Jun
30
Written by:
Dean Harrison
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
I love gadgets as much as the next guy, I’ve just never been a fan of notebook computing. Don’t get me wrong I think they are wonderful devices, I have just never had the need to be so restricted in upgrade options or screen-size whilst being free to roam around. Up until now, that is. I won’t go into the the detail as to why I need mobile computing, I don’t want to bore you, let’s just say I need one.
The first place I can think of to go kick the tyres on a variety of notebooks is Incredible Connection of course, so I pop in at the Greenstone store and start to purv. I know pretty much my budget, and have a checklist of techie requirements to cater for, so literally within minutes I have narrowed it down to one specific model. Against character, I resist the urge to whip out the plastic and buy the little sucker there and then, I decide to take my search online. Almost as soon as I am home I’m Google’ing and to my delight I find that there are several online shops selling the same model, but for R1,000 cheaper! I am not adverse to shopping online, I’ve been doing it for years, but I don’t want to wait for stock and delivery. So I thought I would try to haggle the retail stores into a better price. I call the Connection store at Greenstone, but the manager is not available. So I tried the Eastgate store, and I spoke to the manager there. He confirmed that the model was in stock but when I asked him if he was willing to match prices, he gave me some bumf about online stores not having the overhead of retail stores, and that the price was the price! Now while I understand that retail stores have some serious overheads, surely they need to rethink their model, I am a willing buyer and they could make the sale, at a realistic price. Obviously this will reduce their margin, but surely some margin is better than no margin at all! You’d think that they would know, that even the least tech-savvy people know about Google, and will try to find better pricing. And after all they are selling tech stuff!
Oh well, thanks to www.PCmall.co.za I will be getting the notebook today. I just can’t help wondering how long the Connection group will be around, especially in this economic environment. I tried to look for financial results on the Connection Group Holdings page, but that looks like it hasn’t been updated since 2005!!! Could they find themselves more disconnected from what is really going on in the world?
Perhaps the online shops should send a thank-you note to the Connection guys for providing them with a show-room for their products and a compelling reason for shoppers to buy products online, cheaper.
2 comment(s) so far...
I realise you think your logic is water tight, but it isn't. If you were selecting only by price and spec, you could have completed this search on line and ordered without going into the store. You want to buy from IC because they have stock, it is very difficult to co-ordinate a home delivery, and you don't trust the internet guys to give you back-up service. This all is worth R1000. This is why they are in business and will remain so.
By Brian on
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
|
Hey Brian, I think you have some good points, and I did consider them when writing the blog. Having stock on hand and backup service are very important, but with many brands the backup and/or warranty is directly with the supplier and not the retailer. So if something goes wrong you deal with the suppliers anyway. Ultimately I went with a reputable online company, who have bent over backwards to get me the product. So in essence I ask if having the stock on hand is worth the R1,000 premium? IMHO its not.
By Dean on
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
|