View Full Version : Best place to buy computer?
checbenj
07-19-2005, 08:51 AM
i need to purchase a new computer i have done some research and have a good idea what i would like. i would like to know which dealers you would suggest for me to check out. toronto east danforth central area.
Thanks
Dealer is irrelevant - most computer stores are very similar. (just stay away from box stores and MDG)
Just list the components that you want and go from there.
Shinma
07-20-2005, 05:56 AM
For retail price checking,
PriceNetwork (http://www.pricenetwork.ca)
camper226
07-20-2005, 10:30 PM
etc computer
3181 Bathurst Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M6A 2B2
(416) 789-1640
mander
07-20-2005, 11:05 PM
Why not have a look at the good folks that run the board you are asking this question on??? http://www.lamplite.com/sunshop/index.php?action=item&id=238&prevaction=category&previd=7277&prevstart=0
If you would like something different, send either Les or Deb a PM and tell them what you are looking for and get a price quote. I agree with staying away from the big box stores as the service is just not there. Something goes wrong and you will hear, oh we have to send that back to the manufacturer under warranty....can we say 6-8 weeks?
I have bought two machines from "thecomputermechanics". They get me what I want and the service is second to none. I have taken a friends machine in and they have worked miracles. In my opinion you should give them a try.
Neal.
prarie
07-21-2005, 02:03 AM
Avoid ****!
rcdraft
07-21-2005, 06:36 AM
Check along College St. between Spadina and Bathurst, there are over a dozen stores. I also agree with prarie avoid ****, I bought a video card from them that failed and after I returned it, no response for months. A dozen emails, and phone calls unanswered.
Avoid ****!
I have never had a problem with them - far better service than Canada Computers.
If you know what you're doing, it doesn't matter where you buy from as long as the service is okay.
Just like with any store, do not get an el-cheapo package.
prarie
07-21-2005, 03:42 PM
I had nothing but problems and run arounds from ****, actually got far better service from Canada Computers - but I dealt with the head tech, not the salespeople and when the assistant tech made a mistake, the head tech solved the problem. But like everything else you hear both the good and the bad which you need too, and depending on who you deal with in the store can make a difference. Canada Computers does have a reputation for bad returns policies, although some places do not allow returns just credit to use in their store.
Before you buy, ask whatever potential store about returns, re-stocking fees, and warranties - do they do it, or will they make you mail it somewhere in Canada or the States. Good luck though. Online I have gotten great prices and delivery speed from both NCIX.com, and Tigerdirect.ca, haven't had to return anything yet, cross my fingers, so don't know about their return policy but you do have to mail it back to them unless you spend money on a "special" option on returns.
Frogy
07-21-2005, 06:38 PM
Box stores have their place and cheap computers are one of them. I believe that you can upgrade but at what price?
As mentioned previously, stay away from the cheap stuff and better yet, decide what you want and have it built if you are unable to do it yourself. A local is good advice but TCM is too, the worst you'll get is good advice which I have in the past and followed to good results. :)
Les Shaw
07-21-2005, 06:57 PM
I have bought two machines from "thecomputermechanics". They get me what I want and the service is second to none. I have taken a friends machine in and they have worked miracles. In my opinion you should give them a try.
Neal.
I like them too. Nice looking Lady Tech :)
mander
07-21-2005, 07:02 PM
Nice looking Lady Tech :)
Just nice looking????....heck she is a beautiful woman both inside and out....you might want to have an eye exam Les before you end up in the doghouse. :eri:
"I like them too. Nice looking Lady Tech"
Bit of an understatement there Les!
Drop Dead Gorgeous and with brains to match is more like it!
I think I would be taking mander's advice on the eye exam.
marshmallo_001
07-22-2005, 09:03 PM
Make the trip to TCM.. by far the most reliable, great prices and Deb is awesome.. (U too Les!) Give them a shout they are a wealth of knowledge
Weeeee, my very own fan club :bll: Thank you :)
checbenj
08-03-2005, 12:41 AM
Thanks folks i definitly will
awesomejs
08-04-2005, 04:22 PM
pccanada.com
summit direct
eskynet
Fyshawk
08-04-2005, 05:04 PM
Myself I would go with TCM they have always been reliable and good they also take the time to explain things to you if you are not computer inclined Deb done up my rig for me and I must say am very happy with it.they are :bsu: in my books
Dierdra
08-04-2005, 05:43 PM
Les Shaw once said he had yet to see a computer brought in for repairs, etc, that didn't have porn on it.
So who would want to buy a computer from him? It might get round that you took it in for something under the guarantee.
Or would he be willing, if true, to say that yours was an exception to the rule.
mander
08-04-2005, 06:13 PM
Les Shaw once said he had yet to see a computer brought in for repairs, etc, that didn't have porn on it.
So who would want to buy a computer from him? It might get round that you took it in for something under the guarantee.
Or would he be willing, if true, to say that yours was an exception to the rule.
What is on anyones personal computer is just that...personal. Les would never break the golden rule of privacy and tell anyone what is on a particular clients computer. There could be some sort of porn on anyones computer, sometimes without them even knowing it. Dont be so quick to say that Les or Deb goes around naming names and what they have in their computer as I know thats something they DONT do.
batkinson001
08-04-2005, 06:28 PM
I agree TCM is second to none. if you get a sata hard drive, make sure that if you comp is serviced by tcm, get deb or les to do it. NOT the new guy. it was the ONLY hiccup I have had with TCM in roughly 7 years *laughs*. everything's running good since then.
Les Shaw
08-04-2005, 06:45 PM
Les Shaw once said he had yet to see a computer brought in for repairs, etc, that didn't have porn on it.
So who would want to buy a computer from him? It might get round that you took it in for something under the guarantee.
Or would he be willing, if true, to say that yours was an exception to the rule.
Don't think I would ever say that , could relate to that 99% of all systems have some type of porn related file in the Internet temp folder. Comes with surfing the net.
People come to us because we are more then private and fix problems faster then any store in Durham. Plus they trust that we will only charge what is required.
It can be fun when someone that is a porno nut , see's Deb working on the system. Red faced is a under statement but they feel at ease when they know we see everything ...
But we don't ever scan files or systems , no time we normally get a system in and out the next day ..
I hate to watch porn , just don't like to see someone have more fun in 20 mins then I will have in a lifetime.
:)
Les Shaw once said he had yet to see a computer brought in for repairs, etc, that didn't have porn on it.
So who would want to buy a computer from him? It might get round that you took it in for something under the guarantee.
Or would he be willing, if true, to say that yours was an exception to the rule.
Have you had a computer at our shop and had a bad experience? Did we name you in conversation with someone or shared your private information? Is there something we've done to you for you to advise people here not to deal with us?
Please do reply...
batkinson001
08-04-2005, 07:43 PM
I agree, please do.
Meh...didn't think so.
Anyhoo, back to the original thread. We take the privacy of our customers very seriously and put as much care into their systems as if they were our own machines. Your data is important to us. We can configure any system you require and our prices are competitive. Our service extends after the sale.
I'd also like to thank our existing Customers here for their support. Without you, we wouldn't be here :)
mander
08-04-2005, 08:07 PM
Anyhoo, back to the original thread. We take the privacy of our customers very seriously and put as much care into their systems as if they were our own machines. Your data is important to us. We can configure any system you require and our prices are competitive. Our service extends after the sale.
I'd also like to thank our existing Customers here for their support. Without you, we wouldn't be here :)
Very well said Deb. Any business that has access to personal information...ie banks, doctors etc do the same as any computer store. Your personal things are safe and will absolutely not be revealed to anyone without their written consent. TCM is not some fly by night computer company that gives that info to anyone.
That being said, there is only one thing they would most likely reveal and that would be if they discovered a substansial amount of child pornography or other illegal activity of the sort on someone's computer, other than whats in the temp files. That would then have the potential to be reported to the local police, but that would be a very rare case that any info is leaked to anyone.
Confidentiality is the key to any computer business.
Dierdra
08-04-2005, 08:14 PM
Have you had a computer at our shop and had a bad experience? Did we name you in conversation with someone or shared your private information? Is there something we've done to you for you to advise people here not to deal with us?
Please do reply...
No to all three.
But, my reaction on reading Les's porn generalization was that it was, though no doubt true, yet somewhat injudicious coming from someone in the business.
Generalizing, as we do on the show when we're speaking about a subject like this allows us to keep our customer's privacy intact so which is it?
As for porn, we do see it every day here, it's really no big deal. You can get it from just a one-letter typo while surfing among other ways. Most times we don't even disclose it to the customer, we just clean it.
I'm still confused as to why you would advise people not to deal with us when you haven't had that experience...:rrg:
People come to us because we are more then private and fix problems faster then any store in Durham. Plus they trust that we will only charge what is required.
Ever thought of opening a second store closer to Toronto Les? :)
We are rolling around the possibility of franchising. Anybody want a store? :hst:
mander
08-04-2005, 08:44 PM
Resources as far as looking after two stores and staff and lease rates I doubt that it would be worth the time and effort not to mention the commute from Toronto to Oshawa to make sure everything is up to their high standards. Just a thought.
Dierdra
08-04-2005, 08:56 PM
I didn't advise anyone not to do business with Les. On the contrary, I believe that anyone who does do business with Les and Deb will be in very good hands.
My rhetorical question merely expressed the qualms that might well be aroused in anybody with something to hide (everybody), by the thought that his or her guilty secrets might be involuntarily revealed to the accompaniment of guffaws.
We are rolling around the possibility of franchising. Anybody want a store? :hst:
lol....that's too funny. I was thinking of the franchise idea when I posted that :d
Athlon2600Plus
08-24-2005, 02:37 PM
Too funny!
Athlon2600Plus
08-24-2005, 02:40 PM
Very good point!
Athlon2600Plus
08-24-2005, 02:45 PM
I am new to all this but I have seen the "show" and think its great! It is very obvious to me that you and Les do this not just for the business but because you both enjoy very much what you do and what you do best..make computers, fix them, educate the public...If only they made computers half as intresting as you and les do. You make it very fun to learn...In fact I will be watcign the show tonight with my trusty note pad and pen!!
checbenj
08-31-2005, 03:10 PM
Thanks everyone for a lively discussion, Oshawa is far for me to travel to buy a computor. So advice is what i need. I have $1000. budget. I want the best system I can get. I do photo editing and online gaming. I have a monitor, 4 speakers and subwoofer,printer, router, mouse, keyboard. I am leaning in the direction of amd 64. so folks thats my dilemma not da lama. What are your recommedations?
With that budget, something along these lines would be ideal
AMD Socket939 Athlon 64 3000+(1.8GHz) L1=128K L2=512K 90nm Re $179
Generic Case - $45
Western Digital 80GB S-ATA OEM $73
256MB KVR400X64C25/256 $45
256MB KVR400X64C25/256 $45 (This line is not a typo-o)
ABIT MB AN8 NF4 AMD S939 $177
Enermax 420W EG425P-VE SFMA Dual Fan more $72
MS WINDOWS XP HOME OEM $118.99
MSI NX6600-TD128E GeForce 6600 PCI-Ex16 128MB DDR $155
(I don't know the difference between the regular 6600 and 6600GT - do some research if you're interested.)
Floppy Drive $20
Total - $929.99 without the operating system. Prices are from I C C T, but you can get a similar price at any other store.
Shred
08-31-2005, 10:26 PM
Exactly!
I'm still confused as to why you would advise people not to deal with us when you haven't had that experience...:rrg:
agreed with AMD all the stores are pretty much priced the same, and you can go in a store and be like... well at this store they got a better price can you beat it or should i go there? and you can get a 5% deal or more
Cat person
09-01-2005, 01:18 AM
All stores might be close in pricing but different in customer service. I'd rather pay a bit more for experienced and friendly service.
Morning Cabbie
09-01-2005, 05:58 AM
I hope I don't get in trouble for this reply but it's an interesting thread. Seeing as I don't live anywhere remotely close to Oshawa may I add my 2 cents here? :)
In addition to taxi driving, I manage the used parts department at a computer shop here in Brantford, part of my duties is inspecting used towers that are left behind when customers buy new systems.
Can't say I have ever come across any questionable content on a computer, I think majority of people realize that if they have it on their PC and they take it to a shop and the tech sees something which is clearly illegal the police will be called.
As far as privacy goes, I don't reveal what I find on people's PC's either, actually it was really bizarre about a month ago, I processed the former PC of a local vet and the very next day I had to take my cat to him!
ChrisK
09-01-2005, 07:39 AM
Here is a listing of Canadian Computer Stores across Canada. Both small and large.
PCShops.CA
http://www.pcshops.ca
freestylegreek
09-01-2005, 04:54 PM
I would want another store. Even though Im not buying a new pc it would be good for people I know to go to a place everyone trusts.
We are rolling around the possibility of franchising. Anybody want a store? :hst:
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