Anyone been to a Computer Show?

[edfcmc]

I've been to numerous computer shows (actually worked for an outfit that sold some way back at computer shows in Los Angeles county when 286's where in style.) Anyway, the Pomona Fairplex computer show has some really good deals. A great place to pick up some cheap cables (mostly from Roger Systems Specialists), I/o controller cards etc. ACP computer show at the end of january usually is a mix of new stuff and misc. electronic stuff. The computer show in Las Vegas (I am not talking about comdex or CES) mostly sucks. 1 vendor who sells some up to date stuff, but the rest of the vendors sell used old crap and want a premium for it.

 

[440sixpack]

I go every once in a while, and pretty much as stated they are ok for a couple things - 1.) Super cheap commodity parts like cables or when you need a $5 mouse, quick with no shipping charge, and 2.) refurbished monitors at great prices. I am looking at my Mitsubishi 22" Flatscreen right now that I picked up for $195. Even had a problem where the first one had a big fuzzy stripe down the middle of the screen, just met the dealer at the next show and swapped it for a good one. Wouldn't go too far out of my way for a show but they can have their good points.

 

[rh71]

I went to a few to check them out. Paying for admission sucks. Prices weren't that great and obviously you can't go around comparing prices if the floor is "big" cause it can get time consuming. Dealers give you the eye if you look/touch but don't buy. I'd rather shop online.

 

[LordRaiden]

I used to love Comdex, but they're now like gone for good. 🙁

 

[fatbaby]

question:

what kind of vendors usually sell there? Mom & pop stores? Online retailers (newegg, mwave)? Or individuals?

 

[Paulson]

I got a 25 foot vga extender cable (needed it...)

and also an 80 gig drive for $74... both work, but the hard drive doesn't have a warranty (urgh)

oh well

 

[Kevin]

I go every month when KGP has them at the Raritan Center. Recently went to a Market Pro show and hated it. Space was cramped and vendors had all the same stuff. The KGP shows have huge isles and lots of vendors. Most vendors are computer shops scattered around NY, NJ and PA. Prices are the same as the internet, some less and some more. It depends what you buy and from who...

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: fatbaby
question:

what kind of vendors usually sell there? Mom & pop stores? Online retailers (newegg, mwave)? Or individuals?

My experience has been Mom and Pop.

 

[Siddhartha]

Usually, you can get better price from an online vendor like Newegg. For the last show I went to I made a list of components I was interested in with Newegg.com prices(including shipping). Newegg was around 20% cheaper than all the computer show venors. It maybe cheaper to buy a case or a monitor at a show.

 

[PricklyPete]

Did you really ask if anyone at ATOT has been to a computer show?

 

[wfbberzerker]

beyonddc, i went to that very computer show when it was here in wisconsin. cost me and my mom 8 bucks (each) to get in, and when i found what i was looking for (a cd-rw burner), it was more expensive than from newegg. :| i recommend against going to these. most of the stuff they sell is 5-10 years old, anyways.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: no0b
I go to this one

Most of its junky refurb but for $7 its something to do on a sunday.

Sometimes you can find a rare old part that you need but... generaly not.

Most of the venders that I shop at have a B&M store within 1 hour.

I will usualy only buy dirt cheap ram its about the same price online but you never know if it works.

i used to go to the one at COD all the time. i still get coupons in the mail for it heh. The only time i go now is to get monitors or old parts (some good deals on monitors and modems).

otherwise i just order from newegg and pay a little more plus shipping.
but considering i have drive to COD and pay to get in i dont pay to much more.

 

[mpitts]

My aunt and uncle run Five Star computer shows in Flint, MI.

I used to go all the time. I knew all of the vendors and got some pretty sweet deals. Nowadays, I mostly order online or buy locally. There are a lot more computer stores in Atlanta than there are in Flint, MI. 😀

 

[Kevin]

My best experience has to be when my cousin picked up a bare Santa Cruz. Most likely it was a system pull from a dell since we bought it from these guys who sell all these parts. I don't know how he did it, but he got him down to $30. We went home, popped it in and it worked beautifully. Bunch of friends buy monitors there since you can easily get a surplus 21" Trinitron for around $75. The way its set up is all retail/factory sealed vendors line the perimeter where the windows are. Then all system pulls and older equipment is in the middle. If you pay in cash, you can almost always get the price down a bit. The show I go to is $10 on Saturday and $8 on Sunday. If you go to the Saturday show, the ticket is good for Sunday too, so it comes to about $5 for each day. I've got a 5 show pass which was $30. Gets me in 5 weekends, which is 10 days and comes to $3 a day if you look at it. Then they have the unlimited year pass for $50.

Mostly everyone's legit except for this one guy who sells all "As Is" hardware dirt cheap. You can buy an "As-Is" 45GB HD for $20. Some have gotten working ones but most people just come back and curse him out. The last show, this one guy really let him have it. He waited until there was a crowd of people, then started to curse him out and say everything is broken and its all jsut a scam. Usually I go on Saturday and write down prices and vendors. Then I go Sunday to buy. Ususally works out to my benefit since Sunday they usually mark things down even more since they already made their money on Saturday. Usually I go on Pricewatch and get the lowest dirt-cheap price and use that to compare. Most of the time the vendors prices are within a $5-$10 range and I just offer what I can get it for online. 95% of the time it works...