Are computer shows worth it?

[SilverCeli]

I mean will one typically find deals better than say newegg at a computer show?

 

[RadDreamer]

At times, but you have to watch out for shady dealers

 

[Cougar]

Originally posted by: SilverCeli
I mean will one typically find deals better than say newegg at a computer show?

You can find some decent deals at those shows but for me it's not really worth going. I don't know about the shows in your area but here's a list of Pros and Cons for the one in my area:

Pro:

1. You can see the merchandise and know what you're getting without playing a guessing game
2. You get the stuff right away without having to wait for shipping
3. For a 2-day show you can buy your stuff the first day and if something doesn't work you can go back the 2nd day and exchange it
4. Many vendors to choose from all in one location...makes it possible to pricematch a little easier.
5. They typically carry a fair amount of older equipment that is sometimes hard to find online
6. Little piddly things like IDE cables cost only a buck or two and you only have to worry about tax and not shipping

Con:

1. The show in my area is about an hour away so the drive sucks (this might not apply to you).
2. It costs $7 to get into the show
3. There can be hundreds of people all crammed into a little space and lets just say that not everyone is into hygene
4. Vendors can be there one show then up and vanish the next show....not cool if you bought an entire system from them (the majority of these places are little mom 'n pop joints).
5. The prices for most parts are about on par with what you would find via pricewatch/newegg, however:
6. Most vendors want you to pay cash to get that cheap price (if you like carrying around a fat wad of cash then this won't really be a problem).

All in all they're cool to go to but for me it's just not worth it. I don't buy as much stuff as I used to and with vendors like newegg offering free shipping on alot of things I just don't feel the need to drive and hour, pay $7 to get in, and walk away with nothing 'cause the motherboard I wanted was sold out. I'd much rather sit at home where it's nice and quiet, order the stuff online, and wait for it to get shipped to me.

Again, this is just my take on the show that is in my area. The shows in your area may be completely different so I say you should just go check it out one day and see how you like it.

 

[Corporate Thug]

i like shows because u know what u are getting before actually buying it

ie you can see whether or not that OEM 9800 has samsung chip or not or what the stepping on an OEM processor is

 

[Brian48]

The last few shows I went to, I didn't think it was worth it. Didn't really see that much of a difference in savings compared to some of the more reliable places over at pricewatch. I don't even bother with them any more.

 

[SemperFi]

I usually go to walk around and look. I pretty much don't buy any hardware there any more. I have bought too much junk from them. It is easier to return to newegg imho. I usually look at the books and software anymore. We have a big one here twice a year called computerfest that is 2 days. If I do buy hardware I buy on sat and test to make sure it isn't bad out of the box.

 

[jackschmittusa]

The shows are about once a month around here. I usually go (10 min drive for me). I like to buy cases as there are no shipping costs. If I offer to pay cash and to buy 3 or 4 things from a vender, they will often dicker. I have also bought many used monitors ( again, no big shipping costs) at great prices. Have bought perfect looking used 21" Trinitrons for $150us each. Can usually find everything I need all at once and have it right away.

 

[OverVolt]

Well i've bought a Gateway P41.8-M 256DDR (no idea what speed) 40GB HD Radeon Mobility6 32mb dedicated 802.11b wireless 17" 1024x768 DVD-ROM Laptop at those shows for $800<

I also found a good deal on a Centrino Sony Viao i was going to get which was
P-M 1.4Ghz
256DDR 333
80Gb 5200rpm HD
Not sure on grapihcs probably some Radeon 16mb Dedicated cheap stuff
802.11b/DVD-Rom + CD-RW combo
12" 1024x768
^ and that was for $990 both came with 1yr warranty

Good deals to me, the guys at the show said they bought them from Sony Gateway Hp ect as customized orders that were cancelled, and so they just sold them for real cheap

 

[jjyiz28]

arn't computer shows notorious for remarked cpu's??

 

[beatle]

They can be nice for the little odds and ends that you don't feel like buying online due to shipping costs. Stuff like monitor extension cables, scsi cables, used floppy drives, cheap video or sound cards, and cases. A lot of these things can be gotten slightly cheaper online if you don't factor in shipping. Like another has said, it's nice to be able to see and touch the merchandise before buying. The last show I went to this summer had several vendors selling case mod supplies like ccfls, psu mods, fancy cases, fan controllers, etc. I did find it weird that there was only ONE vendor selling Abit motherboards. There's a lot of junk at the shows too, so it helps to have an idea of what's good and what's not. They can also be nice if you're looking for a particular batch of cpus - being able to see the batch/stepping on the box can be advantageous.

 

[MDE]

If you know what you want and know the average online prices, you should be fine. There's a lot of cheesy crap that they just unloaded off the boat from Taiwan that you have to be wary of. Sometimes you can find a good deal though. Last one I went to, I got an 80mm Vantec Stealth case fan for $3, a virtual steal.

 

Originally posted by: RadDreamer
At times, but you have to watch out for shady dealers

I had to get a lawyer to threaten a dealer that sold me crap ram..... Never again unless its sanctioned by VERY big companies.

 

[BlackOmen]

I used to go to the shows back in the day when they used to have some really good values. The explosion of business over the internet has killed the values. At the show that marketpro does you can expect to pay $10-$20 more than what you would if you were to shop online from newegg. Also, the number of vendors showing at the shows has declined and marketpro has turned it into a computer/junk show, where you can now buy computer parts in addition to offbrand electronics and clothing. It's really quite ghetto now.

 

[Sid59]

i like to go and walk around with sweaty fat men who took a break to get more snacks a talk geek.