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computer show prices

Cases and other bulky items are usually a good buy at comp shows, because you save on shipping. Apparently out there on the west coast, comp shows cost quite a bit to get into (we pay $4-7 here), so you have to figure that into whatever you buy.
 
About a month ago, I took a list of components (with Newegg.com prices) I was interested in to a show. Newegg.com, with shipping included, had lower prices than every vendor there.
 
Originally posted by: Dr Smooth
About a month ago, I took a list of components (with Newegg.com prices) I was interested in to a show. Newegg.com, with shipping included, had lower prices than every vendor there.

I did the same thing recently.

...same result
 
I stopped going to computer shows 4 years ago.
I'm in LA, we've fry's for many good deals, pc club for buying cheap case locally, mwave.com for $5 local pickup if you need to buy case and monitor, plus online there are newegg.com although need to pay tax, tcwo.com for cheap oem amd cpu without tax, amazon and dell for some great deals oftenly without tax, etc.
Computer show (not the Comdex type) should be RIP now!
 
About a month ago, I took a list of components (with Newegg.com prices) I was interested in to a show. Newegg.com, with shipping included, had lower prices than every vendor there.
same thing when i went about a week ago (in se wisconsin)

although, it was kinda fun when some guy tried to convince me to buy a computer after ive built several of my own (so i know which way is cheaper 😀)
 
I've gone to a few local computer shows and their prices are very competitive (it depends on the vendor too). Cases are usually cheaper. Motherboards are also as cheap or cheaper than the best online prices and you save on shipping. Video cards are not as competitive although some vendors have better prices than others. CD-ROM, Burners, DVD drives are all priced CHEAPER but it was not the case for harddrives. CPU's and memory are all inline with web prices. Bottom line is know the prices for each component you want to buy.
 
I guess it depends where you are. I went to a computer show on Saturday. Some of the prices were terrible, but others were quite competitive. Motherboards, disk drives and CPU's (at least here in New York) are about the same price as you would pay at Newegg. Oddly, video cards are significantly more expensive. All of the vendors seem to have tons of generic DIMMs with Samsung chips for $60/256 and $110/512. HSF's, fans, cases, power supplies and monitors always seem to be way overpriced. And you ALWAYS have to pay sales tax here--the tax police roust these vendors at every opportunity.
 
I wish we had computer fairs in Louisiana so i could just compare prices and see how they are. Plus beable to see many items up close just to see them before i buy them online if they are cheaper online!
 
Where do you find out about the time and location of these computer shows? I'm in the state of Indiana, and have no idea if there are any of these shows going on nearby. Please enlighten me.
 
It's hard tofind good prices at the shows but if you look around enough you can get a good price on stuff. Last time I was at the show I bought a p3 866 for 55 bucks oem 30 day warrenty.
 
Where do you find out about the time and location of these computer shows? I'm in the state of Indiana, and have no idea if there are any of these shows going on nearby. Please enlighten me.

marketpro.com
 
I'm in the state of Indiana, and have no idea if there are any of these shows going on nearby.

You can check here. They seem to occasionally come to Indianapolis. Note, though, that these are the same people who organize the 2-3 yearly computer shows here in the Minneapolis area. Most of the vendors are not local, so getting exchanges on defective hardware could be very difficult. And although the prices are better than other local stores, they're still more expensive than NewEgg or other reliable online sources. And they charge a ridiculous $8 admission fee for the 'privilege' of allowing us to buy from these shady dealers? No thanks. Don't waste your time.
 
You know what everyone? I always dreamed of a huge computer store! Like maybe the size of the Mall of Americas ! With every brand of mobos, ram, Hard drives, processors, video cards, sound cards, cases, cd-rws, cd-roms, dvd-rom, dvd-rws,dvd-rs,cable modems, routers, speakers, floppy drives, monitors, desk, chairs, network cards, heatsinks, fans, joysticks, mouses, keyboards, gaming controllers, gaming steering wheels, thumbscrews, power supplies, cables, cd cases, cd sleeves, cd racks, black cd-rws, black cd-rs, black dvd-rs, black dvd-rw, black dvd+r, black dvd+rw, SCSI HDS, SCSI cables, SCSI CD-ROMs, SCSI anything,etc. Also i always wished for one to have like all kind of test systems with like comparing a GF3 to a GF4, comparing a SCSI 15000 rpm to a WD HD that has 8mb of cache (either the 80 or 120 gig i guess), etc. I would love to have a computer store here around here like that but with newegg prices hehe. If this kind of store was possible i sure hope one opens here soon hehe but i think i am dreaming 🙁 This kind of store to me would be like a kid lost in a candy store or a toy store! I would be there i bet everyday if not at least every week.
 
I can only speak to the computer shows in the central Florida area but they are suck. Lamer vendors with lamer junk at lamer prices. Stay away or prepare to bend over 😉
 
imtim83,
here at City of Industry and Walnut, we have Fry's, Bestbuy, Compusa, PC Club, newegg's warehouse (sorry no will-call), mwave's warehouse ($5 extra for local pickup), hundreds of pricewatch/yahoo vendors' warehouse (sorry no will-call), hundreds of small mom&pop computer stores, hundreds of distributors and wholesalers (get a reseller's permit then you can buy at low price without tax), hundreds of manufacturers' office and warehouse, etc.
Who's going to build a supermall for them and do they want to stay together under the same roof?
 
Kingofcomputer well i don't mean them all together. I mean just one big computer store thats owned by only one company would be cool. Wouldn't you just love it if there could be one? But i guess in a way just to pay for the place the prices would be pretty high 🙁
 
I went to my very first computer show this past Saturday. What a letdown. I went there expecting to find hot deals on GF4's/100GB HDs/2GHz P4's/etc. What did I find?

Ripoff deals on GF2MXs/used 15GB IBM HDs/Cyrix CPUs/used IDE cables for $5 each. I kid you not.

There were some good deals on cases. Several plain and colored Antec 1040-style cases...as someone above said, you pay no shipping...on a 30lb case, shipping is a significant amount of dough.

There were a few GF4mxs around, but we all know what kind of joke those cards are.

Basically, computer shows are geared towards folks that think their PII450 is fast, and AOL is a nifty little ISP to have. I had guys trying to sell me no-name 40x CD roms telling me, "your games will play faster." I about peed my pants laughing.
 
MichaelD wow scary if a person does not know what to buy and what not to buy. But i would say everyone here does! 🙂 I think its nice to beable to know if sometimes good to buy or not! I mean how many people in the US or the whole world you think in percent know if its good to buy lets say one video card rather than this other video. Or this one duron 1.3 ghz from a 1.2 ghz thunderbird lets say? I am guessing not too many but i am sure there is a good amount that know like all of us in this forum, other computer forums, etc!



 
Originally posted by: imtim83
MichaelD wow scary if a person does not know what to buy and what not to buy. But i would say everyone here does! 🙂 I think its nice to beable to know if sometimes good to buy or not! I mean how many people in the US or the whole world you think in percent know if its good to buy lets say one video card rather than this other video. Or this one duron 1.3 ghz from a 1.2 ghz thunderbird lets say? I am guessing not too many but i am sure there is a good amount that know like all of us in this forum, other computer forums, etc!

99% of the people here at AT know more than most of the retailers at these shows. I was chatting w/this one fellow at the show. He just bought a GF2GTS (nice card...I have one in my second system.). He paid $140 for it and he swears he got a deal. He also swears that "it's the top of the line right now...fastest card out there."

I just smiled and congratulated him on his purchase. He was so happy that I didn't want to spoil it for him. Let him have his fun, you know?
 
Poor guy, I actually felt bad for him... wow, $140.. you can get an Radeon8500 Retail for a little bit less than that, or if you're lucky, a GF4Ti4200...

See, I couldn't be a con man, I would feel bad doing it...

Oh well..

I havn't been to a computer show for the longest, I don't recall ever going to one, Sounds like a big disappointment.
 
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