Computer Show Survival Tips?

[KiltedFool]

Short and sweet folks.

This weekend there's a computer show here in the Philly area, and since I have a number of items in my two systems that I need to upgrade, I'm thinking of going to the thing and running hog wild. Apparently you can get items for about the same cost as online or less and save shipping costs.

The question for you guys is, do you have any specific tips or anecdotes about what to look out for at these shows? Or any of you from the Philly area who go to this show regularly have any pointers?

For giggles, here's my rough shopping list:
2 new Maxtor HDs (back up 2 systems, not RAID)
GF3 Ti200 (prefer Visiontek)
CD-ROM
External CD burner
19" monitor

The last two are "would be nice to" the first items are the goal.

Anyone? I nearly put this in General Hardware but figured this made more sense.

KF

 

[KennyTheGreat]

thers also a computer show up here in T.O

 

[EagleKeeper]

1) You can negotiate on the prices to some extent. Know what the best that you can find on-line is before you go in.

2) You will have to pay sales tax and also the may be an entry fee.

3) Some vendors that will be there are not local, therefore warranty support/exchange may be difficult.

 

[Ns1]

make sure you get a receipt that is 100% legible, even though 50% of the time it will be fake anyway

 

[stingray2]

I frequent the computer shows in the Phila area, and I would say that you would be better off buying all that stuff from local retail stores, like Bestbuy, Office Max, Staples, Circuit city. if you watch the deals section here at anandtech, or other deal sites, you will find better deals/prices from those stores, and be able to get service from them in the future. I go to computer shows for things like motherboards, and CPU's and cases, refill ink.. that kind of stuff.. but what you are looking for.. stick retail...

Ok, I will add to the list.. Compgeeks and Dell.com.. I have purchased from both of them...
here are some deals..

Best Buy has the VisionTek Xtasy GeForce3 Titanium 200 AGP video card Model: 72415 for $199.99 - $50 rebate = $149.99. Buy with American Express Blue and pricematch Micropro at $153 to get $46.99 back. Final cost $103. Geforce MX 460 costs more and is only slightly faster


Officemax has the Cendyne 16x10x40 Internal CD-RW Drive for $99.99 + paper clips to hit $100 - $25 coupon - $30 rebate = $45 shipped free.

Www.compgeeks.com
Hewlett Packard (8220E-RB) HP CD-Writer 4x4x6 External USB Drive - Retail Box $79.95

www.compgeeks.com
Genica (GN099-52 ) Genica 52x ATAPI Internal UDMA/33 CD-ROM Drive $24.00


Deal: NEC AccuSync 95F 19" Flat CRT $236 at Dell Home
Posted 6:40 PM PST 2/7/02 by Ben
Search for item AS95F to find this monitor at $262 and use code for 10% off, bringing the price to $236 shipped. No tax in most states.
I took this from http://www.bensbargains.net/

 

[vash]

Comp shows, in general are a mixed bag (at least in SoCal). If you plan to attend, look for the regular dealers there and buy from them -- if you have a problem, they usually have a real storefront where you can return/exchange items. I had numerous problems, with small dealers, where I would have to wait until the next show (a month) to return/exchange an item.

vash

 

[Geekbabe]

I go to the shows just because it's nice to see a lot of hardware in realtime but find that I do better pricewise buying online,even with shipping costs factored in.The only exception being cases,but those I usually get from a local distributor anyway. Research your prices the day before the show and write em down,take the list with you so you won't be tempted to impulse buy.Also be sure to be clear about RMA policies with any vendor you buy from at a show.

 

[Nez]

I agree with one of Eaglekeeper's points. Negotiate with prices. But from my past experience, unless you buy multiple things (or alot of things) from the same vendor, they won't really negotiate with you at all. Heh... I can still remember going to computer shows (paying the entrance fee) and ending up not buying anything at all. But it was all still fun.

 

Pay with a credit card and to stress what the other fellow said, get a legible reciept. If i didnt do these two things i would be $160 less.

 

[chuckieland]

<< thers also a computer show up here in T.O >>


is that computerfeast?
that is not a real show, it's retail show which target at end user, where they sell exactly the same price as they sell in store, and you don't see any new stuff or promption special ($9 for 486 computer don't count as special)
does anybody know wholesaler computer show which target at retail store.
i have a business (doing koist at the mall selling special gifts, and pen)
and would definely go to the wholesaler computer show at the last day of the show, where vendor don't want to packup, and selling all display product at wholesaler price or less and no tax.
there are too many stuff i need to get
motherboard that have more then just 2 IDE slot, tons HD, new video card, sound card, games.....etc

 

[Cerebus451]

There's a show at the other end of the Keystone state this weekend as well, go figure. In general, prices are not that great, and for the items you are looking for, you are not going to find any great deals. You may save shipping, but will get hit with that wonderful 7% sales tax (unless it is far enough out of Philly to avoid the extra 1%), and if you pay with a credit card expect another 2% surcharge from many of the vendors. Someone stated to pay with a credit card to protect yourself, however if you are looking to bargain, paying cash will avoid the 2% credit card surchage, and can often avoid the 7% sales tax as well. About the only item on your list that I would go to a computer show to look for is the monitor, since saving shipping on a monitor can mean a great savings, especially if you cannot find the make/model of monitor you want at any of the local computer shops.

When I go to shows, I am usually looking for items that are not normally found in local retail shops. Things like networking hardware, motherboards and CPUs, and RAM. Also if I am looking for a case I will try to find one at a show (though the last couple of shows I went to had nadda for case selection). I typically find the prices to be more than what I can find on the internet, but I have been to a lot of shows and I know the vendors that are at every single show, so I've learned to trust them and am willing to pay slightly more to them than have to worry about a shady on-line dealer with potentially faked resellerratings.com ratings.

If you are looking for something specific, make sure to visit every vendor's table and compare prices. If you find an item cheaper, but don't get a good feeling about the vendor (for some reason, most of the vendor's at the Pittsburgh shows speak Russian), you can usually get a vendor to lower his price to match.

 

[KiltedFool]

Thanks Stingray and others.

I don't have an Amex, Blue or otherwise, and won't any time soon (note: 20 yr olds should never loan an Amex to a relative in '92), and personally rebates are a headache. Guess I'll never be a RossMAN or one of those guys who keeps a spreadsheet of their pending rebates. I've been within a hair of buying the vid card and some other stuff from newegg or the like for a while, but have been interested in hitting a show.

I'm not tied to the Visiontek, might look at Gainward or PNY, OC'ing isn't a priority, reliability and ironclad warranties are big, and I'd like to push price down to $130 or less without Amex Blue gimmicks.

HDs I'm looking for some so I can do clean install without wiping the existing drives, just slave them to the new ones in both comps. I don't do MP3s or fill HDs, so a 20 GB would be fine, but you end up going "$70 for a 20, only add $12 to get a 30, but then.." and spiral out of control. I'd love to find a solid 20 GB drive for $50, but then I'd love my wife to bring home Britney for us to play with too.

The external CDRW I've been looking at some of the USB2.0 capable ones that can run 16x or so. Of course my main use for the thing is to be able to back up my work lappy to home comp simply (preparatory to changing jobs). Of course I wouldn't be surprised if I spent that kind of money and only got 4x because my lappy's USB isn't 2.0 compatible (doubtful, 2 yr old Dell).

In part I may go just to see what it's like. If I can find an Athlon XP bundle built on an ASUS A7v266 or an Epox 8KHA+ that saves me a lot I may go insane and do it. The CD-ROM I'll likely hit a SONY 52x somewhere for 30 bucks on or offline.

Stingray, any specific vendors to seek out or avoid at this show?

Thanks,
KF

 

[kranky]

I read not too long ago about some scam outfits from the Cleveland area selling stuff at computer shows (broken/counterfeit parts, mislabeled RAM chips, recycled stuff from old Emachines junk) and of course there was no way to get a refund once the people found out they got taken.

If it were me, I'd also go with the suggestion to only buy from places that have a regular storefront operation in your area. What good is it to "save" a few dollars only to find out what you bought is crap?

 

[4824guy]

Unless you need something right away, your better off shopping online and getting it thru the mail-IMHO.

The only thing worth going for the price of PC cases. They are cheaper there because the heavy weight makes them more expensive to buy online.

 

[VTBigBear]

yeah..

if you dont need anything right now.. or something.. order online..

goto HotDeals forum~~

 

[Harvey]

The computer show/swap meets in So. Cal. are great. I call the exercise going out to kick a little byte.

In my area (San Fernando Valley) most of the good independent stores I deal with all the time are there, and I get even better prices on the same gear. That means, if I have any problems, exchanges, etc. are no more than a 10 - 15 minute drive.

If they work the same in other cities, just deal with vendors who are reasonably close. Know reasonable prices before you go, but don't be suprised if the prices at the show are better. A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a Lite-On 24x10x40 burner for $82. No rebate hassles, just give the guy money, take home the drive and smile.

I've bought whole systems that way, too. If it's parts for myself, I just take 'em home and put 'em together, but I've also spec'd out systems for friends, had them pay a reasonable deposit and pick up the assembled, burned in system a couple of days later.

As I said, I don't know how it is, elsewhere, but in So. Cal., it's nothing but good deals, or I don't buy.

 

[y2kc]

I go to philly area shows and rarely do I buy items that cost more than $20. you'll always find prices lower online for cpus, hds and mobos than you will the shows (in my experience). I'll be at the valley forge show tomorrow for a PS and some cables and thumbscrews. Cases are good to buy at comp shows (no shipping) but don't expect to see any coolermasters or Lian Lis in the place.