Does anyone know why it is cheaper to purchase from a company online that to get it at their store.

jkellynewyork

Senior member
May 22, 2001
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I do a lot of price research on pricewatch and the last three stores I seen in my area on pricewatch would not let me pick it up from their store for that price. When I ask them why they give me the run around.

Do they know where to buy that product cheaper and as soon as you order it they buy it from their connection and send it to you.
If this is it I would love to find out who these people are that they buy from and sell back.

Do they have some kind of agreement with another big vendor on the prices they can buy at, thus keeping their inventory low and square footage down.

I am curious how it works.

Anyone?
 

Keego

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2000
6,223
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Well I have a couple of things to add to the answer (not the real answer probally)
a) less time wasted talking to llamas who walk in
b) no showroom = more room (like you said)
c) no showroom = boxes of OEM stuff = cheap = no display (see b)
d) bums as employees (noone will see the monkey who packs the motherboards)
e) dunno what else but I needed to keep E on there since it's an important vowel
 

huyvu

Member
Jun 14, 2001
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You've pretty much answered your own question.

Most stores are connected with a large distributor, and keep very little hardware in inventory. Because the price of hardware falls so quickly, the quicker you can turn around and sell something, the bigger the profit. Thus if you have a large inventory, you might lose money if the current price falls below what you paid to the distributor. By using the web site, they know they have a buyer for a piece of hardware even before they buy it from the distributor. And if enough people "pre-buy" it, they can get a bulk rate, again increasing profits.
 

ChrisOh

Banned
Oct 17, 1999
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A lot of online companies make a killing on shipping so if you walk in and get it... they lose some money from the shipping costs to you
 

LilScoooters

Member
Jun 17, 2001
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I always buy from a local shop....Always....I like to see and touch a second after i pay for it...
and i always get better prices than web prices...
 

Keego

Diamond Member
Aug 15, 2000
6,223
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81


<< I always buy from a local shop....Always....I like to see and touch a second after i pay for it...
and i always get better prices than web prices...
>>



I dont know where you shop, but the local prices here are outrageous!
 

NelsonMuntz

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2001
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<< and i always get better prices than web prices... >>


I want to know what stores you shop at because I can almost always find things cheaper online than at the local stores (CrapUSA, Worst Buy, Cry's Electronics, etc.) even with shipping and handling (I always factor in sales tax for the store purchase too). Occasionally someone will have an especially good deal available with a mail-in-rebate, and sometimes I take advantage of those, but other than that, online is almost always cheaper.
 

LilScoooters

Member
Jun 17, 2001
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Some of u guy's have a company called PC Club in your hood...they have great prices...

I live in SoCal...San Gabriel Valley.. there are 168+ computer Shops/Dealers in a 30 Miles radius

THEY MUST be cheaper than the next guy...Plus we have a Computer Fair to go to every month at

the Pomona Fair Pomona Computer Fair:D
 

Hankysmoo

Golden Member
May 27, 2000
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hey, i live in the san garbiel valley as well and have never heard of PC Club before. Do they have a website? I would like to know where the closest store to my house would be. Thanks