Comments on: London, a shop, a £250 computer and me.

By: Video: £250 challenge on the High Street | PC Pro blog

Video: £250 challenge on the High Street | PC Pro blog — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:12:14 +0000

[...] While my colleagues were comfortably ensconsed in front of their computers for the £250 challenge, I had to get off my bum and do some good old-fashioned legwork. Here’s what happened. You can read more about the laptop itself here. [...]

By: David Fearon

David Fearon — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:29:03 +0000

Hi John,

Apologies, our video team is putting the footage together as we speak – I’ll post a message here when it’s done.

Best,

David.

By: John Newbury

John Newbury — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:49:50 +0000

David, where is the video of your shopping expedition? The latest edition of PC Pro says it’s at: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/links/175challenge1, but this link doesn’t work.

I am curious to see it…

Regards
John

By: Peter Tennant

Peter Tennant — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:53:46 +0000

I’m with Short_Attention_Sp, your best option is to cheat and offer ‘name-dropping’ in PC Pro in exchange for a sharp deal. Unfortunately, I suspect that may break the remit of being a PC that anyone can buy.

In terms of haggling, good luck – I’ve only ever tried that once, through shear desperation, and didn’t get a single penny knocked off!

By: Short_Attention_Sp

Short_Attention_Sp — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:03:25 +0000

I tend to pick up a leading tech mag (let’s say, PC Pro) and check the roster of journalists therein (let’s say, David Fearon), before beguiling the sales assistant with a plausible story about how I need to procure a great-value PC – let’s say, for a feature in a leading magazine that will be read by thousands of tech enthusiasts. And a blog, read by thousands more. That may mention the GREAT VALUE being offered by XYZ Computers on Tottenham Court Road.

I usuall get a great discount through this method.

By: Andythebatch

Andythebatch — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:50:07 +0000

This has worked for me before…

Enter busy shop and ask for best price. Salesman will state what he thinks he can get away with. Now turn to everyone else in the shop and loudly express your surprise and disappointment at the figure being offered. If possible do this near the door and involve people from outside. Do not suggest a price yourself. Most of the time they will start to drop the price just to get you to shut up.
Don’t pull this twice in a row of 4 shops and judge well when you nered to cut your losses and retreat. This sort of street theatre can get you good prices but it can also get you all sorts of unwanted attention if you see what I mean.