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How to avoid the high-street rip-offs

Posted on 25 Sep 2009 at 15:41

High-street scams are all too prevalent - follow our top tips to avoid been taken in

As our feature has all too brutally exposed, taking salesmen's advice on the high street - and online - can be a hugely expensive mistake.

While we're confident that PC Pro's knowledgeable readers would see through the majority of the sales scams, less tech-savvy buyers could easily be talked out of hundreds of pounds they simply didn't need to spend.

So here's our top tips for anyone planning to make their next PC purchase on the high street, or have their PC fixed by a third-party engineer.

Do your research

Anyone strolling into a high-street store without any preparation is asking to be taken to the cleaners. Check out potential purchases online first, compare prices, and read reviews before parting with your cash. Treat your first visit as a scouting mission; don't buy there and then.

Stick to a budget

As our experience shows, if you don't tell the sales staff how much you intend to spend, they will push you towards the most expensive PC they can. If you do state a budget, they will likely push it to its very limits, even if it isn't necessary to spend that much money. So set yourself a budget before you set foot in the shop, and don't be tempted to exceed it.

Remember the free stuff

High-street stores will aggressively push additional software packages, such as Microsoft Office and security software. While Office Home and Student and many security suites do represent good value, there are decent free alternatives such as OpenOffice and Avira AntiVir. Don't be railroaded into buying unnecessary extras if you don't need them.

Watch the creeping upgrades

Once you've settled on a PC, commission-hungry sales staff will try and tempt you with component upgrades, such as faster processors and bigger hard disks. Keep an eye on the overall bill: it can often be cheaper to simply buy a higher-spec PC than add upgrades as you go.

Don't store passwords on your PC

Storing logins and passwords in unencrypted documents on your PC is poor security practice in the first place, but it's simply asking for trouble if you send your PC off for repair. Likewise, delete any passwords stored in your browser before sending the machine to the menders.

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John Lewis

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Author: Barry Collins