laptop shop closes down - they finally get what they deserve

[swingking]

I was in Dundrum tonight and saw that the laptop shop is closing down. They have on the outside that they are having a closing down today-sale.

I went in and asked the guy what his deals were. He showed me a Samsung NC10 for the sale price of 400 euro.

It does not surprise me that this place is closing down. In fact I'm sort of glad (although I do feel sorry for the staff as they find themselves out of work)

This place was a total rip-off ; the NC10 is going on the web for about 360. Saw it on powercity's website. The other deals the guy was showing me was a 800 euro laptop, giving 20 euro off or something. The laptop was totally over-priced. I then was hoping they had good savings on the accessories like the sleeves and bags; again nothing. Extremely overpriced compared to the web. Now I know that the web prices don't cover shipping but it's still not justified

They were a product of the celtic tiger and they died with the recession. But they only have themselves to blame

[Cabaal]

The web will always be cheaper for electronics, look at pc world or for that matter ANY store that sells pc or pc related parts

[Pete4779]

Tech shops are long gone. They cannot work in the internet era; I don't think it's the Celtic Tiger's fault, it's the lack of a business model in an industry that is technology/internet based. Any tech stock is always out of date and overpriced by the time it is in a shop.

[swingking]

but look at the American model ; Best Buy.

They are doing extremely well and keep their prices at a managed level hence the reason why they are so successful.

[jahalpin]

Originally Posted by swingking

I was in Dundrum tonight and saw that the laptop shop is closing down. They have on the outside that they are having a closing down today-sale.

I went in and asked the guy what his deals were. He showed me a Samsung NC10 for the sale price of 400 euro.

It does not surprise me that this place is closing down. In fact I'm sort of glad (although I do feel sorry for the staff as they find themselves out of work)

This place was a total rip-off ; the NC10 is going on the web for about 360. Saw it on powercity's website. The other deals the guy was showing me was a 800 euro laptop, giving 20 euro off or something. The laptop was totally over-priced. I then was hoping they had good savings on the accessories like the sleeves and bags; again nothing. Extremely overpriced compared to the web. Now I know that the web prices don't cover shipping but it's still not justified

They were a product of the celtic tiger and they died with the recession. But they only have themselves to blame

Of course a bricks and mortar shop is going to be more expensive than the web.

The main reasons for this are;
- Rent is very high in shopping centres (esp. Dundrum) (The internet shops warehouses would normally be located in out of town areas, which are far cheaper than renting in the centre of a town or in a shopping centre)

- VAT is 6.5% higher here than in the UK

- Rates are very high in popular shopping centres here (Same as rent above)

- Public liability insurance is very expensive, a web based company doesn't really need this as the public aren't usually allowed onto their premises.

- Wages - retail is usually more labout intensive than warehouse operations per unit

- Margins - the margins on computers are usually very low and the shop was probably unable to discount the products by much more

[tallaghtoutlaws]

Originally Posted by swingking

but look at the American model ; Best Buy.

They are doing extremely well and keep their prices at a managed level hence the reason why they are so successful.

To be fair the likes of Best Buy even Power City buy in large quantities off the suppliers allowing them to sell the product at a better price than your local PC/Laptop store. Its the same with all independant stores when it comes to electronics. They dont buy in Large quantities and dont get the same discount. Best Buy storerooms are jammed full of stock and the have hundreds of each product. Gives them the ability to drop their prices.

Terrible comparision in fairness.

[jimmycrackcorm]

Originally Posted by swingking

I was in Dundrum tonight and saw that the laptop shop is closing down. They have on the outside that they are having a closing down today-sale.

I went in and asked the guy what his deals were. He showed me a Samsung NC10 for the sale price of 400 euro.

It does not surprise me that this place is closing down. In fact I'm sort of glad (although I do feel sorry for the staff as they find themselves out of work)

This place was a total rip-off ; the NC10 is going on the web for about 360. Saw it on powercity's website. The other deals the guy was showing me was a 800 euro laptop, giving 20 euro off or something. The laptop was totally over-priced. I then was hoping they had good savings on the accessories like the sleeves and bags; again nothing. Extremely overpriced compared to the web. Now I know that the web prices don't cover shipping but it's still not justified

They were a product of the celtic tiger and they died with the recession. But they only have themselves to blame

If you buy a laptop or whatever over the internet and save some money then all well and good - but if you have some problems with that then you really get to appreciate the value of the money you pay for the local service. How about the normal tech-illiterate user who can walk back into a shop to get a problem solved in five minutes compared to waiting three weeks to getting the same issue resolved by post - what price do you put on that?

[snappieT]

Fact of the matter is that the laptop show was started by a couple of guys when CompuStore shut up shop. While they may have been good salespeople, and known about the product, they didn't seem to know a whole lot about pricing, range, marketing - the kind of things owner/managers need to deal with.

Though I only ever bought something there once, and it certainly wasn't a major purchase, I'll be sad to see them go. All we're left with on the south city centre now is Peats, IT Direct, and Beyond 2000, each of which have their own negative points themselves.

[dudara]

Not a consumer issue per se - better suited to Rip Off Ireland

dudara

[Enii]

I bought my laptop there. Was happy enough with the price and I negotiated a free sleeve too.... that was the one in Santry - is that closed too?

[Pixelcraft]

Originally Posted by snappieT

Fact of the matter is that the laptop show was started by a couple of guys when CompuStore shut up shop. While they may have been good salespeople, and known about the product, they didn't seem to know a whole lot about pricing, range, marketing - the kind of things owner/managers need to deal with.

Sad to see them gone, knew they guy that set it up. I think a thing people don't realise is that suppliers to these shops rip them off, the margin on laptops etc is quite small. It's too simplistic to think it's all the shops fault.

[Corruptedmorals]

Always a joy to see staff let go..especially those with nothing to do with pricing and store policy...

[rameire]

Originally Posted by snappieT

All we're left with on the south city centre now is Peats, IT Direct, and Beyond 2000, each of which have their own negative points themselves.

The Stephen's Green branch of The Laptop Shop is still open.

[APM]

Sad to hear his,

When I was in the market for a new laptop the guy in the Santry store told me if I brought the spec I had picked from Dell he'd try to match it. Fair play.

Never nice to see friendly, good staff losing their jobs

[mehmeh12]

That computer store just off the Easons in Dun Laoghaire is the worst..not only are the staff rude but the prices are a blatant rip off. I hope get burned down.