Vormulac
Established Member
You're certainly right about the level of 'expertise' apparent in these places Steve.
Not long ago I was looking for a particular computer PSU and looking online I found that PC World sell the exact one I wanted, and lo and behold there is a branch on Tottenham Court Road where I work.
Upon searching the shelves I could find only ropey non-badged PSUs, so I went to the 'PC Clinic' and waited to ask someone to stock check for me. Eventually a woman came over and I told her what I needed. "I'm just down from head office doing training so I can't help you, but go to the Business Systems section down there and they've got loads of people who can help"; I thanked her and toddled off. Sure enough in the Business Systems section there were many many staff, all leaning on display shelves and having a lovely natter, studiously avoiding eye contact with any customers and shuffling uncomfortably away if any got too close. I eventually cornered one - it was like trying to herd jelly.
"Q-Tec power supply... I don't even know what you're saying. Is it a laptop or something?", I told him what it was. "Oh pc components, that's different, we can't do that, we're just business solutions, you need to talk to the guys at the PC Clinic - they'll sort you out". I thanked him and retraced my steps to the 'Clinic'.
Afew minutes later, the same lady spotted me and grinned sheepishly "Send you back here did they? Hold on, I'll get someone for you". Shortly there was a short, bearded asian lad standing before me, peering myopically through his bins. This is one of their 'PC Clinic' techs, the guys that you pay a fortune to to have your pc case kicked and declared 'healthy' - anyway, I digress.
"Do you have any Q-Tec power supplies in stock?" I asked slowly and clearly. "Is that for a laptop or something?" He replied. "No, it's the power supply unit for a standard desktop or tower style pc".
He looked at me.
"The bit at the back of the computer you plug the power into?"
A neuron fired somewhere, "Come with me", he said, leading me over to a desk where clearly a pc had recently been. He picked up the power lead sticking out of the desk and pointed at the kettle-type connection. "That's right" I said, "The bit of the computer that plugs into that."
He nodded and grinned and started to take me down the store. This was far too easy. "Not the cable itself, you understand, the power supply it goes into".
He stopped. He looked at me.
Eventually he started moving again so I followed. Down to the far end of the store we went, whereupon he waved his arm munificently to allow my awe to develop appreciably at the enormous rack of power cables before me.
"No" I said, "Not the cable, the power supply unit that the cable plugs into, it's a metal box about this big, it fits inside the computer and you plug the power cable into it".
He looked at me.
"It says on the PC World website that you sell them, so I just wanted to see if you had any in stock, as this store is on my way home and it would be convenient for me to pick it up here."
"Oh if it's on the internet you can buy it there much more cheaply."
"But it won't be cheaper because I'll have to pay postage and they're very heavy, so I want to buy one off the shelf."
"Getting it off the internet's much cheaper mate."
"No, it won't be because of the postage." *heavy sigh* "Can you order one in for me?"
At this suggestion he jumped like I'd stabbed him with a pencil or something. "No, no, we don't do customer orders, mate!!" He cried desperately.
I left the store before what little remained of my patience dissolved into a need to kill.
That evening I drove to the PC World at Northolt and located someone apparently in possession of a higher than room temperature IQ. I explained the problem.
He grinned in an embarrassed sort of 'ah-this-again' manner.
"The PC World website and the stores are totally unconnected, different prices, different stock entirely." At the look of incredulity on my face he had the common decency to shake his head. "I know..." he said, "I know..."
V.
Not long ago I was looking for a particular computer PSU and looking online I found that PC World sell the exact one I wanted, and lo and behold there is a branch on Tottenham Court Road where I work.
Upon searching the shelves I could find only ropey non-badged PSUs, so I went to the 'PC Clinic' and waited to ask someone to stock check for me. Eventually a woman came over and I told her what I needed. "I'm just down from head office doing training so I can't help you, but go to the Business Systems section down there and they've got loads of people who can help"; I thanked her and toddled off. Sure enough in the Business Systems section there were many many staff, all leaning on display shelves and having a lovely natter, studiously avoiding eye contact with any customers and shuffling uncomfortably away if any got too close. I eventually cornered one - it was like trying to herd jelly.
"Q-Tec power supply... I don't even know what you're saying. Is it a laptop or something?", I told him what it was. "Oh pc components, that's different, we can't do that, we're just business solutions, you need to talk to the guys at the PC Clinic - they'll sort you out". I thanked him and retraced my steps to the 'Clinic'.
Afew minutes later, the same lady spotted me and grinned sheepishly "Send you back here did they? Hold on, I'll get someone for you". Shortly there was a short, bearded asian lad standing before me, peering myopically through his bins. This is one of their 'PC Clinic' techs, the guys that you pay a fortune to to have your pc case kicked and declared 'healthy' - anyway, I digress.
"Do you have any Q-Tec power supplies in stock?" I asked slowly and clearly. "Is that for a laptop or something?" He replied. "No, it's the power supply unit for a standard desktop or tower style pc".
He looked at me.
"The bit at the back of the computer you plug the power into?"
A neuron fired somewhere, "Come with me", he said, leading me over to a desk where clearly a pc had recently been. He picked up the power lead sticking out of the desk and pointed at the kettle-type connection. "That's right" I said, "The bit of the computer that plugs into that."
He nodded and grinned and started to take me down the store. This was far too easy. "Not the cable itself, you understand, the power supply it goes into".
He stopped. He looked at me.
Eventually he started moving again so I followed. Down to the far end of the store we went, whereupon he waved his arm munificently to allow my awe to develop appreciably at the enormous rack of power cables before me.
"No" I said, "Not the cable, the power supply unit that the cable plugs into, it's a metal box about this big, it fits inside the computer and you plug the power cable into it".
He looked at me.
"It says on the PC World website that you sell them, so I just wanted to see if you had any in stock, as this store is on my way home and it would be convenient for me to pick it up here."
"Oh if it's on the internet you can buy it there much more cheaply."
"But it won't be cheaper because I'll have to pay postage and they're very heavy, so I want to buy one off the shelf."
"Getting it off the internet's much cheaper mate."
"No, it won't be because of the postage." *heavy sigh* "Can you order one in for me?"
At this suggestion he jumped like I'd stabbed him with a pencil or something. "No, no, we don't do customer orders, mate!!" He cried desperately.
I left the store before what little remained of my patience dissolved into a need to kill.
That evening I drove to the PC World at Northolt and located someone apparently in possession of a higher than room temperature IQ. I explained the problem.
He grinned in an embarrassed sort of 'ah-this-again' manner.
"The PC World website and the stores are totally unconnected, different prices, different stock entirely." At the look of incredulity on my face he had the common decency to shake his head. "I know..." he said, "I know..."
V.
