Best computer retailers?

[Time Waster]

Hi, I'm looking to get a new laptop but locally we've got currys.co.uk or small companies that only open in the week when I can't get to them. So I'm looking at online retailers. Which are good?

Obviously Dell are on my list as they sell direct anyway, but I'm looking at mesh too. Are mesh good or reliable? They seem to sell good brands with higher spec for their price. For example I7 12th gen for the price of i5 12th gen on other retailer's sites. Also, they sell anomalies such at laptops that are fairly typical, i5 12th gen at least or i7 same gen with 40gb RAM for very little more cost than the standard 16gb RAM in the same brand.

Now I'm wondering why 40gb RAM? I think I need 16gb but would the 40gbRAM model be worth getting if everything else was equivalent and it was same price? Is more really more? I saw it in a few cases, one I think the 40gb version was the same price as the 16gb one. BTW they seem to be the 12th gen with what I believe is energy efficient U end letter for the processor. So perhaps lower performance version of say i5 but bigger than normal RAM.

Other than dell, mesh and currys.co.uk who else? Most people I know recommend John Lewis for their 2 year warranty and safe retailer. To me you pay for it with lower spec or higher price. What do you think?

I've heard of dabs.com and ebuyer.com. Are these any good?

I really want to get the best I can for £500, or possibly push to £600 if you really want me to feel pain at handing over money. However, I also want to buy from someone who can be trusted with support for any issues / warranties that are honest. I buy a laptop very infrequently so have no clue on what the market is like.

 

[vickster]

Laptops Direct?
Never used but well established.
I wouldn’t use Currys if knowledge and aftersales are important!

 

[Time Waster]

Laptops Direct?
Never used but well established.
I wouldn’t use Currys if knowledge and aftersales are important!

It's funny but you can get lucky in your curry's store. There was a guy in my old local curry's who we reckon is neurodivergent. However he had an absolutely amazing knowledge on the tech items from laptops, tablets, cameras and other more techy stuff. TVs he wasn't as knowledgeable, but laptops he was and let's just say very, very blunt with his honesty. If you knew what you were looking for and he thought you were wrong he'd tell you straight and tell you why. He would be right as well so you'd be glad you listened to him.

But overall curry's give me bad vibes.

 

[vickster]

It's funny but you can get lucky in your curry's store. There was a guy in my old local curry's who we reckon is neurodivergent. However he had an absolutely amazing knowledge on the tech items from laptops, tablets, cameras and other more techy stuff. TVs he wasn't as knowledgeable, but laptops he was and let's just say very, very blunt with his honesty. If you knew what you were looking for and he thought you were wrong he'd tell you straight and tell you why. He would be right as well so you'd be glad you listened to him.

But overall curry's give me bad vibes.

Full of clueless wide boy salesmen in the branches around here.
your experience does seem at odds with many others! Go back to him?

 

[figbat]

I've used Ebuyer before with success, usually for components though rather than full builds.

 

[FrankCrank]

I'm assuming the OP is looking at W11 for the OS. This comes with Windows Defender already installed, and is really all you need.
I have every confidence the nice sales staff at certain stores will beg to differ.
Just ask them how much commission they make on this

 

[PedallingNowhereSlowly]

I tend to just buy grade-A ex-business laptops of eBay. Dell Latitude (the inspiron ones are consumer orientated and built down to a price) from a seller with consistently good feedback. They usually include a screen shot with the listing showing what the battery condition is like.

 

[Jameshow]

Full of clueless wide boy salesmen in the branches around here.
your experience does seem at odds with many others! Go back to him?

Like halfrauds varies from store to store....

 

[numbnuts]

https://www.novatech.co.uk/
Had laptops and desk tops from them been just great

 

[Alex321]

Argos are also worth a look, and if you decide on a particular model, worth checking the manufacturer site to see if you can get it cheaper.

John Lewis don't appear significantly higher price than other places for the same model.

Mesh are decent, though I think they tend to be heavier than some models. Which only matters if you will be carrying it around a lot. I've had a desktop from them, and had no complaints about it.

I've also bought an Acer laptop from laptops direct, and again, no issues with it.

 

[Time Waster]

Full of clueless wide boy salesmen in the branches around here.
your experience does seem at odds with many others! Go back to him?

Last few times I went there it was pot luck whether he was around unfortunately. Plus I've moved away from that area, a bit too far away.

I do think they're the halfords of the tech world. Like halfords you can occasionally get good people working at curry's and good branches, but there's a lot of dross there too.

 

[Jody]

Ebuyer, Scan, AWD, Novatech, CCL, Overclockers etc have all been good when I've used them in the past

 

[Time Waster]

Argos are also worth a look, and if you decide on a particular model, worth checking the manufacturer site to see if you can get it cheaper.

John Lewis don't appear significantly higher price than other places for the same model.

Mesh are decent, though I think they tend to be heavier than some models. Which only matters if you will be carrying it around a lot. I've had a desktop from them, and had no complaints about it.

I've also bought an Acer laptop from laptops direct, and again, no issues with it.

Mesh sell brands like others, Asus, dell, hp, lenovo, etc. Often same models as curry's or others I think, just cheaper.

From what I've seen JW has a mix of devices to claim the "never knowingly undersold". One is getting models made by brands as an exclusive to JW. You can't find cheaper if it's not sold elsewhere. The others they do seem to cost more from what I've seen. You do pay extra for 2 years warranty.

Argos in other things seem to sell older or less popular versions of things. We nearly bought a gaming computer from them but the spec was a bit weird so we bought direct from the brand instead. They do have a very good attitude to returns. We've had our money back a lot from them without any issues.

 

[LonesomeWanderer]

I would use John Lewis or Scan. Most retailers are OK until something goes wrong. Currys is consistently at the bottom of rankings when trying to solve problems, and have a slightly sketchy relationship with consumer law (mainly because they don't train their staff properly).

Having said that, I just got an email from John Lewis saying my latest order has been delayed for some unspecified reason...... Scan have always been reliable though....

 

[Alex321]

Mesh sell brands like others, Asus, dell, hp, lenovo, etc. Often same models as curry's or others I think, just cheaper.

I hadn't looked at them for a while, didn't realise they were doing that now.

When I bought my desktop from them, they only did their own stuff.

From what I've seen JW has a mix of devices to claim the "never knowingly undersold". One is getting models made by brands as an exclusive to JW. You can't find cheaper if it's not sold elsewhere. The others they do seem to cost more from what I've seen. You do pay extra for 2 years warranty.

Argos in other things seem to sell older or less popular versions of things. We nearly bought a gaming computer from them but the spec was a bit weird so we bought direct from the brand instead. They do have a very good attitude to returns. We've had our money back a lot from them without any issues.

Yes, they do often sell older or more unusual models. Not always a bad thing, but it can be.