5punk

As discussed in the 'what do you want?' thread.

Please keep the reviews objective and avoid specific mentions of individuals (sheriff, i'm looking at you).

Reply in this thread so we can keep stuff easy to find.

Overclockers
overclockers.co.uk

Introduction
I've bought graphics cards, RAM, a router and the components for a full system for my Dad from them.

Prices
They are pretty much the cheapest around, but worth checking about for some components - Dabs were cheaper for graphics cards. I didn't notice postage being especially high.

Packing Quality
No problems here.

Customer Services and Impressions
A duff motherboard was replaced without much hassle, but the guy on the phone was a little abrupt when quizzed about timescales. His dismissive "at least 28 days" was fortunately pessimistic.
They also sent the wrong case, which wasn't ideal, but still functional - they no longer stocked the requested case, or the one we'd been sent.

Conclusion
Good value, but I'd look elsewhere before deciding, 2 out of 10 components bad isn't a great record.

The Good
Decent value for quality stuff, very fast delivery, even close to Christmas last year.
Edit: Also, forgot to mention that they accept orders to a delivery address that's not the same as your card even on your first order - this is critical to me, as I always have stuff delivered to work.

The Bad
Don't always get it right, okay at dealing with returns practically, although the customer service leaves something to be desired.

Score : 7.5/10

Scan
Scan.co.uk

Introduction
Bought a monitor a few years ago, more recently a PSU, Mouse, DvD drive and some other bits.

Prices
Prices are good, not quite as cheap as ocuk on some things (usually a few quid in it) but a very close second

Packing Quality
No problems, big boxes, lots of those air-cushion things

Customer Services and Impressions
Not used yet, but from the feedback i've seen on some forums, i'd say they're one of the better shops for customer service.

Conclusion
I've had no problems with them at all, nothing bad to say

The Good
Prices, postage is cheap enough.

The Bad
Probably only the site design, can be difficult to use in a hurry

Score : 8/10

Aqua-PCs
Aqua-PCs

Introduction
Aqua PCs are a smaller distributor of higher end water cooling components, cases and pre-installed watercooling systems.

So far i've bought a Lian Li PC343 and spares from them (in a seperate order)

Prices
Prices are good, especially as a lot of their products are hard to come by.

Packing Quality
Packaging is acceptable, case came in manufacturers packing, spares came in a jiffy bag.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the products they sell, jiffy bags may not be suitable for some things as watercooling compontents often have bits that can break off.

Customer Services and Impressions
Only dealt with their sales so far, was looking for spares for the gonk so emailed them. got a timely response and they added the items to their store later that day.

Conclusion
Smaller store that shows a lot of promise, orders are dealt with quickly.

The Good
Decent range of components at reasonable prices.

The Bad
On my orders the packaging was sufficient, but may not be enough for some more fragile components.

Score : 7.5/10

Overclockers
overclockers.co.uk

Introduction
I buy a lot of my high-end stuff from OCUK and have done for a few years now.

Prices
As FJ said, they're about as cheap as you're likely to get. It's worth shopping around though as other shops can pip them to the post, so don't automatically assume they're going to be the cheapest

Packing Quality
Never had anything damaged, all seems okay

Customer Services and Impressions
Only used once due to a cock-up on my part, ordering the wrong part. They offered to replace it if I sent it back, which was nice, but I did tell them before they dispatched it and they didn't do anything then.

Conclusion
Best value around in general.

The Good
Good selection of hardware for a gamer, at a very good price.

The Bad
My greatest bugbear is that they only send via courier. I'd like to have the choice to buy low value items and not be charged more than the item's price in P&P. Also, I hate couriers because the bastards always arrive when nobody's in.

Score : 8/10

Scan
Scan.co.uk

Introduction
I used to use Scan for all my components about six or seven years ago because I could drive over there and pick them up. More recently I've started using them again over the internet for odd bits.

Prices
Pretty cheap. Not always the best, but across the board there's not many (OCUK excluded) that'll out-price them.

Packing Quality
Never had any problems with this.

Customer Services and Impressions
Used them once a long time ago. Again, it was my fault - I hadn't taken all the old mounting studs out when I fit a new motherboard. I went along to the shop where after a short wait they had a techie chat to me and sort the problem out.

Conclusion
Well established firm with a good track record.

The Good
Very good selection, competitive with the likes of Dabs. Cater for both gaming rigs and home PCs. On the cheaper side of average.

The Bad
None I've encountered. The only reason I don't go here first is because OCUK usually out-price them.

Score : 8/10

Amazon
www.amazon.co.uk

Introduction
Perhaps not the first place you'd look for components, but I've used them for peripherals like card readers, tablets and USB hubs.

Prices
Varies really. You can get some stuff quite cheap through third party sellers, but I tend to think of them as a baseline for prices.

Packing Quality
No issues here.

Customer Services and Impressions
Not used.

Conclusion
Very large, established company with vast experience of online sales. Certainly worth checking when comparing prices of peripherals.

The Good
For common home user stuff they have a great selection, sometimes at a very good price.

The Bad
Not great on the kind of components a gamer would be putting inside their machine.

Score : 7/10

Store
SCAN

Introduction
All things computery, have brought lots of stuff from them in the past but won't any more

Prices
Prices are good but postage is creeping up...

Packing Quality
Packing quality was excellent, loads of bubble wrap and air pockets

Customer Services and Impressions
Customer services were nice and very helpful, their returns department were arrogant and useless

Conclusion
Previously excellent company let down by shitty internal systems and staff

The Good
Prices, range, special offers

The Bad
Staff, stock level indicators are useless (saying things are in stock when they arn't and only letting you know about it when it is too late to get your delivery at the expecteed time (even when you have paid extra money for a weekend delivery)). Returns department take a definite line of the customer is always wrong and it can't possibly be theirs or the companies fault.

Score : 3/10 :starempty: :starempty:

Scan do have stock issues sometimes, but they are getting better at it.
I still use them. I regularly get my stock from them for customers etc and on the whole i am happy.
Better service than ebuyer, and a good wide range of stuff.
I allow for not having the stuff arrive quickly though. For stuff that i need same-day i use RL Supplies who are down my road. Which is handy, but scan tend to beat prices across the range hands down.

Data Flame .co.uk
www.dataflame.co.uk

Introduction
They offer cheapish hosting, UK based.

Prices
About average.

Customer Services and Impressions
Abysmal. You talk to one department, explain your problem, then they conclude with "You need to email [random other department]". They seem to be only interested in taking money, not customer service.

Conclusion
Avoid, like bad aids.

The Good
As far as actually hosting goes they seem ok, certainly nothing special.

The Bad
They do not let you cancel your account, and keep taking money after, and entering you into new contracts despite emails from them saying they wouldn't. When challenged they deny all knowledge of the cancellation. Their control panel doesn't work, you tell it to do something and it never happens, even though the messages you get back indicate it should. First thing in the morning I shall be phoning my credit card company to get a refund (and as a bonus to slap a chargeback on the cunts).

Score : 1/10
(I'm being generous)

Store
Ebuyer

Introduction
I have spent over £3,500 this year, and about a total of £9,500 with them, had a very good service. Only had one problem, was dealt with quickly and politely. Always recommended to friends who have had a good service aswell.

Prices
Very good postage prices, you pay for the service you recieve and various options available, or free 5 day delivery on orders over £49.99.
Some of the product prices can be a bit higher than other places, but some are cheaper. I got my 24" Ultrasharp Dell monitor from there, about £100-£300 cheaper than other suppliers and dell.

Packing Quality
Everything seems to be well packaged *bubble wrap & air pockets mainly* , had a couple of damaged boxes, which I would put down to courier, but no damaged items.

Customer Services and Impressions
On the one occasion I had to contact Customer Services, no long waits, querie dealt with straight away, item missing in transit, replacement sent next day delivery and postage costs refunded.

Conclusion
Always had a good service, very good delivery times, no late deliverys (except the missing item) Find it to be a very user friendly site, but then I always know what I'm looking for.

The Good
Excellent service, packaging & Delivery Times.
Free WTF magazine.

The Bad
Can be more expensive than other places.

Score : 8.5/10

Store
Overclockers UK

Introduction
Ordered a monitor for my mum a couple of months ago, 5 working days later I called them to find out where the monitor was, as they'd taken money and I'd paid for next day delivery, they said it was not dispatched due to the pack of cd's I ordered not being in stock, yet there was "10+ in stock" when I ordered them, and there still was when I checked after the phone call. So I paid an extra £2 for some different ones, and was promised my monitor would be dispatched that evening for next day delivery and that I would recieve a full refund on the shipping charges, but had to wait untill the item was recieved. I also asked them why they didn't inform me, it dosn't take long to write an email or call you to inform you, was informed that they shouldn't have too and thats its usual practice. 2 days laters, no monitor, call them again to find out the cd's are out of stock, so they hadn't dispatched it. Told them to refund me for the CD's and dispatch my monitor, I recieved it 2 days later. After a few phone calls, I still have no refund on the postage or cd's.

Prices
Items I ordered were the same as everywhere else, monitor was £15 cheaper

Packing Quality
Monitor came in just the monitor box, slightly damaged box, could be due to courier though

Customer Services and Impressions
Was lied to by customer services about refund for late delivery and stock never being sent out

Conclusion
One of the worst services I have had, will never use again.

The Good
None come to mind

The Bad
Incorrect stock readings on the website
Bad communication
Customer Services lieing to customers
Rudeness of staff
Am still owed postage due to 9working day late delivery
Am still owed £12.99 refund for item never shipped

Score : 0.5/10

Scan just lost my approval by completely fucking up a remarkably simple order.

3 items, 1 not in stock, ask them to remove another item I need urgently, ask for free postage.

they delete the item that's not in stock from the order.

Twats.

Yeah, Scan are okay so long as humans don't get involved in the process, then they're shit.

Dog Pants wrote:Yeah, Scan are okay so long as humans don't get involved in the process, then they're shit.

and they used to be so good.

took some jumping through hoops*, but I got it cancelled

*really, very, very clear emails.

https://www.lambda-tek.com

Seem pretty good, used them for a graphics heatsink. was cheap enough, got here in a timely manner, etc. etc.

worth a look