Why are PB Tech so awful?

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quickymart

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#1189961 6-Dec-2014 20:03

I was an (un) Expert Infotech refugee, until PB Tech saved the day and taught me that, yes, a computer shop can provide good service and look after the customer. All my business has gone through them ever since, although Expert Infotech are often cheaper, it's really not worth the hassle dealing with them - especially if something goes wrong.

toejam316

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#1189977 6-Dec-2014 21:05

Same reason I prefer to spend a bit more and go with Computer Lounge and Playtech and the like - they might not be charging the lowest price, but they make up for it by not screwing you over - my order a couple of weeks ago got delayed because they only had one unit of the RAM I ordered in stock - I ordered two. Called in, asked if they could do a partial shipment or something, and they ended up swapping the 2 lots of 2x4 RAM for one lot of 2x8 RAM (at a higher cost to them) and shipping it that same day.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

zespri

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#1189982 6-Dec-2014 21:54

quickymart: I was an (un) Expert Infotech refugee, until PB Tech saved the day and taught me that, yes, a computer shop can provide good service and look after the customer. All my business has gone through them ever since, although Expert Infotech are often cheaper, it's really not worth the hassle dealing with them - especially if something goes wrong.

Yes. I've had a very bad experience with Expert Infotech a few years ago - and that was actually *before* they made a sale to me and never used them ever since.

quickymart

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#1190050 7-Dec-2014 07:57

The problem is, they (usually) have the cheapest price on Pricespy, so people flock to them.
I've had faulty items sold to me twice as brand new. Bunch of rip-off artists.

richms

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#1192115 9-Dec-2014 12:34

Im going to have to re-assess on PB. Now I have time to actually put my PC together I have opened the big box I assumed had the graphics card and PSU and case in it. But its just the case. Looking at the paperwork it shows they split the invoice. I cannot see the new invoice for the card or PSU on my account, it still has the invoice with all 3 items, and it shows delivered.

Filled in the box at the bottom on friday to query where the other items were, not heard back from them. Useless customer service and I dont even get email confirmation that I have requested anything from them thru that box at the bottom to query the order.

Im goign to call them about it now, but IMO if an online store makes me resort to calling them to get any action after 2 working days (4 days for real people) then they have already failed.

Edit:

well the call was less painful then I thought, quick to answer and they managed to tell me what was happening. Apparantly the PSU is backorderd till next week. Cancelling that so my cheap GFX card can be sent out today and will go instore and buy a power supply. It wasnt even a decent saving on the sale so no idea why it would sell out.

Still totally inexcusable that I still have a invoice for all 3 items in my account showing as delivered, and the changed invoice was only on the package and in an email, and that I have no indication that the PSU was backordered, was not emailed to say that it was shipped seperate from the case, cannot access the split invoice in my account and only have the copy attached to an email to me, had nothing online to indicate the deliveyr time that the PSU would have, no way to cancel the PSU online,

and worst of all, no answer to my request on the form on the order page of my account in 4 days for where my remainder of my order was. Totally unacceptable service from an online retailer here from PB. Think I will stick to going in store to north shore or penrose from now on.

Richard rich.ms

JimmyH

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#1192343 9-Dec-2014 18:47

Interesting thread, thanks.

I am planning to get a new box in early(ish) 2015, as soon as the new Windows is available - I hate Win8.

I was going to bet PB to build it for me. After reading this thread I am having second thoughts about that, and will look at alternative vendors.

shrub

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#1192346 9-Dec-2014 19:03

I had a bad experience last year with pb tech completely stuffed around by Ross Cheng(yes i can still remember his name cos of his customer service skills) took over a month to get a working computer. Have not bothered with the company again because of the experience i had.

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saeran

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#1192349 9-Dec-2014 19:06

I've had to RMA a pair or UE400 earphones with PB Tech. It was a very good experience. Got a free upgrade to the UE400vi's because they didn't have the UE400's in stock, and it was very fast, sent it on Monday, got it back on Wednesday. I've bought a lot there and haven't had any issues.

I also buy at Playtech a lot, and had to RMA some case lights once, that was also a good experience. If you order before 4pm, Playtech always ships it that day, and it arrives the next (I'm in Wellington). PB can be a couple days slower than that.

Lias

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#1192422 9-Dec-2014 21:59

JimmyH: Interesting thread, thanks.

I am planning to get a new box in early(ish) 2015, as soon as the new Windows is available - I hate Win8.

I was going to bet PB to build it for me. After reading this thread I am having second thoughts about that, and will look at alternative vendors.

I'd suggest Computer Lounge. They just won the PriceSpy Store of the year for the fourth year in a row.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

stevenz

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#1192710 10-Dec-2014 10:09

As always, Ascent ftw.

I've used PB Tech for a fair bit, but never for anything I've needed urgently as they have a habit of "forgetting" to send things. Their stock system just can't cope, as another poster said, they've become too big and need a major reshuffle so that what's physically on the shelf bares some sort of resemblance to what the computer thinks is on the shelf.

If you're able to physically walk into the store and pick up something you want, then the prices are hard to beat given that a sizable chunk of it is parallel-imported, as soon as you have any problems however, they can be a bit difficult to resolve.

So generally speaking, I use PB when I'm not too fussed and want something cheap, and Ascent when I want to be assured that I'm not going to have any warranty hassles, and need the item by the following day.

@KnightNZ

meesham

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#1193779 10-Dec-2014 11:41

The main problem I have with Ascent (and Elive) and why I don't use them more is that you have to ask for the tracking numbers and only after they've taken a while. Ascent sometimes includes it on the previous orders page but it seems to depend on which supplier is shipping the item. Both Computer Lounge and Playtech include the tracking numbers in the "order sent" emails.

pctek

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#1195741 11-Dec-2014 18:31

ckc: They didn't used to be.

Yes they did. Ever since they opened the very first shop in Ellerslie.
They have always been bad when there is a problem.
I had to start Dispute Tribunal proceedings before they finally acted.
Way back then....nothing ever changed.

Stu

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#1195880 11-Dec-2014 21:49

Actually, back in the '90s PB Tech were in a small upstairs shop in Panmure. Only one or two guys.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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kiwijunglist

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#1196070 12-Dec-2014 09:35

I love their shop in Wellington. Is great to be able to walk in and pick something up in person at a good price. For online orders computer lounge is my goto but i also use playtech and paradigm pcs and occasionally ascent.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Linuxluver

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#1196626 12-Dec-2014 21:58

Interesting. I've only ever bought stuff from PB Tech in-store. If they have it, I buy it. If it breaks, I take it back. A laptop I bought recently (HP) had setup errors in three systems in a row....two in-store in front techs, but the fourth booted up fine. No issues with PB Tech. But then I never buy online there.

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