Big Custom Built PC Retailers - Any Experiences?
Discussion
Jinx said:
Some cautionary tales on this thread. I've previous bought machines from Dell outlet and Trigger's broomed them until tech has moved on so far nothing is re-usable. Still on an Alienware Area 52 R4 (the traid chassis - last of the standard parts (most are re-branded MSI kit) machines before they went and started to use propriety motherboards and PSUs in their high end machines) - though GPU has been upgraded along with addtional storage).
Will be looking for a motherboard/cpu/RAM combo to upgrade to over the next year or so - probably avoid some of the companies listed (hate paying money to companies with bad service, even if I haven't ever needed the aftercare).
I can recommend quietpc who sell mb/cpu/ram bundles built to order (and claim to test them before shipping). Limited range apart from the CPU coolers you can choose however great customer service in my experienceWill be looking for a motherboard/cpu/RAM combo to upgrade to over the next year or so - probably avoid some of the companies listed (hate paying money to companies with bad service, even if I haven't ever needed the aftercare).
Another PCS recommendation here. Had multiple builds from them minus GPU’s as I like to source my own FE models and RAM.
Will look to them first when next wanting a PC as they were cheaper than I could buy the parts separately, plus it comes with a warranty of course.
In fact the last one I had the cable management couldn’t have been done any better by myself, and I have a little OCD about that sort of thing. Was very impressed.
That PC above with the CPU cooler hanging off has clearly been dropped by the courier.
Will look to them first when next wanting a PC as they were cheaper than I could buy the parts separately, plus it comes with a warranty of course.
In fact the last one I had the cable management couldn’t have been done any better by myself, and I have a little OCD about that sort of thing. Was very impressed.
That PC above with the CPU cooler hanging off has clearly been dropped by the courier.
I got my Scan 3XS custom PC a few weeks ago and, as every time before, Scan did a bang up job.
Yes, you can do a bit cheaper but you get what you pay for. They did go through a phase of having very long lead times but if you phone them up (like I did) they will make it happen for you. You can pay for 3 day express btw!
I'd recommend them every single time.
Yes, you can do a bit cheaper but you get what you pay for. They did go through a phase of having very long lead times but if you phone them up (like I did) they will make it happen for you. You can pay for 3 day express btw!
I'd recommend them every single time.
CoffeeGuy said:
I got my Scan 3XS custom PC a few weeks ago and, as every time before, Scan did a bang up job.
Yes, you can do a bit cheaper but you get what you pay for. They did go through a phase of having very long lead times but if you phone them up (like I did) they will make it happen for you. You can pay for 3 day express btw!
I'd recommend them every single time.
Yes they are great until something goes wrong .... Just out of interest OP have a read of the negative comments on TrustPilot ...Yes, you can do a bit cheaper but you get what you pay for. They did go through a phase of having very long lead times but if you phone them up (like I did) they will make it happen for you. You can pay for 3 day express btw!
I'd recommend them every single time.
Yeah I know there are a lot of great comments when things go OK but the negative comments especially about system builds have a very similar ring to them ...
dxg said:
This is the frustration.
I needed it quickly and I didn't want the hassle. This has gone the opposite way.
Traditionally, I would just spend one day doing the hardware and one day doing the software. I've done it many times before.
But, I've got to the point where I'm time poor and I thought this would be simpler.
I am minded to just reject the whole thing. I could install a replacement cooler, but I am worried about the damage that must surely have already happened to the CPU, I mean how much force is required to do this:
Bearing in mind that every cubic cm of the case was ram-packed with bubble wrap.
Really fed up.
That's been dropped from height and landed square on the ground with the ground being where the bottom bit of your pic is, and with considerable force to bend those mounting sockets. No way I'd touch any of that. It would be photographed and then on the phone to them to foot the considerable shipping and insurance cost to send it back to them for a refund or complete replacement. It's unlikely to be their fault and would have been done in transit which is why the reputable builders send them out packaged in at least 2 or 3 larger boxes with a lot polystyrene shells in the outer boxes.I needed it quickly and I didn't want the hassle. This has gone the opposite way.
Traditionally, I would just spend one day doing the hardware and one day doing the software. I've done it many times before.
But, I've got to the point where I'm time poor and I thought this would be simpler.
I am minded to just reject the whole thing. I could install a replacement cooler, but I am worried about the damage that must surely have already happened to the CPU, I mean how much force is required to do this:
Bearing in mind that every cubic cm of the case was ram-packed with bubble wrap.
Really fed up.
ETA: I see you've already sent it back now.
Edited by r3g on Saturday 6th April 14:02
r3g said:
dxg said:
This is the frustration.
I needed it quickly and I didn't want the hassle. This has gone the opposite way.
Traditionally, I would just spend one day doing the hardware and one day doing the software. I've done it many times before.
But, I've got to the point where I'm time poor and I thought this would be simpler.
I am minded to just reject the whole thing. I could install a replacement cooler, but I am worried about the damage that must surely have already happened to the CPU, I mean how much force is required to do this:
Bearing in mind that every cubic cm of the case was ram-packed with bubble wrap.
Really fed up.
That's been dropped from height and landed square on the ground with the ground being where the bottom bit of your pic is, and with considerable force to bend those mounting sockets. No way I'd touch any of that. It would be photographed and then on the phone to them to foot the considerable shipping and insurance cost to send it back to them for a refund or complete replacement. It's unlikely to be their fault and would have been done in transit which is why the reputable builders send them out packaged in at least 2 or 3 larger boxes with a lot polystyrene shells in the outer boxes.I needed it quickly and I didn't want the hassle. This has gone the opposite way.
Traditionally, I would just spend one day doing the hardware and one day doing the software. I've done it many times before.
But, I've got to the point where I'm time poor and I thought this would be simpler.
I am minded to just reject the whole thing. I could install a replacement cooler, but I am worried about the damage that must surely have already happened to the CPU, I mean how much force is required to do this:
Bearing in mind that every cubic cm of the case was ram-packed with bubble wrap.
Really fed up.
ETA: I see you've already sent it back now.
Edited by r3g on Saturday 6th April 14:02
I have had my 3XS workstation for over a year now. It arrived in the original case box on a pallet. Disposing of the huge quantity of styrofoam and bubble wrap was a bit of a pain. Unused components (from mobo primarily) were carefully boxed and attached.
Pre-sales, pre-delivery and setup support was excellent
I received updates on component deliveries, including upgraded CPU coolers as those spec'd were not available, build photos and a 24hr burn-in report prior to dispatch.
It has worked perfectly from day one.
I think you (dgx) have been very unfortunate and wish you luck in having your issue resolved soon.
Get it built locally by an indy. Better rapport with the builder and no issues taking it back to be looked at if you have an issue, rather than spending best part of £100 in shipping and correct insurance cover to send it to the other end of the country. The exta c. £50 it will cost you will pay dividends if you have an aftersales issue.
Well, today's update is that - after another chase - they have confirmed that I sent everything back to them (how nice), but that they now want *another* 3 to 5 working days to transfer the refund.
So, at this point, I really can't recommend Scan. They've - so far - done everything they are obliged to do under statute, but they have shown no sense of urgency in doing any of it. Every step of the process has been delayed to varying extents.
I checked my emails - I started speaking with them about a build on 15 February. Order was placed on 27 February. And £2k of my money has been bound up in the failed process since then. Just think of the cashflow implications. For them, I'm sure £2k doesn't register. It does for me.
So, at this point, I really can't recommend Scan. They've - so far - done everything they are obliged to do under statute, but they have shown no sense of urgency in doing any of it. Every step of the process has been delayed to varying extents.
I checked my emails - I started speaking with them about a build on 15 February. Order was placed on 27 February. And £2k of my money has been bound up in the failed process since then. Just think of the cashflow implications. For them, I'm sure £2k doesn't register. It does for me.
Not sure whats changed with them recently. I finally have a resolution after pushing them to provide an alternative MOBO since the other one is AWOL - it took a week between exchanges, so maybe staffing or busy issues.
Its not quite good enough IMHO especially since my original suggestion was can you send me a new MOBO in exchange for this one which was met with no.
Its not quite good enough IMHO especially since my original suggestion was can you send me a new MOBO in exchange for this one which was met with no.
Occasionally I fancy building a PC, the problem with building for money on a small scale is the first problem wipes out any profit. Then people often feel that you owe them lifetime tech support for the rest of the products life. Even if they add something to the PC that causes it to have the problem.
However I wouldn’t be against building/ helping someone build a PC now and then.
However when you are on a limited budget and the motherboard etc needs changing you cant always wait a week plus for a refund or relacement.
This is why I often buy parts from Amazon.
Traditional pc parts suppliers are very slow to test things, with Amazon you just ship it back, often they will give you credit straight away or as soon as it’s sent.
They are not perfect. However buying from Amazon not 3rd party sellers helps. Also usually next day delivery for prime members instead of expensive Saturday/no Sunday shipping.
Amazons delivery network and customer service/ease of returns just blows the rest of the market out of the water for parts.
Seemingly returning systems elsewhere is even worse.
I’d personally never buy from Scan again and haven’t for over 15 years.
I understand that sometimes the part you want is only available at certain places however otherwise i’d go with the best returns policy and get the parts that are best value. If you have a few of each bits in mind, just watch the prices and get the best value, sold and dispatched by Amazon however everyones experience can be different.
However I wouldn’t be against building/ helping someone build a PC now and then.
However when you are on a limited budget and the motherboard etc needs changing you cant always wait a week plus for a refund or relacement.
This is why I often buy parts from Amazon.
Traditional pc parts suppliers are very slow to test things, with Amazon you just ship it back, often they will give you credit straight away or as soon as it’s sent.
They are not perfect. However buying from Amazon not 3rd party sellers helps. Also usually next day delivery for prime members instead of expensive Saturday/no Sunday shipping.
Amazons delivery network and customer service/ease of returns just blows the rest of the market out of the water for parts.
Seemingly returning systems elsewhere is even worse.
I’d personally never buy from Scan again and haven’t for over 15 years.
I understand that sometimes the part you want is only available at certain places however otherwise i’d go with the best returns policy and get the parts that are best value. If you have a few of each bits in mind, just watch the prices and get the best value, sold and dispatched by Amazon however everyones experience can be different.
And so it drags on.
On Wednesday they were calling me trying to get me to re-order, only confirming that they would actually refund yesterday.
Now today they're delaying further by asking for bank details (I originally paid by BACS, so they should already have those details).
It's dead slow and stop.
On Wednesday they were calling me trying to get me to re-order, only confirming that they would actually refund yesterday.
Now today they're delaying further by asking for bank details (I originally paid by BACS, so they should already have those details).
It's dead slow and stop.
dxg said:
And so it drags on.
On Wednesday they were calling me trying to get me to re-order, only confirming that they would actually refund yesterday.
Now today they're delaying further by asking for bank details (I originally paid by BACS, so they should already have those details).
It's dead slow and stop.
Crap service hope you sort soon but keep us updated.On Wednesday they were calling me trying to get me to re-order, only confirming that they would actually refund yesterday.
Now today they're delaying further by asking for bank details (I originally paid by BACS, so they should already have those details).
It's dead slow and stop.
I looked at that. The example the court service gives for calculating interest on debt has a notional 50 day delay, so maybe too soon. I'll also need to read the T and C's of the contract to see if they give themselves any durations there.
But certainly if it continues unpaid for another couple of weeks, I will likely head down that routebonce I've confirmed the contact has been breached. £115 court costs, though.
But certainly if it continues unpaid for another couple of weeks, I will likely head down that routebonce I've confirmed the contact has been breached. £115 court costs, though.
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