Job Discussion Forums

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Just a quick question. Has anybody here bought a made-to-order PC from any of the shops in Mongkok Computer Ctr? In the past I bought from large chains or on-line via Dell, but now I need a new desktop. The price in one Mongkok shop for a no-name unit they make themselves is about 25% less than a similar configuration from Dell.

My question: has anybody purchased something like that before from one of these places, and if so have there been any problems with your computer, or any problems with warranties and servicing?

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

I don't know anything about Mongkok CC, but I've used Wanchai CC for the same purpose since 2004 and had pretty good service - certainly no complaints.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

I have bought lots of stuff from Mk CC and never had a problem. I bought a made to order unit from Sham Shui Po CC, and had a few problems with conflicting drivers for hardware, but that got sorted out. My friend got one from Wan Chai CC and it was a total lemon that barked. It never worked properly from day one, but he never had time to take it back!

I use a mac and a pc...and the mac is by far the better choice. That may be something to think about.

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

Advice:

Buy everything from the same shop. Usually you have a 7 day warranty from the shop followed by a 6 month to 1 year warranty from the manufacturers of the parts. if you buy bits form different places then they just pass the ball as to why something doesn't work.

Generally, the bigger shops/stalls have better service and prices, but you pay your money and take your chances. Nothing worse than buying something that breaks after a week.

also make sure what you chose / paid for was installed and not substituted for a cheaper component.

Finally, spend a day or two finding out what the differences are between all the options. The flyer's are junk set ups (stock clearance parts). The staff love to act like life insurance sales men and say for only $50 - $100 more you can upgrade to XXX component Mad

So, try to have a good idea of what yuo want now and what you want to be able to upgrade to in say 6 - 9 months.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Thanks guys! I googled the issue and didn't find much on the topic, and certainly not a bunch of overwhelmingly negative comments as I'd sort of expected. Given the absence of such, I figure it's worth a shot. I'll give it a try and let you know what happens if it turns out to have been a bad decision.

The places I'm looking at claim a 5-year warranty, with the first year for full parts and labor (I'm not sure what the next 4 years are for).

Chris, I'm not sure how to check for the hardware installed. Under control panel, I assume. Anyway, good advice!

I like Macs too, except I had a Macbook hard drive die on me a few years back soon after the warranty had expired, and the cost of replacement drove me to Dell! This time around it's a desktop I'm looking for and swapping out hard drives for a PC shouldn't break the bank.

Thanks again guys. I really appreciate your comments. Cheers!

Smoog · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Hong Kong

When I was buying a pc a couple of years back I looked at both MK and WC computer centres and found little or no difference between the two price-wise (which surprised me, as I figured WC would be more for gweilo and MK for locals).
I found the people in WC a bit more helpful and with better English which helped alot with sorting out exactly what I wanted so I went with them. Got a good deal on the pc I bought, everything worked (and still works) well. More than happy with what I got.

Be warely of using the shops in ShamShuiPo. It's just hearsay from the guy I bought from in WC so maybe not totally reliable (could have been just a stab at the competition!). He said some shops there will close down after a year or two just before CNY, then open again straight after. Same people, slightly different name (so "Better Buy Computers" might become "Best Buy Computers").
Why do this? So they don't have to any honour any existing warranties ("oh that's not us, that was another company which has closed. But we will fix the problem for you for a good price!").

Oh, and to check your hardware you can look under the control panel or, just when the comp starts up, press F5 (iirc, maybe F Cool

. It gets you into the hardware setup page. Best not to play around with any settings but you can look at what's installed.

Veddie Edder · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 15 Location: HK

I bought a computer at Golden Arcade in Sham Shui Po last year and it has been top-notch since day 1. Never heard anything bad about buying in Sham Shui Po (Golden Arcade, at least). In fact, it has been recommended to me by almost everyone I've asked, always over Mong Kok or even anything on HK island.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Hi guys, just a quick update. I went ahead and gave it a try. There was a slight problem at first (booted to windows a few times, then just to the startup bios screen, and finally to nothing - I was starting to feel nervous) and had to take it over to their repair center just 2 days after the purchase. That was a bit of a pain. They fixed it, and now it's fine. Looks like some bad ram since that's what they replaced. Now everything's hunky-dory and running nicely! Hopefully, it'll stay that way.

Maybe next time I'll actually try to assemble one myself! Always wanted to do that. Figure it can't be that hard, though I don't think my wife would appreciate having computer parts strewn across the floor of our apartment.

Thanks again for all your input!