COMET PRICE - Apparently the cheapest and best electrical dealer, cheapest, probably yes.....best (no swearing allowed), definitely not.

Am I experienced to say this? read on.......

Three years ago when I bought my first house, I needed a PC, and decided to visit my local Comet. No thanks to the staff in-store (the computer expert only worked two days a week) I found what I wanted, a very nice Siemens Nixdorf machine complete with colour printer, speakers, scanner, modem, and desk for £900.
ME: Can I purchase this on interest free credit?
(10% deposit and the balance payable in 9 months time),
HIM: of course you can madam....
he put my details through the system, credit referred, the guy helpfully rang the credit company and begged on my behalf, I earn £XXXXX I begged (life without a computer and no baby-sitter in the evenings was unthinkable), irrelevant (salary is irrelevant in Comet), well after 20 minutes of begging they agreed to sell it to me providing it was delivered to my new address.

Delivery was arranged at £11.95 (I lived less than ½mile from the store), and arrived 5 hours late as the store was short staffed, although no-one thought to ring and let me know.

On unpacking the system the modem was missing, and I was advised it was unlikely to be available for around 6-8 weeks (even though Currys had loads of that model), and if they did receive any, even then, one would not be reserved for me if someone came into the store and wanted to buy one there and then.

Also missing was the cables to link the scanner and printer up to the computer; now bearing in mind this was a complete starter package, can somebody explain this to me as I don't understand. Another visit to the store, I created riots there, and left the proud new owner of two sets of cables Free of Charge to complete my purchase. I decided there and then I would never shop in Comet again. Well never is a long time.

STORE CARD
Despite being reluctant to give me credit, two weeks later I received a Comet store card giving me £x,xxx credit; this card can actually be used in Woolworths, MVC, Comet, NEXT, B&Q and Superdrug, and works on the same basis as a credit card, where you get up to a maximum of 7 weeks interest free credit and then interest is charged.

A WORD OF WARNING - USE THIS CARD, BUT YOU MUST PAY OFF THE BALANCE IN FULL - INTEREST RATE: 29.9% for payments by direct debit, 31.9% for payment by any other means (aka very expensive)

Interest free credit works on the same basis; if you do not pay the entire balance of the product off within the interest free period, you will be charged this interest rate on the entire purchase price, irrespective of how much you have paid off, for example, you have just £5 outstanding, you WILL incur £100's in interest charges which they will then expect you to pay off monthly over a 4 year period.

More recently, we were looking to purchase a new dishwasher and fridge/freezer, and visited our local Comet store, but failed to get a member of staff to talk to us, so we went next door to Currys (more expensive but better service) and made our purchases there, £600 of lost business for Comet.

NEW COMPUTER
Earlier this year, my computer decided it no longer wanted to behave itself, necessitating me having to go out and find a new one. We did the rounds and ended up again, in Comet. We spotted a machine on the shelf, and had a little play around with it, this time I was very specific about what I wanted.

I advised the assistant that the machine had been sold before, I was told I was being ridiculous (my partner got stung big time by Dixons who sold him a fully used, inoperable machine - shucks they didn't know who they were dealing with). I insisted she made some investigations, and 'lo and behold' ten minutes later she confirmed that the machine was indeed a customer return. Unperturbed, I opted to make the purchase and was given £150 off as it was a discontinued model, and 20 complementary CD-R's, along with 12 months interest free credit, which on this occasion required a 10% deposit, 11 payments of £20 and a final payment of the remainder of the oustanding balance within the 12 months, or else the interest charges kicked in. You can also make additional payments during this 12 month period as and when you require. Payments can be made through Switch or Delta direct through their customer services line (0870 number), although I must admit the line is always answered quickly. Credit facilities are supplied by Time Retail Finance. The CD-R's, surprise, surprise were out of stock.

PROBLEMS
I set the computer up, and found a problem with the CD-rewriter, I tried to ring the store, but found the number to be ex-directory. I contacted the call centre number and was advised that all Comet Stores are now ex-directory and you must contact them through their call centre number, who will then contact the store on your behalf. I was advised that the store could give me their number if they wanted to, but if when the message was passed on by the call centre, the store failed to call me back there was nothing they could do about it.

When I visited the store to complain about the machine, they told me they would fix it, no chance, result: problem still present, but I like the computer sooooo much I decided to live with it.

The CD-R's? I went to the store to collect them, they gave me 10 instead of 20, another visit (incidentally I now live about 10 miles away from this store and yes I know I should have checked before I left the store), and they reluctantly gave me another 10 of a different brand, not that I have ever been able to use them.

I also tried to buy On-Digital from them, they told me to come back in a couple of weeks as there was no expert in store, I again went next door to Currys and walked out of the shop 20 minutes later with my box, instructions and contract.

SUMMARY
SERVICE - 0/10: PRICE 10/10
There is no doubt they offer the best prices locally, together with the best interest free credit facilities, although don't get sucked in to paying interest, however their customer service in the store in Llansamlet, Swansea is appalling. I can't give you contact details as they have changed their telephone number and are now ex-directory. How ridiculous is this?

Also they seldom have the item you want in stock, ranging from washing machines to telephones, although I must admit, Currys are no better.

I have said below I will recommend them, but this is on price and credit alone