Microcenter Deals

[Bacinator]

In class, no time to write out deals, but there is some nice stuff on the microcenter main page, like a belkin 4 port DSL/CABLE router for $9.99 IR&MIR.

http://www.microcenter.com/

 

[beatle]

Belkin 4 port 10/100 cable/dsl router: $49.99 - $20 IR - $20 MIR = $9.99

SMC PCMCIA 802.11b NIC: $39.99 - $5 IR - $25 MIR = $9.99

Looks like some good deals for people who could use these things.

[EDIT] Thanks BigxGuy7. There is also a 10 point IR off beatle's math test because he can't subtract properly.

 

[BigxGuy7]

Hey beatle, isnt it $34.99 for the SMC wireless card and then a $25 MIR? Also...anyone know how good these would be on campus of a college? Does it compare to the wireless G cards? THanks =)

 

[dchakrab]

Wireless G is faster. Also a lot more expensive...if you're surfing the internet, don't bother. If you're transferring large files, then you might want to invest in it, though prices will drop over the next few months. Unless you're transferring movies or other really large files, though, i wouldn't bother with the "G" standard for now, when the "B" standard parts are so cheap.

-D.

 

[rasputinj]

Good deal what are peoples experiences with MicroCenter?

 

[QTPie]

they're much better than Fry's in terms of customer services

 

[bambam]

Their prices are not usually the lowest but their customer service is tops .

 

[Bacinator]

Coming from the West Coast, I would go to Fry's before Microcenter, but Microcenter would definitely be my #2. Here on the East coast though, it's a little different as Staples is 4 minutes away, and Microcenter is 80 minutes away. So staples is my #1, but if Microcenter was closer, they would be my fav EASILY.

 

[rasputinj]

Originally posted by: Bacinator
Coming from the West Coast, I would go to Fry's before Microcenter, but Microcenter would definitely be my #2. Here on the East coast though, it's a little different as Staples is 4 minutes away, and Microcenter is 80 minutes away. So staples is my #1, but if Microcenter was closer, they would be my fav EASILY.

Thanks for the info..

 

[mdcrab]

Reseller Rating 6.25. Not too good, but only 9 reviews.

Reading the more recent reviews would make me skeptical.

mdcrab

 

[InfiniteSadness]

Bleh..those reviews are based on few and isolated cases where a customer was pissed. They're the ones who are more likely to take the time off and leave ratings. You can't please everyone. Microcenter isn't some shady shop in brooklyn. They have a huge store in my area but they need to do a better job of marketing. I've never seen an ad from them in the papers.

 

[Madib]

True, they don't always have the best prices but usually their sale prices are pretty decent. They do have very good customer service and it's really a shame they don't do more business because they do try hard and they have well stocked stores.

They have the best selection of cables and adapters and little computer accessories and tools of any of the major computer retailers! If I need something a little odd chances are they'll have it. And they have great sales on things like network cables.

InfiniteSadness....they don't run newspaper ads because they put out big colored circulars every few weeks, all direct mail. So go to their store and sign up (they often have giveaways just to get new subscribers) or do it online. Maybe you won't be so sad then.

 

[rhong]

I'm in Dallas, and I work really close to MicroCenter. I like to go browse their returned items, which are marked down, but sometimes still expensive. In terms of service, yes their service reps are pretty informative and helpful, although I don't need their help too often since I often research online and already know more than they know. I like to purchase items to try out and return too, since they have a good return policy. I'd give them a good rating, better service reps than Fry's, usually more expensive prices, but certain sale items are sometimes great deals.

 

[rhong]

Oh yeah, if you're comparing them to some no-named shop, don't worry. Their stores are very large from my understanding, larger than some Best Buys, and they've been around and are as professional as large chains. They've also supported Apple by selling their products for a long time too.

 

[TXMatt]

MicroCenter has been around since the XT days at least. Our family got our first clone there, and Epson Equity 1+.

Their original store was just West of Ohio State campus on Lane Avenue, but they moved to a store designed like their newer ones on Bethel RD at the time they were going national. The company has always been top notch on service, but a bit more expensive that CompUSA, etc.. When you buy things on sale there though, you can get a good deal.

I am posting this message with the SMC card right now. I had problems with it on a LinkSys router with losing the signal - I kept losing my VPN conncection. I bought a Siemens router @ office Depot ($25 after coupon), and although I had a great signal to the router, the router lost the connection to the ISP. Today I picked up a Netgear router at Circuit City ($60 after rebate), and it is working flawlessly. I am at the other end of the house from the router, the signal is passing through 2 walls and a floor; and the link is showing 100%.

I can say the retailer is top notch. Perhaps other cards wouldn't have had problems with the Linksys router, but with the right router this card works very well.

Matt

 

[TXMatt]

bah double post!

Matt

 

[Tokar]

i think reseller ratings is based on online purchases...

I love microcenter...best place out of them all for computer deals...

YES THEY PRICEMATCH...but they dont return a percent of the difference. Nor do they do that bullcrap with AR price pricematch...

Example:
Compaq Presario 2135 US Laptop:
Microcenter had it for $1050 - $100 MMIR - $200 MC MIR
Staples had it for $1000 - $100 MMIR (same one as MC)...

Microcenter PM'd the $1000 as opposed to not giving me a PM at all since an AR price would be $750 and staples AR price would be $900.

If you go to the B&M stores in the first half of the time specified in the flyer (usually 1 month)...you are basically guaranteed stock...well at least for the one in St. Davids, PA...They always have stock for the first half of the flyer duration...when i come back towards the end of the time, they are out of stock on the hotter items (example: Storix Axis 128MB USB drive...$30 AR 5/29/03 -> 6/15/03...they had FULL stock when i got one in the beginning of June, i picked up the LAST ONE in stock on the 15th of June).

I don't know what MC MIR's are like, but i have one in the mail for $200 on that laptop i got...$200 is a lot of money to deny a customer...

Id say about 90% of the time the rebates you find on items are Mfr MIR's...as opposed to MC MIR's

Their CS is top notch. The best ive experienced out of ALL the B&M stores one would go to for computer stuff (staples, OM, OD, etc.).

They carry multiple brands on a product line as opposed to places like staples, where they carry only one manufacturer (example: HD's...MC carries both Maxtor and WD...CC: WD, BB: WD, ST: Maxtor, OD: Maxtor, OM: WD, Cusa: both, etc.)

The cable prices at MC are unbeatable.
You goto staples for a 6" USB2 cable: AT LEAST $10...up to $20
USB2 cable at MC: $2...unbelievable.

100ft cat5 cable is like $9...prices for 50, 25, 10 and 7ft cables go down accordingly.

Another thing i like about MC is prices on products without rebates . E.G. Staples sells the Maxtor 200GB HD for $300 with no rebates. Microcenter has it for $280.


The only issues with MC are: 1) restock fee...they put a 15% restock fee on products just like CompUSA, where as staples for example has no restock fee. 2) The flyer (its can be good or bad. i find it good) lasts for a WHILE, anywhere from 15 to 30 days. The positive about it is that these deals last for 2 to 4 weeks worth of time, so if that product goes on sale at staples in ONE of those 2 to 4 weeks, pricematching is available. The negative is that you are stuck with those same deals for the whole month...poo...and right now the flyer for July is SUB-PAR.


On another note: there are tons of idiots who have no problem with paying restock fees. So what you end up having is this LARGE table of marked down items that are "all sales final" jobs...ive seen things marked down like 10%, and as much as like 50%...buth you are taking a risk as all sales ARE final. We are talking LARGE table. Maybe even TWO tables.

 

[Tokar]

they also like to sell old pentium desktop machines for like $30 a piece...or old HP deskjets for $30 or so...

i picked one of those pentium machines at MC for $30
Pentium 133, 64MB EDORAM, 1 gig HD, 6x SCSI CDROM, Adaptec SCSI PCI adapter, Microsoft Soundsystem sound card (it has white and red outputs...i think you can make a multimeter out of it), PCI 10/100 LAN card, floppy drive, and i think it had a modem in it as well, as well as a case fan which i took to use in a more MODERN computer of mine...

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: TXMatt
MicroCenter has been around since the XT days at least. Our family got our first clone there, and Epson Equity 1+.

Their original store was just West of Ohio State campus on Lane Avenue, but they moved to a store designed like their newer ones on Bethel RD at the time they were going national. The company has always been top notch on service, but a bit more expensive that CompUSA, etc.. When you buy things on sale there though, you can get a good deal.

I am posting this message with the SMC card right now. I had problems with it on a LinkSys router with losing the signal - I kept losing my VPN conncection. I bought a Siemens router @ office Depot ($25 after coupon), and although I had a great signal to the router, the router lost the connection to the ISP. Today I picked up a Netgear router at Circuit City ($60 after rebate), and it is working flawlessly. I am at the other end of the house from the router, the signal is passing through 2 walls and a floor; and the link is showing 100%.

I can say the retailer is top notch. Perhaps other cards wouldn't have had problems with the Linksys router, but with the right router this card works very well.

Matt

I'm within a minute drive of the flagship store on Bethel Rd . I often go around and just look at the stuff on the shelf but I hardly ever buy, even the returned/open box stuff is usually more $$ than what I could get it online for. The sheer amount of money in stock in the store is staggering though.

 

[SKORPI0]

One of the few B&M stores that still carry Apple Mac books and products. I usually drive to the nearest one (18 miles) to check on their latest sales. The nearest Best Buy, CompUSA and Circuit City is about 5 miles from that location. Haven't really thought about their PM policies. I usually go to the open-boxed items when I first go in. To bad they have limited locations and no sales fliers on the local newspapers.

 

[oddjob303]

nice deal. questioning if i should jump on this deal or wait and find a deal on a wireless router since i already have a wireless card

 

[oddjob303]

Originally posted by: SKORPI0
To bad they have limited locations and no sales fliers on the local newspapers.

well if you get on their mailing list theyll send you a sales flyer in the mail occasionally

 

[imaklone]

Good deal on the DSL router. The few anecdotes I can find indicate that some people have problems setting the MTU.

 

[Jackman]

I bought the hawking 4 point DSL/Cable Router awhile back with a $15.00 Rebate from Microcenter. Hawking welshed on the rebate coming up with a lame excuse. I always send in my rebates complete and with in the time limits of the rebate. I just don't save my rebate info to challenge them. Also be careful of CompUSA rebates. They Welsh on them to! GERRRR! :|

 

[Bacinator]

Originally posted by: mdcrab
Reseller Rating 6.25. Not too good, but only 9 reviews.

Reading the more recent reviews would make me skeptical.

mdcrab

How many times, out of all the times you have purchased from the following vendors, have you gone to Resllerratings.com and filled out a survey form?

Best Buy
Sears
Electronics Boutique
Staples
Office Max
Office Depot
Fry's
and so on.

When you go and get a zip drive, come home, install it, and it works like a champ, do you then think "My, I should go to reseller ratings, and tell everyone how wonderfully my zip drive from Staples is working! Hoooray Staples".

Ummm. No. As someone else mentioned, reseller ratings is geared more towards non-BM shops.

Just my $0.02.