As some of you may or may not know, I have an EXTREMELY horrible computer. It's out-dated, and everything on it is a lost cause (DDR, AGP, S478) We bought it quite a few years ago, when I was 11, and knew nothing of computers. It was purchased locally at a very nice computer store. My mom is aware of how out-dated it is, and she knows I do video editing, and 3d animation at school, so she's willing to spend $1,000 to purchase a new computer in the spring.

I've been online to NCIX, Tiger Direct, and Canada Computers, and put together a few very nice PC's for around the $1,000 range. Here's the catch; My mom isn't into the whole online thing, so she wants to actually go to a store and buy a computer. We have no dedicated PC shops around here anymore, so she wants to just go to a Future Shop or similar.

I've told her how much cheaper it is to buy the components, and she knows I'm qualified to put together a PC, yet she won't budge with buying online.

Here's where I need the help of all you. Is there anyway I might be able to convince my mom to let me order online? Or, what places do you suggest going to where I can get a PROPER pre-built machine. Here are the 'requirements'

MUST include a 1680x1050 LCD (20" or 22" doesn't matter)
Must have RAM capable of a 400mhz FSB and higher
Any lower level dual core from Intel will be fine, I'm thinking e21xx
Must have after market cooling solution
Case must have decent cooling (2x120mm would be preffered)
Hoping for 8800 GT if budget allows (I know shopping local, or pre-built will cost more)
PSU must be of decent quality as it WILL be overclocked
Motherboard must be able to handle SOME overclocking

Other things, such as harddrives, optical drives, keyboard + mouse are not AS big of deal.

So please guys, if you can think of any mature arguments about ordering online I'm more then happy to hear them. Also, if you know of any good stores to buy from in the area of Ontario (Toronto, Barrie, North Bay) that have websites to browse through, send them my way.

Cheers, and I hope you can help make this happen, as I've been waiting for the chance of a new computer for quite a while.
~Bryan~

Quote from dropin_biking :

As some of you may or may not know, I have an EXTREMELY horrible computer. It's out-dated, and everything on it is a lost cause (DDR, AGP, S478) We bought it quite a few years ago, when I was 11, and knew nothing of computers. It was purchased locally at a very nice computer store. My mom is aware of how out-dated it is, and she knows I do video editing, and 3d animation at school, so she's willing to spend $1,000 to purchase a new computer in the spring.

I've been online to NCIX, Tiger Direct, and Canada Computers, and put together a few very nice PC's for around the $1,000 range. Here's the catch; My mom isn't into the whole online thing, so she wants to actually go to a store and buy a computer. We have no dedicated PC shops around here anymore, so she wants to just go to a Future Shop or similar.

I've told her how much cheaper it is to buy the components, and she knows I'm qualified to put together a PC, yet she won't budge with buying online.

Here's where I need the help of all you. Is there anyway I might be able to convince my mom to let me order online? Or, what places do you suggest going to where I can get a PROPER pre-built machine. Here are the 'requirements'

MUST include a 1680x1050 LCD (20" or 22" doesn't matter)
Must have RAM capable of a 400mhz FSB and higher
Any lower level dual core from Intel will be fine, I'm thinking e21xx
Must have after market cooling solution
Case must have decent cooling (2x120mm would be preffered)
Hoping for 8800 GT if budget allows (I know shopping local, or pre-built will cost more)
PSU must be of decent quality as it WILL be overclocked
Motherboard must be able to handle SOME overclocking

Other things, such as harddrives, optical drives, keyboard + mouse are not AS big of deal.

So please guys, if you can think of any mature arguments about ordering online I'm more then happy to hear them. Also, if you know of any good stores to buy from in the area of Ontario (Toronto, Barrie, North Bay) that have websites to browse through, send them my way.

Cheers, and I hope you can help make this happen, as I've been waiting for the chance of a new computer for quite a while.
~Bryan~

Ask her why she won't let you buy online? Its cheaper, easier and more convienient for her since she doesn't have to go walking around all the shops.

Well we've talked about it, and it's pretty much the way she lives. Here in muskoka, the parents are rather old school. She just doesn't 'trust' shopping online because she's never done so. I've told her how much cheaper, easier, and quicker they are though. She just doesn't realise that the prebuilt machines you get in stores are over-priced for what you get. I've told her that because I have specific needs for a computer, I'll need to pick specific components, but she's rather n00b with computers (think Harjun, minus the grammar, the lies, but throw in some brain damage)

She does do her banking online, so I might be able to use that against her. I'm pretty sure ordering off a legit website is about the same as doing your banking online.
~Bryan~

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around the €800

Sorry, I dont know how much 1000 dollars are in euro's...

Btw, It's just an preview. No screen etc. And it's a Online shop. Maybe you can find the parts somewere else cheaper in US

Why don't you ask her to come onto this forum, and tell us directly why she doesn't like online shopping. Tell her the least she could do is keep an open mind and ask us any questions she might have regarding online shipping. When it comes down to it, you're going to pay a LOT more if you have to buy at a local retailer - it's in your best interest to buy online.

But why not direct her here and at least show here what people here say. That's the best way to convince her.

And yeah - as long as you're ordering from a major online retailer, having your data stolen is not any more likely than when you do banking - meaning there is practically NO CHANCE as long as you don't have any viruses or spyware on your PC.

Well Takumi, thanks, but I'm up here in Canada, notice the flag?

Stang; You get where I'm coming from. I know for something I priced online at $1,000 will cost me well over $1,500 locally. That is even if I can get the same parts.

I encourage my mom to use Firefox 2.0, and I keep this installation of XP Home spotless, so I've told her theres NO CHANCE, of data being stolen.

I'll talk to her, and show her this thread, and let her read over the policies and shipping agreements at www.canadacomputers.com if anybody knows of a website that actually reviews websites (I know there are some, just none come to mind) please share, I'd like to see what other people have to say about Canada Computers as I've never dealt with them.
~Bryan~

A good example is Newegg.com. Look around for reviews of that site. They are well known to have much better customer service and support than the manufacturers of the parts you buy from them. Many reviews on that site say things like, "Asus computer support sucks, but Newegg replaced it for me anyway."

if she will do banking online I cant see why she wouldn't buy.
Maybe you can buy each part and she pays you back as they get delivered? Or find someone who will work as a "buying moderator" of some sort? Or even say if anything goes wrong youll pay for it somehow (helping out to earn money etc to pay her back :shrug thats all i can think of for now.

Check our NCIX.com. They are in Canada and are known to have VERY compeditive prices.

There are in several location in Canada.

http://www.ncix.com/contact/

http://pc.ncix.com/pcbuilder/

Quote from dropin_biking :

Stang; You get where I'm coming from. I know for something I priced online at $1,000 will cost me well over $1,500 locally. That is even if I can get the same parts.

I don't understand this. The prices online and in the physical store are the same. And even if the shipping is free, a lot of cheap places have discounts for paying with cash/debit that you normally can't get online.

Canadacomputers.com is pretty ok pricewise, though I prefer www.filtechcomputer.com and www.pccanada.com if the prices are similar, as I have good experience with them. There's a website www.torontopcstores.com that has reviews, sort of, more like a list of stores and people posting experiences with them.

Quote from AutoPilot :

I don't understand this. The prices online and in the physical store are the same. And even if the shipping is free, a lot of cheap places have discounts for paying with cash/debit that you normally can't get online.

Well, I think he was comparing buying the parts online as opposed to buying a pre-built computer locally.

Also, and I don't know how it is overseas, but in America, the in-store prices are usually more expensive than online.

If he's buying the parts online, why couldn't he buy the parts in the local store instead of prebuilt? That's what I do...

Well, I was talking about Canada here since he lives there. I always look up on the internet the online prices and go to the store and buy it. The price is invariably the same. That's also true for the store he mentioned there. And they charge for shipping and have discounts for cash.

Quote from Stang70Fastback :

A good example is Newegg.com. Look around for reviews of that site. They are well known to have much better customer service and support than the manufacturers of the parts you buy from them. Many reviews on that site say things like, "Asus computer support sucks, but Newegg replaced it for me anyway."

Canadians can't purchase stuff from Newegg


I'd also recommend NCIX, just because of the proximity I am from them, I basically get next day shipping on normal mail. It's nice.

I've browsed NCIX. I find their prices to be quite odd, and their website is a horrible mess. I've shown my mom some of this thread, and the couple computer builds I've put together, and she seems to be caving in slightly. I may have to purchase something locally, however, I've found quite a few VERY respectable stores around the area to purchase from.

Wish me luck and thanks for all your advice, especially you Stang.
~Bryan~

There's a great store close to my house, Lu Computers. From what I've seen they have the lowest prices in Toronto.

No problem, and good luck!