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Medallionman

Two experiences today confirmed my opinions about ‘box shifters’. I eagerly awaited the launch of Freesat, in fact I went into Comet two weeks ago after reading on a Tech Forum that they had been selling Freesat boxes ahead of the launch. I was told that ‘Yes, ’ they did have them in but they were not allowed to sell them until 1st May, when the new Freesat would be launched. I pointed out that it wasn’t actually due to launch until 6th May ( they couldn’t even get that right). Anyway it was worth a try.
So today, launch day, I ventured back to the same shop and looked at the displays, not a Freesat system on view. I asked an assistant who was totally mystified, “Do you mean Freeview?”
“No”, I replied, “S A T as in Satellite”.
“Oh, Sky Freesat you mean?”
“No. Freesat, as in Freesat. It’s nothing to do with Sky. It was launched today. Didn’t you see/hear it on TV and Radio this morning?”
“Oh, there was something about that, I’ll go and ask for you.”
There was a lot of subdued chatter behind the desk and then another assistant came out and informed me that there were no Freesat boxes available, the ones that they had in stock could not take a software upgrade, which they needed. However they would have a Humax box in tomorrow. This would be £150 plus £79 installation. I pointed out that I didn’t want the installation, just the box. He said it needed a dish and had to be installed. I said that the signal was from the Astra satellite and that if you had a Sky dish already then you didn’t need an installation, you just pushed the cable in the back and that was all that was needed. He insisted it had to be’ installed’. I again said I didn’t want or need an ‘installation’, just the box. He got quite ‘uppity’ at that and said, “There’s no need to take that …… “ and then stopped short when he realised that I wasn’t taking any tone/attitude I was only politely informing him that I would not be taking the installation, which I didn't need.
So I turned round and walked out and will not be returning!!!

The second experience: last week I returned my Bose Home Theatre System (now quite old) to the dealer I bought it from. (McCollough’s In Workington). It had stopped working and the LCD display had previously ‘disappeared’. They rang back two days after I put it in for repair and informed me that the12V AC (not DC) power pack had failed. They also said that if they ordered one from Bose it would be expensive and if I could source an alternative one it would be better because they would have to charge time for looking and ordering etc. After several phone calls and advice from Owen at McCollough’s, I found one on CPC and ordered it (£5.95). I took it into them and they bench tested the system, fine except that the LCD display was still blank. They took it apart and confirmed that the LCD display unit was faulty and would need to be replaced …if they were still available from Bose. I can live without it, it is radio remote controlled and I never look at the display to be honest. So I collected it today, £25, and charming, pleasant people to deal with.

I know where I will be buying my HD Freesat box from.

Brian

teemyob

Good for you Brian,

I was an independent up until a while ago. People would come in and quote the box shifters prices.

Despite offering superb service, same-day delivery and cracking aftersales service we eventualy had to give up.

If you want good service, most www.euronics.co.uk dealers give sound advice, know their stuff and as they are part of a massive buying group are competative.

Trev

falken

We had to give up as well. We either had people coming on quoting the box shifters price less a few quid or pumping us for as much info as they could before buying it from the box-shifters!

Regards
Doug