Computer Parts In Kelowna?

[Ibanez6]

I just moved to Kelowna and am looking for a place to get cheap computer parts for upgrades. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out.

[Captain Awesome]

ncix.com

[gardengirl]

Yup, or Tiger Direct.

[Bsuds]

WYTEK

[LoneWolf_53]

Bsuds is right. Wytek Direct for local.

If you can't get it there then I would go with the following in this order NCIX, Direct Canada, BestDirect, or Newegg.ca

I don't find Tiger Direct to be very competitive once all costs are factored in plus NCIX and Direct Canada have very fast shipping as long as the item is in stock.

[Tannah]

There are plenty of computer stores in the Kelowna area. Just google "computer stores kelowna" you should come up with plenty and a map.
Some shops are better than others. But expect to pay anywere from 5% to 20% more for parts.
But on ther other hand you generally (with some exception) get a knowlegable staff that will try to help you out. and normally a better inital warrenty than the online places.

Its kinda like takeing your car into be serviced. Some people can do a full tune up oil change and even rebuild a transmission. Then there are other people who should not be allowed with in 2 meters (or 6 feet) of a car with any type of tool.

Its always easy to the person who knows what they are doing.

[outcastrc]

I buy most of my and friends gear from NCIX.com (which equates to 3-4 complete computer systems a year)

http://ncix.com/

If I do need something locally (as in I need it right now) I go to Price is right computers

http://www.priceisrightcomputers.com/

[Logitack]

ya gotta love a computer store that only has a telephone contact number....no street address anywhere on their website...i am talking about the computer store recommended.

[Captain Awesome]

Must be in someone's basement

[Tannah]

Your right, The Price is right Computers which has been around forever is part of a resedintal house (or was anyway)

But if you want to play the name dropping game, there are several places with commercial Storefronts and great staff. Next Generation Computers http://ngcomputers.ca/ , National Computer Resource http://crok.ca/ , Simply Computers (the local apple dealer) http://www.simply.ca/ , Northern Computers http://www.northerncomputer.ca/ , Bytz Computers http://www.bytzforbiz.com/
All these stores have been around for 14 years or more years, some have changed owners a few times. All have competitive prices depending on the catagory of parts or computer your after.

[LoneWolf_53]

There's a lot of components in a computer and really the smartest thing is to make yourself a list and find out what the best prices are.

I obtain a fair number of PC parts in a year and there are quite a few that are simpler cheaper online and NCIX is one of the best sources because they were originally intended to be wholesale and ticked off a lot of retailers by offering stuff to people online.

DirectCanada happens to compete with NCIX so it's well worth while to check both sites as one day an item will be better priced at one site and the next day it could change.

I'm all for supporting local but there really isn't a very good selection of parts in stock in town if one is after certain motherboards.

Generally the stuff found on shelves is lower end.

Costco has some items too but they are almost always outdated stock.

The biggest trick is to ensure you are comparing apples to apples because often times when it comes to memory and such a subtle difference in specifications can translate into quite a difference in the items value.

Staples has some decent sales at times too especially if you're in the market for a monitor as an example.

[outcastrc]

Your right, The Price is right Computers which has been around forever is part of a resedintal house (or was anyway)

But if you want to play the name dropping game, there are several places with commercial Storefronts and great staff. Next Generation Computers http://ngcomputers.ca/ , National Computer Resource http://crok.ca/ , Simply Computers (the local apple dealer) http://www.simply.ca/ , Northern Computers http://www.northerncomputer.ca/ , Bytz Computers http://www.bytzforbiz.com/
All these stores have been around for 14 years or more years, some have changed owners a few times. All have competitive prices depending on the catagory of parts or computer your after.

Competitive to what? Each other?

Its very difficult to buy ANY computer related parts in this town. First problem is every store in this town sells the same crap. For the life of me I can't understand why they all sell the same 5 things. It doesn't matter if its keyboards or speakers... You'd think they'd look at their competition and think maybe ordering some assorted variety would help?

As well by the time you add the all the parts in a computer your talking some serious coin your saving buying from NCIX or the like. That savings can translate into buying better hardware, or just keeping that extra hundred or two in your pocket.

Perfect example, today I was looking at some computers and parts I need. I can buy a brand name 32gb memory stick from NCIX for the same price as a no name 16gb stick here. I checked out 2 equivalent computers ($600 here) and there was a 200 dollar savings for not buying locally...

Why spend 100 on a no name hard drive, or 150 for a good brand name here when you can buy that same good brand name at NCIX for 100? I bought 5 large Western Digital hard drives for the price of 4 equivalent no name brand locally a couple months back.

I did buy my last monitor here at Futureshop as they had a huge sale and it put the price of the monitor at the same place as NCIX if I included shipping... Pretty sad that you need a huge discount to meet Vancouver prices.... The next week the monitor was 130 dollars more.

Don't even get me started on wires. This towns insane! A 2 or 3 buck wire at NCIX will go for 25 or more in Kelowna. I can order the same wire out of Hong Kong for a 1.50 shipped!!! So how can local stores honestly sell there stuff with a straight face.

Now granted saving money on parts isn't going to help a person that requires help installing / maintaining it. But if you can find a friend that can do it, its worth a lot of savings in your pocket. If you do have to buy and get support locally then I will always suggest Price is right. They are good guys and for Kelowna, decent prices. Otherwise just do your homework and use whatever sales you can find to your advantage.

[LoneWolf_53]

Competitive to what? Each other?

That was my automatic reaction too when I read that.

Anyone that thinks PC parts are competitively priced in town obviously doesn't buy many parts or do much research.

[Tannah]

Really Its near impossable for a single store to be compleatly comptitive with a chain, or a store that dosent have a commercial store front, or even stock.

If you look around town there are gems to be found that are cheaper that there reputable online counterparts. But going into a store with NCIX prices and expecting them to match them is going to have a unhappy responce.

If you want to do online price matching Shopbot.ca is a good site for that. I believe NCIX owns another store of a diffrent name in Vancouver. I forget its name but its their liquidation outlet. Many people use it for price matching.

Tho I have to say it really sucks shopping online when you get a batch of Hard drives or eletronic equipment that the couriour drops, that then has to be shipped back. Or a motherboard goes bad 1 month after you have bought it (and the online store says you have to deal with the manufactuer). Unless you have wholesaler access it can be a real pain.

[outcastrc]

NCIX has 4 retail outlets in Vancouver. Their business model has allowed them to grow in leaps and bounds the last few years.

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