Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 92471

Perhaps they don't make that many customers who want to pay by card to warrant the cost of a terminal/transaction. We have two little supermarkets here in the town, both accept cards but in one of them you have to spend over 12€ before they accept card payment to cover the cost of the terminal/transaction charges.

Reply ID 92482

We've been here before, I believe... Maybe they are unaware that accepting cash costs them money at the bank, too. Every time a business pays in cash there's a charge. As I said once before, accepting credit/debit cards as a retail establishment is a necessary business overhead, like rent, rates, salaries, electricity bills, broadband etc etc. As a business selling twenty-first century products they should be more aware than anyone that electronic transactions are part of life in 2013.

Reply ID 92487

Arty, I will have disagree with your post. My OH shop does not have any electronic method of paying, only accepts cash and manages to do ok, or actually better than ok. He also does not get charged to pay it in although most of his other transactions are cash based (pays for lots of supplies and also the wages in cash). Before anyone gets concerned about tax evasion, it is all 100% legitimate and declared and traceable. He also doesn't have broadband. In fact he barely knows how to use a computer, bless him. However I would say it is odd for a technology based shop not to have electronic payment.

Reply ID 92489

I think when they opened there was a post saying they had 2 other shops so it does seem odd if they have 3 retail outlets which are computer/ technology and they don't take cards.

Reply ID 92499

Read the reviews on the other stores, http://www.computershopfinder.co.uk/city-Hemel-Hempstead/380421-computer-Computer-Centre.html Credit card chargeback springs to mind

Reply ID 92500

quote:

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Originally posted by Mr fixit
Read the reviews on the other stores, http://www.computershopfinder.co.uk/city-Hemel-Hempstead/380421-computer-Computer-Centre.html Credit card chargeback springs to mind

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Reply ID 92503

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Is there a connection between Computer Care in Hertford and The Computer Centre in Hemel Hempstead? I also note that as well as not taking electronic payments they don't have a website either. Seems most odd for a technology company.

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Reply ID 93978

I have decided to break my 2 year silence on this forum owing to my recent dealings with this shop. To clarify one or two things first. They certainly do not accept any credit card or debit card payment - strictly cash only, even if buying a £1000 system, or a cheque suitably guaranteed (!?). However when a refund is required they do not pay back in the form payment was accepted ie cash. They ask for your credit card details and pass these to their Hemel Hempstead branch who issue the refund to your card account. I was told that this is company policy. This situation arose because my daughter asked them to repair the broken screen on her Samsung. She paid the full cash amount for repair up front. After four weeks of procrastination they informed her that they could not fix it as she had broken other parts as well. They offered to give her the phone back plus a full refund. Notwithstanding that the phone was working perfectly when it was left with them, although with a front cracked screen and at one time they said they couldn't return the phone as it was 'in bits' and then because it was at their Hemel branch. She took it to another shop in town and had the phone back fully repaired in one working week and paid on collection. To break from this story for a moment. I still think of myself as one of the few good guys left in this town. I know I have had some public and private differences with some forum members but in my professional capacity as Town Centre Manager I always tried to support all and every trader in the town even when it brought me in direct conflict with the ruling Executive at East Herts Council. I moved to this town in 1980 and have never had cause to complain about any trader. Until now. I have never experienced such rudeness, lack of customer service and care, or sub standard professionalism. I am by nature an easy going bloke but following unanswered letters and requests I was at the point of filing a claim against these people with the Small Claims Court and reporting them to Trading Standards, had not a full refund been credited today - by Bank transfer! I wish I had taken notice of some of the views posted on the links on this page. But that is the wisdom of hindsight, even though I still do lurk here occasionally. I would advise anyone looking to deal with this outlet to read those reviews first and proceed with care. To return to an earlier paragraph I may yet get back and explain a few things especially on the issue of A-Boards. I am not looking for another argument with 'you know who' as I am actually quite sympathetic with their view. There are a few other issues that have arisen on this forum that I would like to clear up as I am not involved with any organisation any more and can speak a bit more freely without crossing the line of libel.

Reply ID 93979

John I was put off recently when my daughter took a laptop down they wanted cash up front - I wonder if this would be the same situation if an adult took a machine in to get repaired? Out of interest where did you take the broken phone to get it repaired? Like you I try to support local, and where possible the independent traders but these guys do make it difficult!!

Reply ID 93980

John, I had my iPhone repaired next door at call print. http://www.callprint.co.uk/contact-us/hertford/ You receive a certificate and a guarantee.

Reply ID 93981

Golden - first point. My wife was with my daughter when the phone was handed over with the cash and on subsequent visits she had her fiancé with her (she is 21 by the way) and once myself. When the assistant refused to answer my questions with the reply; 'I'll only talk to your daughter because she is my customer' and stonewalled the questions anyway I realised I was not going to get anywhere. Second - the kiosk opposite Waitrose in Bircherley Green did a good and inexpensive job on the trackpad of my wife's Blackbery. They did quote for the Samsung but it seemed a little high which is why Computer Care seemed reasonable. But in the end because fortunately the phone was registered to her fiancé and still in warranty we got it repaired at Car Phone Warehouse for about the same price as the kiosk (name forgotten!). Would have got a replacement if they couldn't repair it. Louis - never thought of them. Did me a damn good job on copying newspapers for my daughter's 21st - kept the Guardian and the Mercury all those years. Something like repairing phones as well as printing etc. deserves a wider audience. Cheers.

Reply ID 93990

A friend of mine took his old laptop here which was working perfectly apart from one single fault, a dodgy charger socket. His intention was to get this simple fault repaired and give the computer to his young grandson. These guys asked for £100 in cash up front[:0] which seemed a bit high but he agreed to pay. After 2 weeks he received a phone call from them to say the laptop was back from repair at their workshop and could now be collected. They then added that it did not actually work as the mother board was faulty and they wanted another £230+ to fit a new board![:0] I don't know the final outcome of this but I know he was not prepared to part with another £230

Reply ID 93996

Eyeone, the answer is to get the person in the shop to get the laptop out and start it up to show that it works. Then pick it up and walk out of the shop waving bye bye on the way.

Reply ID 94499

I wandered in last week to see about getting a VGA cable - I had also been to ITS in Bengeo who wanted £9.20 which I thought was a bit high for something which should be £4.99, imagine my horror when in Computer Care I was informed it would be £16 As it happens I had a spare in the office so waited until Monday... If I hadn't then I would have ordered one from Amazon / eBay. I would love to support independent retailers but things have to be roughly competitive.

Reply ID 94599

I too tried using this shop. never again, totally uninterested, and rude. and wanted money up front. for a repair that in his own words " Might Work" went next door to Callprint. and job done quickly professionally, and with guarantee..... thats my advice

Reply ID 94612

Call print do not do phone repairs anymore. The man that used to do them has left the company. :(