Goldark,
People might not have responded here yet because most of us build our own...we don't know places that do that because we don't need them. But, you can answer your own question this way:
1. Go to
www.pricewatch.com and look for your system there. Look at the search categories listed in the upper half of the page or, just put "bare bones" into the "Search" box at the top and see all the stuff that comes up...scroll down the list until you see something you like. Write down 8-10 of the best-priced vendors on a piece of paper (or use Copy & Paste to put chosen vendor listings into an open Notepad document if you prefer...switch between the Pricewatch window and the Notepad window as you add vendors.).
2. Go to
www.resellerratings.com and check out those vendors you chose...delete the poorly-rated ones immediately. If they have NO listing, I'd not take a chance...look for another that IS listed (or, go to Yahoo Shopping, BizRate or PriceGrabber and see if you can find them there). Put their rating as seen at Resellerratings.com next to each vendor's name so that info will be there for you to use when you make your list of "finalist" vendors later.
READ the customer written comments/reviews AS WELL AS noting the numerical rating...they have to jive more-or-less (but not exactly however). I lend more weight to the written reviews -- especially the ones written by the more educated customers -- but take BOTH into consideration when evaluating vendor ratings.
I put the numerical rating AND the number of customers doing the rating in a ratio format (8.54/137 for example) so I can compare those ratios: A vendor with a rating of 9.xx but only 7 customer reviews is not as attractive as a vendor with a 9.xx and 300 customer reviews...you see what I mean. Judge the ratios accordingly.
3. Go to the better-rated vendors' websites and check them out -- is the site easy to navigate, easy to find things, pictures of products given with lots of details, their RMA policy sounds good, warranty, shipping policy (AND, be sure they are not price-gouging re: shipping CHARGES!) and so on -- and start to organize your vendor list accordingly..."rate them" into first choice, second choice and third choice: 1st choice is who you'll probably order from, the 2nd and 3rd are your "backup" vendors.
4. Then you are ready to order...go with your first choice vendor of course...if he is out-of-stock on something, offline -- whatever -- go with vendor # 2...that way you aren't stopped cold and can get the item ASAP without being forced to do your research for a system/vendor all over again from square one.
Remember, prices can fluctuate DAILY -- like the stock market -- so you need to ACT QUICKLY when you find a bare bones system you like at a well-rated vendor.
I suggest you order from a vendor rated 7 at the very minimum, but of course, go with one rated in the 9s and 10s if possible!
Be advised that if the vendor has a store in YOUR STATE, you must add STATE SALES TAX on top of the item's price and shipping charges...you might want another vendor OUTSIDE of your state to avoid this extra charge which may be susbtantial depending on the $$$ amount of your order.
Finally, if you DO have problems, that's one of the BIG reasons you research your vendors...you want a "no-hassle" RMA policy in case you need to return the item. SO be sure to set it up and turn it on shortly after you get it -- use it steadily for a while to "burn it in" and see it's working okay. Do NOT let ANY "RMA Period" time tick away by letting it sit in a box unopened!
Good luck,
John D.
Linear Mode
