Crucial.com is the next computer-component-selling website in my line of reviews. I have already reviewed AllStarShop.com … you can find that review, here. Crucial was recommended by a very computer-savvy friend of mine so, despite being more expensive then a few other sites, I decided to order from them.
Crucial is known throughout the world as being a quality RAM distributor. Their parent company, Micron, is a DRAM manufacturer. Though, not the most inexpensive upgrade supplier, they have the reputation of producing stable and reliable RAM.
For a price of $94.33 I purchased a 512MB PC2700 (DDR333) Kingston piece of memory. I placed my order on 08/08/2003 at approximately 9:00am EST. The item, according to the UPS tracking system, was shipped from Crucial at 4:57pm, on the same day. Same day shipping is such a great thing. So, what did it cost me to have the item shipped the same day using 2nd Day Air via UPS? Nothing. Not only was there no shipping charge, but there was no rush delivery charge.
There is an additional piece of information that I should add, regarding the price, at this point. THEY CHARGED ME MICHIGAN SALES TAX. This irked me because I am not used to paying a sales tax when ordering online. I checked out the Customer Service portion of Crucial.com to find out that the Crucial parent company, Micron, has a ‘business presence’ in Michigan. Damn.
The piece of memory arrived on 08/12/03 at 5:22pm EST. Four days is acceptable for UPS 2nd Day Air because the two of those days were over the weekend. The packaging of the memory was O.K. It was shipped in an anti-static sealed bag, in a little cardboard box, in a UPS sealed bag. I would have liked the memory to have been secured in the box somehow but instead, it was free to bounce around. In my opinion, it doesn’t seem like impact damage would be good for memory.
In the future, I may order again from Crucial.com. Their service and their website functionality is impeccable however, their packaging prowess may need some fine tuning. The sales tax was an annoyance but I do understand why I was charged … they have a business presence, so it is law. Now, let us hope the premium price I paid was worth the stability the chips are rumored to have.
SITE FUNCTIONALITY : 10/10
ORDER PROCESSING : 10/10
PACKAGING QUALITY : 6/10
PRICING : 8/10
Total: 34/40
I have always tried to buy computer components online. I began building myself a new computer last week thus I needed to find a few good online vendors to buy parts from. What site did I stumble across first? AllStarShop.com.
I try not to judge internet companies/retailers just by the aesthetics of their website so, I did a little research. I checked out a couple of links on the AllStarShop.com website. One link was to the Better Business Bureau and the other link was to the CNet Certified Store site. Both links made the site seem trustworthy so, I ordered my ATi Radeon 9500 Pro for $197 from AllStarShop.com.
I placed the order on 8/1/2003 12:45:50 PM and the order was shipped the same day without a ‘Rush Delivery’ charge or any extra cost. Wow. Granted, I did only order one component, but I was still impressed. Over the next six days I used AllStarShop.com’s ‘Order Status’ link from their website to track the order via UPS. The 9500 Pro arrived in perfect condition, well packed and in six days via UPS Ground standard service. Why did I use UPS Ground? Free Shipping!
I am very happy with AllStarShop.com. I would have ordered more from them however I wanted the opportunity to review some other websites and their ordering process. Thus far, in queue, I have two reviews regarding online retailers. One review for NewEgg.com and one review for Crucial.com. After I finish piecing the computer together, I will have a comparison of all the shops I have ordered from.
SITE FUNCTIONALITY : 9/10
ORDER PROCESSING : 10/10
PACKAGING QUALITY : 8/10
PRICING : 8/10
Total: 35/40
Geek as chic? Perhaps. Thinkgeek as chic? Definitely. Total, I have probably ordered over $200 worth of gear from Thinkgeek. Items such as shirts, stickers, mugs, caffeine and a few other things that belong to the geek culture. I have been a customer since my first order back in 2000 and since then, Thinkgeek has never let me down.
Thinkgeek’s website has excellent and accurate information in regards to what is in stock and what isn’t. My orders have always been processed quickly and, perhaps most importantly, I have never had a billing problem. Also, Thinkgeek is consistently listing new products and for those of us who get bored with static or semi-static content … this is a very good thing.
Thinkgeek is a part of the OSDN, otherwise known as the Open Source Development Network, Inc. Also included in the OSDN are such geek-worthy websites as Slashdot and SourceForge. Slashdot and SourceForge are prominent open source websites. They both have a large following, geek and otherwise. Thinkgeek, as part of the OSDN, is where many of the Slashdotters and SourceForgers turn to purchase items that enhance and represent their geekyness.
I wear Thinkgeek clothing to just about any and every function I attend. Places like concerts, restaurants, playing hockey, night-out-on-the-town bars and clubs, etc. The reactions to some of the understated t-shirts from Thinkgeek are amazing. I get non-geek people telling me they love the shirt I am wearing and then ask what the shirt means. Most people genuinely want to understand the shirts and I have had several non-geeks ask me where to purchase them. As for the geeks who recognize the shirts and know what it means or know where I got the shirt, the shirts usually act as an excellent conversation piece.
Thinkgeek is the best place to buy geek gear. Thinkgeek is true to the culture because it is run by those who love the culture. So, why do I like wearing geek gear? Because Thinkgeek has made geek, chic … everywhere.