News
Tesco buys PC Guys
Ben Furfie Dec 14 2007, 12:40pm
Comments (6)
Set to enter computer support sector in a move that will shake up the industry
Tesco has announced its intentions to move into the computer support sector following its purchase of PC Guys.
The move, which will bring it into direct competition with the likes of DSGi's Tech Guys, Carphone Warehouse's Geek Squad, Comet's Comet on Call, as well as independent services such as FixITlocal, pcProHelp and OrderWork, is being trialled at the supermarket's Bar Hill store in Cambridge, prior to a possible, nationwide roll-out.
PC Guys will be available in the Tesco store, over the phone and in customer's homes. It comes as Tesco begins testing a new zone called Tesco Digital, which will be aimed at offering a large range of computers, electricals and mobile phones, with PC Guys being amongst the crowning features.
However, Tony Shiret, a retail analyst at Credit Suisse, has greeted the news with concern. He warned that specialist retailers should be: "very, very worried."
"If it works, it could drive a stake through the heart of specialist electricals retailers in the UK," added Shiret.
The news will come as a blow to DSGi, which recently announced it plans to invest £50 million into its technical support service, Tech Guys, over the next five years.
It will also be offering a PC disposal service, to comply with WEEE regulations, for £15.
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Comments
“Lance Batchelor's baby”
Posted by: shoppingbasket - Dec 18, 7:06am
Interesting to note that PC Guys is the tech support company built from the ground last year by Lance Batchelor before he joined Tesco this summer as Marketing Director.
See also http://shoppingbasket.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/tesco-pilots-new-home-it-support-service/
“Re: Lance Batchelor's baby”
Posted: Dec 18, 5:58pm
yes but offering service at �15, seems to be catch somewhere. I run a shop offring the same service. It seems resco will under cut them self just to get people in then jack up the price.
“Re: Lance Batchelor's baby”
Posted by: John Martin - Feb 5, 6:21pm
Commical really that Tesco's have fallen for this. The company is a small upstart that was created by two marketing directors with no knowledge of IT. Unfortunately the only thing they are and will be good at is persuading people they are great. Lets just hope the new managing director (Rod Brown) has more skills that the others otherwise tesco could be in for major embarrasment
“Re: Re: Lance Batchelor's baby”
Posted by: Anonymous - Jun 5, 2:40pm
I worked for the PC Guys when they first started as a field engineer. It was a small company but at first they seemed like they had a sound business plan in place. Unfortunately it soon became quickly apparent that profit in the area of Pc Repair is very low.
Eventually quite a few of us got the sack because they were making no money.
“Re: Re: Re: Lance Batchelor's baby”
Posted by: an original pc guy - Jun 7, 11:17pm
I too was an original PC guy -not that there is no money in it but the greed of the management was obvious, and some of the engineers - well !!! what can one say !!! all the original investors ran away screaming - including some very big hitters - another scam, will embarase tesco no end !!
“Re: Re: Re: Re: Lance Batchelor's baby”
Posted: Jul 9, 12:06am
From what I know of The PC Guys they only employ reliable, trustworthy and professional engineers. In the early days some engineers jumped ship before they were pushed due to them not being up to the standard required by a company eager to provide only a quality service.