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Should You Buy a PC From a Local Store?

I tend to purchase computer clones built by local mom-and-pop stores rather than brand-name computers. Do you think that it's a mistake to purchase a system with brand-name components from one of the local storefronts instead of spending $200 to $300 more for one of PC World's Top 20 systems? In other words, is it likely that what I'm saving in dollars I'm losing in performance?

Michael Blessing, Saugus, California

You're probably not losing much performance, but you could be spending more on aspirin. As a longtime owner of both brand-name and store-built computers, I've found that the latter generally produce more headaches (see FIGURE 1).

The pain of owning a clone may be worth it if you know what you're doing. Even mail-order companies like Dell and Gateway, which build each computer to order, don't offer the range of options available from a local store, which will generally sell you whatever monitor, speakers, graphics card, and motherboard you ask for. And as you point out, locally built clones generally run $200 to $300 less than equivalently configured brand-name computers.

The problem with local clones is that they're usually not as carefully designed and tested as big-name products. A company that puts the same BIOS, graphics card, and motherboard into tens of thousands of computers is bound to find and correct incompatibilities. Also, a name-brand PC is friendlier. It usually comes with clear setup instructions and preinstalled applications.

Local stores are more likely to cut corners. For instance, my locally built Pentium MMX-166 is a good machine, but its power supply sounds like a 747. It also came without an IBM mouse port--a $6 attachment I had to buy separately and install myself. And of course, a small store is more likely to go out of business, leaving you without support.

If you're technically savvy, shop carefully for a store with good support and cooperative employees, and have the chutzpah to demand exactly what you want, you can get a good bargain from a local store. Otherwise, you're probably better off sticking with the national companies.