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The following companies deal both by mail order and out of their shops
in Midtown Manhattan.

I've had experience dealing with all of them and my best advice would
be:  avoid them scrupulously!


NEWTECH,  New York, NY
EXCEL  Computer & Software, New York, NY
COMPUTER PALACE, New York, NY


All of these firms advertise in the NY Times and some also advertise
in Computer Shopper.  They are located in midtown Manhattan (ie.
between 34th and 28th St. in New York)  Their core business is
unsuspecting tourists who come to New York because of the low prices
for electronic goods.   All of these places advertise sometimes almost
unbelievably low prices.   Let the buyer beware.


Here is an account of my experiences at each one:

NewTech: 

I ordered a notebook computer from them.  They delivered the wrong
model with a slower processor.   When I called them they told me they
had no other one, but I could either echange it or return with a 15%
restocking fee.  (that's 15% of 2000 dollars!!)  Bascially, they were
trying to make money from their own "mistake."   

I agreed to accept an exchange.   I immediately returned the laptop to
them.  It was returned to me several days later marked "refused".    I
shipped the product to them a 2nd time and it was accepted.  I then
told them to please cancel the original order and immediately informed
my credit card company of this.   After three months I finally
received a credit, but only with the help of the credit card company.


Computer Palace

I went in to the store.   When I arrived the salesman was on the phone
to someone telling about how the police had taken him away for failing
to pay child support.   I admit I would have been wise to leave at
that point,  but the price advertised was so much lower than
comparable outlets that I had to try.   Finally he noticed me and got
off the phone.  The salesman seemed reluctant to sell me the product
advertised unless I bought lots of extras.  The salesman insisted I
would need an international voltage converter which he'd be glad to
sell me for an additional $89.50.   I told him that that item is
definitely included with the laptop.  Basically he was trying to sell
me an item that is included with the product.  Finally I made it clear
to him that I didn't want any extras at all.   He drew up the bill and
informed me that I'd have to pay 3.5% extra for using a credit card.
I told him no thanks and walked out.   On the way out the door the
manager asked if there was anything wrong.  I told him I thought I
should have a chat with NY Dept. of Consumer Affairs.   He started
screaming at me as I went out the door.


Excel Computer and Software


I actually purchased a laptop here which was defective.  I didn't
notice the defect until I was 3000 miles away in Europe.  It was
impractical to return the item so I attemped to have it repaired under
warranty.   The local repair place tried twice with no success.
Several months went by.  Excel never answered a fax.   I asked Visa to
invalidate the sale.  Finally  Excel responded and asked for the
return of the item.  They refused to send me any sort of document
saying that I would receive a full refund however.   I shipped them
the laptop and eventually Visa gave me the credit by negotiating it
with Excel's bank.   

Interestingly, after making my purchase, I recognized one of the
salesmen working in that store had worked at a sleaze outlet called
Park St. Computers, just next door which had closed up shop a year
earlier.  If I had recognized that guy sooner, I definitely wouldn't
have bought anything from Excel.

I also have an interesting story regarding Park St. Computers.  There
I found an excellent price on a Sharp notebook.   However when it came
time to make out the sales slip, that same salesman (the one later
employed by Excel)  disappeared momentarily and then told me his
manager told him he couldn't sell it for that price.   But I should
have a look at a Librex notebook that he had a great price on. (this
is your classic "Bait and Switch" operation, by the way.)   I had done
some research and knew that Librex was about to go out of business,
and told him as much.   Two customers that were standing next to me,
apparently about to buy a Librex notebook heard me and immediately
cancelled their sale!   




Another similar company is:

Central Park Computers 

No mail order here, and no price quotes over the phone. You must go to
the shop which is located in just outside NYC.  They also advertise
very low prices.  

The NY Dept. of Consumer Affairs found a pattern of "bait and switch"
and invoked disciplinary action,  according to an article from the NY
Times. Perhaps someone could fill in the details.