Westley_IT Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 Morning! Can you please tell me what sites you use for your day-to-day purchases? Ideally, I am looking for a site with an online shop where you can make your own choices (rather than have an account manager sticking to promoted brands...) when buying things like patch cables, headphones, iPad cases... Any and all recommendations are welcome. Thanks!
lyricalway Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 We use bluepoint.net....generally good prices, wide choice, quick delivery and will hunt around on your behalf for a decent bulk order. 2
localzuk Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 To be honest, things like iPad cases and what have you, I use Amazon now. But most everything else goes to IDNS. 3
StevieM Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 For cables, headphones and such, I use kenable.co.uk. 30-day purchase orders accepted plus scaled discounts for bulk purchases. 1
christhetech Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 Patch Cables and sundries - Mills - Normally deal with Ro, who is a diamond Headphones - Normally use CPC - Their stuff does exactly what it says on the tin and normally competitively priced iPad Cases - either Amazon or GBM - If I'm after armoured cases, I'll normally stick with GBM and buy the Griffin cases PCs, Laptops - PCM or Future Visuals - depends what I'm buying and which one is offering the best deal at the time. Servers - Ware247 - Always found Peter really helpful and I've dealt with him for years. Software Licencing - Phoenix Software for most of it. Used Phoenix for as long as I can remember and they have always been super helpful. AV Equipment - Future Visuals - Tried other suppliers in the past, but have a really good relationship with these guys and they have always been straight up with me. 3
CHiLL Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 (edited) Desktops, laptops and other general hardware: Probrand, Systems Active or Shape Systems. Server and network equipment: Probrand iPads: XMA Projectors, cables and misc items: AMC Computer Supplies Software licensing: Probrand and Softcat For cables, headphones and such, I use kenable.co.uk. 30-day purchase orders accepted plus scaled discounts for bulk purchases. I do like Kenable, I actually used to work in a brewery down the road from their warehouse. Edited October 16, 2018 by CHiLL
Westley_IT Posted October 16, 2018 Author Posted October 16, 2018 Thanks for that, @lyricalway I'll check them out. 8)
Westley_IT Posted October 16, 2018 Author Posted October 16, 2018 The IDNS site seems pretty comprehensive, @localzuk Thanks! 8)
Westley_IT Posted October 16, 2018 Author Posted October 16, 2018 Hi, @StevieM and @CHiLL Thanks for the tips. The Kenable site looks good and it has quite a wide range of focussed kit - as well as having a good name*! @CHiLL - Do you use Softcat's eCAT at all. I used to use that all of the time but, unless I am frozen out as an absentee, it wasn't exactly helpful. Thanks again, *Ken
Westley_IT Posted October 16, 2018 Author Posted October 16, 2018 Hi, @christhetech That's a pretty comprehensive list. Thanks! If there isn't one already (?) there should be a recommendations page on edugeek. It could save us all a lot of time if there were a categorized resource. I'll be updating my 'BUY IT' bookmarks after this. 8) 1
CHiLL Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 Hi, @StevieM and @CHiLL Thanks for the tips. The Kenable site looks good and it has quite a wide range of focussed kit - as well as having a good name*! @CHiLL - Do you use Softcat's eCAT at all. I used to use that all of the time but, unless I am frozen out as an absentee, it wasn't exactly helpful. Thanks again, *Ken No worries. As we only use them for licensing, we usually just email our account manager and get it sorted that way. 1
JoeBloggs Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 insight i do it all online - i do have an account manager though but hes not pushy or ringing me all the time 1
Westley_IT Posted October 16, 2018 Author Posted October 16, 2018 That sounds right up my street, @JoeBloggs - Thanks! 8)
DGardiner Posted October 16, 2018 Posted October 16, 2018 The IDNS site seems pretty comprehensive, @localzuk Thanks! 8) The website is crap, your account manager can get alot more money off and source anything you need usually... at least mine does so dont treat it like a Misco catalogue! Another one for IDNS as the go to for everything
Cat_Jam148 Posted October 17, 2018 Posted October 17, 2018 CBC Computers & AMC Computer Supplies for pretty much most of our equipment here. Other suppliers never seem to be able to match the prices Ben at CBC quotes. 1
Westley_IT Posted October 18, 2018 Author Posted October 18, 2018 That's all very well, @DGardiner , but there's not much point in wasting an account manager's time if you only need a few sound cables, a couple of mice and some headphones. I have a few account managers that I work with but I wanted a Misco-type site where I can just dip in and buy the basics without having to raise a PO. In and out, no fuss sort of thing. What's wrong with that?
DGardiner Posted October 18, 2018 Posted October 18, 2018 That's all very well, @DGardiner , but there's not much point in wasting an account manager's time if you only need a few sound cables, a couple of mice and some headphones. I have a few account managers that I work with but I wanted a Misco-type site where I can just dip in and buy the basics without having to raise a PO. In and out, no fuss sort of thing. What's wrong with that? our financial process is no PO no order so there's paperwork to do regardless... there is no in and out here i love ecat from softcat but i hate their salespeople they're soooooo pushy and harass you for weeks after an enquiry so i only use it if im struggling to get stuff elsewhere
christhetech Posted October 18, 2018 Posted October 18, 2018 our financial process is no PO no order so there's paperwork to do regardless... there is no in and out here We're quite similar here, no PO no order. However, if I am buying something of quite small value and I can find it on Amazon or similar cheaper than I can buy from one of regular suppliers, it's normally just a case of showing the price to the Business Manager and asking her to sign off my expense claim, so I can buy it on my own credit card and claim it back. I never use my own money without getting agreement to reclaim it back first though. Apart from the fact that I'd probably never get it back, it's also seen as deliberately circumventing the school's policy and is very much frowned upon. In order for me to order from a non-regular supplier, I have to demonstrate that there is a genuine cost saving to be made by not using one of our approved suppliers.
Fazza Posted October 19, 2018 Posted October 19, 2018 Other suppliers never seem to be able to match the prices Ben at CBC quotes. Do you have a contact email for Ben that you could PM me please?
Bhavesh78 Posted October 19, 2018 Posted October 19, 2018 We use CCS Media , great prices and excellent services. Give them go .. you wont be disappointing with their services..
supportman Posted October 19, 2018 Posted October 19, 2018 We use amazon these days, soo easy and always in stock
Cat_Jam148 Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 Do you have a contact email for Ben that you could PM me please? Should've made its way over to you.
Fazza Posted November 9, 2018 Posted November 9, 2018 Should've made its way over to you. Sadly they don't seem to be interested in any business from us as they haven't rung me to talk about the things we order etc. and when we've asked for quotes they've gone un-replied so our search for a new supplier continues!
Syman_a Posted November 9, 2018 Posted November 9, 2018 +1 for IDNS But for one off items needed urgently Amazon is hard to beat.
Sonic007 Posted November 9, 2018 Posted November 9, 2018 JungleIT for hardware and software. Kenable for cables. Softcat for cloud backups.
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