Buying a discount or surplus computer on the net is not as scarey as you might think. You don't have to trust yourself to unknown and faceless vendors on certain auction sites - we've all heard the horror stories of customers allegedly sending money and getting nothing in return. A young man in the UK was recently jailed for defrauding ebay customers of more than £300,000 — over $500,000. The problem is, when you buy from a private seller you lose many of your rights, because the Sale of Goods Act only applies to purchases from recognised dealers, not Mr Jones or Mrs Smith round the corner.

Then there are online or mail order discount stores. Some of these have also disappeared without trace after seeming to offer much value for little expense. And again, it's the poor customer who has lost out. And there are a number of suppliers well known to Watchdog viewers for offering great deals - that turn out to be less great once the goods arrive.

But it doesn't have to be like this.

There are dealers which have been going for long enough, and with a broad enough customer base, to have built up a reputation for quality and reliability. Some of them are retailers of long standing who were favourites of us geeks long before the internet existed, now trading online. Others have been trading on the net for many years, and built up their reputation in that way.

My top three recommended suppliers for discounted and surplus computer products are:

I remember visiting Morgan Computers in the mid eighties. It was a veritable treasure trove for the computer enthusiast - you never knew what you would find, and you were almost always guaranteed to find something exciting. These people weren't (and aren't) just dealers; they actually knew about their products. You could ask them questions about the capabilities of the machines, and get meaningful answers - which was a pretty rare thing in those days.

Nowadays, Morgan Computers are one of Europe's leading dealers in surplus, end-of-line and refurbished computer equipment. Established over 15 years they have four retail locations and a flourishing website; the site offers a full range of equipment with simple secure online ordering, stocks and prices reviewed daily, a bargain basement section and weekly stock updates by email. And for added peace of mind, they are members of the Which? Webtrader scheme operated by the Consumer Association of Great Britain.

This is a sister company to Morgan Computers. Established since 1997 (which makes them almost veterans in this field), Morgan Auctions sells a wide range of overstock, refurbished and second user computer equipment. All goods are sold without reserve - and bids start at just £2!

You need to register before you can bid, and bids are binding, so obviously don't bid more than you want to pay. But if you like sniffing out a bargain, and you want to feel a little more relaxed about getting what you pay for at auction, this is one to visit.

I'm not going to tell you to buy your next computer from a discount supplier, only you can make that decision. But I hope I have at least given you some options to make your decision as to whether to take the plunge a little less worrying.

Have fun rummaging!

©2005 Frann Leach, www.best-bytes.co.uk

What's in a Computer Name? - Lee Walder
What are Second-hand, Used, Overstock, Surplus, Refurbished Computers etc and how do I choose between them? Let's dispense with the myths first. I'm NOT talking about the sort of second-hand computers you get from some high street junk shops,...

10 Simple Reasons To Remove Spyware From Your Computer - John Davin
Is your computer been running slower than normal? Are you worried someone may be able to access your computer and steal your private information and use it against you? If so, these are feelings I have shared with you in the past. Some time...

Protect and Secure Your Computer Life - Janet L Hall
Protect and Secure Your Computer Life By: Janet L. Hall Cyberterrorists are no longer considered isolated problems. Big and small companies, organizations, and even personal computers get targeted every day. It's a worldwide problem. Viruses...

Removing Bargain Buddy Adware from your Computer. - Mitch Johnson
An adware parasite by the name of Bargain Buddy is predicted to have been created by eXact advertising. It works to collect your usage information and sends it to the intruders who will user the information to target you with advertisements they...

My dad listens to music all day on his computer! - Chris De La Rosa
Taken straight from an episode of Kids Say The Darndest Things...? A show hosted by Bill Cosby where he asks kids various questions as if it is an interview and he, as well as the kids, always find a way to make us laugh. Based on Art Linkletter's...

Keeping your Computer Spyware Free for Free - Mitch Johnson
As the threats of spyware continue to spread the means computer users must take to protect themselves and their computers from spyware infections become more difficult. A legitimate attitude among many computer uses is that the spyware should not...

What to look for in a Computer Classroom Rental - Olivia Cain
While price might be the number one consideration, there are a lot of other factors you should investigate when choosing to rent a training facility. First there is the obvious question: do the specs of the computers meet the technical...

Building A Computer Introduction - Why build a computer? - Chris Silop
Building A Computer Introduction If you are reading this article, you are probably wondernig, why and how do you build a computer. Building your own computer is more simple than you think and has many benefits. Why Build A Computer?...

Computer In The Shop? What Do You Do Now? - Janice D Byer MVA
Have you ever had one of those days when you just feel like something is missing? . something just doesn't feel right. like you should be doing something but you can't remember what? Well, I had one of those days recently. my computer was in the...

A Look at Computer Desks for Children - Ken Marlborough
Children's use of the computer has increased tremendously. To meet the requirements of young users, manufacturers are re-designing computer desks. The main requirement of a child's computer desk is the lower height. It should also be...