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Currys, PC World websites slated by punters

Customers irate over price, delivery and usability

Dixons Group's websites for Currys and PC World are among the worst online shops for electrical appliances, according to a new study by consumer rights group Which?

Out of the 25 sites listed by the research, Currys and PC World came joint 22nd, with only Asda and B&Q rated worse as places to buy electronics online.

The poor placing is par for the course for Currys, as it came 18th out of 20 sites listed last year.

Customers were happy enough with the stock at the two Dixons Group sites, but they lost out on price, delivery and website usability.

A Dixons Retail spokesperson told The Register: "We are disappointed to be so low on the list as we aim to provide a good service to our customers, but we recognise that there are areas we can develop and are currently working to improve a number of aspects of our websites."

The best place to buy electrics online is still John Lewis, the top site in that category for the last three years and also the second best place to shop for anything online, according to the poll.

The Which? respondents that rated John Lewis said its website was easy to use and had good stock. They also appreciated the store's after-sales service.

"I reported an item faulty after a few months of use and John Lewis apologised and replaced it without argument," one respondent told Which? "I've bought other electrical products there in the past with the same problem-free experience."

Amazon was next in line for the top online electronics shop, followed by Richer Sounds, 7 Day Shop and Apple. Unsurprisingly, Apple was given the thumbs-up on stock, delivery and usability, but received the lowest mark for price of any the top five.

The best overall online shop for goods was Liz Earle, followed as mentioned by John Lewis, with Amazon next and fourth place a tie between Abe Books and Lakeland.

The 14,671 respondents to the poll told Which? the main reason they shopped online was that "it's cheaper and easier to compare prices".

Price was the deciding factor in where to buy for most people, with a third of folks giving it as their top priority. All the coverage around security is also sinking in with consumers, as a "secure website" was voted by 29 per cent as the main issue.

Delivery issues were a major irritation for all of the respondents. Around 40 per cent of shoppers found paying a high price, or indeed any price, for postage and packing annoying, while 38 per cent of respondents get aggro over not being able to choose a specific or suitable delivery time. ®

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