frequently asked questions (FAQ's)


Where are you located?
 
I work from home in Gray Road, Sunderland SR2 8BW

This is approximately 14 minutes walk from Sunderland Park Lane bus and metro terminal


When can I come and view?
 
viewing is welcome, without obligation, at a mutually agreeable time, with last viewings at 6pm daily

I am often out on call outs too, so I need a precise day and time from you, so I can head home for your visit


How are you cheaper than the shops?

I do not have the overheads of a shop with rents or staffing costs as there is only myself to pay.


Do you discount?

Everything is already competitively priced. Quality laptops with warranty cost me more to buy

You are already getting the laptop at cost price and I am merely adding the Office licence and a 2 hour prepping fee


Do you deliver?

Sunderland deliveries are free, between 10am and 3pm at a mutually agreeable day and time

If you live in Newcastle, Hartlepool or Middlesbrough, it is cheaper for you to collect


Do you post laptops? 

I prefer collection, so that you can choose the one you like from a selection


How do I pay?

bank transfer is preferred after deciding from a selection of laptops as there are no bank charges

paying by cash is still possible although the bank charges me 1.5% for paying it in, so bank transfer is best


Are they refurbished?

no, none of these are sent back to the manufacturer for repair or refurbishment.

I have only called this section refurbished laptops to be found in Google search results.

They have all been removed from working office environments, during their 3 to 5 year i.t renewal programs


ram and ssd upgrades

Prices are very volatile at present due to massive demand in AI data centres for high speed RAM and storage chips

components have tripled i.e. 8gb ram now costs £60, 512gb ssd costs £80, 1tb ssd costs £130 !

I do have a VERY limited supply of used 8gb ram upgrades at £30* and 512gb m.2 ssd £40*

*only when buying one of the above laptops as I am selling these at cost and cannot buy them this cheap anymore ! 


​​​​Office Pro 2024​

​I install Office Pro 2024 and the activation key costs £11.89, from CJS-cdkeys.com (call it £20 including time to install)​

This is valid for one installation, lasts for life, providing you don't factory reset Windows


Why don't you also sell newer laptops

I specialise in the £120 to £245 student market, as that is where 95% of my sales come from and I sell 500 a year.

If I sold dearer laptops, I would exceed the 90k VAT threshold and then have to add 20% VAT to everything !
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I need a specific laptop such as a HP i7 x360 touch screen or gaming laptop, can you get it for me
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All my laptops come from businesses during their i.t renewal programs, so they probably won't have purchased the specific laptop you are looking for. Most of mine are typically fast Intel i5 Quad Core, with 8gb ram and 256gb storage
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Warranty Terms & conditions

all windows laptops listed on this website come with 30 day hardware warranty

this is a back to base warranty at the buyers expense.

i.e. two way postage or travel costs are to be met by the buyer

warranty excludes software, misuse, fluid damage, batteries, being dropped, pet damage, sat on, tripped over and food debris trapped in the keyboard etc.
 
Therefore avoid using on sofa arm rests, quilts, carpets and other soft surfaces as the fan will not be able to keep it cool and you run the risk of over heating the graphics chip, which is not covered by warranty.
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Battery life
 
All laptops come with their original used battery and their capabilities will vary depending on individual use and age
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Batteries should be regarded as a consumable and are cheap to replace if you require longer duration.

laptop batteries are still typically 65% to 85% of their original health and should still give a decent run time.


Tips for extending the battery life

Brightness uses the most power, so try adjusting it down a few notches

Sleep mode uses a little too, as the session is held alive, even though the screen is off (this also prevents windows updates)
 
To prevent accidental sleep mode, do not close the lid during shutdown until the laptop is fully powered off 

Using on your lap, or in such a way to obstruct the cooling slots underneath, causes the fan to run at a higher speed to try and regulate the laptop temperature inside, which also consumes more battery to power the fan motor at higher speeds and it will get louder and faster as it is unable to draw ambient cooler air through the vents underneath

Demanding tasks automatically trigger turbo boost on 8th generation and newer laptops, which activates a higher fan speed too and also consumes more battery for the increased turbo boost performance


Regards

Richard​