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arrow  Benefits of Membership
Mature industries have trade associations and responsible companies in those industries join their trade associations as a matter of course. 


The PC Association is a true trade association. Its objective is to do things that will benefit its membership. Thus, whilst it does that and provides those things listed below, it is also at the command of its members – it is the tool and servant of its members whilst simultaneously being an authority for them. So, perhaps we should be asking the question, as a member … what would you like us to do for you?

The main activities and benefits listed below are largely self-explanatory, but we provide some detail and illustration. Most of theses benefits are focussed on 'retailers', those who sell products to the final user, because they make up 80% of our membership.

The personal computer industry is barely mature …. How responsible is your business? 

A picture (of a logo) is worth a thousand words …
Customers like to have third-party endorsements of their buying decisions, they like the feeling of security that comes with buying from a Member of a trade association. Very often they have no idea whether there is any real benefit to be gained from doing so, but in the art of 'crude marketing' that isn’t important.

However, for 'retailers' there is real, tangible benefit to your customers. The proposition goes something like this. 'We are members of our industry association, that means that we must conform to an industry-agreed Code of Practice in our dealings with you, Mr Customer. So you have the extra assurance if anything does go wrong and in the unlikely event of you being unhappy with the solution, you can go to the PC Association and they’ll help to sort things out. And if they find that we’ve flouted the Code of Practice they can publicly sack us.' A pretty powerful marketing tool !

But customer-facing benefit isn’t just limited to consumers. More and more business and government buyers want to buy from members of trade associations. The current BECTA contract requires tenderers to state what industry associations they belong to.

How many customer decisions does the logo have to influence in order for it to pay for your membership? It costs you no extra to make use of it in every means of promotion at your disposal. And remember, it’s not just about you using the logo, its about your competitors using it.


arrow  PCA helping to solve problems
Even the best businesses can have problems with customers, whether deserved or not. The PCA can help to resolve your customer disputes, and very often to do so in a way that saves you money. 'OK, Mr Customer, if you don’t want to take our word for it, and before going to court, let’s call in our industry association and see what they have to say'.

If we shortened or resolved just 1% of your customer disputes in a year how much would that save you?

arrow  A trouble shared . . . .
The Association provides a superb forum within which members can discuss issues of common interest, share their experience and find solutions to common problems. Many members find this the most gratifying of all the benefits the Association has brought to the industry.

arrow  Forewarned is forearmed
The PCA first brought information about CE Marking to the industry, as well as effective guidance notes that have saved members a great deal of money. We were a consultee to the DTI, the UK Government and to the EU regarding the Consumer Guarantee Directive – without us this particular directive would be even more punitive that it is. And in doing this we have kept our members well briefed on they best ways of handling the issues that will arise.

The next directive to hit our industry is 'WEEE', Waste Electrical and Electronics Recycling. The PCA will be presenting members with guidance notes and some practical solutions to the issues.


If you aren’t a retailer you’ll still get some of the benefits as detailed, however most distributors and vendors who join us do so because of the benefit of being identified with – and networking with - some of the most respected and successful retailers in the industry.

Companies or individuals who don’t easily see the rightness of joining a trade association aren’t really ready to join one. But if you are one who does see why it makes good sense – we look forward to welcoming you to the Professional Computing Association
arrow  Membership Benefits
  • Reduced price third party insurance backed warranties
  • Free legal help from some of the UK's leading IT legal advisors
  • Members coffee lounge at Computer Trade Show
  • Use of PCA Member logo in your marketing
  • Code of Practice – tells customers you’re a decent business
  • Membership certificate
  • Door/window stickers
  • Useful & informative newsletter 10x / year
  • Fraud Alert protection
  • Trade discussion area on website
  • Listing on website
  • EMC Guidance notes
  • Consumer Guarantees Directive guidance
  • Regular regional and national meetings
  • Channel to ministers
  • Representation on the Parliamentary IT Committee
  • Possible winner of annual Award for Excellence


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