The Professional Computing Association is a trade association of companies, both big and small, that are involved in the computing business. We’ve been about since 1993. Joint turnover of our members is over £50 billion. Whilst some of our Members are trade-only manufacturers and distributors, the majority sell direct to users and are thus 'retailers'.

From now on in this document, when we refer to 'Members', we mean those PCA Members who are dealers, resellers or direct sellers and who therefore come under the provisions of this Code. This Code does not apply to transactions made within the supply chain – it only applies to sales between a retailer and an end-user, whether business or consumer.

The association recognises that quality of product and service is not necessarily related to the amount of business that a company does and that 'local' suppliers can often provide a more personal level of service than international organisations – however those large organisations may sometimes be able to offer lower initial purchase prices. We strongly recommend that purchasers consider total cost of ownership – including service, guarantees and support as well as initial cost – before selecting their supplier. If you believe that paying for an extended warranty is a good thing, the PCA suggests that a warranty covered by third party insurance be considered.

There are many ways in which you can buy a computer product: from a shop, through the pages of a magazine or newspaper, over the Internet, or from an online auction. All these routes have their own benefits, and their own disadvantages. It can be difficult to decide who to buy from, but you may be assured that whatever supplier you select, if they are a Member of the Professional Computing Association (PCA), then they are bound by an industry Code of Practice which determines how they must treat you. They can be identified by the PCA Confidence Assured logo.

As time has gone on, computers have become more powerful as well as cheaper. More and more of us are placing increased reliance upon them in our daily lives – one result is that if things go wrong then there is potentially a greater impact upon us. So be prudent in your buying decisions, and always remember to regularly back up your data.

Do some self-education before you buy. Read the computer magazines to get an idea of the most important product features and what they mean. Ask your local specialist supplier – preferably a PCA Member - for their recommendations.

Read the PCA Code of Practice to understand the sort of service that a good supplier should offer.

During your inquiries keep a note of the salesperson's name. Provide a written inquiry to a shortlist of companies, stating what you are interested in, and saying simply what you wish to do with it. Ask for a written quotation by return as well as a copy of the supplier’s terms and conditions.

Eliminate companies with long delivery times if most others can get things quicker. And if one company quotes a much lower price for a similar product, ask why – you simply don’t get something for nothing. But bear in mind that bespoke items are likely to take longer to deliver than standard items.

If you have to chase any of your shortlisted suppliers for a reply, think twice about them; any company that cannot respond promptly and properly at this stage has got little chance of sorting things out in the event of you having problems after you buy. So be ruthless - cross them off your list.

If you order out of the pages of a computer magazine use their own printed order form, that way you will gain some financial protection under the magazine’s own customer protection scheme.

Keep a copy of all correspondence, especially your order. If at all possible, order using a personal credit card. If in doubt, buy from the nearest supplier.

For extra comfort always buy from a PCA Member.