Local PC firm has big bite of market

By ADAM GIFFORD

Hamilton computer assembler The PC Company is celebrating after research company International Data Corporation (IDC) rated it the fifth largest supplier of desktop PCs in New Zealand.

According to preliminary IDC figures for the fourth quarter of 2000, The PC Company sold 5100 desktops - giving it a 7.7 per cent share of the market, just behind IBM and Dell.

Compaq was top supplier overall, with 20.3 per cent shipped, and Hewlett Packard second, followed by Dell and IBM.

"With a less than one per cent improvement, we'd be number three in the market," PC Company managing director Colin Brown said.

He said in the small office, home office (SOHO) market, only Hewlett Packard sold more PCs.

When IDC releases its market share figures, The PC Company is buried with other local assemblers in the "others" category, which for the quarter accounted for 35 per cent of desktops shipped.

Mr Brown said he was discussing with IDC about a separate listing for his company.

He said The PC Company had annual turnover of more than $50 million and expected to sell more than 20,000 PCs this year through its own stores and through a relationship with the Farmers Group of stores.

Company research at point of sale found 19 per cent of buyers were choosing on the basis of a recommendation and 13 per cent of buyers found out about The PC Company by word of mouth.

Meanwhile, another local assembler, the Green PC Company, is offering to help owners of computers from failed company Macrocom with warranty problems.

Managing director Rob Fasher said because it was in the industry, his company was able to identify the supplier of any parts which fail.

"If we find the suppliers of the components, we will ask them to pay the original parts warranty and we will charge for labour," Mr Fasher said.

He said the Green PC Company was in no way related to Macrocom.

Though estimates of how many PCs Macrocom sold vary, there could be as many as 10,000 in the market.

Mr Fasher said he had already talked to suppliers which were known to have supplied Macrocom, although its precarious situation had been well known in the industry for several months.

"I've had some success already, with some prepared to continue their warranty.

"A lot will take the attitude the company is in liquidation so the warranty no longer applies, but when I point out it was costed into the price in first place they come around."

The Green PC Company is not a member of the Computer Manufacturers Association (CMANZ), which has a scheme under which its members will pick up the warranties for any other member which goes into liquidations.

Macrocom was also not a member of the association.