By John Oates, 19 November 1998 17:29
NEWS Intel chief Craig Barrett has lashed out at Dixons Group stores for stifling the UK computer market by overcharging. Speaking at Comdex 98 in Las Vegas, Barrett accused the high-street giant of charging '"ridiculous margins". Hamish Haynes, consumer business unit manager at Compaq, said: "This is a surprising thing to say. Perhaps Intel's market share is being eroded and they are looking for someone to blame. Anyone shopping around this Christmas will find plenty of good deals on the UK high-street." Clive Bishop, general secretary of the National Association of Specialist Computer Retailers, said: "Most independent dealers offer far better value than Dixons, but I don't think its margins are ridiculous - it's just buying power." A spokesman for retail rival, Time Computers said: "Prices are higher in the UK, but so are specifications." He claimed the reason for Dixons' pricing was that it does not make its own machines. He also claimed Dixons has been forced to follow recent price cuts made by the direct suppliers. Dixons was unable to comment at the time of publishing.
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