by Scott Bicheno
The parent company of PC World, Dixons Stores Group Retail, has been fined thousands of pounds by aYorkshire court for selling second-hand equipment as ‘ex-display’.

The company was fined £5,500,plus legal costs, and ordered to pay£2,184 compensation for sales madein April 2002. DSG Retail will appeal.

The case was brought by YorkTrading Standards. Spokesman,Matthew Boxall, said: "Thesecomputers were sold on informationthat was blatantly wrong. Thecompany hadn't done enough toprevent the wrong impression beinggiven - this case shows there areserious consequences for businessesthat act in this way."

PC World gave the followingstatement to PC Retail: "This was anunfortunate case of human errorwhich took place in 2002. There wasno intention on our part to misleadour customers. We havecomprehensive processes in place toensure that mistakes are not madeand during the hearing the judgepraised our procedures. It is alwaysour intention to provide our customerswith the best possible level of service."

The issue of the selling of ‘nearlynew’ equipment is becomingincreasingly charged as downwardprice pressure means consumers arelooking for ever better deals.