If working in retail has taught me anything it is that presentation is everything. For example we carry a brand called “Sabrent” and a more known brand called “Vantec”. I am going to use a PCI SATA/eSATA card as an example. The generic “Sabrent” brand costs about $14.99 where the “Vantec” that has 1 LESS port costs about $24.99. Why is that? Well one they both have the SAME chipset. Secondly the packaging looks better on the Vantec brand. Because of this a consumer feels better and is under the assumption that they are getting a better quality when in fact its the same thing.

What got me to write this article was that a friend of mien was trying to tell me that StarTech.com is the best thing since sliced bread. Well below I have the SAME EXACT product from StarTech.com and from NewEgg.com. Both have the same chipset and even have the same PCB. I took these screenshots at 3:30pm on 2/3/2010 CST. Have a look for yourself.

If you have shopped at NewEgg.com you would know that Rosewill is NewEgg’s “house” brand (think of BestBuy’s Dynex or CompUSA’s Ultra). They are basically cheaply made products from China that they buy for next to nothing and then slap their label on them. What does this have to do with StarTech.com? Everything! That is their WHOLE business. All they do is buy up cheap products from China and brand them to hell. They make very pretty packaging for the product and even printed CD’s. When you buy from them all you are paying for is markup. If you have been online for more than a month you probably have heard of eBay or NewEgg. I don’t get the hype about StarTech.com but I guess I just know better and now you do too.