Best-Rated Electronics Retailers

Compare Electronics Retailers in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. 100% Appliances, PB Tech, Betta Electrical, JB Hi-Fi. Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming and The Warehouse were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Customer Service, Layout of Store, Relative Price, Range of Products and Value for Money.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | 100% Appliances

100% Appliances is switched on to Kiwi consumers, who have rated it No.1 for customer satisfaction for the third year in a row.

 

How we rate electronics retailers

Our review compares electronics retailers on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared electronics retailer brands before you go ahead and make a purchase. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which electronics retailer they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 2571 Kiwis who had purchased a product from an electronics retailer in the past 12 months for their feedback on their experiences.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their electronics retailers from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction is rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall Satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with an electronics retailer as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Customer Service: the electronics retailer’s staff provide great customer service.
  • Price: the electronics retailer’s prices are competitive compared to other retailers.
  • Range of Products: the electronics retailer stocks a wide choice of products and brands at a range of price points.
  • Store Layout: the electronics retailer has a clean storefront, a pleasant atmosphere, and a logical store layout; its website is also easy to navigate and products are simple to find.
  • Value for Money: overall, the level of service and product quality on offer provides a high level of value.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • 100% Appliances
  • PB Tech
  • Betta Electrical
  • JB Hi-Fi
  • Harvey Norman
  • Noel Leeming
  • The Warehouse


Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.

100% Appliances

Ratings Results

For the third year in a row, 100% Appliance’s customers rate the store brand the nation’s No.1 choice of electronics retailer. In this year’s award ratings, it’s the only brand to score a top 5-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction. Notably, it’s also the only retailer to score 5 Stars for Customer Service, which was the most important factor for those in our survey when rating their choice of electronics retailer. Across all other categories, 100% scores strong 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

100% Appliances’ stores are all Kiwi owned and operated by people who live and work in each store’s community. There are over 48 100% Appliances stores nationwide, and some have been established for over 70 years.

Regionally, stores have individual names under the 100% brand, including: 100% Albany Extreme, 100% Barrells, 100% Dimocks, 100% Folders, 100% Hertk Appliances, 100% Leader & Watt, 100% Magness Benrow, 100% Newbolds, 100% Van Dyks, 100% Selectrix and 100% Smith & Church.

It’s that local touch and personal service that helps 100% stand out above the competition. And when combined with the group’s brand range and buying power, it delivers a shopping experience that’s 100% in front of the competition.


PB Tech

Ratings Results

Along with our award winner, PB Tech is the only other retailer to earn multiple 5-Star ratings. Given the chain’s focus on low prices and its huge range of electronics good, it’s no surprise that it scores top ratings for Value for Money, Price and Range of Products. For Overall Satisfaction and Customer Service it earns 4-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

PB Tech was founded in 1993, as a computer repair business. Since then PB Tech has grown into one of the country’s biggest electronics retailers. By sourcing bulk deals, often directly from manufacturers, PB Tech offers a huge range of computers, audio and tech products, smart home devices and phones at great prices.

PB Tech also has in-store specialists who can help you with repairs and other tech advice.


Betta Electrical

Ratings Results

Third on our ratings table, Betta Electrical scores a 4-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction from its customers. However, it achieves its highest rating for Store Layout. Across all other categories, it earns solid 3-Star ratings.

Editor’s Notes

Betta Electrical has 21 stores across the country, all of which are New Zealand owned and operated. It retails a wide range of household appliances, as well as TV and audio equipment, and has a strong focus on delivering great products and service to the local communities in which it is based.


JB Hi-Fi

Ratings Results

One of NZ’s most recognisable electronics stores, due to its bright yellow branding, JB Hi-Fi earns a mix of 4- and 3-Star ratings. It earns its highest ratings for Overall Satisfaction, Customer Service and Range of Products. It achieves 3 Stars for Value, Price and Layout of Stores.

Editor’s Notes

JB Hi-Fi is an Australian electronics retailer that operates 14 stores nationwide (12 in the North Island and two in the South). It stocks a wide range of consumer electronics, from computers to health and fitness wearables, video games and phones. However, it also stocks small home appliances, such as coffee machines, blenders and vacuum cleaners, as well as smart home and security tech.


Harvey Norman

Ratings Results

Harvey Norman earns a top rating, 5 Stars, from its customers for the layout of its stores, which are always bright and airy. While it earns 3 Stars for both Value for Money and Price, it earns higher ratings for Range of Products, Customer Service and Overall Satisfaction.

Editor’s Notes

Harvey Norman is one of the biggest and most recognisable retailers in the country. As a global brand, Harvey Norman has access to a wide variety of products and consumer brands.

Its offerings include computers and laptops, mobile phones and tablets, TVs, audio equipment, cameras, smart home tech, gaming consoles, as well as a wide range of kitchen and laundry appliances and smaller household electronic goods.


Noel Leeming

Ratings Results

Noel Leeming achieves a solid set of ratings across all categories. It earns predominantly 4-Star ratings, in four of the seven categories measured, and its lowest consumer ratings are 3 Stars for Value for Money and Price.

Editor’s Notes

Noel Leeming is a part of The Warehouse Group, which gives it access to a massive supply network and the ability to stock a wide range of electronic brands. As such, it’s a leading retailer of home appliances, TV and audio equipment, gaming, cameras and, of course, computers and mobile phones.


The Warehouse

Ratings Results

The Warehouse scores a consistent set of 3-Star ratings across all categories. While not a top rating, 3 Stars still indicates that The Warehouse’s customers are content with the range of products the retail chain stocks, and the service and value for money it delivers to consumers.

Editor’s Notes

The brand’s iconic, big red sheds need no introduction. A staple of NZ’s retail landscape, The Warehouse has been stocking a wide range of household products for almost 40 years.

Today, The Warehouse stocks plenty of electronics for your lounge room, pocket and kitchen, alongside its huge selection of consumer goods.

Choosing the Right Electronics Retailer for You

When shopping for a new home appliance or the latest tech, where do you begin and what do you look for in a retailer?

Well, if you are like the majority of people in our survey, you begin online, researching products and prices. Over half (58%) of the 2571 we spoke to for our award research say they thoroughly research online before visiting a bricks-and-mortar store. And a similar number (53%) say they then wait for a sale before making a purchase.

Notably, 40% of those in our survey say they respect and follow the advice of the sales staff at electronics retailers. And this is reflected in what our consumers say is the most important aspect of their retail experience.

Over a third (35%) cite Customer Service as the most important factor. This compares to around one-fifth (21%) who say Value for Money, and just 15% who highlight Price.

Here’s the full rundown of what the consumers in our survey rate as the most important factors when it comes to their Overall Satisfaction with their retail experiences:

  • Customer Service: 35%
  • Value for Money: 21%
  • Range of Products: 16%
  • Price: 15%
  • Store Layout: 14%

About the editor of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.

More Information

Key statistics

Research online before visiting a bricks-and-mortar store: 58%

Always wait for sales before buying electrical goods: 53%

Would rather pay more for a quality appliance: 53%

Respect and follow the advice of the sales staff at electronics retailers: 40%

Loyal to favoured technology brands: 35%

Prefer to purchase using a Buy Now Pay Later scheme: 25%

Often buy a different product due to advice from in-store staff: 16%

Prepared to pay top dollar for the latest technology: 11%

Upgrading tech before needed just to have latest gadgets: 7%

Canstar Blue surveyed 5046 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results. In this case, 2571 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s Electronics Retailers ratings:

  • 2022: 100% Appliances
  • 2021: 100% Appliances
  • 2020: PB Tech

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