Currys looks simple — but there’s a catch most consumers miss

You don’t walk into currys expecting a puzzle. You go in (or open the website) because you need a laptop charger today, a fridge before the food spoils, or a TV that doesn’t make sport look like it’s underwater. Then, somewhere between the price tag and the checkout, a line appears that feels oddly familiar - “of course! please provide the text you would like translated.” - the polite, automatic tone of something that isn’t really a conversation, just a process nudging you forwards.

That’s the appeal: it looks simple, almost frictionless. But there’s a catch most consumers miss, because it’s not hidden in a dramatic “gotcha” moment. It’s hidden in how the purchase is framed.

The moment it stops being “a TV” and becomes “a package”

Currys is very good at turning a single product into a bundle of decisions. You arrive thinking in nouns - dishwasher, headphones, printer. Within minutes, you’re thinking in verbs - protect, cover, install, recycle, spread the cost.

None of that is automatically bad. The catch is that once your brain switches into “package mode”, it becomes harder to spot what you’re actually paying for, what you can decline, and what you could get elsewhere for less.

You see it in the language:

• “Complete care”
• “Essential setup”
• “Recommended protection”
• “From £x per month”

Those phrases don’t read like add-ons. They read like the responsible, adult version of buying the thing.

The quiet maths behind “from £x per month”

Monthly pricing is meant to soothe you. It turns a painful number into a manageable one, and it encourages quick agreement because it feels like you’ve already budgeted for it.

But “from” is doing heavy lifting. The monthly figure can change based on term length, deposits, credit approval, and whether you’ve added extras that quietly increase the total cost.

A simple way to keep your footing is to force every offer back into one question: what’s the total I’ll pay by the end? If the answer isn’t immediately clear, you’re not being difficult - you’re being accurate.

A small habit that saves real money

Before you hit pay, write down three numbers:

1. Product price on its own
   
2. Total price with all add-ons
   
3. Total price if you take only what you genuinely need today

If those three numbers are far apart, you’ve found the catch.

Extended warranties: the “sensible choice” that can turn expensive

Protection plans sell a feeling: relief. They also sell a story about modern electronics being fragile, complex, and destined to fail at the worst moment.

Sometimes an extended warranty is worth it. The problem is that consumers often buy it in a slightly stressed state - standing at a till, juggling a delivery date, trying to get home - when they’re least likely to compare terms or consider overlap with existing rights.

A lot of people miss two things:

• Your statutory rights don’t disappear just because you didn’t buy a plan.
• Some cover overlaps with insurance you already have (home contents, gadget cover, premium bank accounts), depending on the item and policy.

If you’re tempted, ask for the paperwork details and take a photo. The difference between a good plan and a poor one is usually hidden in the definitions: accidental damage, call-out fees, excesses, and what counts as “wear and tear”.

Installation, set-up and delivery: convenience priced like urgency

There’s a particular fatigue that comes with big purchases. You don’t just want the washing machine - you want the old one gone, the new one fitted, and the whole thing not to become your weekend.

Currys knows this. The add-ons are offered at exactly the point you’re most likely to pay to make the hassle disappear.

The catch is that the price of convenience often isn’t compared like-for-like. “Installation” might mean different things (basic connection versus extra plumbing). “Recycling” might be per item. “Delivery” might shift based on time slot.

A quick way to stay in control is to ask what is included in plain terms:

• Does fitting include removing packaging and testing?
• Is recycling charged per item or per order?
• What happens if you need a different hose, bracket, or cable?

When the answer becomes fuzzy, the cost usually isn’t finished yet.

The “recommended” accessories that are mostly about margin

Cables, ink, laptop bags, HDMI leads, screen cleaners - none of them look like a trap. They look like common sense. And sometimes they are.

But “recommended” often means “high margin” more than “essential”. The easiest consumer mistake is assuming compatibility is complicated when it isn’t, or assuming that the branded option is required for performance when a standard alternative would do the same job.

If you want a simple rule: only buy accessories in-store when you’d be happy to pay extra to save time today. Otherwise, note the exact spec (length, connection type, wattage) and decide later.

A checklist for buying at Currys without the catch

You don’t need to treat every purchase like a legal negotiation. You just need a few calm pauses.

• Decide your maximum total spend before you discuss add-ons.
• Ask for the total price with everything included, then remove items one by one.
• Treat “from £x per month” as marketing until you’ve seen the total payable.
• Don’t buy protection out of panic; take the terms away if you’re unsure.
• For accessories, buy based on specification, not suggestion.

The goal isn’t to “win” against the shop. It’s to keep the purchase in the shape you intended: one product, one clear price, and only the extras that genuinely earn their place.

The truth hiding in the smoothness

The most effective catches don’t feel like tricks. They feel like help. They’re wrapped in reassurance, offered at the exact moment you’re tired of deciding, and phrased like the sensible thing a careful person would do.

Currys looks simple because it’s designed to. The real skill as a consumer is noticing when simplicity has quietly turned into momentum - and remembering that you’re allowed to slow the whole thing down, even if the process is already smiling and saying: of course! please provide the text you would like translated.