If you’re looking to buy electrical goods, then you can’t go far wrong with either AO and Currys. But which one is best? Take a look at this comparison of two of the biggest retailers in the UK to see which offers the best value and the benefits they provide.
AO vs Currys
Several years ago, I wrote a post about how to find the best deals when shopping for white goods. But I often find myself going back to the same two stores – AO.com and Currys. Although I’ve always had decent service from both, I know friends that will swear by just one of these companies.
That’s why I’ve decided to do a comparison between Currys and AO, looking at prices, discounts, delivery and service.
Which of these retailers will come out on top?
AO vs Currys price comparison
Possibly the most important factor for most customers is the cost. So, where better to start than a price comparison?
Obviously, both companies offer special deals at different times and prices go up and down. However, to check which company offered the best value, I chose ten items at random.
| Currys | AO | |
| Shark anti-hair wrap vacuum | £179 | £199 |
| Samsung Ecobubble washing machine | £429 | £429 |
| LG OLED 48″ TV | £699 | £650 |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 Pink | £699.99 | £769 |
| HP DeskJet printer | £49.99 | £44 |
| Hive thermostat | £179 | £179 |
| Philips Hue Lightstrip | £199.99 | £192 |
| Samsung HW Soundbar | £1099 | £999 |
| Hisense Pureflat fridge freezer | £899.99 | £799 |
| Sony WHXB910N headphones | £139 | £129 |
Winner – AO
This is quite a close call, but AO is cheaper in six out of the ten comparisons, so it is the winner.
Price matching
The good news is, both companies offer a price matching service. With AO, just give them a call if you find an item cheaper elsewhere and they’ll match the price before you buy.
AO will also refund you the difference if you buy an item from their site and they then drop the price. Although they won’t do this automatically and you will need to send in a request.
Currys will also price match, including discount codes. This can be done purely online and if the match is accepted, you’ll be provided with a voucher before you make your purchase. Or, if you would prefer, you can go into a Currys’ store to discuss the price match.
Winner – Currys
The fact that you can do price matching online with Currys makes it the winner.
Finance
I’m never a fan of finance options offered by retail companies as they tend to be quite expensive, but I understand that it can sometimes be necessary.
Typical APR from Currys is 24.9% (variable), whilst AO offers a slightly better rate of 19.9% APR (variable).
Winner – AO
Obviously, the cheaper the rate, the better. And AO offers better value compared to Currys.
Delivery options and costs
This is a difficult comparison to make because there are so many options available and it depends on where you live.
For large goods like washing machines and fridge freezers, AO’s delivery charge can be free during the week, £10 at weekends or £20 if you need a quicker delivery.
If you want a fridge freezer to be installed and your old one taken away, it will cost £55. For a washing machine, this costs £50.
The majority of Currys’ delivery slots are free, although some days attract a £5 charge. However, there’s limited availability compared to AO.
For the installation of a fridge freezer and the taking away of the old one, you’ll need to spend £70. For a washing machine, this will cost £45.
Winner – draw
AO is the better option if you want a good choice of delivery slots, but Currys generally offers better value. This one ends in a draw.
Returns and refunds
It’s all very well getting the cheapest price, but what happens if you change your mind?
AO offers a 100-day return policy. If you’re not happy with a product and it’s unused, just return it for a full refund. You can leave it a Drop at Shop or if the item is larger, AO will come and collect it.
If you have used the item, you can return it within 14 days. But in this case, you will only receive a partial refund.
Currys has a 14-day returns policy for unwanted items bought online and 21 days if bought in store. You can return it to your nearest store, drop it off at a DPD site or request for Currys to come and collect.
Winner – AO
The longer return policy from AO makes it the clear winner.
Discounts and vouchers
I never like to pay full price if I can avoid it, and it’s usually possible to find a few discounts for both of these retailers.
Always check cashback sites before you shop. AO and Currys are both listed on there and depending on the item you’re buying, you can get as much as 25% back. If you’ve never used one of these sites before, why not take a look at my post on how TopCashback works.
You can also find some voucher codes floating about. But these change regularly and are usually for specific items or departments. Check out sites like vouchercodes.co.uk to see if there’s anything available.
Currys has its own loyalty scheme called Currys Perks. This can reward you with a free gift card when you spend a certain amount and you’ll be sent discount vouchers.
If you hold a Blue Light Card, both companies also offer discounts through this scheme.
WInner – Currys
Currys tends to be far more generous when it comes to handing out discounts. Although their prices are usually a little higher…
Online reviews
Trustpilot is always a decent place to check to get a general overview of companies, although I always take reviews with a pinch of salt.
AO scores an excellent 4.6 out of 5 from almost 350,000 reviews, with only 3% of customers deeming it bad. Currys isn’t quite so impressive and only scores 3.7 from nearly 100,000 reviews. Unfortunately, 39% of these reviewers rated Currys as bad.
Winner – AO
This isn’t much of a contest. AO receives far more positive reviews than Currys.
AO vs Currys – which is best?
AO pros
- Products are generally cheaper
- More generous returns scheme
- A wider range of delivery options
- Higher customer service rating
Currys pros
- More products are available on the website
- Delivery can be cheaper
- Plenty of stores nationwide
- Usually, more discounts are available if you’re willing to search
I’m a fan of both of these retailers and have used them regularly.
But, AO wins it here. Their prices are generally cheaper, they have a more generous returns policy and customers tend to be much happier with the service.
But personally, I’ll continue to use both. After all, it can only be a good thing that these two companies compete against each other. It means cheaper prices and better service. Well, usually.