Compusa closing stores !

[Faustus]

no money in hardware anymore (except for some accessories)

BJ_M hitting it right on the head. Cables and some accessories are the only things with enough markup to even make cash. OEM PCs are already to cut throat to make money on. Not to mention online deals. But when you GOTTA have another USB cable... sometimes you gotta bite the high priced bullet. Then think of the people who buy that kind of stuff and DON'T realize its much cheaper online?

Cables at places like BestBuy and Comp have around a 300% markup.

I can really tell you what the deal was/is with compusa but I like my job so I'm not gonna speak up.

[SingSing]

no money in hardware anymore (except for some accessories)

I still buy hardware from a local store like microcenter or staples or officemax, when their prices are within 10% compare to online. That 10% covered the shipping cost from and to from online store, if I have to do any return.

So far, I added LCD monitors, mobo, ram, wifi, cpu, cooling fans, skype adapter... We are still buying hardware, but it is hard to find stuffs behind all the junk TV, audio, lousy prices etc, in Compusa store.

If the store name is COMPusa, then it should stay with the computer stuff, and give us a decent deal. Sigh...

[SquirrelDip]

I tend to buy from Staples but will check on-line first. Staples will price match.

They used to beat the competitor by 50% of the difference - I've purchased a number of items (upwards of $60 to $80) for around $10. I picked up a Logitech X-230 - Staples had listed at $79.95, local shop had at $34.95, subtract half difference and I paid $12.45... Now they only match 10%...

[VideoTechMan]

I used to shop at CU for a time, and the last time I done so it was to buy parts to build a new computer for a friend of mine. Nowadays I don't even bother to go there anymore and when my friend told me about the closing of the store here in Grand Rapids, I wasn't too suprised.

I think of stores quit trying to be multi-product based and focus on selling products based on the store name (like computer stores should sell computer-based stuff only, not stuff like TV's DVD players and boomboxes) I think they would do quite well.

Basically, I hardly shop in mortar-brick stores anymore unless the item I need is readily available that would cost too much to ship otherwise. People just suck in customer services and most times I find what I want without any help (pays to do research).

Like Best Buy several years ago, I got pressured into buying an extended warranty for a laptop or else they wasn't going to sell it to me. Needless to say I walked out and ordered one from a different retailer online.

[AlecWest]

Wasting money on all of the sales training and other crap that most big stores do is a waste. Put as much product as you can on the shelf and keep it moving with low prices!

Yes, and gimmicks like rebates don't help either. As soon as a salesperson mentions a rebate (unless it's an instant rebate), I just turn the other way. It surprises me that so many people think that rebate scenarios actually make prices go down. The people who work for "fulfillment houses" have wages, too ... and their cost of doing business just cuts another slice out of the pie. And their job is to make the redemption procedure complicated enough that most people will procrastinate beyond the redemption deadline ... or forget to dot an "i" or cross a "t" somewhere in the procedure, making their claim null and void on arrival.

I remember the hellacious hassle I once had with QWest over a DSL modem rebate years ago. QWest kept telling me to wait (beyond the 90 days when I was supposed to get it) ... and the fulfillment house kept saying I wasn't on QWest's "rebate list." Fortunately, I saved my paperwork and submitted copies with a formal complaint to the State Attorney General's office and the utilities commissioner. Got the rebate check less than a week later (grin) along with a nasty email from QWest's rep who had been contacted by the SAG and UC. It was about a month later I dumped them and signed with Comcast cable ... and haven't looked back since.

[Faustus]

It surprises me that so many people think that rebate scenarios actually make prices go down.

It does if you are my cousin and you track your rebates document everything and know who to threaten if they jack you around.

He scares me when it comes to rebates. He is like a pittbull

[SingSing]

The owner of Compusa is now world richest man !

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070703/mexico_carlos_slim_s_wealth.html?.v=1

[lordsmurf]

These stores have been "closing" for 6 months. They are still in business, and still overpriced compared to office/electronics stores within 1 mile.

[Conquest10]

The Chicago store has been closed for a while now. Now the only electronic store downtown is the Apple store.

[Supreme2k]

I remember the hellacious hassle

Me too! That was my favorite death-metal band. The fourth album ruled!!!

[rhegedus]

If you know what you want and where to find it in store CompUSA is OK.

It's when you have to ask someone a question that problems start...

[ZAPPER]

If you know what you want and where to find it in store CompUSA is OK.

It's when you have to ask someone a question that problems start...

Isn't that the same for just about all retail outlets?

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

If you know what you want and where to find it in store CompUSA is OK.

It's when you have to ask someone a question that problems start...

I don't know why but when I read this the big yellow "BEST BUY" sign just popped out in my head!!!

This might be a pattern!!!!

[vhelp]

The closest one nearest to me, and where I've been going for 10 years or more
has finally closed. This store was in White Plains, NY area. I use to travel there
(among other store in that area) for the CompUSA toys. I can't tell you how
much of a drenlyn rush I used to get, when pulling into the store's parking lot
and then getting out of my car. Does the phrase, "can't stand still" come to mind ??
Anyway, I bought my first MS Windows 95 over there. I remember when it had the
big Windows 95 logo flag they had hanging out there, to pomote it when it was first
released. What can I say, I'm nastalgic.

When I asked, a women cleaning out the cabnets told me that even though the
store there (White Plains, NY) was doing very well, the decision to close it was
on account of keeping costs down on account of the Lease Renewal agreement.
She went on to say that, (in so many words) when they go to re-negotiate Lease
terms (costs) if they can't keep it at their current (or, lessor) rate, then the decision
is made to close the store down. At least that's what she said, and that was good
enough for me.

As far as shopping for price.. I'm sometimes a sucker (like many) and will chaulk
up the higher price. Oh well. I do shop around, though. But, when I am cought
off guard on a new toy, I can't help myself, and.. you know how it goes.
-- Every town/city has a sucker --

I will miss them if they do all close down. But from what I'm reading here, it does
not seem to be the case. They are just cutting costs to keep up, I guess.

-vhelp 4354

[Faustus]

When I asked, a women cleaning out the cabnets told me that even though the
store there (White Plains, NY) was doing very well, the decision to close it was
on account of keeping costs down on account of the Lease Renewal agreement.
She went on to say that, (in so many words) when they go to re-negotiate Lease
terms (costs) if they can't keep it at their current (or, lessor) rate, then the decision
is made to close the store down. At least that's what she said, and that was good
enough for me.

Far as I've been aware stores closed were picked by lack of profits or projected lack of profits.

Comp had to cut some cost or it was headed to retail heaven.

[SingSing]

It was rumour to close but now it is "Welcome to the new and improved CompUSA.com - a division of Systemax, Inc."

See : http://www.compusa.com/applications/campaigns/campaigntemplate.asp?CampaignID=439

[edDV]

Systemax is the parent company of TigerDirect and other online suppliers. Now they are bricks and mortar.
http://www.systemax.com/divisions.htm

[Dv8ted2]

The location in Frisco, TX is going to close but the one in Plano, TX will stay open. Go figure.

[SingSing]

Compusa now becomes part of TigerDirect.

The stores are almost all gone. these are what left:

Florida
Altamonte Springs, FL
Brandon, FL
Clearwater, FL
Deerfield Beach, FL
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Ft. Myers, FL
Jacksonville, FL
S. Jacksonville, FL
Miami Dadeland, FL
Orlando, FL
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Plantation, FL
South Tampa, FL

Texas
McAllen, Texas
Plano, Texas
EL Paso, Texas

Puerto Rico
Guaynabo, PR

[Faustus]

Yeah the Tigerdirect thing was def. coming for some time now.

Doesn't matter as much to me now though because I got a better job anyhow.


No more end user warranty support for me.