CompUSA and the dodo wed in afterlife
Thrax
🐌Austin, TX Icrontian
CompUSA has been on the skids for some time. Locked in an epic struggle against their mortal nemesis, Best Buy, 2006's Yule-time price war sent CompUSA into a dire tailspin. In spite of a higher gross income than BBY throughout the 2006 Christmas season, CompUSA operated in the red on their margin.
In early 2007, CompUSA shuttered numerous stores in an effort to restructure their company. Unfortunately, it looks like CompUSA's efforts were unsuccessful, as the company has promised to close all 103 of its remaining stores after the Christmas season.
In early 2007, CompUSA shuttered numerous stores in an effort to restructure their company. Unfortunately, it looks like CompUSA's efforts were unsuccessful, as the company has promised to close all 103 of its remaining stores after the Christmas season.
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There are no Fry's or Microcenters in Alaska.
Newegg orders are not too bad for shipping costs if it's a multi-item order. For instance, I could order a medium sized part, such as a motherboard, and the shipping charges would be about $20. Add two or three other items and the shipping cost will rise only about another $5. That's fairly economical, especially considering I don't have to expend time and gasoline driving to a store. That's also actually quite reasonable for such long distance shipping, by any standard. But let's say I just need $10 fan and a tube of thermal paste. The shipping will be as much as the value of the items purchased. To continue the discussion, let's say a power supply fails. I can order online and pay a hefty shipping charge (heavy item). If I need that PSU 'right now,' the local purchase choice will be Best Buy - very poor selection, local small computer shops - junk, or outrageous prices, or a department store - high prices and pathetic selection. Needless to say, the Alaska CompUSA (Anchorage) always has plenty of customers making many purchases, and not just sale and rebate items. The store is clean, the sales clerks are generally knowledgeable, and service center has a very good reputation in town. Also, I've picked up many sales and rebate items for much less than I could purchased through Newegg. The problems reported for many other CompUSA stores are really not at ours.
No, none of this is a show stopper. But in some markets, CompUSA is great asset for computer enthusiasts. You know, come to think of, for Mac users, I believe in the Anchorage area that CompUSA is the only authorized service facility.
I've seen this before at other places I've lived: chain stores with the majority of their stores in large, metropolitan areas become insolvent due to competition, resulting in the chains closing even though many of stores in smaller markets are performing very well. Maybe we'll get lucky up here in Alaska and the CompUSA store will be bought out, remain open, but just with a different name. Fry's? Oh my oh my. They could make a killing up here! For serious computer shoppers, Fry's or Microcenter would have NO competition here.
Hey, I'm really not complaining about this. I'm actually thankful for the infrastructure and local retail that we do have; it's just sad to see CompUSA go, as they are the only computer-dedicated retailer of note in the state.
I miss CompUSA here. They shut down the 5 stores in the metro here this spring.
Too much competition is what my understanding of it was. After all, this is Best Buy's corporate town, along with Circuit City, Micro Center, Office Max/Depot (if these even count, hah), Audio King/Ultimate Electronics (not computer based, but Compusa dabbed it's share into home entertainment as well), and the numerous local and chain video game stores - No Frys though, unfortunately.
I always did like CompUSA. They were FAR knowledgeable than other stores, actually had people that wanted to help you not sell more to you, and loved their jobs, without the uber geekiness, slowness, depression forming Micro Center atmosphere with a touch of retardation. They also had far better deals than online many times, and were available to stop at any time I felt like it, ...except the middle of the night of course.
Granted, Micro Center is much more of a any part you could possibly need store compared to CompUSA, but it certainly had its place.
Damn it!
I really marvelled that they stayed afloat as long as they did.
I'm not sure about that here. When I bought things I did so without sales help, or if someone did talk to me they never labeled my item I was buying, so I don't know how anyone would get credit. The Micro Center here also does not label things I purchase with stickers or numbers or anything. No escorts to the registers, either.
Also, the CompUSA here usually had several people, or was downright crowded. Much more so than any Office Type store and even Circuit City a lot. And just think about 12:00am store openings, ...you know, I still can't believe I went to one of those. It was about -5F at the time and probably 96F inside the store. Oh, yeah, I think I profited a few hundred that day.
So, what did I get? Photo printer paper. That's it.
Yeah- they closed up their Arizona stores before they went under and what I wanted (a roll-away laptop/tech bag) was the same price at Newegg- the difference being I could get it that day. I was also surprised at how much they were asking for 6-12mo old systems/laptops.
I used to work a tire shop and the owner said to me once, "You'd be surprised at how many people will come out and look when you advertise a Sale and all you changed on the price tag was the word 'SALE'".
:P