Gateway closing all its retail stores, eliminating 2,500 jobs

Associated Press ^ | 4-1-04

[Oldeconomybuyer]

POWAY, Calif. (AP) -- Troubled computer maker Gateway Inc. announced Thursday it will shutter all of its retail stores next week, eliminating 2,500 jobs.

The company, based in the San Diego suburb of Poway, said its 188 stores will close on April 9 and workers will be let go as the store operations wind down.

[muleskinner]

In the AP report, the numbers of store closings and personnel layoffs doesn't jibe with a report from itmanagement.earthweb.com.
Itmanagement says they will close 80 stores - 29% of its outlets, and will lay off 1,900 carbon-based life-forms. A measely 17% of its positions.

[lonevoice]

It's obvious that Gateway is the captain of its own demise. Still, it's devastating for the families of the 2,500 suddenly jobless employees. I hope they all find greener (more stable) pastures soon. Pastures without cows.

[ovrtaxt]

I never even walked into a Gateway store. All computer parts can be bought online far cheaper and better.

Not only that, Don't those creeps at Gateway support Daschle? I hope he's deeply troubled.

[Vision]

I hate to see Gateway close, I'm typing this on a Gateway.

But I kind of expected it. Let me see, should I buy a 256mb ram card for $150 from Gateway, or for $25 off the Internet.

[Ben Chad]

Did you beat Willie Green to the punch?

[Dane]

That was my first computer also..I also purchased it around the same time from the same place. That thing lasted a couple of years, I actually still have the monitor.

Cost me an arm and leg back then, mine came with 16mb ram. I remember upgrading the ram to 64 and it costing me a couple hundred bucks... technology sure has come down an incredible amount in the past 10 years.

Yes it has. I also can remember how "cool" it was when I signed up to Prodigy and I could read the AP and Reuters online on a 2400 baud modem.

Prodigy came as a bundling software with that Packard Bell, no AOL or Compuserve, although after I bought the computer I got an AOL floppy every month or so through the mail. AOL finally stopped sending those through the mail after 5 years or so.

[eggman]

Gateway had some great magazine ads and descent hardware at a really good price back then. When their business began to grow, they couldn’t keep up with the customer support and started cutting corners on quality. Soon the net was full of complaints. It took them a couple of years to overcome the reputation they earned.

I asked support one time if I could buy some of the cow spotted logo shirts or hats that the employees were wearing in some of their ads. The answer was we don’t have any of those to sell. I told the rep to mention to management that this would be a good idea. It took about 4 or 5 years for them to realize this might be a good idea. Shows how well they were listening to the customers at the time.

[muleskinner]

Plus, the Apple stores are in the big, high end malls. Usually on the main floor, near a Nordstrom entrance.

There are only one or two of those Gateway cow pastures in Silicon Valley...in some out-of-the-way strip mall.

[Alas Babylon!]

Yeah, that talking cow really ticked me off, being a country boy and all. A cow is female. Unless it's Lucille Ball or Bea Arthur, a female shouldn't have a man's voice. Stupid city slickers!

[Drango]

I'm typing this on a Gateway.

Ditto that...

[Not A Snowbird]

My husband has a Gateway... it's a piece of cr*p. My 1997 IBM Aptiva runs circles around it.

[Uncle Hal]

I would guess this is the beginning of the end for Gateway. There is a store near me that I used to go to every once in a while and check things out. People seemed friendly and knowledgeable. Too bad.

[manic4organic]

Exactly. I walked in to one in Texas prepared to buy four PCs for my business. After 30 frustrating minutes I left.

[South40]

Oops! I knew this was going to happen. When the stores first opened, at least the one in my area, you couldn't walk in, buy a computer, then walk out. Next door to the Gateway store was a Best Buy, where you could do just that.

You have to wait for delivery of a Dell also and they're doing just fine.

[jrcats]

I've had 2 Gateway's since 1998 & love them. Gateway has really great customer service & they have replaced a monitor & a cd drive already without any cost to me. My mother bought a new Compaq & there's so many ads that pop up that was downloaded at the factory.

[LurkedLongEnough]

I had a Gateway too. Upgraded it and still use it. However, also just bought 2 laptops, one a HP and the other a Dell. What a coincidence.

Some geeks (like me) might enjoy this old FR thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b7f34ff217b.htm

[MegaSilver]

Apple isn't cheap

Yep, which is why I want to wait to get the hippest model possible. :)

but they build a damn fine laptop! The Powerbook G5 should be awesome!

The PowerBooks G4 I've seen my fellow students tote around look pretty cool... and they're absolutely beautiful to the eye, too.

[agarrett]

  I haven't heard about this case before. What's it about?

Drew Garrett

[Aquinasfan]

Sun has finally found an American partner for its Java Desktop System (JSD), the company's Linux-based alternative to Microsoft Windows: über-retailer Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart on Tuesday began selling low-cost Microtel PCs pre-loaded with JDS, offering several systems at prices ranging from $298 to $698.

Sounds like a major victory for Linux.

[BooBoo1000]

My first computer was a Kaypro,( dark ages) then I sprung for a New H-P with all of the whistles and bells with a three year warranty. The Warranty may have been O.K but you could not find anyone to talk to at H-P. Not in your life time. Not for any reason, Not a chance. Finally I gave up. Bought a Dell with all of the whistles and bells, and the three year warranty. The warranty may be O.K. but I have never had a chance to try it. H.P Will be the next one to go, Carlie, is in bad Graces with the stock holders and Board of Directors. They make a good Computer but are getting spread out too much. Mike Dell will love it, when Carlie is history..