The single easiest way to describe why CompUSA lost the battle with everybody else was their employment practices. They had two types of employees: ghosts and stalkers. Either the employees would disappear and there was nobody to help you do anything or they were hovering over you to get the commission on whatever it was that you bought.
The were the last one to take employees off the commission system and they had the least trained employees. They sold the exact same stuff as everybody else but consumers needed HELP not just inventory. CompUSA managed to miss the boat and they’ve been losing money sinice the advent of any real competition. Next on the block? Circuit City.
“The single easiest way to describe why CompUSA lost the battle with everybody else was their employment practices. They had two types of employees: ghosts and stalkers. Either the employees would disappear and there was nobody to help you do anything or they were hovering over you to get the commission on whatever it was that you bought.”
The stores I went to were full of ghosts, you could never find help - BestBuy is also the same in my area. I’ve walked in *wanting* to spend money, but could’nt find anyone to help me (some of the items have to be unlocked from cases, or larger items have to be brought out. The worst was always the counter with ram or flash memory - there was never anyone there!
I also several times broke a personal rule and butted into conversations their employees were having with customers, the rare occasions they’d show up - they were spouting utter nonsense to them. It was;nt even to upsell them or get them to sell them stuff they did’nt need, it was just *wrong*.
CompUSA just never had any deals worth it. BestBuy and Fry’s took them out. I won’t miss them. They were the WORST for bait and switch with their ads, and 75% of the junk in their stores were useless.
Forget the fire sale, they closed the store here, and the “deals” were hardly that. *Maybe* 10% off, and still more expensive than Fry’s or online.
I don’t bother with Fry’s anymore, either, they’re just the Walmart of gadgets now, full of screaming kids and rude foreigners and hostile geeks. Last time I went, I wanted to look at digital cameras, and buy a printer, and the cameras I wanted to look at were being slammed against the counter by a couple of tow headed middle eastern boys, pieces of plastic flying everywhere, and no salespeople (or parents) to be seen. I then went to buy a $700 printer (Epson 2200), they’re the only retailer who carried it. I needed it for a freelance job, or I would have bought it direct. After waiting forever, I finally got a guy who barely spoke English, and I had to send back 3 already opened boxes before the guy understood I would NOT buy a printer for that much money when the box has been opened. He grumbled, and it took half an hour for him to shuffle it out, but my dad did’nt raise a fool. (The printer is still going strong, too, love it!) I refused the 50 offers for their extended “warranty”, I’ve heard all the horror stories. Havent been back. Their “deals” are really not much of a deal, these days - and for electronics, often Costo has the same stuff cheaper.
Costco has had some kick ass deals this year, on electronics. Their webpage is worth keeping an eye on!
Fry’s was cool back when nobody knew what they were, before they opened the “superstores”. I used to go to the themed stores in Fremont and Cupertino, and they were cramped, dark, but full of real deals, that were worth the hassle.
I hold my nose when I need ink or cables or a new mouse and go to the BestBuy around the corner, but for big ticket items, it’s all online now. Cameras? B&H or Beach Camera. Computer parts? Pricewatch or NewEgg. Dvds or books? Amazon. Ram? Crucial.