CompUSA to Close 100 Stores
CompUSA to Close 100 Stores
by , 4:55 PM EST, February 23rd, 2007
Shoppers looking for new Macs will have fewer retail options now that it appears that CompUSA plans to close a significant number of its stores nation wide. The electronics retailer is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring led by its new CEO and president Roma Ross, according to Twice.
The changes to the company include phasing out several senior executives and closing some stores and regional offices around the United States. CompUSA isn't saying exactly how many stores will be shuttered, but The Consumerist claims an anonymous insider said that 100 of the 229 stores are on the list.
If so, that could translate into bad news for prospective Mac buyers that don't have an Apple Store or Authorized Apple Reseller in their area. Apple's "store within a store" deal with CompUSA has placed Apple employees in many of the retailer's locations offering an alternative location to get hands-on time with Macs and make purchases with the help of Apple-trained staff.
CompUSA executives are taking the restructuring path to help bring expenses back under control and to improve the company's position in relation to competitors like Best Buy, Circuit City, and Wal-Mart. There is no word on when store locations may start shutting down.
[Thanks to TMO reader Brian Caldwell for the heads up.]
Observer Comments
... in some parts of the country, it's hard to find a decent Mac place. There's only 2 places to get Mac stuff that I know of in Anchorage, for instance, one of them being CompUSA. The other store is in a highly inconvenient location for me personally, and really doesn't offer much - if anything - that CompUSA doesn't.
The two CompUSA stores nearest me were a source for
some software, but I never found anyone who was Mac
savvy. The in-store "Mac store" was a place where you
could see some hardware and pick up a brochure.
I'm on my second Mac--each purchased from an
authorized reseller in another nearby town.
I think that's why Apple opened a store in a major
mall nearby. That certainly didn't help CompUSA.
However, I got better advice and service from the
independent resellers.
In Ann Arbor Michigan, the CompUSA store is a decent place to buy a Mac. There is a dedicated Mac guy working there. Software selection at the store, however, stinks.
Even though I liked the CompUSA's store within a store concept, as it was certainly better then the previous efforts at Best Buy, Sears, and Circuit City, I just do not think CompUSA offers a really compelling reason to go to most of their stores. For instance, right next door to the CompUSA in Ann Arbor, is a BestBuy. BestBuy has better deals on most PCs (which I do not use), and generally a better selection as well. Moreover, the sales people do not work on commission, and on top of that you can check out TVs and other electronic products.
If I was running CompUSA I would have tried to stock the store with more high end unique computer related items that cannot be found elseplace.
I also think the store within a store concept really saved Apple's bacon because it happened at a time when Apple didn't have its own retail presence, and all its other retailers stank. With Apple's own stores, CompUSA's stores really are only needed in areas where there are no Apple stores.
Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:16 pm Subject: Tough on CompUSA if they have an Apple Store nearby
Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:47 pm Subject: Everything on Rebate
The CompUSA here in New Orleans is like a Mini-Genius Bar. The Apple rep, Sean has taken it upon himself to rid the CompUSA store of in-ept-red-shirts and get them trained using Apples training material and certifing them as Apple Sales Reps. He has most of the store converted.
At one time this store was actually hostile toward Macs and Mac users. The sales geeks would outright lie about capabilites and facts about Apple itself (such as the company was filing for bankruptcy).
But now it is really the best place to get a Mac in the New Orleans area. There is an authorized retailer/dealer in the area. But they usually have no inventory. The a lot software on the shelves is out of date. It is a shame becasue the guys there are genuinely love Macs and are very knowledgeable. but I prefer to go to Comp because of the hands on experience.
I hope that they do not shut down this store.
Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:51 pm Subject: Your Experience May Vary
In Sacramento, we have an Apple Store, but the CompUSA outlet is an excellent venue for Mac-related stuff. Their head Apple guy comes to our user group meetings to give presentations on new products; he offers training classes on Mac-related software; and constantly is putting up discounts (not rebates) on things like .Mac accounts, etc. To me, the good experiences I've had at CompUSA are due to good people there, and it's probably certain that the bad experiences others have had at their outlets are because the Apple reps there don't know their jobs. (No pun intended.) For us, if they shut this particular store, it will be much harder to get the Apple store folks to provide good service.
This information is from a source of a source, just interested if any hard facts on this closing of stores idea.
Also, to those of you hating Compusa for rebates, could you not understand how to fill out a coupon? I have filled out multiple and maybe i am just a self supporting adult, but i have never had a problem. Does the general publics problem with rebates somehow reflect the drop in our schooling system?
you said "Moreover, the sales people do not work on commission, and on top of that you can check out TVs and other electronic products. "
well, compusa is non commsion, and they sell tv's, and sell "other" electronic devices.
But maybe i guess your right, no toasters.
Quit complaining and shop at bestbuy you fanboy.
In Indianapolis, I like the CompUSA. Indies Apple Store is to inconvenient to get to for me (never even been). I've purchased 4 Mac's from Comp in the past 3 years.
The selection isn't as good as Best Buy on some things but the workers seem more knowledgeable than Best Buy's (not saying much). Best Buy only hires morons as far as I can tell. Comp's people seem to know about Mac's and PC's and don't really steer you one way or the other that I've seen.
Though I have a feeling Indies store is on the chopping block as a Best Buy and Circuit City are within a mile and we just had a Fryes open up a while back which I'm sure affected sales. I for one, really hate to see them go.
Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:48 am Subject: My experience has been good
There is a genuine Apple Rep in the Tulsa store - paid by Apple - and he knows the products inside and out. I've seen him demo Macs to customers and he is a natural teacher, which I consider to be the most important factor in getting a customer to switch to Apples. We are rumored to have an Apple Store opening some day (probably in the distant future) and I'm hoping this guy moves there when they open.
As for CompUSA in general, I think one major problem is the store layout. The Apple area is hidden in a back corner - well hidden - when it should be clearly visible when the customer walks in the front door. In all fairness, the Sony area is also in the back, but not as well hidden. There store layout is probably as much to blame for their problems as any other factor,
My growing business is a Mac Shop and we spend $120,000 to $180,000 per year in Mac equipment-The Apple rep they finally got was a pathological fabricator, and Mgmt. could not have cared less about the volume of Merchandise leaving their shop. Worse, I always spent 30% of those numbers on "platinum Warranties" and have NEVER had one honored appropriately-it is always a fight. I have had some great Sales Managers through in lots of peripherl goodies and if Apple would get it in thei tight heads about regaining Marketshare they will learn to discount or do SOMETHING for the high volume, recurring customer that Comp USA never got. I hate to see them go because any competition is good for the consumer but they are reaping what they have sown!!!
It is a sad day when hitting the economy is yet another business decision that forces a lot of people out of work. The main Chgo store is in a great location near the magnificient mile ( a favorite place to go) and always has the best staff. That store keeps up with newer looks and is the place to go for what's new. It is convenient for downtown shoppers, businesses and and other employees in the area as well. Since the news is full of inuendos and suppostions as to which and where, perhaps the company should do it in one fell swoop so that the morale in all these stores is not affected more than it already is. When I went shopping into a COMPUSA store recently, I could see it brings questions about closeouts, discounts etc., and it has to be hard on the employees and management in those stores. It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. No one even knows what stores are closing but the scoop in the news like google news is already telling us what is going to happen.
Sun Feb 25, 2007 6:58 pm Subject: Re: Gaithersburg, Maryland CompUsa
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
My growing business is a Mac Shop and we spend $120,000 to $180,000 per year in Mac equipment-The Apple rep they finally got was a pathological fabricator, and Mgmt. could not have cared less about the volume of Merchandise leaving their shop. Worse, I always spent 30% of those numbers on "platinum Warranties" and have NEVER had one honored appropriately-it is always a fight. I have had some great Sales Managers through in lots of peripherl goodies and if Apple would get it in thei tight heads about regaining Marketshare they will learn to discount or do SOMETHING for the high volume, recurring customer that Comp USA never got. I hate to see them go because any competition is good for the consumer but they are reaping what they have sown!!!
With those purchases you should be working with Apple Enterprise, not the local shops. You will get a better discount from the enterprise division.
Well, I'm not sure the store layout is the problem. Close to me we have three stores... each of them has a different layout. And, my favorite by far is the one with the Apple section right in the middle of the store.
I am sure they will not close any of those since the client traffic is very high compared to other CUSA stores in the country. See, we don't have a Best Buy, Circuit City, Good Guys or anything close to it around here. Best Buy is due to open their first store here in the next year and Circuit City soon to follow.
BTW: No we don't have any Apple Stores either... just local resellers.
Shout... from Puerto Rico.
I used to go to the Augusta, Georgia, CompUSA regularly. They really have an unpleasant attitude, and i don't care to return anytime soon. I wouldn't be crushed if they left; they're the only Mac store in Augusta, but there's always the Apple Store in Atlanta, and online.
The other night I needed a 00 Philips screwdriver to install RAM in my MacBook. I looked all over, and couldn't find it. I asked, and was told they'd only have something like that "in a large tool collection."
I asked the tech center to borrow theirs, and after ignoring me for several minutes, he said I could use it "RIGHT HERE ONLY," as if he thought I'd run off with it. So I just left, to hell with them.
I found a single 00 at Sears, for $2.43.
Comp USA really is a shabby outfit. Good riddance! If you want Apple hardware-get it online. Earlier posts had it right. Customers were often steered towards PCs in favor of Macs. Software selection was always sub par too. There was no personal investment in these stores simply bottom line tech pushing. The fact that people don't buy there anymore is simply karma.
I do rebates fairly often, but I have zero success in getting CompUSA to pay out on either of the 2 I sent off. The store closest to my house (Mesquite, TX) is one that's closing, and it certainly serves them right. The staff is generally unpleasant (not just the Mac-specific stuff), and the whole store is very shop-worn and cluttered. There is a Fry's a couple exits up the highway and two Apple stores not far beyond that... guess who gets my business!
There is a press release on the compusa,com website now regarding this. Also, if you check the store locator and don't see your local location still listed, it's a goner.
Closing locations include ALL the store locations in the Seattle, Phoenix, Philadelphia, St Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas. Also, 7 of the 9 stores in the Dallas/Ft Worth metro area will be closing,
I think this is the beginning of the end for CompUSA myself...
There is a Comp USA store near me in Monrovia, CA. I have only shopped there when there was no other option due to time.
I found the sales staff indifferent, lacking knowelege, and a mix of products that never seemed to include what I was looking for.
Checkout was an endurance test regardless of paying with cash, check or credit card. This is assuming you could find someone to check you out amid the groups of 3 or 4 sales people standing around with apparently nothing to do.
On several occasions when they did have what I was looking for I simply left the product in my place in the checkout line because of the indeterminent delay. I might add I wasn't the only one.
This store deserves to go out of business and the top corporate management that let it become this way should be singled out for repremand for lack of oversight and awful decisions.
Mike Young
I totally agree with this; I might not have been comfortable switching from PC to Mac recently if there weren't cool appple people near by the offer help for the novice.
What I am wondering, if anyone can answer this, IS THERE ANY SUGGESTIONS OF PLACES TO GO FOR APPLECARE????
~MISTY (gentlehunger@hotmail.com)
Quoteyakirz wrote:
I used to go to the Augusta, Georgia, CompUSA regularly. They really have an unpleasant attitude, and i don't care to return anytime soon. I wouldn't be crushed if they left; they're the only Mac store in Augusta, but there's always the Apple Store in Atlanta, and online.
The other night I needed a 00 Philips screwdriver to install RAM in my MacBook. I looked all over, and couldn't find it. I asked, and was told they'd only have something like that "in a large tool collection."
I asked the tech center to borrow theirs, and after ignoring me for several minutes, he said I could use it "RIGHT HERE ONLY," as if he thought I'd run off with it. So I just left, to hell with them.
I found a single 00 at Sears, for $2.43.
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