COMP USA going out of business.

[indamixx99]

Yeah, basically Gordon Brothers (the liquidators), owns everything in the store - which includes all furniture, fixtures, displays, tools, machines, etc. So yeah, that's completely normal for them to do that. Makes me wonder if they'll be liquidating the IT equipment as well (Cisco routers and switches), since the entire company is going under. When they closed down the stores earlier this year, all of the IT stuff went back to corporate, but I dont know if that'll happen this time.

 

[nsafreak]

The IT stuff will likely become available when they're getting ready to close the store in the last days. Keep in mind that they will not likely have bargain prices on these parts. Why? Because they're more likely to have a local business interested in getting minor discounts on stuff like Cisco Catalyst switches.

 

[Jhhnn]

Meh- went by the Denver S Colo Blvd store a couple of days ago- better prices online at the usual outlets, and better selection, too...

It'd be nice to know what will be the last day- they won't get a dime on the dollar when they wholesale out what's left after that.

 

[chexi]

I went to the CrapUSA in West DesMoines because I needed a wireless router and happened to be at the store next door for something else. I was trying to choose between a Netgear and a Linksys. Both were 10% off the original price (yeah whooopie, but I needed one that day). Here are the kickers. First, the Netgear was listed at $47.99 and the Linksys $49.99. We picked up the Netgear, took it to the register, and it rang up at $49.99 less the 10% discount. We said to the guy at the register, "the regular price on that is $47.99 not $49.99." He gave us a blank snaggled-toothed stare for about 15 seconds and then pointed at a sign at the register that said "Prices at the register are the correct prices" or something to that effect. We then pointed to the sticker on the box that said $47.99. He replied, "there is nothing I can do," and pointed again at the sign. I told him, "yes there is, you can keep it." Second, I then went to OfficeMax, where they had the same router regular price less than CrapUSA's sale price, but then an additional 15% off of that. So the morales of the story are, (1) good riddance CrapUSA and (2) other stores' regular prices can and probably often are less than CrapUSA's current "going out of business" prices. As mentioned by someone earlier, CrapUSA doesn't even know how to go out of business correctly. Thank God I now live in Texas and have several Fry's nearby.

 

[unhuman]

Looks like the website isn't going out of business. What a shame.

 

[sgrinavi]

Today the local CUSA has some e6420's for $209 less 20%. 167 plus tax seems like a decent deal. Other than that it's poop

 

[Texun]

CUSA in New Orleans had a sign up yesterday advertising 30% off on all inventory. If that's a real deal then it might be good if they have anything decent left. I was there a few days ago and was unimpressed with the selection.

 

[HumblePie]

I used to work years ago at the CUSA in San Antonio. Going to miss the place. Hadn't been by a CUSA in awhile because there nearest one to where I live now is a drive way out of my way. But I was visiting family for the holidays and noticed the going out of business sign on the front.

As far as business practice goes... CUSA isn't any worse than Circuit City or Bestbuy or Cons. Worked at them all.

CUSA's problem has always been from what I've seen, bad locations, bad store design, bad focus, and to an extent bad managers. They shot themselves in the foots long ago as well with commission. I know some of the crap that bad reps would pull off in the day. Then they quit commission for floor people, but the business people still had it, AND those guys would constantly troll the floors along with their normal business sales to make money.

They needed a clean slate when they stopped commission and hired people that knew computers or had an interest in them. I was the top sales person for the entire last quarter I was there, and supposedly for the year I worked there as my pic was taken for their in house news letter. Why? Because I know computers, I know how to sell and I cared about getting the right stuff for the right people. Most of their sales force from what I saw lacked that knowledge and drive. To them it was another barely over minimum wage job. A few people selling computers there didn't even own one. The crap I heard coming from the mouth of some of them still makes me nearly die in fits of laughter.

All that said, RIP CUSA. I've picked up some good deals from it in the past, and while it was never top, competition is always good.

 

[nc10]

Originally posted by: Texun
CUSA in New Orleans had a sign up yesterday advertising 30% off on all inventory. If that's a real deal.......

If you look closer, the signs probably say "Up to" 30% off, at least the signs in Baton Rouge did. Stopped by the store for a couple minutes, I didn't see anything at 30% (didn't look too hard though), blank cd's were 10% off, blank dvd's were 15%, mother boards were 20% off, software was 15%, etc.

 

[indamixx99]

If i remember correctly, those signs say "Up to 30% off" with a small asterisk underneath saying "excludes computers, bose, and ipods". Something to that extent

 

[ITPaladin]

Possibly the reason why the price at the register is the price you pay is because they can't keep going around constantly changing prices as the parent company changes it as they see fit.

My store in Fresno had NO CPUs when I went in there last Friday.

I just bought a can of air for $2 less than what BB three doors down had.

Since I can't afford graphics cards or good CPUs then I really didn't take notice, or know, of what good prices are or aren't.

I just remember an ati hd something for 180.00.

 

[richardycc]

is this a scam? only 10% off for most useful items, I can see that they will drag this one out for as long as they can...

 

[nsafreak]

Originally posted by: richardycc
is this a scam? only 10% off for most useful items, I can see that they will drag this one out for as long as they can...

It's the general MO for Gorman Brothers (the company that bought all of the CUSA stores & inventory) they are very slow to do any major discounts on the merchandise. They'll sell as much as they can as close to regular price as they can and after a few weeks start doing moderate price cuts. It's typically not till the last week that you see any major discounts and by then there is very little inventory left.

 

[johnsonbrewer]

Three strikes......yer out! Went by Wichita today for the FINAL time. Lots of people roaming around, a few buying. But I swear the prices have gone UP each time I've been in there over the last three weeks! A lot of the slow-moving items ( which is to say almost everything ) had two, three, and four price tags on top of each other. Sad. Yeah, the sign said 30% off and "Store Closing" but geez. Good Riddance.

 

[indamixx99]

Originally posted by: nsafreak

Originally posted by: richardycc
is this a scam? only 10% off for most useful items, I can see that they will drag this one out for as long as they can...

It's the general MO for Gorman Brothers (the company that bought all of the CUSA stores & inventory) they are very slow to do any major discounts on the merchandise. They'll sell as much as they can as close to regular price as they can and after a few weeks start doing moderate price cuts. It's typically not till the last week that you see any major discounts and by then there is very little inventory left.

Bingo :thumbsup: The closure will generally last around 2 months.
It's Gordon Bros. btw

 

[Freejack2]

This shouldn't be surprising. Gordon Bros. or however it's spelled is out to make as much money as they possibly can on this. They know there are tons of people who don't do their research and just like the idiots who bid over retail on ebay, the same people will go into the Compusa closeout and see 20% and think they're getting a great deal, not realizing they probably could have gotten it cheaper elsewhere.

For example someone will go in there and see a laptop for $1000 marked down 20% to 800, not realizing $799 was what Compusa charged for this laptop before going out of business, and not bothering to do any research which means they don't even realize it's $739 on newegg.com.
Gordon Bros. loves people like this.

 

[Lurker1]

Look, whenever there's a liquidation, the liquidators try to make as much money as possible, that's their job. Not to give you a good deal.

That said, they're also on a deadline, and the good prices will only start when everything is at least 25% off which won't happen until they start advertising 50% off or more.

By then, most likely, there will be slim pickings for real deals, unless you happen to need some of the 25% off crap they have left.

 

[ultimatebob]

OK guys... don't forget to let us know when stuff gets down to 50% off

 

[cheapherk]

Was in yesterday- 10-30% off the already high prices. You can still get better deals on the internet.

 

[dud]

I'm sorry but as much as I should feel bad (for people losing their jobs) ... I'm actually somewhat relieved that Crapusa is closing down. Their closing means that I will no longer be receiving their deceptive sales flyers in my Sunday paper. I used to believe it when I would open their ad and see their great sales prices on all sorts of crap ... that was until I drove the 12 miles to their store and found that they were sold out and would not honor their advertised price. Add to that the difficulties that buyers had collecting on rebates.

I stopped shopping at their B&M stores over five years ago and never looked back. I will not miss their stores, their crap adverts and those flyers filled with fictional prices.

... and now my Sunday paper will be that much lighter.

 

[nsafreak]

For giggles I went in today at the S Colorado Blvd store and boy have they ever jacked their prices up. I knew they jacked them up but I wasn't sure how much until I saw how much they're selling Windows Vista Ultimate full version for $399 - 15% off. That's still a good deal over what most retailers charge, such as newegg which has it for $319 (retail full not OEM or upgrade). Man, what a joke.

 

[kidsafe]

Originally posted by: dud
I'm sorry but as much as I should feel bad (for people losing their jobs) ... I'm actually somewhat relieved that Crapusa is closing down. Their closing means that I will no longer be receiving their deceptive sales flyers in my Sunday paper.

It also means there's one fewer choice and less competition. Circuit City is headed down the same road and I predict they'll be out of business in 1-2 years. Depending on the region, this isn't a good thing. Remember how Wal-Mart basically put RubberMaid out of business? Best Buy will likely become the Wal-Mart of the electronics world.

I guess I'm fortunate enough to live in the SF Bay Area. There's a cluster of Fry's south of Palo Alto as well as MicroCenter. Maybe the closures of CompUSA and potentially Circuit City will allow Fry's to move in closer to the mid-peninsula/San Mateo area.

The last thing my area needs is another Best Buy.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: pcz
Compusa always had rebates on their deals...

Yep! That's what killed 'em!

They either unilaterally extended the period beyond stated 6-8 weeks, or didn't pay up at all - spurring the FTC to step in eventually, before their first bankruptcy.

CC isn't far behind them - they got one foot in the grave too!

I'm certain it had nothing to do with the fact that their "Sale" prices were the standard prices of all the other stores.

 

[EGBTMagus]

No good deals here in Altamonte Springs, FL. I went in and the only thing they had below "retail" price were PS3 games at $50.99 which still isn't that good. Went in looking for RAM for my laptop, they are charging $40 for 1GB stick. I was even more suprised that people were actually buying things thinking that they were getting a good deal. Some guy bought a laptop for $700 that was weaker then the one I just got from Best Buy for $500.

Im gonna go check again at the end of the month, they had everything at 15% today... maybe by then they will be at 30%.

 

[dud]

Originally posted by: kidsafe

Originally posted by: dud
I'm sorry but as much as I should feel bad (for people losing their jobs) ... I'm actually somewhat relieved that Crapusa is closing down. Their closing means that I will no longer be receiving their deceptive sales flyers in my Sunday paper.

It also means there's one fewer choice and less competition. Circuit City is headed down the same road and I predict they'll be out of business in 1-2 years. Depending on the region, this isn't a good thing. Remember how Wal-Mart basically put RubberMaid out of business? Best Buy will likely become the Wal-Mart of the electronics world.

I guess I'm fortunate enough to live in the SF Bay Area. There's a cluster of Fry's south of Palo Alto as well as MicroCenter. Maybe the closures of CompUSA and potentially Circuit City will allow Fry's to move in closer to the mid-peninsula/San Mateo area.

The last thing my area needs is another Best Buy.

Kidsafe, while this MAY be true remember that the passing of time dictates that we adapt. Yes, Crapusa closing means that we have fewer B&M choices but there are thousands of different competitors vying for your business online. Don't fret ... competition is alive and well.