R.I.P. CompUSA (A Long Term Employee's Story)

[Circo]

Rumors have been floating around since the 5th but today the rumors became reality.  CompUSA is finally shutting it's doors for good.  For the last five years I have worked for one of the top stores in the company, and though some have nasty things to say about Comp, it was the best job that I have ever had.  I have managed almost every department including store manager.  This afternoon I was informed that Gordon Brothers (A liquidation company) now owned the chain and at about 8pm a security guard showed up to make sure nothing walked off.  I imagine the liquidation sales will start sometime this weekend. 

It is sad (and scary) that it has finally come to an end but it's hard to compete with the online guys and after 4 years of 20+ percentage gains for my store, we have been down 20-30% each month since back to school.  So I am going to have to find something else, and while I have a great offer from another company it requires moving and I am worried about having to sell my house in this horrible market.  Anyway it's a sad day for myself and an awful lot of good employees that I have had the pleasure of working with. 

Needless to say with all of this going on lately, I have been a little slow about shipping out DVD's but I should be all caught up this weekend, my apologies for those who are waiting on them.  It has been at the back of my mind as I have tried to figure out what is next.   

For those looking for great deals, the sales usually start off with pretty scimpy discounts, I learned how it all works when I had to help them close a good guys store a few years ago.  So wait it out for a bit and things should get pretty good after the new year. 

Wish me luck!

 Did I mention, "Merry Friggin Christmas???"

[Red]

That sucks.  Are they closing all the stores or just yours?

I wish you the best of luck on your next job search.

Red

[Circo]

That sucks.  Are they closing all the stores or just yours?

I wish you the best of luck on your next job search.

Red

The whole chain is closing unfortunately

[Encryptor]

I'm sorry to see you lose your job and I hope you find a new one quickly. However it doesn't surprise me in the least. If any of the other Comp stores are like my local one I see why they are closing. The sales people are rude and useless most of the time unless you're looking at the latest gaming system. Their prices haven't been all they competitive. They charge outrageous restocking fees.

I bought a hard drive there once and it crashed a couple weeks after buying it. I returned the drive (to get another one) and they tried to charge me a restocking fee to return defective merchandise! 

Needless to say that was one of the last times I ever went back to that store. I think I went looking there for something I really needed and couldn't find anywhere else but that was it.

Again I'm sorry about your job but it doesn't hurt my feelings any to see them close!

Encryptor

[DaveMMR]

Very sorry to hear that Circo.   I used to have one near me and I used to stop there quite often.  They closed down about a year ago.

I do have to agree with Encryptor a little; CompUSA's "we're not going to tell you the price of anything" policy (among others) made shopping there a bit of a hassle.  But I doubt any of the employees at my local store had your dedication.  I never though it deserved to completely die off, though.   It just needed a strong restructuring and change in policy (especially to compete with the nearby Best Buy and Microcenter).

If you can, now is a good time to weigh all your options and see what is best.  I have a strong feeling you're going to land on your feet, stronger than before (if you got one great offer, there will be others). 

[FrizzleFried]

Sorry to hear you are losing your job...

[edit]McCoy's right (say it isn't so!)...my issues with CompUSA have nothing to do with you.[/edit]

I am sorry you are losing your job...but you WILL find better.

[unclet]

It seems they are closed 126 stores, however, 103 stores and their website will remain open after all the restructuring has completed:

http://www.compusa.com/specials/storeinfo/default.asp

[DaveMMR]

It seems they are closed 126 stores, however, 103 stores and their website will remain open after all the restructuring has completed:

http://www.compusa.com/specials/storeinfo/default.asp

That's old.  Those remaining 103 are now closing.

[mccoy178]

Out of respect to Circo, (which some apparently don't want to show), I will refrain from any opinion about the store itself.  Circo, I wish you nothing but the best from here on and I hope that everything works out.  You have been great to this community and I would imagine you were the same to your former employer.  Good luck in your new endeavor and thanks again for all the hard work.

[GAtekwriter]

Circo,

Your experience there won't go to waste - there are still plenty of national retailers that could benefit from your skills and background.  Costco, BestBuy, CircuitCity... I'm sure everyone has good/bad stories about these stores, but the fact remains that there's probably a few of them in your area that might be looking for you... keep your head up.

Jim

[bb040]

as a former comp employee too ....sorry to see you lose your job...i worked for them and agree ...i hated how they did things too...i worked for them part time for folding money...had a jerk for a store manager who liked to stack stuff around fire extinguishers and block fire exits..thought his head was going explode when i told him he had to move the stuff or i would have the store closed and him fined for what he was doing that day...my real job is im a firefighter/emt...it was a kinda love hate thing...LOL..the comp i worked at was closed last year...they will drag out their closing sale about a month or so when it gets down to the last few days is when the bargins are found ..if there is anything left in the store by that time...wish you the best in what ever you do next....i miss the free software they gave us

[TOK]

Sorry about the loss of your job Circo. Not an easy thing to go through, doubly so at this time of year.

I liked CompUSA and was surprised to see that the one in the Philly area was closing months ago when they shut down all those stores. It always seemed pretty busy and had been a big computer store for a long time, it was a Computer Warehouse before turning into CompUSA. I did kind of see that something bad was up when they started selling TV's, DVD's and game consoles, but figured that location was doing well enough to stick around. Guess not.

I'd take the unemployment and do whatever I could to get out of retail. My wife worked in retail for nearly 10 years before her store closed up. She always worked crap hours, didn't get paid that great and ultimately got screwed by a company she was loyal to. She got another job locally and is kicking herself in the ass for not starting what she felt was a real career (her words) earlier.

[Havok]

You're better off. I stopped going to CompUSA a long time ago because of their return policies, among other things.

Good luck with finding a new job, I'm sure something will come up quick for you...

[Circo]

thanks everyone

[97thruhiker]

Sorry to hear about your job, especially this time of year.  As others have mentioned it may suck now but I'm sure in the end everything will work out for you and you will find yourself in a better position (job and life wise).

As far as CompUSA goes I have to agree on your assessment about not being able to keep up with the NewEgg's and ZipZoomFly's of the world.  When I wanted or needed something that day I would go to compusa to buy it but 99% of the time I just browsed.

[MPTech]

Also sorry to hear of your misfortune, especially at this time of the year. Really ruins the holidays and I'm sure you've probably been stressing over this for many months. Try to think of this as closing one chapter and starting a new / better one!

Good Luck and I'm also sure you will be better in the long run.
Our prayers are with you.

[ChadTower]

Where do you live?  My employer has over 6000 retail stores and is always always always looking for good retail managers.

[Circo]

I live in Fresno, CA 

[ChadTower]

I live in Fresno, CA 

PM sent.

[Malenko]

I never had any problems returning things at my local CompUSA.... also the shelves are clearly marked with prices, maybe thats why the store in Delaware isn't closing....yet.
I share your pain though, Chrysler cut my job earlier I was lucky enough to still be semi young (29) and get a job at comcast....that I hate. Phone tech support isn't my forte`

I wish you nothing but the best bro. Chad get me a job too, kk?

[gurnie]

Not sure of your financial situation, but maybe you can rent your current house (have a close friend be a local land lord) and maybe you can afford to buy / rent in your new area?

[Spaced Ace]

That sucks dude.  I just came from compusa.com, and the sales are awesome.

20 to 50% off almost everything...

[stephenp1983]

Its tough loosing your job, good luck in finding something new.  I worked part time at bestbuy when I was in college, and they seemed to pay there managers really well.  Perhaps if there is one of these around you might look there.  Just a thought.. good luck

[Paladin]

My favorite Comp USA story was when I needed some blank DVD's.  I looked online and saw they were on sale, so I drove the 5 minutes to the local store and found they didn't have them on sale.  I asked about it and they said that I'd have to order them online and use in store pickup to get the sale price.

I drove home and ordered them online, then drove back and paid the sale price.  It was my last Comp USA purchase.  I did go into one of the local stores when they were closing, but they had marked everything up to the point where the store closing discounts made everything about the same price that you could get them at the local Best Buy or Circuit City - and of course you couldn't take anything back if you had a problem with it.

[MrMojoZ]

I applaud anyone who has the opportunity to leave a retail environment or phone support job. Go do something else and never look back. Life will be much better. 

[DaveMMR]

I never had any problems returning things at my local CompUSA.... also the shelves are clearly marked with prices, maybe thats why the store in Delaware isn't closing....yet.

At my local CompUSA (Carle Place, LI) there were price stickers on the shelves, but they weren't necessarily (read: ever) lined up with the proper products.  So you'd be like "Oh wow, this video card is only $29.99" but then reality kicks in and you start reading the UPC codes and they don't match.  So you have to start playing a game of matching the the codes to the proper stickers and it turned shopping into a fun little game.

[JustMichael]

Circo,
Best of luck in the future.

As for my local CompUSA's (Seattle/Tacoma area), they sucked.  Often times stuff wasn't by the correct price tag.  Lots of prices not posted and trying to get someone to help took forever because not enough staff on duty compared to the number of customers.  As for their prices, most of the time I could get an item shipped to my home cheaper than going to CompUSA (except some sales items).  I once tried to price-match a tv to Circuit City's sale price (which was a good deal then) so that I could use my CompUSA credit card to pay for it (3 years No Interest).  45 minutes after them making sure Circuit City had the tv in stock and saying that they would do the price-match, I finally got to leave the store with my tv.  I think they kept hoping I would just leave.  CompUSA's price for the tv was almost $400 higher.

[retrometro]

I applaud anyone who has the opportunity to leave a retail environment or phone support job. Go do something else and never look back. Life will be much better. 

I understand your sentiments but I don't know if changing jobs guarantees a better life.  I would rather suggest that if someone's not happy with their job to go do something else.  If they're happy doing retail or phone support and it provides the amount of income they're happy with, then be happy doing it.

[SirPeale]

I once tried to price-match a tv to Circuit City's sale price (which was a good deal then) so that I could use my CompUSA credit card to pay for it (3 years No Interest).  45 minutes after them making sure Circuit City had the tv in stock and saying that they would do the price-match, I finally got to leave the store with my tv.  I think they kept hoping I would just leave.  CompUSA's price for the tv was almost $400 higher.

I've often wondered why they have a policy like that.  That the store actually has to have the item in-stock to be able to pricematch to them.  Hello?  If they had them in stock, I might actually get it at that store.

[ChadTower]

Because they don't actually want to price match the item.  If they wanted to sell it for a price lower than their own, they would do it themselves.

[SirPeale]

Yeah, I get that, but then why even have a policy? 

[ChadTower]

Yeah, I get that, but then why even have a policy? 

You have to match local competitors' policies.  If you don't, people will get into the habit of driving to the other store instead of yours.  Sometimes they have to just bite the no profit or small loss on a regular customer to keep their loyalty... not that they want to, but it just has to be done.

This is why most major retail chains have unique models from major manufacturers... if you look closely, you can see with a lot of products that a store like Walmart has a model # one digit off from every other store so that they can carry the same item but don't have to worry about pricematching.  It's part of the distribution agreement, large chains have that leverage.

[Wienerdog]

Yeah, I get that, but then why even have a policy? 

Because if the other store isn't required to have the item in stock, then the policy would be abused.  Here is what would happen:
Wienerdog Electronics advertises a 42" LCD for $199 but when everyone comes to my store I'm suddenly out of stock.  Now if every Circuit City, Best Buy, and CompUSA had to sell their entire stock of 42" LCDs for $199, that would not be fair.   

[Circo]

I applaud anyone who has the opportunity to leave a retail environment or phone support job. Go do something else and never look back. Life will be much better. 

I understand your sentiments but I don't know if changing jobs guarantees a better life.  I would rather suggest that if someone's not happy with their job to go do something else.  If they're happy doing retail or phone support and it provides the amount of income they're happy with, then be happy doing it.

I was paid very well, and was able to have a good lifestyle, I am not overly worried as I have a few leads on good jobs.  I think the biggest woe is that many of us have been there for years and most of the managers are some of my closest friends.  Now we are spreading to the four winds and starting over.  At 32 years old I have only had three jobs and prefer stability over uncertainty.  But I am sure that I will land uphill and have a very supportive wife and family so all will be well. 

But just in case.... I am working furiously on new video sets and trying to finish the mame set so order up folks!!! 
DONATIONS ENCOURAGED!

[Circo]

This was making the rounds in inter company email and I thought it gave some hilarious insight into a company going through liquidation during the holidays. 


TWAS THE NITE BEFORE LAYOFFS>>>>>>>>

 

Twas the night before layoffs,

And all through the store

Not an employee was working

Down on the floor.

 

The prices were hung

By the products with care

In hopes that the customers

Would see them there.

 

The employees were nestled

All snug in their stands

With visions of job openings

And money in their hands.

 

And Roger in black

And we in our red

Are really looking forward

To the closing ahead.

 

When out in the parking lot

Arose such a clatter,

They all went outside

To see what was the matter.

 

With everyone gone

We flew like a flash,

Ripped open the registers

And took all the cash.

 

We though to ourselves,

“Nobody will know!”

Given the luster

Of holiday cash flow.

 

When what to our wondering eyes should appear,

Roger came back; We looked on in fear.

 

With a little smirk,

So lively and quick

We knew in a moment,

That he would tell Dick.

 

More rapid than eagles

His coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted,

And called us by name.

 

Now Judee, Now Kim, Now Justin and Andy,

On Jesse, Aileen, Antonya and Randy.

 

To the top of the stairs!

To the edge of the wall!

I want to see you now

I want to see you all!

 

We stood before him,

And he asked us “WHY?”

So we just asked him,

“Will you just let this fly?”

 

He said “Merry Christmas,

I treasure you much.

You can keep all the money

And presents and such.”

 

And then he said as he walked out of sight

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night