  Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1470 Registered: 04-2005 |
Just reported on Fox2. CompUSA is closing 7 stores in Michigan. http://blogs.pcworld.com/techl og/archives/003809.html The stores are expected to be shuttered in 3 months. Lets hope Micro Center takes over a few of the locations. Corrected number of stores closing (Message edited by PSIP on March 01, 2007) | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2007 |
IT's a bit off-topic, but does anyone know whether or not they closed the Circuit City in Harper Woods. We were driving down Kelly the other day and they were stripping down the letters. I will cry if they did because the 7 Mile and Gratiot area just lost a Walgreens and NE Detroiters are fragile at the time. | ||
Leoqueen Member Username: Leoqueen Post Number: 1493 Registered: 07-2004 |
I am upset about this. I took my PowerMac G4 to the CompUSA in Dearborn for repair last spring; they fixed it in good time at a reasonable price. If I had to wait for the Mac Geniuses in Somerset to get around to my Mac, I would still be standing in line. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2658 Registered: 10-2004 |
The computer shop on Telegraph near the 10000 block should be able to fix just about anything. They even have a bench area near the back where you can take your own unit apart and diagnose it or swap parts for it. And they have all kinds of new and used stuff from closeouts or what-not cheap. They were selling a set of six precision screwdrivers for 29 cents the last time I visited the place. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 12 Registered: 02-2007 |
Just went to the site and check it out *mopes silently*. Ty though for whoever would come along this year and help. | ||
Cmubryan Member Username: Cmubryan Post Number: 380 Registered: 11-2003 |
The CompUSA in "Dearborn" is actually in Detroit. Yes on the border of Dearborn but nonetheless still Detroit. It's a shame that the city loses another chain store. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1473 Registered: 04-2005 |
State wide, its another 400 to 500 or more people who are losing their jobs. | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2007 |
With companies like Dell selling complete systems including a 17 LCD monitor and OS for 299 everyday, I don't know how any of these stick and mud PC retailers stay in business. They've had that deal or one similar to it running for the last 4 years. And Fry's sells an Athlon for 159 with no OS. I don't think this is a Michigan problem as retailers nationwide are being pressured by internet sales. :Just read the article: It's a pity that when one geek has a bit of displeasure with a retailer or minimum wage person that works for the retailer, can go to his magazine and inflict so much harm.. In his words "Best buy is next" "Should be called worst buy" Nothing wrong with being objective, but thats just unfair.. | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 169 Registered: 03-2006 |
I hate to see the job loss but CompUSA is not a good store. The customer service is awful, probably because of the low morale of the staff or they weren't paying enough to get good people. You can also get stuff much cheaper on the internet. | ||
Mike Member Username: Mike Post Number: 863 Registered: 11-2003 |
i tend to buy most of my electronics online. but i do go to the stores to look at them. i guess i am part of the problem | ||
B24liberator Member Username: B24liberator Post Number: 42 Registered: 01-2007 |
Damn. I guess the big box stores and the fact Apple is pushing to open more of their own stores was too much... CompUSA- They always gave me space just to browse or whatnot, very much in contrast with Best Buy and Circuit City, where the staff seems to swoop down upon you as soon as you approach a big ticket item. I hate that. | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 170 Registered: 03-2006 |
B24liberator - I like "space" when shopping too but when something is locked up behind the counter and it takes 1/2 hour to get anyone to get it out that is a little too much space. They gave you space because they didn't care. Great Username by the way! | ||
Darwinism Member Username: Darwinism Post Number: 616 Registered: 06-2005 |
As I had mentioned on the Wal-Mart thread, Metro Detroit is not seeing the end of this unemployment crisis yet. The economy here is an absolute debacle. CompUSA joins the recent mass closures of Circuit City stores. We are looking at thousands of people losing their jobs due to this recent announcements. Brace yourselves. | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 172 Registered: 03-2006 |
Well I guess it's hard to sell shit to unemployed people or others who do not FEEL secure even though they have a job. I am in the IT business and even my PC's are far from current. I don't have the extra money and I refuse to put stuff on credit cards. To be honest, I feel that the retail sector has been overcrowded for years and this was bound to happen. My area is blighted with strip malls and drug stores up the ass, I always wondered how they could all keep going given the current local economic conditions. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 3083 Registered: 10-2003 |
To see what is killing CompUSA just scroll through this thread Need advice on buying a new PC. The two best pieces of advice on that thread were (I paraphrase): (1) buy the loss leader at CompUSA and (2) go to CompUSA play with the computers there, pick out what you like and then go home and buy it online cheaper. BYE-BYE CompUSA. In general it is kind of a shame to lose stores like CompUSA. Although it is convenient and probably a bit cheaper to buy stuff online, it is nice to be able to go into a store to check out stuff before buying it. I'm not talking about just the big stuff but little things like flash drives, laptop bags, peripherals too. Perhaps CompUSA would have done better going a bit smaller and maybe even doing something radical like locating inside some complimentary retailer (like Home Depot or Sears/Kmart or Barnes and Noble). Anyway it is likely too late for CompUSA, the rise of Dell for PCs ~10 years ago and the rise of online software resellers 5-10 years ago essentially clearcut CompUSAs retail market. Focusing on service as they attempted to do in response apparently didn't work too well. That said CompUSA typically paled in comparison to MicroCenter (are there microcenters in MI? I didn't know that) and, of course, Fry's back in Fry's heyday before it overexpanded. | ||
Newlaster Member Username: Newlaster Post Number: 206 Registered: 06-2004 |
As a techgeek...I just can't wait for the closeout sales! Anyone know when to expect these? | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1477 Registered: 04-2005 |
There is one Micro Center in Madison Hts. Great store. Who remembers the Computer Shopper Magazine from the early 90s? it was HUGE like 500 pages. All kinds of companies selling components. Today the magazine is just a small pamphlet. Those were the days before the internet. I used Prodigy and Compuserve. Computer Shopper had a monthly listing for BBS's those were local servers that you could dial up and get your p0rn. Great times at 2400 baud. Took all night to DL a picture of a gal in a bikini.  | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2659 Registered: 10-2004 |
I always liked their closeouts on books and hardware items there over the years. But Office Depot next door had better prices on printer paper @$22/carton (10 reams or 5000 sheets). Computers are commodities today, so the profit margins are getting down closer to grocery store margins. Brick-and-mortars cannot survive in such an environment. Computer stores have been dying everywhere. Some have been out of business for years, and some even have their old fading signs up in some locations where no other merchants have dared to enter. I checked out their reburbished-gear auction site three days ago and noticed that their inventory was pretty slim. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 235 Registered: 12-2006 |
Ahh, Prodigy and CompuServe. The good old days. CompuServe users had the most bizarrely unfriendly e-mail addresses, back when e-mail was (to the general public) a brand new thing. You would have something like 28105.3369@compuserve.com. AOL was not even an Internet service; they provided their own content and were very late in connecting their users to the Internet. Then as now, their specialty was in providing service to people who had no business whatsoever using a computer. Some of my peeps were involved with the Detroit FreeNet in the bad old days. Anyone remember those kinds of efforts? Ah, memories. | ||
Broken_main Member Username: Broken_main Post Number: 1191 Registered: 06-2005 |
Sooo, I wonder what will happen to my warranties on my Computer and my digital camera | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 238 Registered: 12-2006 |
Depends on whether they are manufacturer warranties or store warranties. Of course, Comp USA is not going completely out of business (yet), they are just closing slightly more than half their locations. | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 5168 Registered: 10-2003 |
I always thought CompUSA was the poor man's BestBuy. BTW, I'm sure the one here in Lansing is only staying open because it's virtually next door to MSU. | ||
Mike Member Username: Mike Post Number: 865 Registered: 11-2003 |
the problem is that when i was shopping for speakers the price difference between store and online was huge. i would have paid slightly more to get them at the convience at best buy, but i would not have paid close to double. at the time, the tower pair would have costed five hundred at best buy, but amazon had them for three hundred... it was a no brianer... btw, thanks best buy for letting me try them out. | ||
Darwinism Member Username: Darwinism Post Number: 617 Registered: 06-2005 |
Yes, the Internet may well be doing them in. But then, these companies are not just brick-and-mortar storefront companies. Circuit City sells through their website too, CompUSA sells through their website too, BestBuy, Staples and pretty much every major retailer sells online as well. I know I tend to buy my gears from BestBuy.com more than the physical BestBuy, from CircuitCity.com more than the physical Circuit City and from CompUSA.com more than the physical CompUSA. Therefore, I am not exactly taking my business elsewhere at all. | ||
Cabasse Member Username: Cabasse Post Number: 33 Registered: 01-2006 |
used to work at the detroit/dearborn store, in fact my first job after moving from atlanta about two years ago. stupid, stupid managers, and even more stupid ceo's. they refused to try and compete with the online retailers, or even better chains like microcenter/fry's. i won't miss 'em. (my name was tim btw, if you ever came in and bought shit from me) | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 449 Registered: 04-2006 |
Did Best Buy push them out? I always prefered CompUSA to Best Buy but the Ann Arbor CompUSA had the worst customer service on the face of the planet. I would drive from Ann Arbor to Novi just to avoid going to that one and I'd frequently hear other people in line talking about how they got screwed at the Ann Arbor CompUSA. | ||
Homer Member Username: Homer Post Number: 91 Registered: 08-2004 |
Oh yes, Detroit Freenet, 2400B, up all night following links to various university libraries. Seemed they were the only sites out there. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 5590 Registered: 02-2004 |
CompUSA has lost out the corporate competitve market due to Best Buy and Circuit City. Lots of folks rather go there and than shopping at CompuUSA. OH Well! Who else is going to lose? Best Buy or Circuit city. | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2446 Registered: 11-2003 |
Based upon my experiences with the low-grade morons whom they've hired to staff their stores, I'll put my money on Best Buy to go under first. | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1163 Registered: 01-2005 |
I've had two horrible experiences with the MicroCenter location...and nothing but good things to say about compusa. They closed the store at telegrph and sq lk (near where I work) last fall and that saddened me. Great service. That Microcenter store in Madison Heights can't keep up with the customers it has...it would only be a nightmare if they took on additional stores. I don't think they could run a hampster wheel very well... | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 726 Registered: 11-2003 |
Is Urbanized's post above in this thread correct? Did the Circuit City in Harper Woods close? It is the closest big box electronics retailer for most everybody living east of Van Dyke and south of Eight Mile. That's at least 250,000 people, maybe twice that. Where the hell do Grosse Pointers spend their money? | ||
Reetz12 Member Username: Reetz12 Post Number: 144 Registered: 09-2005 |
At the circuit city on 13 mile and little mack....better customer service! | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 451 Registered: 04-2006 |
BB had a great marketing strategy that CC has been trying to catch up with for years. If either is gonna go under it will likely be CC. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2007 |
Yes, the location was no longer listed on the Circuit City website. We also lost a Walgreens unfortunately the day after. Most Eastsiders shopped at the Eastland Circuit City, even a few Eastpointers, SCS's and HP folks shop there too when they wanted somewhere close. Also, GP's have the internet and the independent shops along Mack and Kercheaval to use also for Electronics. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 14 Registered: 02-2007 |
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd /processAddress.do#allStores Here's the site to prove it under the Zip Code near the 8 Mile Gratiot area. Notice, the first nearest location is the one a 13 Mile and Little Mack and not the one in Harper Woods. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 178 Registered: 10-2003 |
This sucks because I don't always want to wait to get computer components. Sometimes I just want to run up to the store, knowing I'll be able to pick up what I want and have it right away. Best Buy and Circuit City aren't really competitors because they don't have the selection of components. Best Buy will have like ONE kind of graphic card for sale, when the fact is there are tons of different kinds of cards out there, and the chances you computer can even use the one they have for sale is slim. And this is the same for many other components. I just can't believe there isn't a market for computer component sales. True, CompUSA does have crappy customer services. It's really not the place to go if you don't already know what you want before going in, or don't know much about computers. But if you know exactly what you want, its nice to be able to just drive out and get it instead of buying it online and waiting days or a week and paying shipping, and of course god FORBID you need to return something you bought online, if my own experiences say anything, you won't see your refund for weeks. | ||
Courtney Member Username: Courtney Post Number: 120 Registered: 06-2004 |
I'm just shocked that CompUSA hasn't closed before now. The handful of times I had the "idiot moment" and thought they may actually have what I needed the stores (in a handful of states, including the location that used to be on John R in Troy) were nearly empty at peak times, the employees had no clue what was going on not to mention an overpriced, sub par selection of junk. I miss the days of local bbs' and then later on, Prodigy. (I still remember my login, scary!) At least bbs' are starting to make a comeback. You don't dial into them, but I can still get my inner geek grrl fix of Usurper and L.O.R.D. and BRE. We usually buy any computer stuff online (in part because we're usually not looking for parts that would be profitable for ANY brick and mortar business to keep on hand) but the two times I've been in MicroCenter have been annoying. I wonder if they are STILL trying to get people to give their whole life story for their receipt? While both times I refused, the last time buying a $5 pack of blank cds the moron at the register acted like I was causing him the MOST trouble in his WHOLE life. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 182 Registered: 10-2003 |
Holy crap Courtney. You're speaking my language. I used to run a BBS back in the day. On an 8088XT with a 1200 baud modem. It was called "M.M.M.M." But I remember a lot of the other big ones in the area: The Jungle, Snowbird, The Codex, The Z00, The Razor's Edge, Woody's Nest... Ah yes, those were the days. Back then I was a genius. Now I'm just your average dumbell. | ||
Courtney Member Username: Courtney Post Number: 121 Registered: 06-2004 |
Yay! It's so rare to find someone who knows what a bbs was. I found a copy of Qmodem while sorting through some old stuff last week and had to load it just to get all nostalgic. Even in "pre boomtown" Greenville, SC, there were around 10 big bbs' and a good 20-30 smaller ones. I can't imagine how big the scene was here. I've often wondered what happened to my brain in between those days and now. To go from knowing so much to so little yet without distancing myself from a computer is slightly alarming. Maybe the sound waves in 300-2400bps connections fried some important part?  | ||
Fastcarsfreedom Member Username: Fastcarsfreedom Post Number: 136 Registered: 11-2005 |
This CompUSA story is definitely not about Michigan, or even the economy for that matter. This was a business which did not adapt, and whose "day" simply came and went. Recall Computer City? Recall Good Guys in the Western U.S.? All were failing and all fell into mergers with CompUSA. Frankly I'd be surprised if what's left of this company survives for long. In some ways reminds me of the Hechinger/HQ/Builder Square situation--failing business trying to acquire and merge there way to prosperity--it rarely works...Silo, Fretter, Highland... The unfortunate part is that CompUSA's retail space will dump a bunch more big-box space onto the local real estate market--joining that from Media Play, Kmart, etc--hell there are still empty HQ's and Sports Authority stores around, among others. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1626 Registered: 12-2005 |
Ah, true confessions of aging geeks.  I too used a BBS or two via a TRS-80. The best one in this area pre-1980 gave free access to a Dow Jones news service. At that time it was unimaginable that any lay individual would get news directly off the wire. I made an ultrafast pulse-dial demon dialer using the cassette switching relay in the expansion interface. When it detected carrier it honked a horn to alert me. No one could dial faster or more relentlessly. Be the envy of other geeks! Adventure! Oregon Trail! You had to type "BANG" fast enough or you would be considered shot. That was the state of the art in gaming technology. | ||
Urbanize Member Username: Urbanize Post Number: 15 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thing I don't understand. WE get these mega size box stores built. Next thing you know, when you turn your back and look, there just an eerie, empty space. If ya know you won't be staying, then save everyone else the trouble please. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 1317 Registered: 11-2003 |
CompUSA blows. So does Micro Center. Who cares? The economy at work. | ||
Sticks Member Username: Sticks Post Number: 228 Registered: 08-2005 |
Damn, I remember Computer Shopper, where I picked out parts for my first PC from. No matter how digital we get, I'll still love flipping through actual sheets of paper looking at ads. I've noticed that it's pretty much even when people talk about good or bad experiences with CompUSA. It's like that with any other big-box electronics place. Service will usually vary a little from store to store, region to region. I've gone in there maybe 4x my whole life. One time I couldn't be left alone. Two times no one was around to help. The other, someone asked me if I needed something and when I declined, they left me alone. The only thing I'll miss about CompUSA is paying a bit more for the convenience of having to buy a part for emergency purposes rather than waiting a fucking week when ordering from NewEgg or TigerDirect. | ||
Ericdetfan Member Username: Ericdetfan Post Number: 10 Registered: 02-2007 |
That sucks. I just bought a Creative 2.1 speaker system from the Detroit store. Noone else had what I wanted, but they did. Noone ever helps me when I go in there, but I know enough about computers to where I don't need any help. Another empty bix box store in Dearborn, Micro-center prolly wont take that location...its kind of a hole... I thought CompUSA would leave the location in A2 open for sure..oh well. I bet MC will jump all over that location. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 4587 Registered: 11-2004 |
Geez... this thread almost makes me fawn for days of Highland Appliance and Ollie Fretter! It'a amazing how successful a chain can be from the consumers' point of view and then before you know it, they're gone! | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1486 Registered: 04-2005 |
Captain: Wheres Prodsky? Prodsky: 50 watts per channel, baby cakes. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 190 Registered: 10-2003 |
"Ah, true confessions of aging geeks. I too used a BBS or two via a TRS-80. The best one in this area pre-1980 gave free access to a Dow Jones news service. At that time it was unimaginable that any lay individual would get news directly off the wire. " Nice Jimaz! I found my old computer on that site too. http://www.old-computers.com/m useum/computer.asp?st=1&c=508 Color Computer! Its a computer....WITH COLOR!!!!! | ||
Ericdetfan Member Username: Ericdetfan Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2007 |
ah, the trash-80...lol.. I personally had a Commodore 64...Fun lil computer with lots of neat programs. | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 29 Registered: 02-2007 |
Here ya go, did they miss it er what? Can you imagine trying to operate this or some outfit like Microsoft trying to support it? Grab the steering wheel and navigate the web :-) Circa 1954 Home Computer mock up..  | ||
Eastsidedog Member Username: Eastsidedog Post Number: 932 Registered: 03-2006 |
Fastcars, I guess that's one plus about Detroit proper. There are/will be almost no empty big box store sites since that era of retail literally passed Detroit by. Too bad about CompUSA, I've been a loyal customer for years... bought my G4 there and other PCs and games before it. Oh, and yes I do remember bbs' and Computer Shopper.  | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1629 Registered: 12-2005 |
Snopes says that RAND photo is actually "A full-scale display of a typical nuclear-powered submarine's maneuvering room in which the ship's engineers control the power plant and electrical and steam systems." | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2007 |
Wow I'm going to have to invest in a research department :-) Wait a minute, how do we know snopes didn't colorize RANDS photo? LOL It's amazing the things floating around the web, it's hard to know what to believe... Something about that picture has never looked right and I just noticed what it is, the linen overlay to diffuse the edges. And now looking more closely the qwerty keyboard is huge in relation and it was also inset crooked.. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1631 Registered: 12-2005 |
I thought it was funny. Either way it's pretty impressive. | ||
Courtney Member Username: Courtney Post Number: 123 Registered: 06-2004 |
Has anything ever gone into the spot on Michigan Ave in Dearborn that Inca Computers occupied? It seemed like a prime location, even if they had to undo all that awful faux finish stuff. I still marvel at how a storefront that large with such a specialty market would have ever been given the green light by their accountant/financial planner. Brilliant business decisions 101. | ||
Ericdetfan Member Username: Ericdetfan Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2007 |
no...that whole area is not good for retail anymore..it has become more of a bar/ and eating neighboorhood. (Message edited by ericdetfan on March 03, 2007) | ||
Udmphikapbob Member Username: Udmphikapbob Post Number: 279 Registered: 07-2004 |
so has anyone been to the stores? are they marking stuff down yet? i need a wireless router... | ||
Ro_resident Member Username: Ro_resident Post Number: 210 Registered: 11-2003 |
I stopped at the Troy store this (Saturday)afternoon. Most of the 'good stuff' was marked down 10% off MSRP. Other stuff was up to 30% off. One tv tuner card was higher priced today (with 10% off) compared to their in-store special on Wednesday. The old ad was still up. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 2683 Registered: 10-2004 |
It's very common for prices to suddenly get raised some 40-50% before such sales to (1) snare the unwary and (2) as a basis for reductions. I've seen this scam many times over the years with going-out-of-business "sales." You should be able to do better online, I'll bet. | ||
Sticks Member Username: Sticks Post Number: 229 Registered: 08-2005 |
quote: Nothing's gone into that store front for years yet they still have the Inca signage up on Michigan Avenue. As far as Westborn is concerned, you're right, the downtown part is a nice solid strip of bars and eateries. However, before coming into downtown from the west, you do have room for big-box stores. On the south side of Michigan Ave you have Kroger, Marshalls, Staples, Michaels, Aco, and some other places in the strip mall. On the north side you have Blockbuster, Farmer Jack, a Sprint Store, and again, other places in a strip mall. While I don't know anyone who works at these places, know how they're doing, or actually go in there, I think that area is prime for big-box retail being close to a secondary road (US-24), being on a secondary road itself (US-12), and having existing big-box nearby. If you want to talk about places not good for big-box, we can talk about the Dix and Eureka intersection. |
