Well I have been using computers since 1984, back when a 5.25 floppy was a cool thing to have in one's binder.
CompUSA retail here in San Francisco was great before the Net took off. After that, the local store could not compete with online prices [which were tax free purchases too.]
Gradually I visited the local CompUSA fewer times a week [I used to go in there two to three times a week and always looked forward to their Sunday insert.] Eventually, my visits decreased to about once a month, and then in the last few years, maybe once every six months, if that.
I found online prices could not be matched. And the few times I went into CompUSA the service totally sucked. When I could get someone to help me, 99.9% of them did not know squat about what I needed to know.
With not-so-low prices and lousy service there was just no reason to go into CompUSA. I ended up doing my research on the Net and then shopping online.
Back in the day I spent a lot of money at CompUSA,but now spend it online. I probably spend about $30,000 a year on computers, software and electronics. So I don't know if my experience is that of a typical consumer and if my story can be used as an example of what went wrong with CompUSA, but just thought I'd share.
I guess there's still a market for brick and mortar computer stores, but don't count on me to be a customer. Actually, I much prefer to shop online rather than hassle shopping at a store.
Best Buy better than CompUSA? Come on. Yeah, maybe their prices are low. But the Customer Service is worth squat. Any savvy consumer knows you better not have a problem with a computer bought from Best Buy. I went to buy an HP laptop. I said I needed to be able to install Windows XP because the VPN for work doesn't support Vista yet. Clerk says not a problem, you can install XP. I ask if the drivers for XP are included. He says yes. I ask if he is sure. He says yes. I ask what if it doesn't work. He says I can return it, but if it boots up, there's going to be that damn re-stocking fee they charge.
I go to a PC that is net connected and look up the model on the HP site. It doesn't list XP Drivers. So I connect to the online chat. Support rep says that any consumer model HP computer that ships with Vista doesn't support XP, only the Compaq Business line supports XP. So I say forget it. I'll look elsewhere. Know what the clown Best Buy calls a clerk says? HP is wrong. So I say I'll take the laptop only under one condition, if XP won't install, I bring it back and no re-stocking fee. Know what he has to do? Get a manager. Know what the manager says? If it is in the box, it will work. I ask the manager if it comes with XP drivers. His response and this is a direct quote. "If they are in the box, they do." Does he know if they are in there? Nooooooooo. Can we open a box and look? Nooooooooo. Does it support XP? He doesn't know. Can he find out? Nooooooo. Can they waive the re-stocking fee if it won't support XP. No. And he asks "Why in the world would you want XP? Vista is so much better." I explain the situation about work and that the delay is because of all the issues with Vista, especially the licensing crap for enterprise installations (we have something like 15,000 client PC's). He wants to know what backward company I work for. I ask him if Best Buy upgraded all their PC's to Vista. He says no, but they are working on it, should be completed some time next year. I gave up and left. Best Buy better? Stop drinking the Koolaid.
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Well I have been using computers since 1984, back when a 5.25 floppy was a cool thing to have in one's binder.
CompUSA retail here in San Francisco was great before the Net took off. After that, the local store could not compete with online prices [which were tax free purchases too.]
Gradually I visited the local CompUSA fewer times a week [I used to go in there two to three times a week and always looked forward to their Sunday insert.] Eventually, my visits decreased to about once a month, and then in the last few years, maybe once every six months, if that.
I found online prices could not be matched. And the few times I went into CompUSA the service totally sucked. When I could get someone to help me, 99.9% of them did not know squat about what I needed to know.
With not-so-low prices and lousy service there was just no reason to go into CompUSA. I ended up doing my research on the Net and then shopping online.
Back in the day I spent a lot of money at CompUSA,but now spend it online. I probably spend about $30,000 a year on computers, software and electronics. So I don't know if my experience is that of a typical consumer and if my story can be used as an example of what went wrong with CompUSA, but just thought I'd share.
I guess there's still a market for brick and mortar computer stores, but don't count on me to be a customer. Actually, I much prefer to shop online rather than hassle shopping at a store.
Best Buy better than CompUSA? Come on. Yeah, maybe their prices are low. But the Customer Service is worth squat. Any savvy consumer knows you better not have a problem with a computer bought from Best Buy. I went to buy an HP laptop. I said I needed to be able to install Windows XP because the VPN for work doesn't support Vista yet. Clerk says not a problem, you can install XP. I ask if the drivers for XP are included. He says yes. I ask if he is sure. He says yes. I ask what if it doesn't work. He says I can return it, but if it boots up, there's going to be that damn re-stocking fee they charge.
I go to a PC that is net connected and look up the model on the HP site. It doesn't list XP Drivers. So I connect to the online chat. Support rep says that any consumer model HP computer that ships with Vista doesn't support XP, only the Compaq Business line supports XP. So I say forget it. I'll look elsewhere. Know what the clown Best Buy calls a clerk says? HP is wrong. So I say I'll take the laptop only under one condition, if XP won't install, I bring it back and no re-stocking fee. Know what he has to do? Get a manager. Know what the manager says? If it is in the box, it will work. I ask the manager if it comes with XP drivers. His response and this is a direct quote. "If they are in the box, they do." Does he know if they are in there? Nooooooooo. Can we open a box and look? Nooooooooo. Does it support XP? He doesn't know. Can he find out? Nooooooo. Can they waive the re-stocking fee if it won't support XP. No. And he asks "Why in the world would you want XP? Vista is so much better." I explain the situation about work and that the delay is because of all the issues with Vista, especially the licensing crap for enterprise installations (we have something like 15,000 client PC's). He wants to know what backward company I work for. I ask him if Best Buy upgraded all their PC's to Vista. He says no, but they are working on it, should be completed some time next year. I gave up and left. Best Buy better? Stop drinking the Koolaid.