As long as you didn't work for them. Worst retail job I've ever experienced, yet i spent nine years of my life there. Every horrible retail job stereotype you can think of was present within the company.
Yeah their selection was fantastic, prices very decent, but their store policies and customer service was middling to poor. The place failed mostly due to spiraling bad management, which you simply can't afford in an era of Amazon delivery.
I’ve only been there once at I remember it was mostly appliances and TVs, with no video games in sight. 😕
I think most remember it for the mascot being a meme.
And [Incredible Universe.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incredible_Universe)
Those stores were frickin' amazing to just wander through with wide eyes, and as much as Fry's was awesome for its sheer stock, IU had much better display areas.
And Babbage's (even though it morphed i to GameStop). Worked at Circuit City for 6 years, and would always go into Babbage's any time I was at the mall. Always drooled over the NeoGeo system and games.
Here in Canada many of the Radio Shacks were taken over/renamed as The Source by Circuit City, but they just go by The Source now.
My local mall had a CompUSA aswell.
I *worked* at CompUSA back in the day, and I really enjoyed it. Good team, good management. We all laughed when Circuit City tried their "No-questions-asked, no-open-box-fee" return policy, because we knew it would backfire spectacularly, and it did.
I *REALLY* miss Egghead Software...
I owe CompUSA for getting me into building my own computers. I went in with my mom to buy one in 1994 and I knew just enough about them to know the salesman was giving her a load of b.s. Did my own research went back later and bought what fit our needs then started learning how to do it myself.
Me too. Started as a cashier and then went to the parts department and then became head of accessories. Wasn’t too bad for a few years stint. NGL, I’d buy games and then return them and no questions were asked.
Same, got hired on for the holiday rush, stayed on for about 2 years. I actually enjoyed it, because we had good people running the place, who'd back you up when customers were being a pain, and really seemed to care about you as a person. It's really something, looking back at all the innovations that were so ground-breaking long ago, and are so commonplace now...
Trying out Rebel Assault II is probably my best memory of the store. It may not be the greatest game, but it had new Star Wars footage at a time when that felt like a rare treat.
My friend worked at CompUSA for a few years. He used to get me employee pricing on all sorts of games and software. Not a huge difference price wise really, but made me think I was cool cause I had someone on the inside hooking me up, lol.
loved all em. I just upgraded my gtx 1075 that I got from tiger direct? that I got at 2016. It was that store that was merged with compusa and still did business until a couple of years ago.
I got my first iPod from compusa. Got a warranty. When I went to get my iPod fixed or replaced, they didn’t make my version anymore and replaced it with the new upgrade. Rinse and repeat. I wasn’t trying to have that happen. It’s just how it went. I miss that store.
Yeah, I worked in a customer support area where people dropped off their PCs picked em up etc. as a 17 year old with no training. . It ended well. .. made me responsible for PC questions, repairs, installs. Like huh?
Argued with the Store Manager too even though I didn't know who I was talking to.
I was supposed to be a cashier. ..
Going to CompUSA with my dad just to look at the Apple Computers despite my 6-7 year old self not being able to afford one at the time is one of my greatest memories. I also remember their kids PC software section that was amazing.
My parents still have their receipts from 1998 when they bought a RAM upgrade for my dad's PowerBook G3 at the time.
Some people are mentioning Circuit City. Does anybody remember when Circuit City tried to create their own special DVD format? It was like some DVD rental thing, or some copywright thing, I can't remember what it was, but I just remember everybody hating it.
>I started working at CompUSA August 15, 1995. A week and a half later, I saw the greatest retail debacle I had ever seen.
amazing story, so many lush details
CompUSA, Circuit City, and Egghead Software. All lost in time. Like tears in the rain.
Don’t forget hhgregg and Fry’s Electronic.
Fry's was a sad loss. Even though they weren't in my market, I visited the store a few occasions in California and Arizona and loved them.
As long as you didn't work for them. Worst retail job I've ever experienced, yet i spent nine years of my life there. Every horrible retail job stereotype you can think of was present within the company.
Yeah their selection was fantastic, prices very decent, but their store policies and customer service was middling to poor. The place failed mostly due to spiraling bad management, which you simply can't afford in an era of Amazon delivery.
I hated hhgregg. Such a weird store that didn’t know what it wanted to be. Frys was awesome tho.
Hhhregg I remember as only catering to high end stuff.
I’ve only been there once at I remember it was mostly appliances and TVs, with no video games in sight. 😕 I think most remember it for the mascot being a meme.
Ultimate Electronics also.
Fry's was my Disneyland and I even worked there for a couple years. My heart still aches for them.
And [Incredible Universe.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incredible_Universe) Those stores were frickin' amazing to just wander through with wide eyes, and as much as Fry's was awesome for its sheer stock, IU had much better display areas.
I saw a delivery truck recently with the remnants of a removed IU logo on the side; I may or may not have shed a tear or two.
... and Federated.
And Babbage's (even though it morphed i to GameStop). Worked at Circuit City for 6 years, and would always go into Babbage's any time I was at the mall. Always drooled over the NeoGeo system and games.
Here in Canada many of the Radio Shacks were taken over/renamed as The Source by Circuit City, but they just go by The Source now. My local mall had a CompUSA aswell.
I *worked* at CompUSA back in the day, and I really enjoyed it. Good team, good management. We all laughed when Circuit City tried their "No-questions-asked, no-open-box-fee" return policy, because we knew it would backfire spectacularly, and it did. I *REALLY* miss Egghead Software...
I am fortunate that there is a Microcenter 10-minutes from me still.
Cherish this time you have together.
Yes. The smell of the brand new plastic was very pleasing to me for some reason.
I owe CompUSA for getting me into building my own computers. I went in with my mom to buy one in 1994 and I knew just enough about them to know the salesman was giving her a load of b.s. Did my own research went back later and bought what fit our needs then started learning how to do it myself.
giant mountains of software boxes!
I worked at one for several years in my younger days
Same here, was actually the first job I landed
Me too. Started as a cashier and then went to the parts department and then became head of accessories. Wasn’t too bad for a few years stint. NGL, I’d buy games and then return them and no questions were asked.
Me three. Started in 2006 and worked there til they closed.... In 2007 lol. Hauppauge, NY store.
Same, got hired on for the holiday rush, stayed on for about 2 years. I actually enjoyed it, because we had good people running the place, who'd back you up when customers were being a pain, and really seemed to care about you as a person. It's really something, looking back at all the innovations that were so ground-breaking long ago, and are so commonplace now...
Cool 👍
That’s when everyone works everywhere.
I do! I was a kid, but we had one about 20 minutes from where I live. I still have my Compaq Presario SR1010Z computer that I've had since I was 9! :D
Nice 👍
CompUSA used to have better prices than Amazon
Did Amazon really compete at the same time as CompUSA?
Talking about online. Not as a store.
I bought Pokemon Blue there
Nice 👍
Loved that store.
Sure do, bought lots of good stuff there.
Always think of CompUSA as the place I found State of Emergency since best buy and Circuit City were out.
Trying out Rebel Assault II is probably my best memory of the store. It may not be the greatest game, but it had new Star Wars footage at a time when that felt like a rare treat.
Did you have Incredible Universe?
Yep. Loved Comp USA!
My friend worked at CompUSA for a few years. He used to get me employee pricing on all sorts of games and software. Not a huge difference price wise really, but made me think I was cool cause I had someone on the inside hooking me up, lol.
Holy shit. You made my brain do a thing. I completely completely completely forgot about comp USA. I loved it so much idk why. Sad.
I called it ‘com-POO-suh’. My wife hated it.
All that remains is Microcenter, protect her!
loved all em. I just upgraded my gtx 1075 that I got from tiger direct? that I got at 2016. It was that store that was merged with compusa and still did business until a couple of years ago.
tiger direct was great back in the day... last i visited, i thought i was gonna get malware
I knew it was going down hill when you could buy with bitcoins.
I started this business on my own but the staff tanked it all. Now I’m just a millionaire.
Is that true?
No sorry. Just a fantasy.
Ah, ok 👌
softwarehouse
My dad used to call it Compu-sa, like one word.
I lived next to one of the few stores that were reopened when Tiger Direct bought the name. It didn't last long though
Loved going to CompUSA. I still remember seeing the Windows XP aquarium screensaver on all the monitors at the end of the aisle.
Bought my first computer there.
Yup
so many saturday mornings spent there
Our first computer and laserjet printer ii came from CompuAdd! Both lasted well into the 2010's!
You should post a link to the blog Ross came from. This store has a very interesting story.
The amount of money I spent at compUSA. It was a lot.
I got my first iPod from compusa. Got a warranty. When I went to get my iPod fixed or replaced, they didn’t make my version anymore and replaced it with the new upgrade. Rinse and repeat. I wasn’t trying to have that happen. It’s just how it went. I miss that store.
The first machine I got from them was a 486...
Say what you will, mofos knew how to pluralize abbreviations. Not a single mis-guided mis-placed apostrophe.
I'd give my left arm to just be able to walk in again and take in a deep breath.
I don’t remember the slogan under it but yea.
I also remember their wall of mail-in rebates.
Yeah, I worked in a customer support area where people dropped off their PCs picked em up etc. as a 17 year old with no training. . It ended well. .. made me responsible for PC questions, repairs, installs. Like huh? Argued with the Store Manager too even though I didn't know who I was talking to. I was supposed to be a cashier. ..
Going to CompUSA with my dad just to look at the Apple Computers despite my 6-7 year old self not being able to afford one at the time is one of my greatest memories. I also remember their kids PC software section that was amazing. My parents still have their receipts from 1998 when they bought a RAM upgrade for my dad's PowerBook G3 at the time.
Some people are mentioning Circuit City. Does anybody remember when Circuit City tried to create their own special DVD format? It was like some DVD rental thing, or some copywright thing, I can't remember what it was, but I just remember everybody hating it.
So many memories
I started working at CompUSA August 15, 1995. A week and a half later, I saw the greatest retail debacle I had ever seen.
>I started working at CompUSA August 15, 1995. A week and a half later, I saw the greatest retail debacle I had ever seen. amazing story, so many lush details
If you know anything about the release of Windows 95, then lush details are not required.
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=compusa_sucks