Advice, service, prices? Not here.
Dec 04 '00
Well, I don't normally complain about stuff, since people think you're a whiner or something. But I'm glad I know alternate buying channels for computer hardware and software other than CompUSA.
Upon entering the local CompUSA by my house, which is in Skokie, Il, it sure seems nice. Plenty of room, lots of colorful displays, clean, huge stock of items. But that's pretty much where the goodness ends. Hardware Prices are way high. Games are pretty much priced the same at all retail outlets. I've found Electronic Boutique to be the best place to get games.
But even the old bargain bin games at most places still hold original prices at CompUSA. All but Daikiantianaina (or whatever) even CompUSA knows not to charge retail for that.
The customer service is well, funny. I've found that talking to the staff is pretty much the same as talking to an automated telephone response system. Their answers covering most topics are vauge at best. Now that's probably not their fault. Give the employee credit for having a job and working. Its the companies fault that the staff does not know the difference between a SCSI card and a USB Hub. I've been building custom systems for some time now, though I know I make mistakes, I know my way around the inside of a computer pretty good. I know you won't get the same amount of speed in games between a Savage 3d and a Geforce GTS.
Return Policy. Well now they have this 15% fee on returns. That alone would stop me from buying anything other than bottled air from CompUSA. What if its just not the right thing? What if the sales staff gave false information? What if someone else bought you one as a gift or donated one or whatever the many reasons there are for the need to return retail products. I could see having to pay a penalty if the box was missing, or the item scratched or missing parts, but 15% on a restockable product is very harsh. Having to pay to give something back at a retail outlet just does not make sense.
Open box prices. The junk that they expect people to buy, the stuff their staff has dropped, had on display for 2 years, colored on, has food on it and is broke, is normally priced just about 3% lower than the original retail price. For about a year, a BJC-610 printer stood sitting in the same spot, with the same price of $250.00 on it, when it had already been replaced by 3 newer models, all priced lower and with better performance. Would they take an offer on it? Certainly not.
So in closing, if you are looking for a place to buy your Christmas gifts from, needing that video card upgrade for your computer, or buying that newest game, shop anywhere but CompUSA. How they stay in business with the likes of Buy.com and Onvia.com around is beyond me. I guess they pray on those without Internet access and no alternative buying methods.
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Epinions.com ID:
TheEngine
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Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 33
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