CompUSA recently announced comprehensive changes aimed at improving the company’s structure, streamlining operations and reducing expenses.
To improve financial performance, the company has realigned its executive leadership team and will implement a strategy to streamline store operations. A key component of CompUSA’s business strategy will focus on maximizing margins in its top performing stores.
In an effort to improve structure and accountability, Gabriela Villalobos has been named to executive vice president, sales and operations. Villalobos will be responsible for store, services, small business and e-commerce sales. On an interim basis Villalobos will oversee merchandising and marketing. Villalobos has a strong background in sales and operations and her expertise will be instrumental in implementing CompUSA’s realignment strategy.
Mike Bryk, formerly vice president of finance and accounting, was promoted to chief financial officer. Bryk has been with CompUSA since 1993 and has filled the role of vice president since 1998.
CompUSA has made the decision to close four stores, including:
• Long Beach, CA (PCH) (Store # 175) – 6310 East Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90803
• San Mateo, CA (Store #728) – 41 West Hillsdale Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94403
• Mesquite, TX (Store #127) – 1515 Town East Blvd. #168, Mesquite, TX 75150
• Skokie, IL (Store #177) – 7011 Central Ave., Skokie, IL 60077
Ben Popken reports for The Consumerist, “CompUSA will close 100 stores this year, according to an industry insider speaking to us under conditions of anonymity. Currently, CompUSA has 229 stores.”
Full article here.
Related articles:
CompUSA 230-store chain reportedly for sale – September 13, 2006
Apple and Circuit City team up for new Mac pilot program; Apple may pull out of CompUSA – September 06, 2006
How about improved customer service? There’s a place to start right there.
I went in there the other day looking for a Wii and it was a Windows/Xbox lovefest of end-of-aisle displays and hanging signs everywhere.
I left feeling dirty…
They have announced that htey will be closing 129 stores, including all stores in Phoenix, as well as all (I believe) stores in California!
That Mesquite store is one of the better customer service/product availiblity in town, but the facilities are the worst of all of the Dallas/Fort Worth stores.
CompUSA is a rat’s hole.
re: Mesquite store
The facilities may be bad but their cabling has a fantastic, smoky aroma.
That’s too bad because I’ve bought my last 3 new Macs at CompUSA. They frequently offer 18-24 months no interest financing on new Macs, plus I also got a 5% instant rebate when I bought my MacBook there last month.
Their mac areas are usually in disarray. Machines are not in alignment, no internect connectivity… just a crappy experience. I hope the new management fixes that. The mac specialists there are friendly and usually very knowledagle.
In response to the horrible customer service. I can’t agree with you more, but what do you expect when you pay somone $9/hr, and expect them to know everything about computers, networking, and all things in between. Its a horrible place to shop, but possibly a worse place to work .
Our store here has a MS display with a busted-up Zune. The sales guy has pimples, half of them are running, the other half are bleeding or sporting white peaks. The rest of the staff just talks to each other. Losers
I just bought a new MacBook Pro from them last week. They had it for $100 off the retail price, and I got 18 months no interest by putting it on their store card. It was a much better deal than what it would have been if I bought one direct from Apple for sure.
Went there over the weekend in Maryland and had terrible customer service. Asked three people to open a case for me to get a iPod shuffle and only one person had the key. He then took forever with the customer in front of me, walked over with her then helped someone else. I was in line holding my sleeping baby in my arms. AKKKK. What’s wrong with these people???? Thought I could save some time instead of going to the Apple store because it was closer…ended up driving about 5 miles down the road and getting there. Apple acknowledged me right away and I bought my shuffle within 5 minutes.
Actually, I live close to the Fountain Valley, CA, store. It’s far more convenient than the local Apple Stores and is pretty good. They have an Apple person in there on the weekends, the stands are set up well. No complaints with that store.
Peter,
Sorry for the info, but your store IS being closed. You can probably go find some good deals there!
Please check the CompUSA website for all stores that are going to remain open. Goto http://www.compusa.com/locations/ and enter your info. If your store appears then your ok
At a CompUSA here in San Francisco, I had an employee (he must have been new), admit that they knowingly returned damaged, returned merchandise to the shelf – to pawn off on the next unsuspecting schmuck (I mean “customer”).
Any kind of store that pulls cr@p like that DESERVES to go under.
I can only imagine that things will get much worse as they try and maximize margins.
You know they’re not going to be putting any money/effort into keeping the Mac area in order, ley alone anything else.
I used to be in a barbershop quartet in Skokie, Illinois. The baritone was this guy named Kip Diskin…
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I have 2 CompUsa stores 5 miles from my house.
3 Apple stores all over 20 miles from my house.
Do I care that the Mac area is a ghost town?
No, it is far closer than an Apple store and rather nice to be left alone by annoying salespeople.
Had a store in that was about 15 minute from my house. Check out their website, and here are the options I got
Bakersfield 159 mi
Santa Barbara 170 mi
Vega 251 mi
Reno 430 mi
I didn’t even go there that much when it was only 15 minutes……
Same complaints about product and customer service as listed above….
And now you understand why Apple has been playing nice in courting Best Buy the past year+…
Apple clearly sees the numbers at CompUSA and knows they and Circuit City are getting crushed by the Walmart of electronics…
Price at Best Buy is certainly not of Walmart quality, but their cheeziness and tacky stores certainly match Walmart head to head.
Why people shop at Best Buy I have no idea… But if Apple needs to play there vs. CompUSA, so be it…
CompUSA sounds like Sleazy Joes Used (and abused) Automobiles…
Why do people put up with stores like that.
This is one chain I haven’t a clue stays in business. Slaes people that literally no nothing of technology. And talk to a manager? The same thing.
I went to CompUSA in Little Rock today, was there for 15 minutes and had three people offer to help me. The shelves were neat, organized, and the displays were ready to use. It is the only well stocked store that I know of between Memphis and Dallas, as Little Rock HAS NO APPLE STORE!
Also, the mini DVI to VGA adapter I got is great for watching EyeTV or a DVD fullscreen on a separate monitor.
Then I went to Target to get their last iPod Hi-Fi for $178.00. Happy Birthday, Son…
While Apple continues to open new stores all over the world, these winblows centric, box pimps, losers are shuttering stores. CompUSA is among the worst in customer service. Go figure.
Rock on Steve!
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Looks like the store at Tyson’s Corner in Northern Virginia is closing. I’m not upset because their return policy blows compared to Micro Center.