CompUSA has a (faint) pulse after all
- TAGS:Circuit City, CompUSA, liquidation, retail
- IT TOPICS:Devices
Shame on me. In my previous posting about Circuit City going down the tubes, I wrote that what killed Circuit City is "the same thing that killed CompUSA a year ago," namely: The people who worked there didn't add the value that's expected of a specialty retailer. But it turns out the comparison wasn't entirely accurate, because CompUSA isn't completely dead and gone after all.
I was informed earlier today in an e-mail from Lonny Paul of "The All-New CompUSA" that a clarification is in order.
"While you are 100% correct, it was the lack of value-add that resulted in the closing of the majority of CompUSA stores," Lonny wrote, "CompUSA as a whole was not 'killed.'" He explained that it was purchased by Systemax Inc. in Jan. 2008, and there are now 23 stores in four states, not to mention "a thriving eCommerce site."
"I hope you understand the importance of clarification in the public's knowlege that CompUSA is not ‘killed,' but in fact quite open, just perhaps not in your hometown," Lonny wrote.
Well, OK, but come on, Lonny. "Perhaps" not in my hometown? With 15 outlets in Florida and a sprinkling in Illinois, North Carolina and Texas, the chances of somebody having one in his hometown would be kind of remote, wouldn't they? Can I say "virtually killed?" "Killed for all intents and purposes?" "Killed in effect?"
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