"Wow, I don't understand why CompUSA has such a bad rating on this site, but my experience buying from CompUSA.com went very smoothly. I ordered an LG 24X10X40 CD-RW for a dirt cheap price, no rebates or anything, and I'm very happy with it! I know what people mean when they talk about poor salespeople in the CompUSA stores, but I rarely step foot into a CompUSA store, and if I do, I know exactly what I want. For those people that haven't tried buying from CompUSA.com, I recommend it."

"Bought a geforce3 TI500 graphics card. They oversold it and were on back order. Talked to 3 different customer (first was a complete moron, second was much better but unsure and vague, 3rd was good,blunt and straightfoward) reps on the phone before I got a straight answer. They finally said it can literally take months and ill either get it then or they'll email me saying they cant fulfill the order.

Garbage company, meant for people who dont want to do research or dont know anything about computers. I bought from them because i was trying to take advantage of a sale with their "pop-up half off deals" they had going for a week.

They are generally higher priced then most places and you should only buy from them if it's a last minute rush. otherwise almost ANY place has a better deal and better treatment. Their in-store advise experts are morons and dont know anything besides the general stuff(applies to the storeS in queens, NYC)

Unless it's last minute, dont shop here. Almost ANYWHERE except for no-name stores are CHEAPER and better. Essential Computers for example. ONLY BUY HERE FOR LAST MINUTE EMERGENCY."

"Using their website, I located a firewire card and determined that the local store had the item in stock. I then went to the store and was shocked to learn that the in store vs. online price was 30% more! WARNING - BAIT AND SWITCH. Although some of the items listed on the website are marked as internet specials, the prices indicated are: "listed prices are national prices, and actual retail prices may vary by market"

I wouldn't mind if this information was clearly indicated on the website. However, the link providing realtime store inventory suggests that the prices will be the same for B&M and on the web. Both the store manager and online services confirmed the price difference. As I wrote - BAIT and SWITCH!"

"Overall another high priced low knowledge store. Only good for last minute buys when everyone else is closed."

"This is what I like about CompUSA. I go into the store, no one bothers me, no one offers to sell me crap I don't need, no one cares if I look at something. When I need help, there is someone around that can help or can get someone who can help. If they don't have it they order it for me from the other stores. The prices are great and they stock major brands.

And the best part... They don't tell me that I can have X for free if I agree to sign up for ISP for 2 years. Yeah when I leave they try and hand me an AOL disc. But they don't care if I don't want it.

Overall for the person who knows what they want or just wants to look around you can do it in peace (unlike Best Buy or Circuit City).

My only complaint is that they change prices frequently. If you see a good price there you have to act quick, because if it goes out of stock or if Sunday rolls around the price disappears.

Rebates: People here complain, but I have sent at leat 50 of these rebates in ("work" and personal) and never had a problem. One time they even price matched a cheap price from Best Buy on a rebate item, because I was buying a bunch of other stuff.

"

" "

"I ordered a Samsung 32x/10x/40x CD Burner from the site, the price was amazing, it was $110 (including tax and shipping) - $10 instant rebate - $30x2 mail-in rebates, so total I'll be paying $40 for this drive which I think is really good. I received my delivery on the 29th (due to the 26th being a Friday it wasn't shipped till Monday), overall I was very happy with the service. I have yet to send in the rebates, but the rebates specifically say they can be used together so I don't think there will be any problems but if there are I'll let everyone know.

The only thing I don't like about CompUSA is the restocking fee of 15% for opened items. I've never had the problem with them but it becomes a pain if you buy an item, try it, doesn't work, get a replacement, doesn't work, and you just want to give up. Now you have to pay to return a broken item, which seems unfair to me."

"I have also had difficult experiences with their rebates."

"A few notes about CompUSA.....

I have been on both sides of the fence with this company, as a customer and now a current employee. There seems to be a few bones of contention among the posters, so lets cover them all here.

1. Staffing. My store seems to have a well represented sampling of experts in all areas. No, not everyone knows EVERYTHING, but there are software experts, PC experts, networking, etc...As for slackers, every retail store has them. Training is also key. We are required to get at least 10 hours of training a month via cyberscholar, which is a standard among big box retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City. It's inevitable. Remember that responsible consumers do research first.

2. Rebates. If it's a CompUSA rebate, call the 1800 number. It may take a while but it will get done. Manufacturer rebates are tough, as they are fulfilled by fulfillment companies that are outsourced to do these. Keeping good record will help you get your money.

3. Technology Assurance/Warranties
Technology Assurance applies from its date of purchase. It does cover accidents. It states that blatant abuse isn't covered, but stores give some leeway. It's more of an honor system.

4. Stock and Sales
Yes. Comp does run good specials twice a month. It's always stipulated that it's limited to quanities on hand. Early bird gets the worm. As for stock, IMS is a poor system which yields lukewarm results at best for current stock. Ask the sales person to go find it, to be on the safe side.

5. Pushy sales people
CompUSA employes people called Technology Sales Specialists, which infact work on Commission. We are not trained to be pushy, just to offer everything. If you get a pushy sales person, he/she is not a professional. At my store, we merely acknowledge, ask if they need assistance and act accordingly. One thing I can say is that our sales approach is no more pushy than Best Buy and a lot more mild mannered than Circuit City.

6. Complaints and concerns
Most managers are willing to work with you, be civil and they will work willingly. It's human nature to stonewall a rude person.

Just my thoughts on it."

"CompUSA is a great place to shop, if you know EXACTLY what you are looking for and where to find it. Their prices are decent and it's great to shop there if you need something fast. Unfortunately, their employees don't get the slightest bit of training, their inventory counts are always wrong, the stores are disorganized, the salespeople are pushy, lazy and stupid... I could go on for hours. My last experience with them was when I went to their store looking to buy a Netgear RP114 router. I knew that I wanted that model, and they said they had it in stock. I got to the store, walked over to network hardware, and asked the nearest employee if I could see the RP114. He replied that he didn't know what it was and that I should go ask someone else. I wandered around the store for a few minutes until I found an employee staring blankly at the wall. I asked her where I could find the router I wanted. She gave me a "how-dare-you-interrupt-my-gum-chewing" stare and replied, "Router? Is that some kind of a softwares [sic] or something?" After this encounter, I lost my faith in humanity and decided to get the router at Best Buy. Moral of this story: NEVER buy CompUSA unless you are 100% certain that you will not need the assistance of an employee. You are better off shopping elsewhere than trying to deal with their sales zombies."

"CompUSA Retail Stores, not compusa.com

Just bought a Maxtor 60 gig 7200 drive. for $60 after Rebate. No problems here.

Previously bought a 80 gig WD for $120 after rebate. Received the rebate in about 6 weeks.
Bought several small items...such as CDR media, NIC's, sound cards. No problems at all. Bought a audigy x-gamer, and could not get the included game to work at all. Exchanged it twice with no hassle at all, and then finally just returned it for cash, no re-stocking fee. Price adjustments also took care of with no attitude or glares.
So far so good. Maybe I've just been lucky or my store just has friendly employees. :D

Will keep shopping here. Not online though...shipping costs, plus tax is too much.
"

"$50 rebate, 1 year later, still haven't paid out. Compusa dealing with them, call tomorrow, been telling me that for 3 weeks."

"Here is an e-mail transcript sent to Customer Service @ CompUSA:

On 8 Aug 2002 I was visiting the Tacoma COMPUSA store to view 21" monitors.
Although a a salesperson was within feet of me just standing and looking around the store I had to approach him and ask for help.
I asked to see some 21" crt monitors.The saleman stated they don't have any on display and didn't think they had any at all in storage either.
He offered to check it out on the inventory computer.
As I watched him browse through the monitors and tell me they didn't have any,I had to interfere as I saw 21" monitors come up.He again zipped through the pages on screen stating he doesn't see any 21" monitors.
I had to guide him to the pages and point them out to him.After reviewing wich models were available he stated he didn't "think" they had any in stock.
I asked if he could go check.
With a hostile glance and reluctance this salesperson trotted off to the stock room.I followed to the entry door and waited as I didn't think he would bother to check.This saleperson' attitude implied such.
Well I heard him he ask another salesperson about 21" monitors.That other salesperson emerged after a couple minutes asking me if the monitor were for me.(Since when does that frikken matter?)
Anyways a few minutes later the original salesperson emerges with the monitor box and proceeds to a counter where there was space to set it up.In the meantime I was looking over keyboards as I needed one.After a few I returned to the monitor section to see the monitor in action.He was still removing it from the box.After removing it and placing it on a shelf standing on it's side(this guy sure wasn't too bright) this salesperson had the nerve to ask me,the customer,to pick up the monitor and replace it right side up.
I couldn't believe he had just asked me to do this nad I replied that I had no intention of of moving a 73 lb monitor on his store shelf afterall I'm the customer and I'm merely here to see and possibly buy a monitor.The salesperson glared at me and commented:"What,you want me to follow you home and carry it for you there too!"
Mind you he said this in a very disrespectful and chastising manner and with a hostile glare in his eyes.
At this point I had already made a mental note to speak to the store manager about this employees' awful attitude after I looking over the monitor,wich btw was a Sony CPD-E540 21" CRT.
Well after it was running and warmed up I played around a bit with imaging on it and decided this wasn't the model I'd like to buy.
I headed for the checkout counter to ask for the store manager.He was paged and when he approached me I introduced myself,shook hands and I asked if I could speak to him in private as at this time I was being shadowed by this salesperson.After 2 attemtps by myself I had to turn to the saleperson and literally tell him to leave because I needed to talk to the store manager in private.Again the glare and discontent on his face as he madly stomped off.
I explained the course of my entire visit to the manager who merely offered me an apology wich didn't even seem quite genuine.
I left the store in amazement of how such and imcompetent,hostile(almost threatening) saleperson could be employed by large renowned retail chain.
With this said I can safely inform you that I will not ever choose to do business with any of your stores or franchises or in any other manner ever again.And might I add that I will definately make this encounter known to anybody I know or meet.
Unfortunately I negelected to get the salepersons name,but I'm sure the Tacoma store manager working that night knows if you care to follow up on this complaint.I know the saleperson was 40+ish and appeared of east indian or micronesian decent.Black hair,med brown skin,~5'50",short black hair,glasses.

Thank you for bearing with me and the long description of the encounter.

Sincerely Wendell MacLeod

Enough said I think!
DO NOT BUY FROM THESE INCOMPETENT FOOLS !"

"I would like to know how to get my rebates honored that were sent to New Rochelle, NY. LAST Thanksgiving, or rather the day after, my son and I went out to save some money on systems we were building. Many of the items purchased had rebates. When we got home, we sat down, copied everything, and mailed the next day. The only problems were with the New Rochelle rebates. I have not received them to this day. They do no show up on the Compusa or Wheresmyrebate web site, yet after spending HOURS on the phone to Compusa, they show them all in the computer, but according to them they were postmarked a day late. I took them to the post office two days before they had to be postmarked. I talked with the local store and was told to get proof e.g. email or letter from rebate center and the store would refund my money. Again, hours on the phone only to be told "we don't send out rejection notices."
Sounds like Catch 22.

Disgruntled and ripped off,
"

"Why do we all continue to be such fools and buy from these guys? With all the excellent e-tailers, so many of us choose these dopes. Sales staff is low-caliber and untrained."