Like a kid in a candy store!

martinmsj

martinmsj

[H]ard|Gawd
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Mar 3, 2005
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Damn meant to post this in the hot deals sub forum.

Was visiting the Tiger Direct HQ store by my place and notice the store was moved to a bigger space and renamed CompUSA.

I went in and checked it out. Noticed the usual, lots of product out and displays of motherboards outside their boxes (rocks when you want to see layouts in person.)

Then I stepped into the video card section.

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2100/img20100924103306.jpg

I practically had a GPU orgasm. They had just about (almost) every GPU on display. From an old lowly Rage Pro 32mb all the up to the big dogs. You could see all the low profile cards, mid range cards, and the high end cards physically. It was amazing looking at the GTX 470, 480, 460, 5870/50 sitting next to each other. (Damn that the 480 is huge when you compare.) Also watching customers reaction to the monstrosity that is the 480 was funny in addition to watching a few trying to get their heads around the 5970 and all it's display connections. They also had an eyefinity set up in store and under it deals on AMD motherboards, CPUS, and more video cards.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/7559/img20100924103319.jpg


I had to admit it was to good effect. I caught someone coming in who bought a 460 after he had come in to replace his 7800GT just by staring that the Galaxy 460 with removable fan and having someone show him the fan. Heck, I was seriously wanting to purchase a 480 (sell the 470) or buy another 470 or even the 5970 in store. Just because they had the hardware on display (also helps that their online prices are the same.) They managed to pick the best looking cards to put on display. Anyways figured you [H] GPU whores would eat this stuff up.

On a side note they had that expensive ThermalTake tower there in addition to other high end cases on display. (Raven, Cosair Obsidian.) Was nice to see those in person. I did also see two customers arguing over the 58XX versus GF100 cards. If you're on here don't be shy. :p
 
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And I thought Fry's had a lot... (Fry's is the only "real" computer store in the state. It's a 2 hour drive from where I am so I hadn't checked it out until a few months ago.)
 
Yeah, there's one of these about two hours from me, cool retail stores for sure, bought my 800D case back in June, definitely a place where I can spend too much money.
 
I dont see why would you put this in the Hot deals subforum...

Anyways, that's awesome. I would've loved to put that display together :cool:
 
That looks a lot like the microcenter that's about 20 mins from me. I could spend hours in that store. Too bad I would come out owing the national debt to them.
 
In case you guys weren't aware CompUSA used to be a major retailer competing with bestbuy and circuit city around the east coast and far west coast. They failed and threw in the towel closing hundreds of stores and liquidating their inventory. Here is a link to that old story http://gizmodo.com/331568/compusa-throws-in-the-towel-sells-to-a-liquidator

They left a few stores open and sold their website to the same people who purchased circuitcity.com.

They never had their videocards or motherboards set up that way though, and their prices sucked. I'd much rather buy from newegg/zipzoomfly/mwave etc... This looks like the work of new management that seems to know what they are doing. Their prices look a lot better. A card that would go for $299 at etail was over $429.99 at a comp usa. Probably why their went out of business in the first place. .
 
1) OP this is awesome, the photos actually made me tear up (rhymes with beer up... I didn't break anything)

2) On a more cynical note, thanks for reminding me why computer shopping in Tennessee is turbosh*t. There is nothing like that display in this [insert derogatives] State. I still keep a little hope that one day I will be able to spend my day off, when I have naught to do, walking around a store like this to feed my eyes and my pokewalker.
 
Lord_Exodia said:
In case you guys weren't aware CompUSA used to be a major retailer competing with bestbuy and circuit city around the east coast and far west coast. They failed and threw in the towel closing hundreds of stores and liquidating their inventory. Here is a link to that old story http://gizmodo.com/331568/compusa-throws-in-the-towel-sells-to-a-liquidator

They left a few stores open and sold their website to the same people who purchased circuitcity.com.

They never had their videocards or motherboards set up that way though, and their prices sucked. I'd much rather buy from newegg/zipzoomfly/mwave etc... This looks like the work of new management that seems to know what they are doing. Their prices look a lot better. A card that would go for $299 at etail was over $429.99 at a comp usa. Probably why their went out of business in the first place. .
Click to expand...

I remember CompUSA very well. We had a couple near me in Houston Tx. I remember buying my Voodoo Rush from there... and then returning it to later purchase dual voodoo II. The prices there did suck. I like this new layout!
 
Yeah, CompUSA was always like walmart or staples for me. I never got any type of components or anything there, but they had decent prices on office stuff and some peripherals.
 
Reminds me of how I felt when I first walked into a Micro Center. This would probably be another droolfest. Nice to see CompUSA finally living up to its name.
 
TheQuestian said:
Reminds me of how I felt when I first walked into a Micro Center. This would probably be another droolfest. Nice to see CompUSA finally living up to its name.
Click to expand...

Ah yes I remember my first trip to Microcenter. I figured it would be another CompUSA (pre buy out) but I was pleasantly surprised by a store full of hardware I actually want to buy and prices that actually compared to Newegg when you consider the fact that you can actually walk out with it rather than having to wait. Throw in supercheap CPUs and you've got a winner.

Nice post OP looks like we can retire the CrapUSA nickname. Probably a good thing I don't have one nearby because actually seeing expensive graphics cards laid out like that would make me reach for my wallet.
 
Been to the CompUSA a few times since it's opening in Arlington, TX. No video cards on display though like that though.

It's nice to have another choice other than just Fry's all the time for retail, thankfully they are really close too. Excuse to visit both of them. :p
 
Reason why I meant the hot deals sub forum was because that seemed like the appropriate place to post this since it was about a store and their GPU (and to an extent) cases displays/selections.

I had just stopped in to check it out. Upon seeing their video card section and displays the first thing that came to my mind was "this is what a [H] store would be like." This was the first place I thought of. The section is awesome and scary at the same time. I almost walked out of their with a 5970 when the 6XXX series is around the corner. At the same time I would love to purchase there just to promote that kind of store. Where people (from the employees I overheard) knew what they were talking about. I have to say they know how to up sell and make you want to upgrade.

I know I will most likely be buying a new case since my p180 is falling a part.Just something about seeing the case in front of you especially when it's cases you can only buy/see online. That BMW designed one and the Obsidian, they are quite the sight.
 
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There's one of those CompUSA's near my home town in Florida. Sadly the GPU section at that one is nothing like in the pic, the fastest card they carry is like a 5770, and then a shelf full of low end crap, with no display like that either.

Congrats on being near one of the good ones.
 
Looks nice. But I hope they stay the hell out of California. Tigerdirect/circuitciy/compusa is just about the only computer retailer left where Californians can escape sales tax. I guess Amazon could be considered another one but their selection is limited.
 
Dayum! :eek: I get those same feelings whenever I walk into the Microcenter here in NJ, although, my store looks nothing like that!

Yeah, I share your sentiments. Even though prices may be a little higher at the store, just seeing it in person makes me really want to go in debt to get my fix on. :D I think if there were a CompUSA/Tiger Direct store in the state that would compete, that would be so awesome, but so detrimental to my financial state. :(
 
This saddens me. I went to a CompUSA near me today to try and purchase a 5870 but the best card they had was a 5850. Oh well.
 
Copyright said:
I remember CompUSA very well. We had a couple near me in Houston Tx. I remember buying my Voodoo Rush from there... and then returning it to later purchase dual voodoo II. The prices there did suck. I like this new layout!
Click to expand...

I used to get BAWLS at compoooosa.. 15.99 a case.. their PC stuff was too expensive for sure but I still liked the store... haven't seen a new one yet though.
 
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