CompUSA, a computer retail “big box,” is having troubles, and closing a whole bunch of their stories.
The consumer electronics retail industry, marked by cutthroat competition, suffered more casualties this week. Dallas-based CompUSA said Tuesday it would shutter more than half its 229 stores in 39 states and Puerto Rico by the end of May.
The stores to be closed include every one of the chain’s eight Los Angeles County locations plus all its stores in Orange County, Ventura County and the Inland Empire. Statewide, it plans to close 21 of its 29 stores.
[…] Glendale is typical of much of Southern California and the rest of the country in terms of the home electronics market. Besides CompUSA, Glendale is home to a Best Buy, a Circuit City, an Apple Computer store and a Costco warehouse, among others. In neighboring Burbank are another Best Buy, another Circuit City, another Costco and a Fry’s Electronics as well as another CompUSA.
Actually, that’s a shame. As a computer store, I find CompUSA (at least the one near us) provides a much better selection of stuff than Best Buy or Circuit City (let alone Costco). As a “consumer electronics” store, sure, it can’t compete with boxes selling stereos and TVs and refrigerators — but that’s not what I always want.
CompUSA isn’t the only one struggling. Circuit City is closing stores, too (and welcome to it — can’t stand the one near us). But I hope the one at Park Meadows isn’t among the prospective closers. Computers may be becoming more and more of a commodity, but I’d like someone offering more options than the giant discount stores and a bit more focus than the big box Best Buys.