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CompUSA

CompUSA • Advertised specials • Financing • Rebates • Returns • Customer service • TAP • Tech support --- News • CompUSA Settles FTC Rebate Charges

Not too long ago, what's left of CompUSA was acquired by Systemax, which also owns Tiger Direct. The company tells us things have changed and customers will be a lot happier. Perhaps. Here are a few of the more recent consumer comments we've received:

Ulises of McAllen, TX September 16, 2009

CompUSA actively engages in misleading advertising. Too often I have gone to purchase items that are "on sale", to later find out at the register that the item is "the same model, but not the same SKU/Product #", or pick up an item from rows and rows of products that have a price in front of them, to later be charged a higher price because the price advertised is not for the product behind it.

Another instance is buying products that have a mail-in rebate (which the store should provide the forms to file the claim) and not receiving them. The staff will not offer them to you unless you ask. Of course, that does not mean you will get all the forms needed. Once at the store, you really need to do some serious investigating work to make sure you get the right product for the price advertised; that is checking that the item is the right model, has the same UPC bar code number, same lot #, etc.

Too bad the majority of customers trust the store and never check if they are charged what is advertised. I have lost money on items that were supposed to have an instant/mail-in rebate, not to mention the mental anguish after realizing the store has ripped me off.

Jun of Valrico, FL August 22, 2009

I was convinced by a CompUSA salesman to purchase CA Internet Security Suite 2009 instead of another product because of the 80 rebate. I submitted all required documentation. Never heard anything until I decided to check the website given in the form after 2 months. I was surprised to see that my submission was invalid. This is not the first time this happened to me with rebates. I think this is a SCAM.

Jason of rochester, NY August 9, 2009

06/2009 Our TV 47 inch LG (purchased in 2007 1699.00 and the 4 year warrenty for 200.00) stopped working. A main board was sent out to us and then we had a tech sent out to replace it. No luck. Well according to the powers that be they wanted to verify the part wasn't bad so they sent another main board out and the same tech and guess what? It still didn't work. So at this point it's been four weeks. Now they want to send a tech out that can tell what is exactly wrong with the TV with special tools....why didn't that tech just get sent out to begin with? So we learned that it is the power board. Since it would be more cost effective to honor the contract and replace the TV instead of the part they offered a buyout.

So now it's been a month and a half. Not one employee has been on the same page and it's been maddening. As of late we were told they would send us a replacement tv (based on specs) that was equal to the TV we have now. Upon researching the TV offered we found that not to be true. It was indeed a substandard replacement. The additude of the staff is horrible and the ability to contact anyone higher up than the call center TAP supervision is difficult to say the least. We were actually told that we should be happy accepting the lesser newer version TV because it would be better than getting a refurbished one. Gee, Thank you so much.

Still trying to get to an even resolution. We don't want more than we are owed but we want what we are owed. That's is a lot of money to us and this is our valuable time and efforts that we now have to put in to fight for something that isn't right. I'm reaching out in this forum because I feel we may need help. And if there are others then gosh something needs to change.

Katrina of Winchester, KY June 11, 2009

My laptop was just over a year old when I began having trouble. It would freeze up, shut down or both. It finally got to the point when it shut down, it no longer attempted to reboot. This was September 2008. I sent it in under my TAP plan and they replaced the motherboard. Same problem happened again in December 2008. I sent it in, they replaced the motherboard again. The same problem happened yet again in February 2009. I sent it in and they replaced the motherboard...YET AGAIN!

In March of 2009, I began having somewhat of a different issue where the images on my screen would go green and then it would freeze up and shut itself down. It usually recovered from this but what a hassle. Finally it dumped all my files (including pictures of my children) and never recovered. I sent it in and they replaced my hard drive. I used it for 2 weeks and it did the same thing again. I called and then requested for a new laptop (since the one I have is obviously a "LEMON"). They instead replaced the harddrive again. Seriously?

I have called and complained to SO MANY PEOPLE! A floor supervisor told me he couldnt do anything about replacing it until the same part is in service to be repaired for the 4th time. THE 4TH TIME? 3 motherboards and 2 hard drives are simply not enough. I recieved this computer back with the sencond hard drive and it booted up and ran for 10 mins...then it dumped my files again and shut off!

They think I need to recover my operations system (even though on the check off sheet they sent back stated they did this). They said that this will fix the problem and if not, then they will replace it. So, now I have to purdchase this CD (that didnt come with my computer when I bought it because it is partitioned into the hard drive). I think HP computers are a joke as well as CompUSA and the support center they offer. I have had use of my laptop for 2 months out of the past 12. Definitely didnt get my money's worth.

Kimberly of Longwood, FL May 19, 2009

Purchased son's Macbook Pro 1999.99 5/4/07 for his high school graduation. CompUSA said 2yr warranty for 379.99 began after 1 yr. manufacturers warranty..hence, 3 yrs. Disk burner has been broken a couple months, but couldn't send off because my son needed it as school was wrapping up and he was preparing to graduate with his associates degree in photography. Graduation wasn't until May 11th. Tap says there is no grace period until the end of May and the warranty has expired. TAP mentioned that since I hadn't called them before..there is no grace period??

CompUSA told us to take laptop to Apple..Apple told us to take it to CompUSA where we were first told to call Tigress (?) which I did. They said they weren't the one to call. Completely irritated in myself for not calling before 5/4/09 and giving them a heads up, which is apparently what I should have done, and for the apathetic brush off I received from CompUSA and TAP Insurance. 379.99 completely wasted. No surprise CompUSA went bankrupt with the misleading information they tell their customers.

Jack of Knoxville, TN May 12, 2009

CompUSA's TAP plan on warranties is b/s. I bought a 100 graphics card from CompUSA and had it installed into a new computer. When I bought it I was asked if I would like to buy a one year EXTENDED warranty past the manufacturer's warranty which was also one year. A little over a year later the graphics card withered away...no surprise there right? Well when I called to get another card since I bought the extra one year warranty then connected me to customer service because they said that my warranty no longer existed.

When I talked to the customer service representative not only was he very rude, but it was like he wasn't even listening to what i was saying or taking it into consideration. I said no one in their right mind would by an extended warranty that covers the exact same amount of time as the manufacturer's warranty which comes free with the product. Then the customer service representative said that possibly the extended warranty was there to cover things that the manufacturer's won't...he said "like a power surge". I was charged 36 of a 100 graphics in case of a power surge? By this rudeness and high-strung attitude, I could tell he was just mouthering off from the top of his head. In conclusion don't trust warranties from CompUSA because they are nothing more than a SCAM!

TJ of West Palm Beach, FL May 3, 2009

I am writing regarding a notebook and extended warranty I purchased. When asked by the cashier if I would like a 2 year extended warranty for my notebook, I expected it to be just that 2 years beyond the manufacturer's warranty (there were no informational packets available to read prior to purchase, all the packets were kept behind the registers). I purchased an extended warranty in confidence that if I encountered any problems with my notebook I had adequate coverage and protection.

Once my computer began to malfunction I went to the current CompUSA store for assistance and they advised me that they were not the same company and then provided me with a number to call regarding repairs. I phoned this company the following day (April 16th) and it was then I was informed that the extended warranty had expired due the first year running concurrent with the manufacture's warranty. I spoke with a manager by the name of Annette ID# RMOXU (Incident #13247179), who informed me that this warranty expired on March 23rd of the previous month. Although this was not a month past the warranty they would not service my notebook merely for customer satisfaction.

Again, when I purchased this warranty it was not explicitly communicated that you are actually receiving only one year of protection outside of the manufacturer's warranty. It's also poor practice not to be willing to somehow compensate a consumer in some form or fashion who has paid for a service that was never utilized in the amount of 250.

Essentially, the consumer is being swindled out of their hard earned money under the guise of protection for their purchases. I am requesting that my notebook be repaired, replaced, or a refund of the money charged for this service. I am without a computer which facilitated in work, home, and business matters.

Caliatra of Portland, OR April 9, 2009

Caliatra of Portland OR (04/09/09)
Had a promblem with my moniter. i had paid for extended warrany. Called many times. After I got a copy of reciept they said they could only find calls so far back which happen to be just one day after warranty expired. Come on! I have no logs of calls about promblem. I paid top dollar for te moniter and it should not be out. Never agagin will I use Tap. Dont trust them

Had to buy a different moniter

Danny of Hayward, CA April 1, 2009

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