CompUSA

CompUSA Inc.
	File:Comp logo wgwg.gif
Company type	Private
Industry	Retail
Founded	1984 Dallas, Texas
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas
Key people	Carlos Slim Helu, Owner
Products	Electronics
Revenue	$4.7 billion USD
Number of employees	14,000
Website	www.compusa.com

CompUSA, Inc. is a major retailer and reseller of computer-related and technology products and services, including software training. The company has 226 stores in over 90 markets in the United States and Puerto Rico. Corporate headquarters are located in Dallas, Texas. The company acquired consumer electronics retailer Good Guys and has recently opened 18 CompUSA/Good Guys megastores. CompUSA, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of US Commercial, SA de CV which is indirectly controlled by a common shareholder (Carlos Slim Helu).

Leadership

Tony Weiss, President and Chief Executive Officer
Javier Larraza, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer
Mark Walker, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Phil Jacobs, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Brian Woods, Executive Vice President and General Merchandising Manager

File:Compusastore.jpg

Typical CompUSA store, in California

Corporate Headquarters

14951 North Dallas Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75254 Phone: 972-982-4000 Fax: 972-982-4030

Company Timeline

1984 - Founded as Soft Warehouse in Dallas, Texas, selling direct to business customers.
1985 - Opened first retail store
1988 - Soft Warehouse opened its first Computer Superstore.
1991 - Name changed to CompUSA.
1993 - Began offering technical services at customer locations.
1996 - Launched retail sales on CompUSA.com.
1998 - Acquisition of Tandy's Computer City Subsidiary
2000 - Became privately held company under Mexican retail company, Grupo Sanborns.
2003 - Acquisition of Good Guys
2005 - Converted 3 CompUSA stores and 13 Good Guys stores into megastores.
2005 - Closes all 46 Good Guys locations.
2005 - Begins marketing all CA and HI as CompUSA with Good Guys Inside in response to Best Buy's new marketing campaign with Magnolia Inside.

CompUSA-Owned Brands

Norwood Micro
US Logic

Master Power

Slogans

"The Computer Superstore." (1997-May 2003)
"Where America Buys Technology." (May 2003-July 2005)
"We got it. We get it." (July 2005-Present)

Puerto Rico Slogans

"Where Puerto Rico Buys Technology." (May 2003-July 2005)
"Lo Tenemos. Lo Entendemos." (July 2005-Present)

Controversy

On March 11, 2005, FTC settled charges against CompUSA on the issue of rebate problems. The FTC alleged that CompUSA engaged in deceptive and unfair practices relating to rebate offers made for both its own branded products, as well as QPS products.

The terms of the settlement were highly favorable to CompUSA. CompUSA paid no additional fine and only had to pay out any cash rebates that it owed, unless it had substantiation for errorenous rebate claim.

External links

References

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