CompUSA sells Heaton empty box, won’t refund

Steve Safran June 3rd, 2007

UPDATE: CompUSA has sent a $300 gift certificate to Terry. Read more.

Many of us swap CompUSA service horror stories, but here’s an especially horrifying one. My AR&D partner Terry Heaton purchased a digital camera for $269 at a CompUSA liquidation sale. Terry bought the camera for his step-daughter amid a $3,500 purchase. One problem: they sold him an empty box. There was no camera inside. When Terry went to a nearby CompUSA, the manager there told him that, since a liquidation company technically sold him the camera, CompUSA wouldn’t give him a refund. So, Terry wrote a note to Roman Ross, CompUSA president and CEO. Ross passed it along to a staffer who had the nerve to blame Terry: “The return policy for all merchandise, as printed on your receipt and posted throughout the store, clearly stated ALL SALES FINAL…. if the camera you purchased was a clearance item, you should have inspected its content prior to purchase.” And there you have it. Terry is to blame for not inspecting the box to make sure he wasn’t being defrauded. All sales of empty boxes are, apparently, final. It doesn’t matter the technicality - in CompUSA’s name, on a CompUSA receipt, $269 was stolen from Terry and CompUSA won’t give it back. It’s not just “buyer beware,” it’s “don’t be a buyer.”

Update from Cory: This story has been linked all over the place and is getting tons of traffic. CompUSA, you listening yet?

274 Comments Add your own

1. T | June 3rd, 2007 at 12:40 pm

I hope he payed by Credit so he stop the payment.
2. Dan | June 3rd, 2007 at 1:03 pm

The best way for him to deal with this is to use his
broadcast news connections and get a story on the
local news about it, at all the stations possible.
Then take that story and post the crap out of it.
They will lose much more business than the $269 item
cost them.

Bad PR may be the only way stupid companies will learn.
Dan
3. Frank Catalano | June 3rd, 2007 at 1:35 pm

This is typical of bad retailers who consider customers sheep with wallets. Even if a product is sold by a third-party, it was done with the endorsement and under the sign of CompUSA. If they want to keep customers coming back, they shouldn’t treat them as nuisances.
4. Z | June 3rd, 2007 at 1:53 pm

That’s why I shop at Microcenter. I’m just glad to have a better option than CompUSA.
5. Gunner | June 3rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm

There was a time when Softwarehouse (now CrapUSA) was a good company, with knowlegable employees. I knew they had hit rock bottom when I stupidly inquired as to if they had any books on Cold Fusion. “Cold Fusion,” came the reply. “Why that’s an alternative energy source and no one has ever proved it would work. We’re a computer store, mister.”

There are much better stores to deal with, that’s for sure.
6. amanda | June 3rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm

CompUSA is a store of last resort - if I’m really desperate for a part that can’t wait for a few days to arrive by mail. Selection is lousy, overpriced and the sales associates are freaking idiots. Yea sure, Mr. Sales Associate, I really need an extended warranty on a simple serial cable that already has an outrageous markup on it.

Photographic anything I’d never buy from CompUSA, not even a cheapie low-end digital. B&H, Adorama and Huppins is the way to go.
7. El Guapo | June 3rd, 2007 at 3:18 pm

Two ironies here:

1) Terry now lives within driving distance of their Corp. HQ (Hope they have good security)…

2) CompUSA is now a wholly owned subsidiary of a Mexican Holding Company (”US Commercial Corp SA De CV). I assume they kept the “CompUSA” name because “CompMEX” didn’t fare well in focus groups…

Finally:

Now that this misadventure is all over the blogosphere Terry might want to give the CompUSA media relations team a whirl (CompUSA Media Line: 214-551-1549 Email: compusa_media@jamesnunezgroup.com ).They promise to reply within 12 hours and — if they are smart– will welcome the opportunity to have a happier outcome posted online (Se Habla Inglés)

¡Buena Suerte!
8. thedetroitchannel | June 3rd, 2007 at 3:35 pm

this story has been fascinating to watch unfold throughout the day.

i truly hope the best for terry (and his step daughter)

what is also fascinating is if you clickover to any of the hearstargyle web channel and catch the live stream before the debate tonight. they were just interviewing regular folks who were on their way into the hall to watch it.

it was actually quite good.

right now there’s an open mic and just a standing shot of the crowd.

you wonder how much of a thrill/scare this has to put into the top execs there as this is definitely the future.

one critique; mic flag for the WEB CHANNEL!!!
9. Billy Goat | June 3rd, 2007 at 4:27 pm

I have to agree with TDC. The Hearst-owned web sites are doing some great work with this online coverage of the debate.

I have no opinion, or interest, in empty boxes or CompUSA.
10. PD | June 3rd, 2007 at 7:53 pm

I’m sure Terry appreciates the “tags” on this story are:
“Terry Heaton, very bad ideas”

Somebody googlebombing?
11. Scott | June 4th, 2007 at 5:03 am

Lawsuit time, coupled with a friendly note to local media that said suit is being filed. Want to bet that fixes the problem relly quick?
12. Alyssa | June 4th, 2007 at 6:36 am

I’m with Dan- use your media knowledge to your advantage. Sometimes public shame is the only way for companies to learn.
13. Chris Weaver | June 4th, 2007 at 7:12 am

“The return policy for all merchandise, as printed on your receipt and posted throughout the store, clearly stated ALL SALES FINAL…. if the camera you purchased was a clearance item, you should have inspected its content prior to purchase.”

The problem with this statement by the CompUSA person is that this sale equals FRAUD. Terry could possibly file crimminal charges against the store.

It’s not like he was trying to return and item, he simply wants what he paid for.

I also hope he paid by Credit Card.
14. Rob | June 4th, 2007 at 8:19 am

I went to Digg this story but ‘Boisemedia’ (Don?) already dugg it. If you’ve got a Digg account, follow the hyperlink in my name and show Terry some love.

I wish Terry lived out this way because this just the kind of Monday morning story idea I’d like to pitch at our morning meeting: Company hoses customer for no good reason, opts for bad PR instead of doing right thing and giving him refund.
15. David Johnson | June 4th, 2007 at 10:34 am

dugg.

anyone ever see maddox’s blast at orbitz on thebestpageintheuniverse?

more than a straight news story, the bad word of mouth online is far more influential. i pity the fools at comp usa. that’s a competitive business, and they need good customer service to stay in the field.
16. boynamedsue | June 4th, 2007 at 12:33 pm

The issue that this raises is that even though compusa is wrong in this instance, budging for them on this point seems to set a precident they would be unable to maintain.

When i worked at best buy we would constantly get returned items re-shrinkwrapped with no product inside. A N64 game would have an empty cologne bottle in place of a cartridge.

I’m not sure what kind of policy they could put in place if anyone could get an item, and then get a second by claiming the product was not present when they got home.

Anyone have a suggestion for a workable solution?
17. Frazier | June 4th, 2007 at 12:44 pm

This happened to me at Circuit City, but with a Nikon D80 SLR, so I freaked out. They were surprisingly nice when I went back an hour later. I thought it might have been the result of employee theft, but it turns out the box was for their floor model. I imagine they would have given me a hard time if they had not matched the serial numbers, though.
18. Workable Solution | June 4th, 2007 at 12:57 pm

Best Buy, huh? Well, that was your first mistake.

There is a certain cost to doing business, and accepting occasional customer returns fraud falls into one such category. You simply have to balance out the value of keeping the customer happy (and accepting the occasional fraud) against the damage that taking a hard line will cause.

In companies like CompUSA and Best Buy, they price things such that they can’t afford to give the customer the benefit of the doubt. For them, it’s the PT Barnum adage: a sucker is born every minute, so why sweat the current one?

Of course, we don’t all have to shop at these places.
19. Workable Solution | June 4th, 2007 at 12:59 pm

Oh, and I got to this page via BoingBoing, so … CompUSA is getting their payback. I hope they enjoy the limelight.
20. joe | June 4th, 2007 at 1:13 pm

I’m a little confused about the term “Comp USA Liquidation Sale”. If he bought this at some warehouse liquidation sale - and not from Comp USA - then Comp USA shouldn’t be responsible. It should be the liquidators. It’s the same as buying an empty PlayStation box from eBay and then blaming Sony because the box was empty. But if he actually bought it on Comp USA’s premises then yes they should be liable.
21. HankTorrents | June 4th, 2007 at 1:18 pm

Hey I used to work at a compusa, and yea it sucked that it happened. But if they left the store who is to say that they didnt take the camera and say there was none to begin with. Now I am not saying that they did such a thing. But you have to understand that it has nothing to do with the people working there just the policies. Also yeah all sale are final, with any liquidation sale you must look at everything that you purchase. They can and will deney your return. See one we lost our jobs so not to sound mean, but we dont give a damn bout customers anymore so our moral is shot, and for those who are about to say you should be above such things well this is us and if you are able to do such things then bravo. But I am leading away from my main point, thing is buying something from a closing store make sure that you examine everything you buy, cause hey your bad if you buy something that is not up to par with your expectations
22. Xitch13 | June 4th, 2007 at 1:20 pm

Same thing occurred to me at Office Depot. My wife pruchased a camera for my wedding present 5 months before the ceremony. Upon opening the package we found the whole bottom section/inards missing. Basically we had a shell of a camera. Office Depot refused to refund the purchase because it was over the 15 day return limit. I have since refused to shop there again, but have on numerous occassions shown up with the shell of the camera and the receipt on Saturdays when they are busy. I’m sure my heated arguments with the managers have lost them far more business than the $200 purchase price of the camera
23. Craig | June 4th, 2007 at 1:24 pm

I had a similar experience at one of the closing Comp USA stores, although my purchase wasn’ nearly as significant.

I bought an Xbox 360 rechargable battery kit, and took it home to find out that somebody had scooped out the internally ciruitry on the recharging unit itself, making it impossible to charge the batteries.

All sales were, of course, final.
24. james b | June 4th, 2007 at 1:29 pm

Best Buy, Office Depot, Wal Mart, Sears, and Dish Network are all off my list. Circuit City, Office Max, and KMart are on, but only because the aren’t quite as bad. I’ll be really careful about CompUSA after reading this.
25. Mike | June 4th, 2007 at 1:36 pm

I remember reading a few months back that CompUSA was closing 1/2 of it stores and that a liquidator was clearing out those locations. If this is one of those stores, his issue is with the liquidator not CompUSA. I think we are not getting the full comments from CompUSA staff. Notice he went to a “nearby” CompUSA not the store he bought it from.
26. Jack Squat | June 4th, 2007 at 1:38 pm

If indeed a Credit Card was used they,the CC company should and always will back their customers in good standing with their own accounts. This is a terrible story but to be sure everyone, use a Credit Card not DEBIT and all your worries will be gone forever.Some say CC companies suck but in these instances they are your best friend.
27. vince | June 4th, 2007 at 1:39 pm

I actaully had this happen to me a few years back on NEW video card. I bought the high-end card, took it home, then we promptly shut down the PC that it was going too - and stored it during a major remodeling project. When I got back on the project I opened up the box and there it wasn’t. A LPT card was in its place. I took it back, a bit late, and was told I should have inspected the SEALED box before I left the store.

I am glad they are out of MO.
28. Frank Branham | June 4th, 2007 at 1:42 pm

Mike is correct. What usually happens in this case is that the entire inventory of the store is sold at a massively reduced price to the liquidator.

At that point, the liquidator owns the stock. At least at the local store that closed, the “All Sales Final” postings were pretty prominent.

The problem is, the liquidator is still using the name CompUSA and advertising themselves as CompUSA. That might be the only legal link to the original company. And proving that would be painful.
29. Anonymous | June 4th, 2007 at 1:43 pm

How could you not immediately tell that a box was empty by picking it up? Especially if it’s a clearance/open box item? If I were CompUSA, I too would treat your claim of “mysteriously receiving an empty box” with a good deal of suspicion.

If your story is indeed factual, either a previous customer or employee ripped off the camera, and CompUSA is just trying to protect their bottom line, can you really blame them? Somebody has to pay for it (if not him, then all of us as consumers when the store raises prices to offset loss). Its pretty unlikely that Management planned an elaborate scam involving empty boxes and a bad return policy.

Tell your friend to keep whining, he’ll get store credit eventually.
30. Nels | June 4th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

As the Consumerist article on this mentions, it’s time for small claims court. Simply stating “all sales final” doesn’t alleviate the retailer of their responsibility to, you know, actually sell you something. This isn’t some receipt wording chicanery, it’s simply fraud and I can’t imagine a judge not seeing it that way as well.
31. Trey | June 4th, 2007 at 1:49 pm

Whew, HankTorrents, if your communication is any indication of the quality of workforce at CompUSA, then so much, so so much, has been completely and totally explained.
32. Bob s | June 4th, 2007 at 1:49 pm

The CC company will most likely back you up on this one. Just call them up and explain the CompUSA fraud. They have no problem giving your money back to you. Then they sick their lawers on them. This really is the one instance wher CC companies are your best defense against fraud.
33. boynamedsue | June 4th, 2007 at 1:52 pm

comp usa in san fran sucks because they want to check your bags on the way out. Personal bags.

I told the security person no, and they didn’t have a legal right to look in my bag, and she argued they did.

I was like “But what if i’ve accidently left my ASS DILDO at the top of my messenger bag. do you have any right to view my ASS DILDO?

i was allowed to leave without my bag being searched.
34. BrianS | June 4th, 2007 at 1:53 pm

Re: how could he not tell the box was empty…a similar thing happened to me. I picked up a digital camera at the FedEx office. This was a pocket digital camera (Canon SD400), not a big SLR-type camera. The box was empty, but still had the manuals, packing material, etc. The point is, I didn’t know how much the box was supposed to weigh–it felt about right, and it wasn’t until I opened the box at home that I found out it was empty. BTW, both FedEx and the camera store washed their hands of it…I had to dispute it with my credit card company.
35. neil | June 4th, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Just like those eBay scams, I guess. Well, you should’ve made sure it wasn’t just a picture of a digital camera!
36. jason | June 4th, 2007 at 2:05 pm

This one is easy… The store policy for ‘fixing’ a situation like this is simple, for this circumstance…. The customer made a $$3,500!! purchase. The common theif does not spend 3500 to rip off 269… Also what is this customers history at comp usa? lots of previous purchase? (more reason to trust the customer)… Mose likely the profit from his first purchase would make things ‘even’ or at least close enough to make it worth their wild to avoid this type of bad press….
37. Jose | June 4th, 2007 at 2:07 pm

I purchased a “new” digital camera at Office Max. When I got it home, I discovered numerous pictures of the OMAX store employees posing for the camera. I returned it to the store, and showed the pics to the store manager..Needless to say I received a refund without question. Perhaps these retail geniuses have somehow turned their digital camera exploits into something more profitable.
38. marcello | June 4th, 2007 at 2:12 pm

i had a very comparable situation with a phone from best buy.
39. exkon | June 4th, 2007 at 2:14 pm

CompUSA is going out of business all over the place, I highly doubt they care about refunding you something that is clearly marked as “ALL Sales FINAL”

Kinda of his fault for not checking the box, but in reality who really does this anyways? Defintely horrible customer service for Compusa.
40. Jason | June 4th, 2007 at 2:17 pm

As BrianS said, the manuals for the camera were heavier than the camera itself. I brought a A70IS and I was surprised at the weight of the box. There were four manuals inside, two English and two Spanish, two of them were for basically “simple” use, and the other two were for Advance use, and boy they were thick.

Reading advance book felt like reading a book about any type of photography.

But back to my point, those book were way heavier than my camera.
41. Jeremy Abbett | June 4th, 2007 at 2:18 pm

Reminds me of the first modem (600baud) I bought from a Comp USA. When got home and opened it up there was a bag of gravel. Pretty hard to make the store believe it wasn’t their fault….but a few months later I got a new modem.
42. ! | June 4th, 2007 at 2:22 pm

dang, this post is second in the number of responses only to the one offering invites to joost.

keep it up!
43. seenick | June 4th, 2007 at 2:23 pm

I’d like to believe this but, it seems to me that a camera typically weighing at least 16 oz. would be noticeable if it was absent from the box. Just a thought..
44. Christopher | June 4th, 2007 at 2:27 pm

Vote with your dollars, people, and let them know you won’t do business with them any longer if they’re not going to operate in a trustworthy manner…

If they’re not going out of business now, they will be if we spread the word. Let’s see if the Digg effect translates to RL.
45. Dave | June 4th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

I just think it’s suspicious that an empty box was stocked. Opening up a box and shoplifting it out of the store must be some kind of feat, because most likely an empty box was stocked on the shelf. And the CompUSA employee probably could feel the difference in stocking an empty box with a full one. Mighty suspicious.
46. Brook Harty | June 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm

Small claims court, and judgments.
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36870
47. Gabriel Millerd | June 4th, 2007 at 2:37 pm

All sales are final? That’s one excuse I bet doesn’t fly in today’s Afghanistan or in the
48. Tom | June 4th, 2007 at 2:41 pm

I had the same thing happen to me, except it was Target and a DVD. Someone had sliced the security tap and got the movie out. When I tried to take it back, they just looked at me funny and said how do they know I didn’t just keep the DVD.

Bastards. But it was only a $14 dvd. Much easier to take then a digital camera
49. sqeez | June 4th, 2007 at 2:53 pm

all this bad publicity is hurt more than the 269 dollars.
50. Smitty | June 4th, 2007 at 2:58 pm

Give this info to BILL O’REILLY on FOX NEWS. He loves to run with stuff like this.
51. Garry | June 4th, 2007 at 2:59 pm

Damn! Call the Consumerist!
52. Safran | June 4th, 2007 at 3:01 pm

A. Nothing like the power of a good Digg and Consumerist and BoingBoing to light a fire.

B. For those of you who keep blaming Terry… well, may you one day be screwed out of $269 while people blame you.

C. When you have a cart stacked with $3,500 worth of computer materials, you don’t generally weigh the small boxes.

D. Nor do you have an evil plan to get home, give your step-daughter the camera, and then screw a company out of 7% of your purchase.

E. Liquidator shmiquidator. The store has a CompUSA name. The receipts say CompUSA. The shirts they wear say CompUSA. The flyers say CompUSA. Anyone want to tell Terry he didn’t buy from CompUSA? Anyone want to be in his shoes and say “Oh yeah! They got me!”
53. remus | June 4th, 2007 at 3:05 pm

happened to me with and old att phone from frys. right before the att to cingular migration they had all old att phone on sale. 50 bucks and under. got the box and all that, was sealed and wrapped. only when i got hope there were 2 chargers to make up the weight. i got a store credit.
54. Oswald | June 4th, 2007 at 3:08 pm

That’s what you get from buying things from a mexican-owned store.
55. Rick | June 4th, 2007 at 3:15 pm

So .. bascially … the guy was a moron .. He bought a liquidation item and didn’t check the contents… then goes back with an empty box.. with all the scammers out there, someone actually BLAMES CompUSA??

OMG
56. Koowan | June 4th, 2007 at 3:16 pm

So many of you are missing the key element of the story. CompUSA is permanently closing hundreds of its stores and using a liquidator to sell all of the merchandise. This means all sales ARE final and the customer is responsible for making sure he gets what he is buying. Yeah, it sucks, but it is the law when companies liquidate or go bankrupt — you are SOL.

Also, since the stores will no longer even exist you have no place to complain to. Did this get get screwed? You bet, BUT when you buy at a liquidation sale you better check what you buy because you have almost NO RIGHTS — all sales ARE FINAL.

Finally, since CompUSA is dying, they don’t give a shit about your complaints, protests or boycotts. Soon enough they wilol be gone as a retailer so if you buy anything at their liquidations be sure you know what you are getting.
57. Arochone | June 4th, 2007 at 3:20 pm

uh, that’s not ‘all sales are final’. That’s flat-out fraud. I don’t care if it said all sales are final, that’s not covered under that little clause, ’cause it wasn’t a legit sale. If I was him I’d be phoning either the police or my lawyer. Possibly both.
58. kevkev | June 4th, 2007 at 3:22 pm

Carlos Slim Helú (born January 28, 1940 in Mexico City) is a Mexican businessman.[2] He is the second richest person in the world according to Forbes with an estimated fortune of US$53.1 billion.[1]
Slim has a substantial influence over the telecommunications industry in Mexico and indeed the whole Latin American region. He controls Teléfonos de México (Telmex), Telcel and América Móvil companies. Though he maintains an active involvement in his companies, his three sons Carlos Slim Domit, Marco Antonio Slim Domit and Patrick Slim Domit head them on a day-to-day basis.
Kingpin of telecoms
Slim gained notoriety when he led a group of investors that included France Télécom and Southwestern Bell Corporation in buying Telmex from the Mexican government in 1990 in a public tender during the presidency of Carlos Salinas.
Today, ninety percent of the telephone lines in Mexico are operated by Telmex.[5] The mobile company, Telcel, which Carlos Slim Helú also controls, operates almost eighty percent of all the country’s cellphones. These operations have financed Mr. Slim’s expansion abroad. Over the past five years, his wireless carrier América Móvil has bought cellphone companies across Latin America, and is now the region’s dominant company, with more than 100 million subscribers.
Slim was once MCI’s largest shareholder, with 13 percent ownership. On April 11, 2005, The Wall Street Journal announced that he had sold his stake in MCI to Verizon Communications of the United States.
Slim also is a common shareholder of US Commercial, SA de CV which wholly owns CompUSA Inc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Slim_Hel%C3%BA
59. Koowan | June 4th, 2007 at 3:23 pm

Safran: “Liquidator shmiquidator. The store has a CompUSA name. The receipts say CompUSA. The shirts they wear say CompUSA. The flyers say CompUSA. Anyone want to tell Terry he didn’t buy from CompUSA? Anyone want to be in his shoes and say “Oh yeah! They got me!”

Sorry, but you don’t understand what liquidation means under the law — it means CompUSA is no longer the owner or operator of the store regardless of what it says on receipts, signs or tattoos on their asses. Once a company sells its assets to a liquidator they are gone, done, out of the picture. Yeah, it stinks, but if you don’t understand what liquidation means you shouldn’t be buying stuff at a store liquidation.

Liquidation means sales ARE final — period. If you get screwed you are SOL — that’s not my opinion, it’s how the law works. Sorry.
60. Joe | June 4th, 2007 at 3:26 pm

My wife dated an Egghead employee before we met. He was canned from Egghead for “checking out” a piece of hardware, it was a modem or a hard drive or something, and then re-shrink wrapping the box with a book in it instead.
61. Brian | June 4th, 2007 at 3:30 pm

One of the customers kids probably took the camera out of the box before it was given as a gift, and traded it for drugs… the customer honestly thinks the box was empty all along.

p.s. - dont buy stuff if all sales are final.
62. ! | June 4th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

i think #58 needs a little schooling. even in a true liquidation there are limitations.

if the liquidation price was $2.69 instead of $269 then it could be argued that a “reasonable person” should have known there was no camera in there.

if the camera normally sells for $500 and its liquidation price is $269 that passes the test.

anybody that knows terry, which i only do from reading him all the time, knows he wouldn’t screw anybody (the guy is a squirrel lover like !). i think he simply wanted to put the power of the blogosphere into motion to settle this matter without the litigation.

i think he’s well on his way.
63. Rob | June 4th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

We’re up to 50 Diggs this afternoon on this blog entry (It was at 4 this morning). There’s a slew of blogs that have picked up on Terry’s story today.

Terry might not get his money back, but CompUSA is definitely getting some online viral payback today.
64. compusa | June 4th, 2007 at 4:21 pm

see this video in compusa..ps3 case.
65. compusa | June 4th, 2007 at 4:22 pm

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8zC327N93I
66. discreet_chaos | June 4th, 2007 at 4:32 pm

Uh… There’s no law governing or defining “Liquidation”. It is a term which can be used as the basis for a legal contract and the civil courts may have interpreted it to mean certain things, but there’s no law defining the term.
67. Billy Flack | June 4th, 2007 at 4:33 pm

I can’t believe there are so many people claiming that CompUSA is in the clear on this issue. What you are buying with such a purchase in not the box but, rather, the item promised on the box. Unless bait and switch is legal this sale is certainly illegal as well.
68. Answer Me This | June 4th, 2007 at 4:40 pm

How do you pick up and buy and bring home an empty box and not notice it’s empty? Camera boxes are small. Cameras are heavy. Empty camera boxes are obvious.
69. Charles | June 4th, 2007 at 4:44 pm

CompUSA has always been bad; their liquidator has no soul.

I went to CompUSA to buy an advertised item with rebate - a network print server. They actually had it in stock, unlike every other time they advertised it. Took it to the checkout along with a hard drive enclosure marked at 19.99.

By this time I was well aware that the store was liquidating, so I asked if the rebate was good on the print server. She said no, so I said keep it.

Then the hard drive enclosure rang up at 24.99, instead of the clearly marked 19.99. I called over the manager, told him they had to honor the marked price by state law, and he said something to the effect that once they announce they are liquidating, that is no longer true.

I told him off, in a polite but forceful way, and left empty handed. Total waste of fuel to get there.
70. Safran | June 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pm

Koowan:

You’re right. I obviously don’t understand liquidation law. Obviously, that’s really the point here. Not a consumer getting boned in the name of a big company. Thanks for keeping your eye on the ball.

Steve
71. Nabeel | June 4th, 2007 at 5:01 pm

ok .. to make an impact, and I urge everyone else to do the same, I am not going to shop at CompUSA again .. let’s make these asswipes pay the real price for their injustice and ignorance.
72. Koowan | June 4th, 2007 at 5:10 pm

*sigh* Let’s try this again. Terry didn’t buy his camera from CompUSA — he bought it from the liquidator of CompUSA’s assets. If he has issues, he has to deal with the liquidator, not CompUSA. Did he get screwed? Of course! Does he have recourse? Yes, BUT it is severely limited versus buying it from a regular store. When assets are liquidated there is no store to go back to, no manager to complain to, just the company in charge of liquidating the assets. Terry could file a small claims action and see what happens.

Frankly, all this “we’re hurting CompUSA by whining on the internet” is pointless — CompUSA is dying already! Get it through your heads — CompUSA is GONE in states like Washington. Gone. Closed. Defunct. Complain all you want, but there is no CompUSA left to attack.

Look, I never shopped at CompUSA in the first place because they SUCK. Does anyone think they would behave BETTER when they are closing hundreds of stores?
73. foxmajik | June 4th, 2007 at 5:35 pm

The best part is how the author of the article attacks the people making comments. And then it just gets better. A flame war breaks out between the commenter and the blog’s author. That just made my day. =)
74. Todd | June 4th, 2007 at 5:37 pm

All the liquidator comments are BS. I stopped in at my local CompUSA a couple weeks ago, it’s going out of business and “liquidating”. But, the employees are still the same people - presumably the ones who have not been able to find a new job yet. The store still says CompUSA. I didn’t buy anything, but from other comments, I assume the receipt still says CompUSA.

My sister tried to return something bought prior to their going out of business, and of course they refused. But, the real problem was their attitude. Rather than politely explaining that, they just had the “too bad, I don’t care” attitude. I can see how they would be tempted to do that if the whole company was going under, but not when they are trying to keep half the stores open.. I can guarantee I will not buy anything at other remaining CompUSA stores in the future.
75. Chris Dame | June 4th, 2007 at 5:39 pm

You know, I was screwed over by CompUSA as well. They refused to honor a warrantee on a broken camera they sold me (I even paid for their extended one) despite clear wording in the documentation saying they had to. I took the fight to the top levels of the company, and complained to the BBB and in media outlets. In the end, they ended up contradicting themselves repeatedly in writing and calling me a criminal, but I decided a lawsuit just wasn’t worth it.

It feels good to know they are paying the price for being such a horrible company. Karma works.
76. Chris | June 4th, 2007 at 5:40 pm

You know, I was screwed over by CompUSA as well. They refused to honor a warrantee on a broken camera they sold me (I even paid for their extended one) despite clear wording in the documentation saying they had to. I took the fight to the top levels of the company, and complained to the BBB and in media outlets. In the end, they ended up contradicting themselves repeatedly in writing and calling me a criminal, but I decided a lawsuit just wasn’t worth it.

It feels good to know they are paying the price for being such a horrible company. Karma works.
77. Court | June 4th, 2007 at 5:42 pm

CompUSA closed down in my neighborhood, and no one really cared. Everyone was tired of them by that point. Selling last year’s items as if they were new, trying to find help while employees were busy doing something…not sure since there rarely were customers in there. It was so bad that people were willing to drive 10 miles to Fry’s for better service. I repeat: Fry’s for better service.

21. HankTorrents — your comment is a perfect example of CompUSA’s customer service and why they are going under.
78. km | June 4th, 2007 at 5:55 pm

If CompUSA allows a liquidator to use their branding in ads, allows the liquidator to sell their newly purchased lot in a CompUSA store, and makes their employees spend their last miserable days at their job hawking what were once CompUSA goods, then CompUSA can’t wash their hands of situations like this. It’s precisely this kind of non-transparency in the market (amongst lots of other things) that mucks things up and allows consumers to get screwed . Perhaps CompUSA isn’t the
real target (and if it’s possible to target the liquidator, let’s do it), but letting CompUSA off the hook is silly, even if the company is imploding.

And as for “all sales final”, I’m pretty sure (as has been said before) that selling an empty box for $269 dollars when they were supposed to be selling a camera is a clear case of fraud, not bad luck. If he got a camera and it was broken or scratched or something, sure, them’s the breaks. But the “sale” wasn’t final because there was no exchange of goods for cash — i.e. , there WAS NO SALE. Given the other evidence ($3,000+ in receipts), it’s pretty clear that the customer is not trying to defraud the seller and this should be taken further.
79. Phill | June 4th, 2007 at 6:02 pm

This has happenned at other stores such as officemax nad walmart. It can happen anywhere really - you *must* check the box before you leave (or preferably buy) the store.
Employee/customer theft is rampant.
80. Phill | June 4th, 2007 at 6:02 pm

This has happenned at other stores such as officemax and walmart. It can happen anywhere really - you *must* check the box before you leave (or preferably buy) the store.
Employee/customer theft is rampant.
81. Norasack | June 4th, 2007 at 6:34 pm

I went to buy a small DVD player there once and when the sales person brought it out, I reached out to take it but he refused to give it to me saying, “I’m sorry sir, this is a lock-down item”. He had to take it to the cashier himself.

Since that time, “I’m sorry sir, this is a lock-down item.” has become a slogan for me.
82. J | June 4th, 2007 at 6:53 pm

You know, they were cool when they sold me my computer. They were out of the model I wanted, so we got them to sell me the floor model. When the screen flipped out 4 months later, I took it back in because I had a service plan and paid them to back up my data. They had it for a month and a half and didn’t say a word to me until they called to say it was back in and oh, by the way, there was irrepairble damage to your hard drive, so we couldn’t back up your data and had to restore the factory settings. And I just know got it working properly after the reset. Jerks.
83. Frank Catalano | June 4th, 2007 at 7:11 pm

Apply the “reasonable person” rule to this. It was sold by CompUSA personnel, in a CompUSA store, with a CompUSA receipt. No reasonable person would assume they were not doing business with CompUSA. And, in any case CompUSA — who engaged the liquidator — is going to get the black eye for this.

And today’s digital cameras are quite lightweight. It’s not unusual for the manuals and accoutrements that come with a digital camera to weigh much more than the camera itself, and you won’t know that until you open the box.

The problem with this situation is that the box wasn’t opened until much later, since the camera was a gift. If it occurred past the credit card company’s complaint cutoff, that is not an obvious avenue for the buyer (unless, like American Express and some VISA cards, there is purchase protection for “theft,” which this might be considered if the buyer files a police report).

Terry is an honorable guy. We’ve blogged together. And CompUSA clearly isn’t quite as honorable in this situation.
84. Mike | June 4th, 2007 at 7:51 pm

The prez should have definitely had his lackey word the letter differently. If nothing else it should have included instructions on how to follow through with getting into contact, as well as with who to get into contact with over at the liquidation company. Definitely worth arguing over would be whether or not he was verbally notified that all sales were final, even if he bull shits saying he wasn’t. I take these kind of situations fairly personally having worked for CompUSA as a customer service rep and being one of the few up at the counter trying to actually help customers. Also please understand that at any retail establishment if you feel like you need to argue over any sort of customer service issue please skip the kid at the register, and the front end lead for that matter and go straight for the manager….please.
85. bud | June 4th, 2007 at 8:17 pm

The other blogs pointing to this do not mention that he bought it ON CLEARANCE. Any one that has seen the rats nest that is CompUSA clearance probably should have the sense to check the box.

Here is another tale. I bought a printer from CompUSA. The Box was shrinkwrapped and I grabbed it and paid for it. I don’t recall if it had the antitheft bungees on it or not.

Anyway, I got home opened the box, opened the shrinkwrap, and instead of the printer, in the box about the same approximate size and weight, was some VHS marketing video on starting your own Barbershop.

I took it back with my receipt, and told the returns clerk they may want to call a manager up for this. I showed them the ‘printer’ I had just bought. I told them that someone must have brought it back for a return earlier, and as it was shrinkwrapped, it was not inspected at the time of return. I just wanted to swap out for what I had purchased, and the exchange went fairly smoothly. I noticed that none of the other boxes were shrinkwrapped. They may have had those antitheft bungees, the tags that wrap around the box with cord. I asked if i could please inspect before I left with this exchange, I got a printer, and it works.

But, if I were a real ballsy crook, I could have been pulling a scam, and I would have had Two Printers.
Not that many people need Two of the same printer, but it happens. But what I was was a customer telling them they probably ought to be more careful on accepting returns, as this is probably how the video got in the box- They could even have given a cash refund to the guy.

Shrinkwrap means NADA, any jerk with access to the wrap can scam.

At least it wasn’t some last chance product that the store could not have swapped out if it wanted to.

Most crooks doing a turn on the store do not want to scam merchandise itself that much.
86. Bob | June 4th, 2007 at 8:18 pm

Umm… This guy is a dumbass.
87. CompUSA scam | June 4th, 2007 at 8:34 pm

My favorite CompUSA story: I was buying a PDA, an HP iPAQ. The salesgirl kept bugging me about getting an extended warranty plan, which I repeatedly turned down. She takes the iPAQ up to the front of the store for checkout, and the cashier went to get it from the pickup area and put it in the bag.

Well, guess what? As he’s ringing it up, I notice the extended warranty plan is in the bag too. I mention that I did not want the plan and I had told the salesgirl that (no less than 4 times). He gets p’d off and says “Then I’ll have to get the manager.” The 20-something “manager” comes over, the clerk points at me and says “This guy doesn’t want the plan anymore.” The manager shrugs and says “Wasn’t my sale” and walks away.

Gee, I wonder if the extra commission that the salesgirl would have made, played any role in this “mistake”. I wonder how often this happens?

The kicker is that as the CompUSA clerk finishes the sale, he hands me the bag and says “Don’t come running back to us when this breaks in a few months”. WTF????
88. Fred | June 4th, 2007 at 8:37 pm

Terry Heaton went on a spending spree in a store with a poor reputation, period. As a person with enough smarts to hold an R&D position, he needs to do a bit more research before he goes shopping. I can’t afford to go shopping for electronics but I certainly do my homework even if it’s for blank DVDs. There is a reason eBay provides the details of the seller’s NEG and POS comments and the Buyer Beware tutorials : so you don’t fall into that grey area where ‘all sales are final’ takes on more meaning than the item you purchased. It’s almost like owning stock from Enron, there’s just an empty box….
89. Chris | June 4th, 2007 at 8:50 pm

Does anyone really think that CompUSA or the liquidators give a crap about $269?

All this talk about lawsuits and what not is a hoot. It’s not worth your time/money to fight with a company over $269. From the information provided I would guess you would lose and then what? You’re out even more money and you still don’t have a camera.

Dispute with your CC company (hopefully you used a CC) and treat it as a learning experience.
90. interested | June 4th, 2007 at 8:52 pm

Any business transaction is based on a “meeting of the minds” - a legal phrase in all 50 states. I pay you $$$ for a camera. If by some cirmcumstance I leave the store with an empty box - that you gave me purpoted to contain a camera and thinking I bought a camera, then with out me having the camera, there is no transaction - period.

Either refund the $$$ or fork over the camera. CompMex or the liquidator or whom ever - it does not matter. Way too much of this crap going on.

Simple as that - and of course if it was purchased with credit card - give them a call and dispute the charge.
91. Me | June 4th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

Almost ten years ago I got busted taking a scanner and printer from Compusa. My beef was that on my arrest report I had also a laptop listed as having been stolen. Those bastard clerks snatched a laptop and put the blame on the innocent shoplifter, little ole me. The nerve I say
92. Kurtz25 | June 4th, 2007 at 10:19 pm

Okay, to all the people who think this guy should have noticed that the box didn’t have a camera in it:

Go buy a Canon camera.

Take it home.

Take the camera out of the box.

Lift the box.

If you notice that it substantially lighter, you have bought a clunky behemoth of a camera. The 2, 1-inch-thick books in that box weigh CONSIDERABLY more than the camera.

Now imagine you are at the store. You pick up the box. Does it have some heft? Yes?

THEN WHY WOULD A REASONABLE PERSON ASSUME IT TO BE AN EMPTY BOX?

Stop being retarded.
93. Me | June 4th, 2007 at 10:24 pm

And what point of “All sales are final” doesn’t he understand? If the camera was severely damaged would he expect a refund still? Technically there is no difference, he’s screwed in both cases. That’s the risk he took when he purchased something with a sign saying “ALL SALES FINAL”. Fuck’em. Life sucks.
94. Me | June 4th, 2007 at 10:40 pm

To Interested: I bet the camera was sold at a very low price, and with the notice clearly stated “ALL SALES FINAL”. He was assuming the risk that the product may or may not work in return for a substantially discounted price. DumpUSA was selling the product at a substantially reduced price so that they didn’t have to assume the risk of warranty. This person, as an informed buyer, took the risk and got screwed. Tough. Life sucks.
95. P | June 4th, 2007 at 11:02 pm

These weasels a while back destroyed my credit with their credit card. They closed all their stores here in Arizona, their repairs where shawdy at best…good riddance to these people. Pity the CEO and CFO and others are not in shackles, morons. No wonder they are closing stores with such outstanding customer service….
96. Lurker | June 4th, 2007 at 11:50 pm

It appears from the majority of these comments that I should take out a short term lease somewhere and sell nothing but empty boxes. Sure, there may be some who complain and for them, I might consider being a good “businessman” and refund their money after making them jump through a couple of hoops. Though, it seems from the majority that a pretty good living can be made from those willing to just let it go and from those who’ll consider it, a “learning experience”.

Baaaaa…..
97. Barry Gordon | June 5th, 2007 at 12:32 am

The hard lesson is that ALWAYS open and inspect your merchandise within feet of the cash register inside the store. Then at no time can the store accuse the buyer of fraud - emptying the box and claiming was SOLD EMPTY.
No retail store wants you to pick-up your cell phone right inside the store to call police to the scene and accuse the store of SELLING an emty box without immediate resolution. This has happened UMPTEEN times at BestBuy and they stand on their claim that the seller cannot prove the box was empty whenthe buyer left the store.

PAY WITH CREDIT CARD
OPEN THE BOX RIGHT AFTER YOU PAY
to inspect and confirm box not empty
INSIDE THE STORE ADJACENT THE CASH REGISTER.

Stores may soon have to start offering
MERCHANDISE INSPECTION COUNTERS. Not a bad idea to protect the store.
98. Chris Pirillo | June 5th, 2007 at 12:34 am

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lockergnome/498919550/
99. Jordan Lund | June 5th, 2007 at 12:40 am

The Comps that liquidated here had big signs on the door explaining that they were being cleared out by a holding company and as such were no longer official CompUsa stores. Comp newspaper ads no longer applied and merch could not be returned at that or any other Comp store.

The guy should have checked the boxes to make sure everything was there. Heck, in a ‘no return’ situation he should have WANTED to check the camera for bad pixels and the like.

The Comps here were on clearance for 4 or 5 weeks then -poof- Gone. All that’s left is 4 walls and a tile floor.
100. Abel | June 5th, 2007 at 12:41 am

This is why I shop at Office Depot. Their prices might be a bit higher, but their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Also, they are the best with returns. They will pretty much return anything even without a reciept.
101. Andrew Johnson | June 5th, 2007 at 12:54 am

Easy solution guys, NEWEGG.COM

As for CompUSA, who the hell shops there anymore? None of my friends do.
102. bla bla bla | June 5th, 2007 at 12:59 am

liquidation sales are done by liquidation companies, CompUSA technically didnt sell him the camera, the company that bought the store & products w/in the store did.
103. Anonymous | June 5th, 2007 at 1:01 am

How the hell do you know that the guy didn’t take the camera out of the box and then complain? If CompUSA and every other company out there were to just refund every buyer who said that “the box was empty” to try to be nice guys and err on the side of caution, then you’d have the problem of people buying stuff, taking it out, and trying to get money back.

On top of that, a liquidation company sold the camera. CompUSA would have sold the stock they were getting rid of to the liquidation company, and the liquidation company then sold it. He needs to take his complaint to the liquidation company. CompUSA is in the clear on this one.
104. Peter | June 5th, 2007 at 1:04 am

Well I’m convinced. Fuck Comp USA, and if that isn’t the response you wanted, wtf are you doing?
105. Inside Man | June 5th, 2007 at 1:11 am

The e-mail for the man in charge of COMPUSA at the parent company (owned by mexican magnate Carlos Slim) is gallardo@sanborns.com.mx. His name is Jesus Gallardo and from personal experience i can tell you it will tick him off to recieve 100’s of emails about this..
106. Mick Russom | June 5th, 2007 at 1:12 am

If I was the new-world Augusto Pinochet of the United states, I would throw that bastard CEO out the back of an airplane at 20,000 ft just like Pinochet used to do with these vile corrupt scum.

I’m sick of these pukes being outside of the reach of the angry public!

Someone needs to kidnap the CEO and threaten to sell his organs if he doesn’t issue a refund immediately.
107. Paolo | June 5th, 2007 at 1:14 am

I recently bought a clearance camera from COMPUSA and it came with the wrong charger.
108. Andy | June 5th, 2007 at 1:25 am

As a manager of an Office Depot I can tell you that we TRY to provide the best service we can. Recently the company has really cracked down on returns past the return time frame (14 days on electronics, 30 days on everything else). However, if you spoke with a manager at Office Depot I can’t imagine we wouldn’t properly deal with a situation such as this.

Hell, the managers at CompUSA should have been thinking “What do I care? I’m here another 2 weeks, whatever!” and done it.
109. 102reply | June 5th, 2007 at 1:56 am

number 102… what the hell are you talking about? how/why would they “sell” the merchandise to a liquidation house that has “CompUSA ” on the receipt?

Idiot… They are most certainly NOT in the clear.

From some stupid auctions from E-bay that I’ve seen taken care of on tv I’d bet that Judge Judy would tear CompUSA up pretty good over this.
110. Bob | June 5th, 2007 at 2:08 am

Terry went to a nearby CompUSA? Why didn’t he go back to the original store to return his box?

I would not give him a refund either, I’d tell him to take the box back to where he bought it, which apparently wasn’t even CompUSA… He bought the box from a liquidation company; Terry should go talk to them.

Only an Idiot would do this… He buys a Radio Shack radio (for example) at a yard sale and then blames radio shack that the radio wasn’t inside and demand that they give him a refund….

This is just a stupid story posted by someone upset at CompUSA for something else… BOOOOOO!!!
111. Bob | June 5th, 2007 at 2:15 am

CONSUMERS SHOULD !STOP! BLAMING RETAILIORS FOR THEIR PROBLEMS. IF YOU’RE DIGGING FOR LOW-COST CRAP YOU’RE GONNA GET DIRTY.

oNCE I MADE MYSELF SOME MONEY I STARTED SHOPPING ONLY AT HIGH-END, HIGH PRICE STORES, I BECAME A VALUABLE CUSTOMER. IF YOU ARE BUYING THE CHEAPEST STUFF, THEN YOU ARE JUST A SHEEP WITH A WALLET LIKE THE 3RD COMMENTS SAYS…

gROW SOME BALLS AND GO (EARN and then) SPEND SOME REAL MONEY YOU POOR PEOPLE AND THEN YOU WONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING TREATED BADLY…IN FACT IT WILL BE YOUR JOB TO TREAT PEOPLE BADLY, AND PEOPLE LOVE YOU FOR IT.

WORD
112. Craig David | June 5th, 2007 at 2:30 am

Bob (110)

I hope you are joking because you just sound like a complete asshole. Telling people off for being poor is just ignorant.

Besides $270 is still a reasonable amount of money for a camera, and its a heck of a lot for a cardboard box.

If your so rich and powerful, why not go and play golf or something and stop blogging or can you not afford it?

and I appreciate the irony in the statement so dont bother telling me about it.
113. not me | June 5th, 2007 at 3:19 am

I’m curious as to how you would prove that it was or was not in the box when purchased if this were to ever go to small claims court. As for the cost of doing business. Unfortunately, especially with the wide use of the internet to communicate, there are huge numbers of people who exploit any gaps in policy.

The best is the guy who tries to get crazy deals, rip of stores, and then this happens to them. Karma?

Cheers!
114. =_=" | June 5th, 2007 at 3:52 am

SUBROUTINE: RECURSIVE LOOP

>COMMENT
PRINT “CompUSA is BAD”
>END COMMENT

>COMMENT
PRINT “Customer is an idiot”
>END COMMENT

>COMMENT
PRINT “This is fraud!”
>END COMMENT

>COMMENT
PRINT “All sales are final, too bad”
>END COMMENT

>COMMENT
PRINT “Flame previous comment”
>END COMMENT

>COMMENT
PRINT “Share own tale, offers sympathy”
>END COMMENT

>REPEAT SUBROUTINE
115. Prudence | June 5th, 2007 at 4:02 am

Caveat emptor. Blame no-one but yourself if you buy an empty box. There’s one born every minute eh?
116. indio | June 5th, 2007 at 4:06 am

All sales are final? too bad a sale did not take place. He never received the item that he paid for. It’s fraud at best and theft at worst. No company or person can “sell” an item and not deliver that item legally. It’s fraud plain and simple. He should goto the local police and file a criminal complaint.
117. chad | June 5th, 2007 at 4:13 am

hmm… box with camera… box without camera…. I dont care what you bought…. you cant tell just by holding/gently shaking a box if it has a camera inside of it. its his fault for not checking everything before he left. CompUSA has a policy of no refunds because(and im not saying this guy is doing this) some people would actually bring back and empty box claiming there was nothing in it…. sucks to be you man, but you should have been more careful
118. Craig David | June 5th, 2007 at 4:13 am

The question is (as mentioned before) how would you prove it?

This sounds like a job for George Bush, that way we wouldn’t need proof, he can just veto CompUSA’s decision.

Maybe you should write to him.

(sorry, I know that was a cheap, and irrelevant political comment, just couldn’t help myself)
119. autryld | June 5th, 2007 at 4:39 am

I’m bin agreement with chad. I just got a digital camera. The box when empty is much lighter– it really is! Even if it’s an honest mistake, it’s still hard to fathom they the box wasn’t opened and it was sooo light.

With Consumers returning computer product purchases with food or other items in the box retailers would go broke accepting returns unchallenged.
120. Martin Cleaver | June 5th, 2007 at 4:50 am

These issues can be internaitonal. I bought a Sony Viao desktop computer from MediaMarkt in Rotterdam… It had been the showroom model. Then I found that the 80 GB harddisk inside was actually a 2 GB harddisk. Someone, probably staff, had swapped them. Fortunately thre was another showroom model and I was given that - but got a few strange looks when I first reported the problem.
121. Sean G. | June 5th, 2007 at 5:01 am

I too had a horrible experience with CompUSA–mine was trying to get warranty work done on a PDA. It came back still broken, and they tried to refuse to fix it unless I bought a new warranty. It took several months to get fixed. Horrible customer service. Personnally, I would never shop there again. I wouldn’t recommend the store to others either–shop there at your own risk!
122. Philip | June 5th, 2007 at 5:07 am

Bob,
RETAILIORS? Did you mean to say retailers?

This made me laugh, I’m sure you’re as wealthy as you told us you were in your insightful comment. Obviously you are a product of the finest schools this country has to offer.

One last thought: I imagine Bob rode the special bus.

Ciao,
Philip
123. K8TEK | June 5th, 2007 at 5:48 am

This is clearly a case of theft by deception. He thought he was buying a camera, but instead getting a $279 box. I would file a police report for fraud and press the issue.
124. Chris | June 5th, 2007 at 6:02 am

Pointing out of course that compusa isn’t listening because you didn’t buy from compusa. The closong stores werre bought out by liquidation compianies. It might have said compusa on the building, but they were thier own entities. You should be dealing witht he liquidation company. Also who buys anythign at a liquidation sale and DOESN’T OPEN THE BOX, especially if it sint’ sealed and feeles light.
125. Scott | June 5th, 2007 at 6:05 am

Guys, the man paid for a camera.

He did not get one.

That’s not “all sales are final” unless he was told he was buying the box. That’s fraud.

If it wasn’t, CompUSA could intentionally sell millions of empty boxes for $300 and say, “Hey all sales are final! Too bad!”
126. Brian | June 5th, 2007 at 6:14 am

CompUSA has terrible customer service. I’m not surprised
127. Skwigger | June 5th, 2007 at 6:18 am

There’s a pretty simple solution to this, contact the Better Business Bureau and hassle the hell out of CompUSA.
128. Patrick | June 5th, 2007 at 6:23 am

I once purchased a Joystick from CompUSA and had the same thing happen. They left the power adapter (the majority of the weight) in the box and took the joystick. When I got home, I found no joystick! They then guaranteed me that all boxes in the store are sealed and that I was trying to pull a trick on them. I promptly went to the other boxes of joysticks, brought a few back - none of which were sealed - and demanded a replacement. They complied but they continued to treat me like a crimal until I left the store. Following me to the bathroom and such.
129. DigiTrail Blaze | June 5th, 2007 at 6:24 am

I’ve been calling the place “InCompetentUSA” for years!
130. AEK | June 5th, 2007 at 6:25 am

I just finished working at a now closed CompUSA. I can say that every customer was told that all sales were final. It’s hard to believe that someone would leave the store with an empty box and not realize this. If the box was empty the seal would have been broken and the box would be quite light. Also, when someone was told all sales were final, they were offered the opportunity to examine the contents. It’s foolish to walk out of the store with an empty box then expect the store to just buy your story. Also, if it was a display item the camera would still be in the store and easily matched to the serial number. On the other hand, it was always an option to bypass the liquidator and satisfy the customer, right up to the last closing day. All that said, CompUSA is a company with no heart.
131. Syphon | June 5th, 2007 at 6:30 am

I worked at a CompUSA closing store. CompUSA owned ALL of its merchandise though the day we closed. All the liquidator was there for was to keep operations moving smoothly during the closing.

Any yes we were NOT aloud to open a box to show a customer anything during the closing. We were told that it may be damaged or missing stuff and who would buy it then.
132. CompUsux | June 5th, 2007 at 6:30 am

I’ve been ripped off by CompUSA pretty hard too; on their warranties that they sell with items.

I bought a $80 mouse and a $15 headset - Bought a warranty for the mouse; or so I thought. The mouse broke so I brought it back for the warranty but they claimed that it covered the $15 headset I bought. They blamed ME, the customer, instead of their own employee mistake.

(I called before I went to the store to verify I had a warranty with the mouse and the woman I spoke to said I did; so I went to the store)

They don’t make mistakes huh? Ever since I haven’t been to CompUSA and the only one in my area has been shut down.
133. Rob | June 5th, 2007 at 6:43 am

These “liquidation sales” are bad news. When our local Venture closed down I bought a combination cordless phone/answering machine. Even though it appearded to me that the box had not been opened, when I got home I discovered that the handset did not match the base unit (they weren’t even the same brand). I discovered, like Terry, that “all sales are final” at these types of events. Fortunately I was only out $30 instead of $300, so I was able to learn the lesson at 1/10th the price. Hey, maybe that’s the discount they were referring to!
134. CompUSA | June 5th, 2007 at 6:49 am

Lulz, don’t camera boxes way heavier than a box with no camera?
135. COMPUSA - FART ON THEIR FACE | June 5th, 2007 at 6:50 am

I SAY WE ALL GO UP TO COMPUSA EMPLOYEES AND GET IN THEIR CASES AND SHOUT THEM DOWN. SCREAM IN THEIR FACES, SHOUT OBSCENITIES, SCREAM, AND SCREAM AND YELL MURDER AND LIAR…STOMP THE LYING CRIMINAL SCUM AT COMPUSA.
136. CW | June 5th, 2007 at 6:55 am

Interesting article. Unfortunately, I disagree with Terry. If the box he purchased was unsealed, he should not have bought it in the first place.

On the other hand, for a customer who is worth $3300 in one visit, I’d gladly replace the camera.
137. Craig David | June 5th, 2007 at 7:02 am

George Bush, George Bush,
George Bush, George Bush, George Bush

oooooooooohhh…..George Bush!!!!!

In my personal opinion, all new comments have not read a lot of the previous comments, cos nothing new is really being said any more as described so well by comment 112 so………

George Bush, George Bush,
George Bush, George Bush, George Bush
138. Craig David | June 5th, 2007 at 7:03 am

oh, yeah, did i mention George Bush?
139. Brandon | June 5th, 2007 at 7:15 am

I feel bad for Terry, but how can you not tell the difference between the weight of an empty box vs. one that actually has the camera in it? They are not that light. I do hope that this gets resolved, but seriously man…
140. kyle | June 5th, 2007 at 7:20 am

wow. a LOT of smart people here. I understand “all sales are final” speech you geniuses are giving out, but put yourself in his shoes. If you seriously are under the impression that “durr camera box is empty durr its gonna be light and durr what a retard he diddnt notice” then you obviously haven’t held many empty camera boxes. Yes, it would have been a nice thing to do to check the contents of the box, and I agree that had the camera just been a little banged up, all sales are final kinda makes sense. But just because there is an “all sales are final” sign doesn’t give you the right to defraud customers. Lets say I was selling cameras for 300 dollars, and you give me 300 dollars and i hand you over an empty box. Sorry. All sales are final. Deal with it. What are you going to do?
141. kyle | June 5th, 2007 at 7:20 am

wow. a LOT of smart people here. I understand “all sales are final” speech you geniuses are giving out, but put yourself in his shoes. If you seriously are under the impression that “durr camera box is empty durr its gonna be light and durr what a retard he diddnt notice” then you obviously haven’t held many empty camera boxes. Yes, it would have been a nice thing to do to check the contents of the box, and I agree that had the camera just been a little banged up, all sales are final kinda makes sense. But just because there is an “all sales are final” sign doesn’t give you the right to defraud customers. Lets say I was selling cameras for 300 dollars, and you give me 300 dollars and i hand you over an empty box. Sorry. All sales are final. Deal with it. What are you going to do?

Probably post about it on the internet.
142. MagicPenguin | June 5th, 2007 at 7:26 am

Who can really be that stupid to not check inside and let alone be able to realize that a big camera would actually mae the box a little heavier than it was. Also, if you do buy something at a liquidation sale, you cant return it, this is because for one ‘All sales are final’ and two, you have to return the item of purchase to the exact same store you bought it from. Basically, this guy was stipid with a capital S.
143. Anonymous | June 5th, 2007 at 7:38 am

>>98
> INSIDE THE STORE ADJACENT THE CASH REGISTER.

No, inspect it at the register, *before moving out of the way*, while the cashier and marks^Wcustomers behind you are staring at you, if the store says all sales are final. Then you’ll have lots of witnesses, and enough customers doing this might discourage `all sales final’ policies. It’s only fair: they inspect your money at the register before sending you on your way, don’t they?
144. Dwight Kossman | June 5th, 2007 at 7:41 am

This happened to me as well, only it was a wireless keyboard and mouse that was obviously returned to the store prior to me buying it. I was driving past the CompUSA store in Crestwood, MO. and noticed that they were having a liquidation sale. So, like any techie, I had to see how good the deals were. I found a really awesome deal (or so I thought) on a kensington laser wireless mouse and keybourd combo. After purchasing it and arriving home, I noticed that the keyboard and mouse wasn’t the one that was pictured on the outside of the packaging. I called the CompUSA to see about returning the item and was told that there weren’t any returns being accepted. The keyboard and mouse won’t even work with the receiver that came in the box with them. I then called Kensington and the rep was extremely helpful and shipped out a new keyboard and mouse combo to me at no charge. It wasn’t the same model that I bought, it was a less expensive model but at least it works. Then I noticed another charge on my card from CompUSA. Apparently after i left the store someone charged an additional $17.88 to my visa card. I’m still waiting a decision from my bank to be credited back to my account on that matter. CompUSA is ridiculous, I’m happy to see them GO!
145. apmeyer | June 5th, 2007 at 7:48 am

The five Comp USAs in the Minneapolis area recently went out of business. So I, unfortunately, won’t have the chance to boycott. At least I know not to order from them online in the future.

NewEgg is the way to go!
146. anonymous | June 5th, 2007 at 7:59 am

ya i used to work for compUSA. a few things. one the owner or head guy his name is MR. slim. the third richest man in Mexico last time i heard. the sales people are only told to sell there tap service and to make the rest up as they talk to you. aka “Everyone i know has this product and loves it.” there management is a joke as you can tell. and they don’t care who they piss off. employee or other wise. but haha!! 124 or so stores closed on top of all the Good Guys stores closing as well. i say get your money back and never go to a compUSA. and tell everyone you know not to go there. and lest bring them down.
147. Steve | June 5th, 2007 at 8:00 am

I had a similar issue at Office Max. I bought a sealed HP Laser Jet Color cartridge. When I got home and opened the box it had a used cartridge from another printer. I took it back to the store with in an hour and the manager said “too bad it wasnt their issue.” He told me to contact HP and extract satisfaction from them. HP by the way bent over backwards to get a new cartridge with out even paying the shipping. But as a result I never shop at Office Max and I tell anyone I have a chance to NOT shop at Office Max either.
148. ilolled | June 5th, 2007 at 8:01 am

@ #112 - Best cokmment ever !
149. thinsoldier | June 5th, 2007 at 8:03 am

I twice bought video cards (2 years apart) from best buy and both times got a spider web covered winmodem in the box.
150. liquidator | June 5th, 2007 at 8:20 am

http://www.gordonbrothers.com/ is the group conducting the liquidation of compusa. Complaints to the Better Business Bureau should be brought against them. Gordon Brothers has purchased all of the CompUSA inventory in the store, so CompUSA has little to do with this. Blame Gordon Brothers.
http://www.gordonbrothers.com/
151. CompUSA boo | June 5th, 2007 at 8:23 am

He bought a $269 amid a $3,500 purchase…. spending that much, I’m sure pretty much NOBODY would think to check a small box just to ensure it’s contents. but, hmm… isn’t that why we *trust* our big box retailers?? So we don’t get screwed like this. I too hope he used a credit card so his purchase protection on this item covers his loss. A sale is only a sale if the customer gets the merchandise they desire in order to complete the transaction. In this case CompUSA just took the mans money…. CompUSA = We’ll take your money and give you nothing but a hard time.
152. Magorn | June 5th, 2007 at 8:26 am

Seems like a clear cut case of “theft By deception” to me. Any street vendor tried to pull the same hustle they’d be wearing metal bracelets in a few hours. BB doesn’t get special treatment cause they did it in a store and have a company policy

He Should contact the Consumer Protection Division of his State Attorney General’s office; they’ll take action I nearly gaurantee..
153. Amarie | June 5th, 2007 at 8:39 am

The many reasons why i haven’t yet stepped foot in a compUSA store. Ridiculous how far we have to fight in order to get a little justification. I hope Terry gets his money back! As much as people say negative things about this place, it’s unbelievable they are still in business.
154. anon | June 5th, 2007 at 8:39 am

Boo hoo freaking hoo. Let me blog cuz I’m either too stupid to check a box at a liquidation sale or trying to scam a company out of $300.

And BTW #143 - NewEgg would laugh you off the phone if you called them with this kind of issue. Their customer service is worse than anybody out there.
155. MK | June 5th, 2007 at 8:41 am

CompUSA is gonna get so much bad press that they’ll wish they’d just refunded the money.

So…are we all supposed to walk in there with pocket knives and slice open any box we’re interested in purchasing? They’d hate that too.
156. bdc | June 5th, 2007 at 8:46 am

What part of “all sales are final” is so hard to understand?
157. Sidecutter | June 5th, 2007 at 8:54 am

To everyone complaining that he should have noticed the weight being too light: You’re joking, right? Seriously. Aside from some of the very high end cameras and a DSLR, digital camera often weigh next to nothing. Less than the manuals in the box would, as another poster stated. I recently purchased a good quality camera myself, and the thing doesn’t weigh even half a pound. The box alone weighs more than 8 ounces usually. So please explain how exactly, based on weight, he was supposed to know that a sealed box was empty.
158. TONY | June 5th, 2007 at 8:55 am

The Same thing happened to me at Fry’s with a network card box which appeared factory sealed. When I returned the empty box to them I was expecting drama when they called me a liar, but to their credit they took me at my word. I was able to convince them I was on the level by looking the manager in the eye and telling them sincerely it was empty when I opened it.
159. Robert Ameeti | June 5th, 2007 at 9:00 am

He purchases a camera in March, takes it home. Then in May he opens the box and thinks that it is CompUSA’s fault? Sorry. That wouldn’t work anywhere I shop. He has no idea who may have removed the camera in the previous 2 months.
160. Will | June 5th, 2007 at 9:04 am

I can’t believe the number of morons posting here.

More than anything else, the problem with this story is that people are blaming CompUSA. Yes, they are a crap store, but at this point - they are NOT the ones who sold the camera.
Even if you talked with the CEO of CompUSA and earned every ounce of sympathy, it would not make a lick of difference - you did not buy that camera from his store.

Get this through your heads, retards. We’re not talking about CompUSA anymore.
161. Chris | June 5th, 2007 at 9:05 am

Hate to tell you guys this, but the little “all sales are final, no returns no exchanges” printed on the receipt is binding. You are informed of this multiple times when shopping in a store liquidated to the Gordon Brothers Group. Seeing as you went to a different CompUSA I’ll bring this up. All stores, whether closing or not, were explicitly informed to not handle any customer service issues from a closing store.

Also remember, though you bought the product in a CompUSA, the product was not owned by CompUSA when you bought it. Go through the liquidation company, it would be the most logical and the best (if need be) ways to legal action.

Remember, the product was not CompUSA’s when you bought it and you were informed of the return policy prior to purchase.
162. optimuscrime | June 5th, 2007 at 9:06 am

that’s too bad. i got an awesome p-p-p-powerbook! at a compusa liquidation.
163. luis | June 5th, 2007 at 9:11 am

Thats crap! Stupid CompUSa, thats the lamest answer I’ve ever heard. I hope you get your money back..
164. Rhapsun | June 5th, 2007 at 9:14 am

Sales are final when you have purchased a product. He still hasn’t bought a camera.
165. ConnecticutYankee | June 5th, 2007 at 9:17 am

I presume if he had paid for it by check, and it bounced, he would also be able to use the “all sales final” defense. If it’s his problem if they sold him an empty box, isn’t it thier problem if he has an empty account?
166. mpt | June 5th, 2007 at 9:28 am

Do you actually think a company like CompUSA, Best Buy, etc. would knowingly sell empty boxes. C’mon!! The product belong to the liquidators not CompUSA. Do you expect them to tear down the sign outside of the store so that people like you know it is not CompUSA. The Gordon Brother’s name was all over the building.
167. HankTorrentsisaretard | June 5th, 2007 at 9:30 am

re HankTorrents comments:

/yourself you rambling idiot
168. Phil | June 5th, 2007 at 9:31 am

to 158 Chris

It doesn’t matter who technically owned it or is responsible or what the reciept says. What matters is perception, and the perception is that they are screwing the guy out of $269. $269 is not worth the loss in sales that the negative publicity will cause.
169. Brian Maffitt | June 5th, 2007 at 9:31 am

Yeah, the same thing happened to me years ago at A&S Plaza in New York City. I bought an answering machine for my father’s birthday and had them ship it to him in Memphis… they shipped an empty box, but accused him of stealing it when we complained. I never got a refund, but at least A&S is out of business. No wonder.
170. Venom68 | June 5th, 2007 at 9:38 am

CompUSA is going out of buisness in our area, why am I not surpised!
171. rg | June 5th, 2007 at 9:41 am

When I tried to open an item to confirm the contents, COMPUSA employee immediately jumped on me to stop me, and said I was not allowed to open the box!

And to think if I bought it and it was empty, I wouldn’t have been able to return it.

LOL what a joke this company is… little wonder they have to close all these stores.

idiots.
172. Wasatch Software | June 5th, 2007 at 9:47 am

Why is this not shocking? Some companies are just to big for their own good. Wasatch Software vows never to be too big for the little guy…
173. ZenGod | June 5th, 2007 at 9:51 am

i don’t shop compUsa anymore, ever. their staff are unpleasant, unhelpful and generally very lazy slack asses. it would nice for once to enter a store and see a smile on an employees face!
174. farkthem | June 5th, 2007 at 9:57 am

Well, now that it’s splashed on Fark, I’d say this story has hit the big time!
Im in ur box, stealin your pics
175. Scott | June 5th, 2007 at 10:06 am

“Hate to tell you guys this, but the little “all sales are final, no returns no exchanges” printed on the receipt is binding. ”

Then I’m gonna start a store selling nothing but empty boxes (with pix of products on them) with that caveat and make a fortune.

That’d be legal, right?
176. Awesome-O | June 5th, 2007 at 10:19 am

‘All sales are final’? I could see apllication of such policy had there actually been a product in the box that was sold but how can such any policy be applied when there’s no physical product to apply it towards? In this case, ‘nothing’ was ’sold’.
I’m not the biggest spender but, in the past, I regularly shopped CompUSA for many smaller, secondary items but no longer do. I don’t care that the item was property of the liquidation company & not CompUSA themselves because it was on CompUSA’s shelf & could physically go right back on the shelf - regardless of who claims what name of such store - just as easily as it came off. Maybe the name of the store should be changed to ‘OneWayUSA’.
177. Nick | June 5th, 2007 at 10:20 am

Yea wouldn’t doubt a classy company like that would do something like this. Guess thats why they are going out of business…
178. Joe | June 5th, 2007 at 10:26 am

Too bad for the customer — when it says “No Sales Final” on the receipt you can’t dispute it on your credit card. All you really do in this case is call your states attorney or file a lawsuit.

But, I’d be willing to bet CompUSA changes their tune now that the story is out.
179. Pat | June 5th, 2007 at 10:39 am

It’s on Fark.. now everyone will know.
180. David | June 5th, 2007 at 10:43 am

Why the witch hunt against CompUSA…what forces are at play here….pissed off competitors?….deal with it bytch
181. Syphon | June 5th, 2007 at 10:43 am

#158 your an idiot, I was working at a store.

ALL MERCHANDISE WAS OWNED BY COMPUSA DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS!

GORDON BROTHERS NEVER OWNED ANY MERCHANDISE!

We are also told as employees that customers could not check boxes, nor could we check it for them. If something was broke or missing parts, no one would buy it.

Again morons!

ALL MERCHANDISE WAS OWNED BY COMPUSA DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS!

GORDON BROTHERS NEVER OWNED ANY MERCHANDISE!
182. Harry | June 5th, 2007 at 10:44 am

CompUSA is closing many of it’s stores. I doubt that they all of a sudden will start believing that customers matter. There is a reason why CompUSA is going under. You think bad PR is going to change that now?
183. Adam | June 5th, 2007 at 10:45 am

CompUSA lost by business a while back too due to a warrenty issue. This is just one more reason I won’t be going back there.
184. Anne | June 5th, 2007 at 10:51 am

If this guy wants a refund, he should have complained to the liquidation company not to CompUSA, since the liquidation company is the one that SOLD it to him. If I go to a garage sale and buy something orginally from Target, I’m not going to go to Target, demand a refund, then get all pissy when they refuse. I’m going to go back to the garage sale. ALSO, if I’m trying to buy is a digital camera, I’m going to figure out 1.) Not to buy the display box 2.) the box feels the correct/incorrect weight as soon as I pick it up.

Yeah, the NICE thing to do would be to give him a refund since he is obviously wasn’t on the ball, but at the same time, this country has bent over backwards to please the wants of stupid people. If people don’t have personal responsibility, they will always feel entitled, and never learn from their own mistakes.
185. you guys need a clue. | June 5th, 2007 at 10:55 am

Compusa sold it NOT the liquidation company.

ALL MERCHANDISE WAS OWNED BY COMPUSA DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS!

GORDON BROTHERS NEVER OWNED ANY MERCHANDISE!
186. filtersweep | June 5th, 2007 at 10:59 am

I wonder how well it would go over to remove the anti-theft bungies, take off the shrinkwrap, open the box, take out the camera, put in the batteries, and just test it out? Maybe try this for several models until you find the one you want?

They are begging for it with those kinds of policies.
187. JVoss | June 5th, 2007 at 10:59 am

Obviously here is the reason that CompUSA is closing half of it’s stores. I stopped shopping there years ago after being treated so poorly by the store employees and managers. I go to the two local Best Buys and have had nothing but good interactions at the store, perhaps I am lucky there.

See, now CompUSA is not out the 269.00 they would have spent to make it right with this customer. They are out the cost of all the future sales they lost from him and those reading about this that choose to go somewhere else. Really, really poor decision on their part. Again, wonder why they are closing so many stores.
188. jason | June 5th, 2007 at 11:01 am

Anne,
Your logic is tragically flawed. You actually believe he was supposed to open the box and check it out before he purchased it? Oh wait, aren’t those things being the glass case, and they only give them to you after you check out? He should have jumped over the counter punched out the clerk, inspected the box, then raised hell, that makes sense.
189. Mat P | June 5th, 2007 at 11:02 am

I don’t get why he didn’t inspect the item before purchasing it from a clearance rack. Usually I’m against corporations sticking it to the little guy, but seriously… this is a case of survival of the fittest.
190. CPC | June 5th, 2007 at 11:02 am

I’ve been an Ebay seller for years; hardly a big business, but if there’s ever a place that’s “caveat emptor” it’s got to be Ebay. Yet no matter how you say it in your auction (AS-IS, NO REFUNDS, ALL SALES FINAL, etc), you still have to deliver what’s advertised. They weren’t advertising an empty box for $269, were they? They were advertising a camera. If you see X advertised, spend a reasonable amount for money for X, but get Y instead, you’re due a refund. It’s not like he got X but wasn’t happy with the condition of it or had buyer’s remorse. Buy a cookie, expect a cookie. If you get a picture of a cookie on a box, you’re due for a refund. but that’s another Ebay story…
191. Juan V Gomez | June 5th, 2007 at 11:03 am

You could buy that same camera from CompUSA for $229 right now. So either there was a huge price drop recently or he was stupid to buy it at all.
192. K. | June 5th, 2007 at 11:05 am

When I was young I Worked at Walmart. So many would use that excuse we didn’t know who to trust. We even had one customer swear that a car radio was not in the box even though I had just reboxed it from being a display. They know if you scream loud enough, a retailer will eventually give in and give them back their money.
193. Anonymous | June 5th, 2007 at 11:15 am

Jason, my logic is neither flawed nor tragic. You just didn’t read my comment very well. At no point did I write “he was supposed to open the box and view the contents.” The point was anyone should be able to figure out a camera is missing if the box feels incredibly light weight. Also, since the camera was missing from the box, there should have been some tell-tall signs such as a poor tape job, or some other visable clue.
194. GDT | June 5th, 2007 at 11:16 am

Duh, I don’t know, but I always open every box -before I leave a store. It is common to run across missing pieces and broken items.

What really blows my mind is that he knew this was a liquidation/bankruptcy and he still went on a shopping spree. I can hear the other shoppers cries of “DAMN,… my fifty dollar …50 inch plasma doesn’t work”. HE let the prices over rule common sense. Oh, sorry, perhaps I am being un PC and he is unable to read the english signs all over the store……… Excusay moi

BUT……then again….. I also count the money a teller or cashier hands to me. Perhaps he is one of those who think its ok to leave and come back hours later crying the blues that he didn’t get the right change. OH YEA…sorry let me give you that change for the hundred you gave me.

Do you look both ways as you SLOWLY cross tjhe street, or are you one of the many who stare straight ahead- totally unaware of the traffic around you?

Is there no responsibilty for your own actions or inactions any more? Is there no common sense?

Oh, to the guy who had the brilliant idea about selling nothing but empty boxes…. sorry that’s old news…it’s still being done - as we speak- at some place called EBay….and sometimes you don’t even get an nice empty box…….gasp….
195. liquidator | June 5th, 2007 at 11:22 am

I work for a liquidator, so I’m getting a kick out of these comments…

If as a business, you let a liquidator buy all of your merchandise, then use your premises, as well as use your NAME on the receipts, then I’m sorry, but it was not sold by the LIQUIDATOR and as the owner of the premises (read that last word…it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT…here, I’ll repeat it….premises) you are liable. If the gentleman had a television dropped on him while in the store then who is responsible? CompUSA…it is all about the location.
196. K. | June 5th, 2007 at 11:38 am

He would not have been hurt because the box was empty !! Ha HA
197. Too much time on my hands | June 5th, 2007 at 11:41 am

You can’t blame a store for not believing a guy who returns a month and a half later, to a different store, with a “magically” empty camera. The return policy was printed all over the front AND back of the receipt, and had more words than the Magna Carta. Once they started the liquidation, there were GIANT yellow **ALL SALES FINAL** signs every 4 feet.

Also, for those of you who don’t deal with projectile retardation all day: “Loyal customer” = bought assorted ink cartridges/single cables every 8 months or so for 10 years. Usually “Returning Customer” means just that, as they return 60% of their shit cuz they couldn’t figure it out.

For every poor honest sap screwed by his own stupidity, there are 30 scumfarts who follow this regimen:

1)Buy product

2)Open product in car, take product out of box and throw in trunk (cameras work best, as they’re usually sealed with a small, clear sticker)

3)Bring empty box back in to store minutes later

4)Put on an Academy Award winning performance. “Wow…this is the STRANGEST thing! It’s empty!” or “Does this happen often?” or even “I’m a loyal customer (see above), I would never try to do something like that. Steal and pretend it was empty. Huh, takes all kinds I guess!”

5)Receive new, unopened replacement product and apologies from the manager/employees, as they now try and figure out which employee is stealing from the back room. Failing that, “Let’s search all possible purchase and return receipts for that SKU, and see if we see any shady transactions!”

6)Take new, unopened product with new receipt to another CompUSA for a full refund. “I just can’t use it, and never opened it, and I was in the area…”

7)Profit.

All things considered, it sucks. But it was just 270 bucks. Coulda been that laptop you bought.

Good luck trying to stick it to a failing company. That’s like your great-great-great-grandaddy trying to find the head chef of the Titanic before it sank, just to let him know the chicken was a little dry.

In conclusion, go shit in your hat.
198. T | June 5th, 2007 at 11:45 am

wut prove did he have that there was no camera in the box?
How can you not feel there is no camera in there. The box would have been obviously light. durr….durr…
199. what a joke | June 5th, 2007 at 11:50 am

who waits that long to go back to a store when you get ripped off. see it from the stores standpoint they guy comes in with an empty box wanting a complete refund, i wouldnt give him one. seems to me like the guy is trying to rip off a retail store and pull a fast one
200. Larry | June 5th, 2007 at 11:51 am

Gee, what is it about this company that sucks?

I had to go to 3 of these stores once for a specific computer part a few years back and I refuse to go back- from the time I spent dicking around trying to find it (they wouldn’t answer their phone) I simply ordered the parts from my local computer shop- it saved about 4 days, headaches of traffic, and turned out really well.

So, this is for CompUSA- ,,!,,
201. Internet Tough Guy | June 5th, 2007 at 11:56 am

“CompUSA, you listening yet?”

Oh, they’re listening. And laughing.

“The camera was empty, you say? My, Terry, what ever did you do?”

“Rest assured that I was on the Internet within minutes, registering my disgust throughout the world!!!”
202. Idontripoff | June 5th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

I have always had very good luck returning things to all the stores mentioned. There is usually more to these stories that the person lets on. If you don’t check what you’re buying before you leave the store it’s your own fault.
203. D | June 5th, 2007 at 12:07 pm

Compusa sold me carefully sliced shrinkwrap on DVDs with NO DVDs in them. They blamed it on their warehouse personnel which makes sense to me.
204. Aaron | June 5th, 2007 at 12:19 pm

He had no obligation to check the inside of the box. There’s a reasonable expectation from those who buy products that what is on the box cover is contained within the box. You want to blame the customer for not planning for every possible contingency regarding how he could be screwed.

However, it’s entirely reasonable for him to expect a store to abide by a verbal contract, where the implication is that “the box that I’m giving you contains the item that you asked for.” If it doesn’t, who failed to follow through on the contract? This really is a no-brainer.
205. K. | June 5th, 2007 at 12:34 pm

Aaron sound just like a fellow thief who blames falsely blames the store. Do you think the retailer is the one taking all the products out of the boxes and selling them empty? Even though Comp USA is a bad place to shop, you wouldn’t have enough time in the day to empty every box.
Most of the shoplifters I have encountered in my days do not take the item out and put the box exactly back where they found it. They usually take it to a dead aisle and hide it. Get real
206. Steve Safran | June 5th, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Let the hating end.

CompUSA is sending Terry a $300 gift certificate.

(Of course this means he’ll have to shop at a non-clos