That business was likely *lost* a few years ago when CompUSA bought them... CompUSA is based in Dallas.

I expect that the West Coast reps got a sliver of the old commisions to "detail" the accounts, but that the bulk of the buying (and therefore the bulk of the commissions) went to the Texas and the business is posted on that territory's sheets.

CompUSA stores in the former GoodGuys markets will be selling the same stuff and employ many of the same people....

I am more concerned with CompUSA becoming comfortable with the model and taking it Nationwide.

That's some funny foreshadowing that's not all that far from the truth.

Welcome to McTronics, would you like to try our new plasma HTB today?

No thanks, I'll take a #9 with a Bose please.

Would you like to upsize to Monster Cable and take full advantage of your investment for $300 more?

Remember this is the same guy (head of CompUSA) that tried to buy C.C a while back.
Of course he is going to go nationwide.
GG's primary vender list was informed of this move about 18 months ago, severeal pulled out of GG's. The ones who stayed knew that this shift would happen.

Just a thought!

It seems that a lot of people like to bust and the MEGA chain stories, Tweeters, Best Buy, Ultimate. ect.

Here is a thought, as custom installers and small companies we should welcome the large stores in our area. All of these MEGA chains create interest in your business. These guys bring people into there locations from 9:00A:M until 10:00 P:M 7 days a week. It our job to show that there is another level and service to the business.

If your the best custom guy in the area, how good do you like your business would be if you were set up right next door to the local Best Buy or Sears AV department? My guess would be we would all miss the fast credit card sale or the 90 days same as cash, but the guy and gal who really wanted a home entertainment system with whole house audio would be pounding on the door.

NOTE: I have 2 large sales this year from a referral, from Ultimate and Sears employees. 2 small 10K installs from Sears.

Mike

One guy I knew had three stores in his town near the big guys. He let them advertise and made the sales he needed from the ones they didn't close.

Our best retail years in the 80's included significant sales of Advent loudspeakers. The Good Guys, about a mile from us, created a great deal of interest. When they dropped Advent, our sales dropped precipitously.

I honestly believe the big guys create a lot of interest that we can capitalize on. If THEY are pushing it, you will get inquiries.

Our small independent shop has been in operation for around 50 years. We have 2 BBs just blocks away (one to the West, one to the East)... and we've never been busier.

In the local small newspaper, people can vote for their favourite businesses in certain categories, and the newspapers gives out "People's Choice Awards" every year. We've been #1 so many times, and the other guys were #2 and #3.... eventually, the newspaper got pressured into creating separate categories: Electronics Retailer and Electronics Chain Retailer.

We welcome the "competition".

Some of my largest jobs have come from the big stores. Twenty percent of my income comes from stores that do not have a technical staff. I received five percent of my work from Good Guys until they started doing custom install work. They stopped reffering work to me after that.