While I'd like to end this with "one" there are at least two electronics chains left in the Twin Cities and that doesn't count Target and Wal-Mart. But let me back up and explain what I'm talking about.
Last week CompUSA announced it was closing all 4 of its Minnesota stores. While I wasn't surprised by this announcement, it is still disappointing. With CompUSA out that leaves Best Buy (more on them later) and Circuit City as the major electronics stores in the Twin Cities. While we have one MicroCenter store I'm not sure how much longer they'll be around. (This is of course unfounded speculation, for all I know they are doing very well.) There are a variety of local shops that also support the needs of the computer geek so its not like we now have to go online or go the Best Buy. Which might be a good thing.
First look at this cartoon. Then read this news article. Then read this commentary from the Head Lemur. Of course my opinion is that if you are going to the store to get a price you saw on the website then print out the page from the website to make sure you have the right product and price. But that's just me. If Best Buy is trying to get people to pay a "store price" vs. an "online price" just publish it that way. On the website have big disclaimers that say "The in-store price for any and all items may be different from the online price." (They might in fact have such a disclaimer for all I know.) Then when somebody comes into the store and complains that the price is not what they saw online the guy or gal in the blue/yellow/black shirt can simply point to a sign in the Customer Service area that says the same thing. But that would make sense. Having an intranet site with different prices must have been easier.
Will it keep me from shopping at Best Buy? Probably not. (see the above discussion about CompUSA) Its like vowing to not fly Northwest Airlines when living in the Twin Cities. Its a nice idea but it doesn't work. Also they might be a retail bully but they are our retail bully.
That's it for now.
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Micro Center appears to be doing quite well and is opening an incredible new store 12 miles west of Manhattan in northern New Jersey on May 12.
I would love to see Micro Center take over some of CompUSA's best locations in the Top 20 US Metro areas, but former CompUSA's store designs may not be suited to Micro Center's square footage requirements (generally 45,000 to 62,500 square feet). I guess time will tell whether any former CompUSA locations ever become Micro Centers.
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