CompuSmart closes its doors in Montréal (28)
July 12th, 2007 · by Heri · Technology
There are currently no CompuSmart in Montréal, according to a DSI article (french). They have been closing their stores in other parts of Canada for the past year in Toronto, Moncton, Edmunton, or Vancouver. This might be a proof that only big electronic retailers or discounted ecommerce websites works.
CompuSmart was one of the rare places in Montréal where you could buy mac computers. I went there because of FutureShop or Best Buy’s sales practices. But Compusmart’s closing is a concern to me, because I still have a running guarantee for a macbook pro from the downtown store.
Looks like the only option now is the Apple Store or the microboutique stores. Or, do like every other montréaler and buy a PC laptop from Futureshop.
Of course, there’s also the Apple Store in Laval.
@francois – thanks. will have a look next time i go to st-catherine
Bmac = Radioactif. They’re one and the same. They rebranded a few years ago. :)
We’ll ask for a 25$ membership card, we’ll cut the price of the computer by 20$ (that make 5$ for a lifetime membership). But we might not carry the retail version of the product (for now, that could change if the demand is there).
Our technician is apple repair certified and we sell about 80% of mac for the last 2 years.
I will sell you a mac anti-virus if you ask for it and place it back on the shelves if you ask if it’s necessary.
Thanks to encourage little store instead of big foreign interest.
but i think you have to be a full-time student to buy at UQAM Coop?
Thanx
This was a retail brand franchised by Hartco, the IT retail group behind MicroAge, Metafore and Microserv (and CompuCentre, back in the old days). They made a strategic decision earlier in the year to divest themselves of the CompuSmart assets and basically get out of consumer retail altogether, preferring to stick to corporate IT sales and direct online sales where they have lower overhead / higher margins and can sell consulting services.
If you have an ongoing warranty or lease going on with CompuSmart, I believe all of this has been transferred to the Metafore organization. If you dial the CompuSmart 1-888 number on the website you get transferred there — I’m waiting to hear from them to get some information.
In the meantime – yeah, the actual Apple store or the university co-op stores are a much better bet for in-store service!
I doubt i could get some reliable, quick and professional service from Metafore.
I was informed by them that basically I take my Mac to any qualified Mac repair shop (Mac 911 in Old Montreal are excellent) and they will reimburse the cost of repair. It’s possible they can arrange for direct reimbursement without you having to spend any money, as long as you have all your warranty docs and serial numbers, etc.
There’s a long blog comment thread (dating from 2005 to today) at this link that may be helpful to explain the story further:
http://www.darcynorman.net/2005/01/29/compusmart-sucks/
According to my communcation with one Mr Jacques St. Laurent of Compusmart Online sales support the remainder of the warranty will be honored by the SmartPlan service center. The tel. no. to contact: 1-866-377-7071.
They do mostly corpo but do not turn anyone away, and the new location (they were on Wellington x Peel prior) does have a showroom of sort.
I’ve been dealing with them for over a decade for repairs, and service is excellent.
i just hope the company doesn’t morph into something else again.
I do think, though, that anyone with SmartPlan coverage should still breathe easy. It was an insured service.
They suck!
They suck!
Jessie…
I?ll admit it. i have been to your blog SIX times since your last post looking for a new post?….
All extended warranties bought at Compusmart are still in effect. Just call that number.
I used to manage both St.Hubert store and the Montreal store and honestly I believe we were the best computer retailer in Montreal and the South Shore. Unhappy customers happen no matter how good you are but we had a massive clientelle that refused to shop anywhere else. I loved my store and my team. The only reason Compusmart folded was so Hartco could hide the money they were losing. Hartco sold items to us at a profit and expected us to sell them at a profit also. No other retailer works that way… it makes no sense.
Here’s hoping that another retailer (Microbytes?) rises up to compete against the big blue and red box (FS/BB).
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