Reader Dave writes in to confirm that CompUSA’s “fire sales” do, in fact, suck. Dave reports the soon-to-be-shuttered Monroeville, PA CompUSA is offering most items for 10% off MSRP. Some items sport discounts of up to – hold your breath – 20% off.

Dave spied a pair of $130 headphones and decided to indulge. An employee told him that no returns would be accepted. Defective merchandise could be exchanged.

“Well, I guess it was a self-fulfilling prophesy: of course, no sound come out of the left side unless I jiggled the volume switch. It was clearly a pair of badly-wired headphones. I took them back the next day, and was told that no, all sales were final, and I could not swap them out. Of course, I was furious. Not that anyone cared, since they were going to be fired in a couple of weeks and weren’t really concerned with customer satisfaction.”

Don’t be seduced by false discounts. If it’s not truly a steal, and it probably isn’t, then shop with a retailer that allows returns and exchanges.

Dave’s email, after the jump…

I went to check out the sale going on at my local ex-CompUSA in Monroeville, PA. Basically, everything is 10% off MSRP, with no sale prices currently in place (they aren’t honoring CompUSA prices). Some items are 20% off (game guides, tech parts, and other low volume sellers). I had my eye on some headphones (expensive $130 ones) and figured 10% off and instant gratification was a good deal. I asked the checkout guy specifically that even though sales were final, if they were defective, could I swap them out for a new pair. He said, yes, I could, I just couldn’t get a refund. Well, I guess it was a self-fulfilling prophesy: of course, no sound come out of the left side unless I jiggled the volume switch. It was clearly a pair of badly-wired headphones. I took them back the next day, and was told that no, all sales were final, and I could not swap them out. Of course, I was furious. Not that anyone cared, since they were going to be fired in a couple of weeks and weren’t really concerned with customer satisfaction. Just a heads up, the 10% discount isn’t worth it. Just avoid these sales entirely, unless you plan on buying something “unbreakable” (paper?). Time to break out the soldering iron…

Correction: CompUSA’s “fire sales” really suck. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Previously: CompUSA’s “Fire Sales” Expected To Suck

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