Retail Roundup: PC City Computers to close, and some history about layaways
The world of computers was very different when George Shen opened his Roanoke County store, PC City Computers, in 1992.
Shen has kept up with those changes, but he said advancements in technology are essentially putting him out of business. When a computer breaks down, most people opt to buy a new one because it’s not worth fixing, he said. And the emergence of smartphones and tablets have made it easier for people to work without a traditional computer.
Shen is closing his store at the end of the month. You can read more in Sunday’s column.
You read here last month that Walmart is bringing back layaway for the holidays. That was welcome news to several blog readers, who said they planned to take advantage of the service.
I talked last week with Kathy Grannis, a spokeswoman for the National Retail Federation, about the history of layaway and why it almost went extinct.You can read more about that in the column, too.
Do you plan on using layaway to buy gifts for the holidays?
October 17, 2011 - 9:00 AM
Stinks about PC City. I’m one of the few people who does try to fix and repair computers when they break, I’m still using a desktop I bought in 2002, and it still works incredibly well, though, it has been somewhat upgraded since then and I changed operating systems. But, looking at Walmart and seeing that they had a new, pretty well-loaded laptop for under $300…I can see why people just ditch their old ones and buy new. It’s sad, but like TV repair guys, when the TV’s are cheaper to just buy a new one than to fix a problem with an old one, plus with technology advances happening so rapidly, why fix something that is outdated? About the only people who seem to do that are folks who either try to do it themselves, or just really don’t want to adopt the newest technology available.
Hi Amanda.
Have you heard any more news about the old Ukrops building and who might be looking at it? Had heard there had been alot of activity! Hope that space is filled soon. Do you know also what is heppening with the rest of the property and if there are any plans to finish developing it into the shopping center that Bland Painters was suppose to develop. Its a shame that CBL properties who own Valley View does not own that property. It would have been built and filled by know. Keep me posted and love your site!
In yesterday’s, Sunday, print edition your retail roundup feature included an old photo of Towers Shopping Center. Was/is that photo included in the online version?? I can’t find it.
Thanks so much-
-Jan
No, the reason PC City is having to close is because every time someone wants to fix their OWN computer and just wants a couple parts, George doesn’t have time for them. Unless you’re spending at least $50, he doesn’t want to be bothered. In general, the folks at these stores would much rather have you leave your computer there so they can take WEEKS to fix it at megabucks per hour. George was the same, but just had no customer service skills, and no patience for anyone who didn’t come in wanting him to build them a whole system for a price HE wanted to charge. Not to mention the fact that he still has trouble communicating in English.
Computer Pros is almost as bad, and Cyberline is WORSE. The only place to go when you KNOW how to fix your computer and just want parts is PC LAND (and no, I don’t work there). I agree that online stores like newegg.com have been taking away business from the local shops for years, but a lot of us want to walk in and get what we need instead of waiting for it to ship… that’s why these shops have survived. The fact that George is finally having to hang it up is no surprise at all, especially now that there’s a PC LAND on this side of town.
A sad change of the times. I too replaced a desktop computer just over 2 years ago rather than repair it. By the time I purchased a new hard drive, a copy of Windows and even installing everything myself I would have spent near what the cost of the computer I replaced it with. Yes I could have saved some money anyway and got it up and running again. But if something else costly went shortly after I would have been at a loss.
Still hate to see a place like this go under. Most of these places have better service than any big box store. I try to give them my business whenever I can.
OJ- I hope you never by any PC from Walmart. When shopping around I notice you get less PC for about the same money. Older slower models with less Hard Drive and slower processors.
@Chris: I’d been hearing rumors as well, but calls to the companies that I’d heard were interested and to the leasing agent of the building didn’t yield any information. Could just be rumors. If there is anything going on, we likely won’t know about it until everything is finalized – or building permits are filed with the city.
@Jan Wilkins: The photo isn’t online. Sorry!
Thanks Amanda for checking into this. Hopefully we will hear something soon. Keep me posted. Do you know anything about the fate of the rest of the property??
@Chris: Nope. The leasing agent didn’t have any updates on whether there has been interest in the other storefronts.
I’ve found The Two Robs to be helpful.
Im sad to see PC city close its doors.George was very knowledgable and didnt mind to discuss pc tech talk with his coustomers as well as find some reasonable priced components for my comp and what functions which I
needed the parts for.He put all the tech talk in easy to understand language.