TigerDirect

Last updated
TigerDirect
FormerlyBLOC Development Corp. (1985-1987)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Retail
Predecessors
Founded1985;39 years ago (1985)
Founders
  • Gilbert Fiorentino
  • Carl Fiorentino
  • Karlton Norman
  • Orlando Ramos
DefunctMarch 31, 2023;19 months ago (2023-03-31)
FateCeased operations
Headquarters
El Segundo, California
,
United States
Areas served
United States
Key people
Frank Khulusi (CEO)
ProductsComputer hardware, software, peripherals, gaming, electronics
Parent Insight Enterprises
Website Archived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

TigerDirect was an El Segundo, California-based online retailer dealing in electronics, computers, and computer components. The company was previously owned by Systemax, which is known for its acquisitions of the intellectual property of the defunct U.S. retail chains Circuit City and CompUSA and relaunching them as online retailers. The two brands were subsequently shuttered in late December 2012 and consolidated into the TigerDirect site.

Contents

In 2015, TigerDirect phased out all of its remaining brick-and-mortar retail operations, and PCM Inc. acquired Systemax's online North American technology retail business. In 2019, TigerDirect closed its online business servicing Canada.

TigerDirect in Canada TigerDirectCanada2.JPG
TigerDirect in Canada

The bulk of the company's business was based on web and catalog computer electronics sales, where TigerDirect has carved out a niche by placing a heavy emphasis on rebate marketing as a way to offer lower prices. The company also operated retail store and business-to-business channels. [1]

History

The company was founded as BLOC Development Corp., a publisher of utility and application software products starting with FormTool, in 1985. The original company was a pioneer in utility software with several top 10 titles. The original founders were: Frank Millman, Jorge Torres, Frank Haggar, Phil Bolin, Stephan Whitney, and Bob Horton. Frank Milman and Jorge Torres conceptualized the first product "FormTool".

In 1989, Tiger Software became a subsidiary of publicly held Bloc Development Corporation. BLOC Development was also the parent company of BLOC Publishing (a sister company of TigerSoftware), which continued the development and publishing of the company's flagship product "FormTool", and 20 other products; and SoftSync, former publisher of the "EXPERT Software" titles and the Macintosh accounting software "Accountant Inc."). BLOC Development later changed its name to TigerDirect.

TigerDirect abandoned the profitable software development in favor of the TigerSoftware catalog by 1991. Unfortunately, the new model under the leadership of Gilbert Fiorentino was unprofitable, and the company was sold in distress to Global DirectMail (now known as Systemax). In 1994 TigerDirect launched a series of profitable smaller catalogs that included GraphicsExpress, as well as CDROM and Mac catalogs. In 1996, after an aborted attempt at acquisition by Hanover House, it was acquired by Systemax (NYSE: SYX) [2]

Acquisition of CompUSA and Circuit City brands

On January 6, 2008, Systemax announced the acquisition of the CompUSA brand, trademarks and e-commerce business, and as many as 16 CompUSA retail outlets in Illinois, Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. [3] On May 13, 2009, Systemax similarly acquired Circuit City's intellectual property, including its trademarks, brand name, and domain names. [4] The deal took effect six days later for a price of $14 million. The defunct CircuitCity.com website was restored after the Systemax purchase. In late-December 2012, both brands were shuttered and consolidated into TigerDirect.com. [5]

Retail closing, sale to PCM

On March 16, 2015, TigerDirect announced that it would close all but three of its retail stores in an effort to focus exclusively on online and business-to-business sales. Canadian operations consisted of 6 stores in Southern Ontario and all closed in 2015 (and replaced by the online distribution centre in Richmond Hill under Acrodex or PCM Canada) [6] The locations left open were located in Jefferson, Georgia, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, and its then-headquarters location at Miami, Florida. The company also closed a distribution center in Naperville, Illinois. [7]

In November 2015, PCM Inc. acquired Systemax's "North American Technology Group", including TigerDirect, for $14 million. The division had, by late 2015, incurred operating losses of $68 million (in contrast to its other businesses, which had an operating profit). The acquisition was closed on December 1, 2015 with the sale of its business-to-business customer list and intellectual property. The transfer of Systemax's web assets is to occur by February 15, 2016. The company also announced the shutdown of its remaining distribution center and retail stores. [8] [9]

In late-December 2015, the site began holding a clearout sale with no returns accepted; a company spokesperson stated that the site was liquidating its current stock in preparation for its formal transfer to PCM. [10] [11]

Website re-launch and closures

TigerDirect re-launched its electronics e-commerce website on February 15, 2016 under PCM Inc. ownership. The new TigerDirect.com was a technology store offering a wide variety of technology products. Tiger Direct maintained a substantial B2B customer base and restructured its marketing engine to serve newer customers under the parent company of PCM. PCM also operated TigerDirect.ca for their Canadian operations. Its Canadian website closed in November 2019, [12] and in the end of March 2023 the company ceased all retail operations. [13]

Federal Trade Commission ruling

On November 4, 1999, case C3903, the Federal Trade Commission issued a decision and order against TigerDirect for violations of the Pre-sale Availability Rule, the Disclosure Rule and the Warranty Act. [14] Without admitting any wrongdoing, TigerDirect agreed to "not represent that it provides On-Site Service unless all limitations and conditions that apply are disclosed", "fulfill obligations under the warranty within a reasonable period of time after receiving notice from the consumer", and "cease and desist from failing to make warranty text available for examination prior to sale, failing to disclose what is not covered under any given warranty or the procedures needed to have warranty work accomplished and failing to disclose that certain states may give the consumer legal rights in addition to those provided by the warranty." [14]

Apple Computer lawsuit

In early 2005, the company filed a lawsuit against Apple Computer Inc. (now Apple Inc.), alleging trademark infringement, dilution and false designation of origin with Apple's introduction of Mac OS X v10.4, marketed with its codename "Tiger". Although TigerDirect had registered several tiger-related names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Apple received trademark approval for version 10.4 (Tiger) of its OS X operating system in 2003. TigerDirect registered opposition against Apple's filing with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and on May 13, 2005, Apple won an emergency hearing. The judge ruled in favor of Apple, considering the marks to be distinct. [15]

InfoWorld report

InfoWorld's Robert X. Cringely reported in 2006 that "Tiger's sister company OnRebate.com, which handles payouts for the discount dealer, appears to specialize in the 'insufficient documentation' gambit," [16] [17] Consumer-reported difficulties obtaining the rebates led to an investigation by the Florida Attorney General [18] [19] and a failure to maintain a satisfactory BBB rating. [20] According to a former controller at TigerDirect, improperly unpaid rebates were intentional: "...the concept was that if the customer complains, you send them out the check to make them happy. But if they don't complain, they totally forget about it. That is the concept of these rebates. People forget that they sent them out." [21]

Dell lawsuit

On April 17, 2009, Dell, Inc. filed a lawsuit against TigerDirect. [22] [23] Dell alleged that TigerDirect, a former authorized reseller of Dell products, sold discontinued and outdated Dell products as new and under a Dell warranty. Dell also alleged that the products were from a third-party and advertised with an unauthorized, modified version of the Dell logo. Dell became aware of this when TigerDirect customers contacted Dell to demand price matches. [22]

State of Florida lawsuit

On September 4, 2009, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed suit against TigerDirect, OnRebate, and their parent company Systemax, charging the companies with failing to provide rebates to customers. [21] Systemax responded that a separate class action lawsuit making similar allegations had been filed in federal court in 2007 and was dismissed on August 31, 2009. The company denied the allegations in the Florida Attorney General complaint; the suit was eventually settled for $300,000. [24]

CBC investigation

In 2014, Marketplace , a Canadian consumer advocacy newsmagazine show on CBC Television, TigerDirect was featured in Season 42, Episode 4, 'Faking It,' "Online reviews: When companies edit your review". The show featured a consumer who had purchased several computers from the retailer and subsequently gave a poor review for service. The review was edited by TigerDirect prior to the review being placed on the firm's website. [25] The consumer contacted TigerDirect several times to have the edited review removed but failed until Marketplace contacted TigerDirect, on his behalf. [26]

Founders convicted of fraud

In 2014, brothers Carl and Gilbert Fiorentino were arrested and charged in federal court with scheming to obtain $9 million in kickbacks and other benefits and to hide their gains from the Internal Revenue Service while working as senior executives at Systemax Inc. and its TigerDirect Inc. unit. The government alleged the brothers schemed to obtain kickbacks for steering company business to certain contractors between 2002 and 2011. In one case, the brothers received more than $9 million in cash and other payments for steering more than $230 million in business to an Asian supplier of computer parts and accessories. [27] In 2015 Gilbert Fiorentino pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge, while Carl Fiorentino pleaded guilty to both fraud conspiracy and tax evasion. Carl Fiorentino had faced significantly more time than Gilbert Fiorentino, but U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez decided to sentence them to similar prison terms. Gilbert received 5 years in prison while Carl received 6+1⁄2 years. [28] In March 2016, the Fiorentino brothers were ordered to pay a total of $35 million in restitution to Systemax. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dell</span> American multinational technology company

Dell Inc. is an American technology company that develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products and services. Dell is owned by its parent company, Dell Technologies.

Packard Bell was a personal computer hardware brand active from the late 1980s to the 2010s. It originated as Packard Bell Electronics, Inc., an independent American computer company founded in Los Angeles in 1986 by Israeli-American investors who bought the trademark rights to the historic Packard Bell Corporation from Teledyne; in spite of similarities in their names, Packard Bell had no connection to either Hewlett Packard or Bell System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Best Buy</span> American multinational consumer electronics retailer

Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was rebranded under its current name with an emphasis on consumer electronics in 1983.

CompUSA, Inc., was a retailer and reseller of personal computers, consumer electronics, technology products and computer services. Starting with one brick-and-mortar store in 1986 under the name Soft Warehouse, by the 1990s CompUSA had grown into a nationwide big box chain. At its peak, it operated at least 229 locations. Crushed by competition from other brick-and-mortar retailers, corporate oversight which was out of touch with evolving market realities, and a failure to make a strong transition to online sales, CompUSA began closing what they classified as "low performing" locations in 2006. By 2008 only 16 locations were left to be sold to Systemax. In 2012, remaining CompUSA and Circuit City stores were converted to TigerDirect stores, and later closed. As of 2023, the CompUSA online website redirects to an error page hosted on Wix.com.

The Apple Store is a chain of retail stores owned and operated by Apple Inc. The stores sell, service and repair various Apple products, including Mac desktop and MacBook laptop personal computers, iPhone smartphones, iPad tablet computers, Apple Watch smartwatches, Apple TV digital media players, software, and both Apple-branded and selected third-party accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac OS X Tiger</span> Fifth major release of Mac OS X

Mac OS X Tiger is the 5th major release of macOS, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Mac computers. Tiger was released to the public on April 29, 2005 for US$129.95 as the successor to Mac OS X 10.3 Panther. Included features were a fast searching system called Spotlight, a new version of the Safari web browser, Dashboard, a new 'Unified' theme, and improved support for 64-bit addressing on Power Mac G5s. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger also had a number of additional features that Microsoft had spent several years struggling to add to Windows with acceptable performance, such as fast file search and improved graphics processing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circuit City</span> Consumer electronics retailer

Circuit City Corporation, Inc., formerly Circuit City Stores, Inc., is an American consumer electronics retail company, which was founded in 1949 by Samuel Wurtzel as the Wards Company, operated stores across the United States, and pioneered the electronics superstore format in the 1970s. After multiple purchases and a successful run on the NYSE, it changed its name to Circuit City Stores Inc.

In marketing, a rebate is a form of buying discount and is an amount paid by way of reduction, return, or refund that is paid retrospectively. It is a type of sales promotion that marketers use primarily as incentives or supplements to product sales. Rebates are also used as a means of enticing price-sensitive consumers into purchasing a product. The mail-in rebate (MIR) is the most common. An MIR entitles the buyer to mail in a coupon, receipt, and barcode in order to receive a check for a particular amount, depending on the particular product, time, and often place of purchase. Rebates are offered by either the retailer or the product manufacturer. Large stores often work in conjunction with manufacturers, usually requiring two or sometimes three separate rebates for each item, and sometimes are valid only at a single store. Rebate forms and special receipts are sometimes printed by the cash register at time of purchase on a separate receipt or available online for download. In some cases, the rebate may be available immediately, in which case it is referred to as an instant rebate. Some rebate programs offer several payout options to consumers, including a paper check, a prepaid card that can be spent immediately without a trip to the bank, or even as a PayPal payout.

The multinational technology corporation Apple Inc. has been a participant in various legal proceedings and claims since it began operation and, like its competitors and peers, engages in litigation in its normal course of business for a variety of reasons. In particular, Apple is known for and promotes itself as actively and aggressively enforcing its intellectual property interests. From the 1980s to the present, Apple has been plaintiff or defendant in civil actions in the United States and other countries. Some of these actions have determined significant case law for the information technology industry and many have captured the attention of the public and media. Apple's litigation generally involves intellectual property disputes, but the company has also been a party in lawsuits that include antitrust claims, consumer actions, commercial unfair trade practice suits, defamation claims, and corporate espionage, among other matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Computer City</span> US-based computer superstore chain

Computer City was a chain of United States–based computer superstores operated by Tandy Corporation; the retailer was sold to CompUSA in 1998 and was merged into the CompUSA organization.

Global Industrial Company, is a Port Washington, New York based company and is a provider of industrial and MRO products through a system of branded e-Commerce websites and relationship marketers in North America. The primary brand is Global Industrial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reynolds and Reynolds</span> Private corporation based in Ohio

The Reynolds and Reynolds Company is a private corporation based in Dayton, Ohio. Its primary business is providing business forms, management software and professional services to car dealerships. Its software is used to manage sales logistics at dealerships. It also produces forms used in medicine and insurance.

Calcomp Technology, Inc., often referred to as Calcomp or CalComp, was a company best known for its Calcomp plotters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micro Center</span> American computer retail store

Micro Center is an American computer retail store, headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio. It was founded in 1979, and as of 2024, has 28 stores in 19 states. The chain is a highly electronic and mechanical center for building personal computers and gaming computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PCM, Inc.</span>

PCM, Inc. was a direct marketing company that offered technology products and services. The company was based in El Segundo, California. The company merged with Insight Enterprises on August 26, 2019. PCM was founded in 1987 as a direct market catalog via telemarketing, the Internet, direct marketing, print catalogs, and three retail showrooms.

Microsoft has been involved in numerous high-profile legal matters that involved litigation over the history of the company, including cases against the United States, the European Union, and competitors.

AppleCare+ is Apple's brand name for extended warranty and technical support plans for their devices. AppleCare+ extends the devices' one-year limited warranty and the ninety days of technical support. It allows the customer unlimited incidents of accidental damage with a deductible. AppleCare+ is available for many Apple products, including Mac computers and displays, Beats headphones, HomePods, iPhones and iPads, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs. AppleCare+ plans include Apple software associated with the covered hardware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hewlett-Packard</span> American information technology company (1939–2015)

The Hewlett-Packard Company, commonly shortened to Hewlett-Packard or HP, was an American multinational information technology company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. HP developed and provided a wide variety of hardware components, as well as software and related services to consumers, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), and fairly large companies, including customers in government, health, and education sectors. The company was founded in a one-car garage in Palo Alto by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in 1939, and initially produced a line of electronic test and measurement equipment. The HP Garage at 367 Addison Avenue is now designated an official California Historical Landmark, and is marked with a plaque calling it the "Birthplace of 'Silicon Valley'".

This article lists lawsuits involving Dell Inc..

The following outline of Apple Inc. is a topical guide to the products, history, retail stores, corporate acquisitions, and personnel under the purview of the American multinational corporation:

References

  1. ↑ "Systemax Q4 2007 Earnings Call Transcript – Seeking Alpha". Seekingalpha.com. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  2. ↑ "Systemax.com". Systemax.com. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  3. ↑ Savage, Sam (2008-01-06). "Systemax Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Selected Assets and Retail Stores From CompUSA". RedOrbit. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  4. ↑ "Firm buys defunct Circuit City's brand, domain names". Syx.client.shareholder.com. 2009-04-13. Archived from the original on 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  5. ↑ Smith, Steve (2012-11-02). "Systemax To Cut Circuit City, CompUSA Brands, Exit PC Manufacturing". Twice.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  6. ↑ Hucker, Wally (2015-03-16). "TigerDirect to Close All But Three Stores, Focus on B2B Sales". Wifi Hifi Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  7. ↑ "Systemax Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2014 Financial Results". MarketWatch. 2015-03-10. Archived from the original on 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  8. ↑ Burke, Steven (2015-11-18). "Blockbuster Deal: PCM Buys North America Systemax B2B Business, TigerDirect Brand". CRN. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  9. ↑ Novinson, Michael (2015-11-23). "Systemax To Lay Off 500 As It Shuts North American Technology Business". CRN. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  10. ↑ Northrup, Laura (2015-12-28). "TigerDirect Has New Owner, Changes Return Policy On Christmas". The Consumerist . Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  11. ↑ "TigerDirect Clearing Out Inventory with Sitewide Sale, Future Uncertain". MaximumPC. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "TigerDirect Canada is closed". TigerDirect. 2019-11-25. Archived from the original on 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  13. ↑ "TigerDirect.com will be retired on March 31, 2023". 2023-03-14. Archived from the original on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  14. 1 2 Case C3903 at FTC website
  15. ↑ Jade, Kasper (2005-05-13). "Court sides with Apple over "Tiger" trademark dispute". AppleInsider. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  16. ↑ Cringely, Robert X. (December 29, 2006). "Microsoft tech support swoons, Google promises the moon: When 21st century software meets 12th century bureaucracy". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  17. ↑ Cringely, Robert X. (December 1, 2006). "Microsoft and Novell go kablooey, Second Life gets gooey: Sometimes even $440 million can't buy you happiness". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  18. ↑ Weirick, Chad (2008-01-29). "Florida Attorney General To Investigate TigerDirect". HotHardware. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  19. ↑ Albright, Mark (2008-02-12). "TigerDirect Snags Three CompUSA Outlets". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05.
  20. ↑ "TigerDirect BBB Report". BBB Southeast Florida. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
  21. 1 2 "State sues TigerDirect, OnRebate". South Florida Business Journal. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  22. 1 2 Dell, Inc. v. TigerDirect, Inc., Case No. 09-CV-3879, S.D.N.Y., 17 April 2009.
  23. ↑ Kovar, Joseph F. (2009-04-27). "Dell Sues Tiger Direct, Alleges Old Computers Sold As New". CRN. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  24. ↑ "Attorney General Reaches Settlement With Systemax". Office of the Attorney General of Florida. Archived from the original on 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  25. ↑ "Jeff's reviews before and after, and TigerDirect's response". CBC News. CBC. 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  26. ↑ "Online reviews: When companies edit your review". CBC. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  27. ↑ Brannigan, Martha (2011-11-20). "Coral Gables brothers charged in TigerDirect kickback scheme". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  28. ↑ "Brothers guilty of fraud at Systemax computer company sent to federal prison by Miami judge". Fox Business. Associated Press. 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  29. ↑ Kunert, Paul (2016-03-02). "Former Systemax execs ordered to repay $35m to the biz". The Register. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.