Computer stores downtown

[trueimage]

I wanted to run out and pick up Final Fantasy XIV collector's edition, it is out today. I've heard stores got more copies than pre-orders so there should be some up for grabs.

I'm basically in Banker's Hall, are there any places semi close by that would sell PC games?

Cheers

[yads]

Not sure if HMV sells PC games, I don't think they do though,
You could take the train up to Northill mall and the EB there.

[Ducay]

HMV @ TD
Radioshack @ TD
Radioshack @ Bankers

[MarchHare]

You'll have to leave the +15s, but Staples on 11th St. (next to the Armoury) also sells PC games.

[DownhillGoat]

Staples is probably your best bet. I'm pretty sure HMV doesn't get PC stuff, and finding anything at the source that isn't a year old is doubtful...

[greyshep]

I miss Compucentre in Bow Valley.

Even the Office Depot off of 4th avenue had some things at one time.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by greyshep

I miss Compucenter in Bow Valley.

Yes. They always seemed fairly busy too, I don’t know why the couldn’t make a go of it.

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Yes. They always seemed fairly busy too, I don’t know why the couldn’t make a go of it.

I dont recall their prices to be very competitive a lot of the time. Maybe a result of high cost retail space downtown or something?

Either way, its unfortunate. It was a convenient location for those little needs that came up as well as a good place to kill some time at lunch.

[Hack&Lube]

All the Compucentres citywide shut down so maybe the company just failed overall. The computer business for most average people shifted to big box stores who had more buying power and volume.

I used to love Compucentre in Marketmall as a kid. Instead of going to Wizard's Arcade I would goto Compucentre and play Wing Commander or 7th Guest or Dune on their PCs for free.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

All the Compucentres citywide shut down so maybe the company just failed overall. The computer business for most average people shifted to big box stores who had more buying power and volume.

I used to love Compucentre in Marketmall as a kid. Instead of going to Wizard's Arcade I would goto Compucentre and play Wing Commander or 7th Guest or Dune on their PCs for free.

It's your fault they went under.

[Flames0910]

I used to love Compucentre in Marketmall as a kid. Instead of going to Wizard's Arcade I would goto Compucentre and play Wing Commander or 7th Guest or Dune on their PCs for free.

Computer stores were so much cooler ~10 years ago.

[chemgear]

Yeah, they were the old school days. To be honest, I'm surprised they haven't setup a Futureshop/Bestbuy downtown yet. Perhaps they figure big ticket items would be too much of a hassle to carry out.

Mind you, I always wondered how A&B lasted downtown with their prices versus other stores. Now they're gone and I wonder the same with the HMV store now. Though I guess it's not as bad.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Staples is probably your best bet. I'm pretty sure HMV doesn't get PC stuff, and finding anything at the source that isn't a year old is doubtful...

HMV had Civ5 yesterday (launch day), as well as a ton of other PC games....so ya, they do.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ducay

HMV had Civ5 yesterday (launch day), as well as a ton of other PC games....so ya, they do.

Well there you have it. Learn something new every day.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Yeah, they were the old school days. To be honest, I'm surprised they haven't setup a Futureshop/Bestbuy downtown yet. Perhaps they figure big ticket items would be too much of a hassle to carry out.

Mind you, I always wondered how A&B lasted downtown with their prices versus other stores. Now they're gone and I wonder the same with the HMV store now. Though I guess it's not as bad.

There was a FS downtown on 17 Ave SW.

A&B Sound took a huge loss on that store downtown. It's one of the reasons why they went under.

In regards to Compucentre, they got bought by Compusmart and when they went under, Compucentre went under.

[llama64]

If Calgarians would stop buying houses in the middle of nowhere and live closer to the core, a 2-3 story Futureshop (ala Robson in Vancouver) would be perfectly viable. There just isn't enough people shopping for electronics in the core right now to support much.

Although, if it leads to smaller more specialized stores, I don't see that as a terrible thing. Box stores are frustrating to deal with.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by llama64

If Calgarians would stop buying houses in the middle of nowhere and live closer to the core, a 2-3 story Futureshop (ala Robson in Vancouver) would be perfectly viable. There just isn't enough people shopping for electronics in the core

A large part of that problem is the lack of parking downtown. A&B could never sell big ticket items as it was rather tough to get into the core and park close enough to get a TV in your truck.

[yads]

It doesn't have to be right in the CBD. You can put something up on 17th or 11th/12th with underground parking.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

A large part of that problem is the lack of parking downtown. A&B could never sell big ticket items as it was rather tough to get into the core and park close enough to get a TV in your truck.

IIRC, that store only sold music & DVDs didn't it?

[CrunchBite]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

IIRC, that store only sold music & DVDs didn't it?

Don't remember when they had all 4 floors open with a pretty good sized home theatre, TV and stereo area eh? oh the huge at the time book section.