May 09 2006

Totally Awesome Computers: Out of Business

By Joe
Totally Awesome Computers: Out of Business


BREAKING NEWS: September 2007, Dell Schanze “Buzzes” Boat with 43 Passengers on Great Salt Lake, Petition Information

Totally Awesome Computers LogoUPDATED: 09 May 2006
Dell Schanze appeared in court yesterday for a pre-trial hearing. Jury selection for his expected 3-day trial begins today at 8:30 mountain time. [Video]

Although he was his usual over-zealous self, he did make a few good points regarding the charges against him, and I’ve added a few of my own.

  • If he is convicted for drawing a firearm for self-defense when confronted by three angry men (one of whom was weilding a weapon), two messages are being sent: (1) it’s okay to assault someone with a rock, and (2) it’s not okay to defend oneself. This is contrary to current Utah Law. This charge should be dropped with predjudice, either that or the State of Utah is discouraging people from being law-abiding citizens and to take the law into their own hands.
  • The charge of making a false statement is due to differences in definitions: Alledgedly Dell stated he did not brandish a firearm during the altercation. According to Webster.com, brandish is defined as (1) to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly, or (2) to exhibit in an ostentatious or aggressive manner. Dell did neither of these, he reportedly drew his sidearm and held it by his leg. The legal definition of brandishing is “to display in a threatening manner,” which this display was not. This charge should be dropped with predjudice.
  • The last charge, wreckless driving, should be no problem to prove with witness statements and Dell’s driving record. His license to drive in the State of Utah should be revoked.
UPDATED: 18 April 2006 with a comment from Dell Schanze from and my reply (bottom of article).

I worked for Totally Awesome Computers for four years, from September 2001 to October 2005.

I should preface this article with the statement that, although I don’t agree with many of Dell Schanze’s personal and business practices, that I respect him as an individual and am sorry to see his stores out of business. I don’t want to “air dirty laundry” or offend anyone, simply to tell the story illustrating a chain of events and a corporate culture that led to the eventual (and perhaps inevitable) collapse of the company.

Why did Totally Awesome Computers shut it’s doors? Personally, I feel the root cause was due to arrogance and shortsightedness. From a business perspective, I would deduce that the company simply was no longer pulling a profit.

Things that led to the closure:

  1. Pending Litigation
  1. Carlton May discrimination lawsuit [originally $1.2M, settled for a rumored $250,000; not including personal legal expenses]
  2. Sherrie Young sexual harrasment lawsuit [dismissed]
  3. Carlton May breach of contract & defamation lawsuit [$1.2M, dropped]
  4. Wreckless driving (class B Misdemeanor), Brandishing a firearm during a fight (class A Misdemeanor), Making a false statement (class B Misdemeanor) [pending trial]
  • Negative BBB Rating
    1. A negative rating with the BBB
    2. Refusal to work with the Better Business Bureau to resolve customer complaints
    3. [ BBB | VAR Magazine Article | Salt Lake Magazine ]
  • Resignation of Top Management
    1. District Managers
    2. COO (and former CEO)
  • Questionable Business Practices
    1. CC’ing private emails to the entire company to “make a point”
    2. Cutting employee’s pay by $2-3/hour
    3. Expecting employees to work off the clock
    4. Expecting employees to attend meetings and provide transportation without compensation to “optional” mandatory meetings
    5. Devising a plan whereby employees could work more than 40 hours per week but not get paid overtime
    6. Personal attacks on businesses/persons who did not agree with or go along with Mr. Schanze’s views
  • Bad Press
    1. Mr. Schanze’s reckless driving and brandishing a weapon charges (video), which cost him business in the form of reduced revenue
    2. Wreckless Driving (”There’s a good pattern there of this guy driving like a bat out of hell.” Draper police Sgt. Gerry Allred
    3. Calling the Mayor of Provo “full of baloney” and trying to bribe him and city officials (article)
    4. A crash while flying one of his powered paragliders which resulted in his back being broken, which cost him business at Totally Awesome Flying Sports (article)
    5. Reportedly, holes stray bullets were found in the homes behind Totally Awesome Guns and range
    6. Alleged disparaging remarks against homosexuals in an unaired commercial (audio)
    7. A commercial which made fun of a fictional tribe of Native Americas (article), in subsequent emails between you and the Utah Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (that you CC’d to the entire company) where you called Native Americans simple minded and adulterers (and attempted joke at the name of the Bureau of “Indian Affairs”)
  • Poor Employee Morale
    1. Extreme and sudden pay cuts were not uncommon
    2. Pay cuts and extreme reactions by Mr. Shanze resulted in degraded customer service levels
    3. Mr. Schanze wrote an email to the company in which he said he had fired two employees from his Foothill store because they were “gay, Lutheran, and of slight Romanian decent”
  • Loss of Key Personnel
    1. The death Heath Briggs (purchaser)
    2. The resignation of the majority of seasoned employees (including the head of his Reseach and Development department, COO, and district managers) within a six month period
  • Government Issues
    1. Rumored “full scale” IRS Audit
    2. Rumored payroll investigation by the US Department of Labor because of overtime practices
    Where should Totally Awesome’s (TAC’s) customer’s go now?

    1. If you have a TAC computer at one of the TAC stores that you’re waiting to pick up, check the company’s website for instructions on where and when.
    2. If you have a TAC computer that you need serviced contact
    1. Geekbox Computers: 801-566-4335, 3078 W 7800 S #4, West Jordan, UT 84088
    2. PC Laptops: (877-596-7283)
    3. Star West Computers in North Salt Lake: (801) 936-8000
    4. Abcan Computer Solutions: (801-790-4190)
  • If you’re in the market for buying a new computer (or parts to upgrade your old one), if you, a friend, or a family member can build or upgrade the computer, that would probably be best. If that’s out of the question, consider a Dell, HP/Compaq, or Gateway computer for “standard users.” For power users, such as myself, consider AlienWare or Falcon Northwest.
  • If you just want to share your experiences (good, bad, or indifferent), simply reply to this article (below).
    • Now that I’ve said that, to clear things up, Totally Awesome Computers used some of the best computer parts available (in my opinion). They stood behind then with hardware and service warranties that were untouched in the industry. They charged a fair profit for their merchandise. I own two Totally Awesome computers, my in-laws also own two, my dad owns one, and my brother’s family owns one. I stand behind everything that I said while I worked for that company, and I still believe in their products. It’s a shame that one person could have such an effect on the future of a company with such potential and the lives and well-being of so many customers, and employees and their families.

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    Categories: Totally Awesome Computers
    • Judging by what I've seen of him, I think "Super" Dell has some serious "super" issues. That's just me, though. Of course, I don't know him personally.
    • Joe
      I'll be updating this post with new information, articles, and links as they become available.
    • I was talking with Andrew today who is still working at the TAC stores helping close them down. He told me Kurt was driving the company truck with computers in it, when he was forced off the road by an angry customer demanding his computer back.

      Hey Dell, if you read this... enjoy what you have done to yourself and the countless others who beleived in you. I'm glad I saw through your arrogance and got out!
    • I'm sorry for all the TAC employees who are out of a job. As for Dell Schanze, his claims that it's the media's fault might just make him a great State Senator. At the February 25th Town Meeting held by Senator Howard Stephenson (R, Utah Senate District #11), a two-page description of how the media is evil was handed out, with time spent for making comments supporting the claim. Maybe Dell could flock with other birds of his feather.

      Thanks for sharing your inside perspective!
    • This post has been removed by the author.
    • I was the Corporate Sales Manager at Totally Awesome COmputers. I worked with Joe as well.

      The new company I'm with is amazing. The literally will honor all defective hardware warranties that TAC sold. It's incredible!

      I ran into one frustration after another working there. I couldn't get their staff to take care of business clients like they expected and deserved. I was one of their top producers, however, we lost bid after bid because of poor service and response times. We lost >$500k of business through my department in 2005 due to lack of support.

      When PC Laptops started hiring, I met with Dan Young and his partner Mike. Someone over there told me that they we're intersted in hiring me to develop their Corporate Sales department. I asked them how they we're gonna deliver on the many opportunities that were ready to close. The both got glazed looks in their eyes and started giving me some kind of sales pitch. I quized them on how they would provide service and support like these clients deserved.

      Later I heard that Dan said I was "too demanding". I guess that the clients "demands" weren't that important to them. Fortunately, I found a company that really cares and is doing everything they can to take care of these abandoned customers.

      Give me a call! We've got you covered!!

      -Terry

      __________

      Terry Glen Musser
      Account Manager
      StarWest Computer Distributing
      terry.musser@starwest.com
      (801) 936-8000 x104

      240 North Redwood Road
      North Salt Lake, UT 84054
    • This is Dan Young CEO of PC Laptops. Adopting TAC customers and former employee’s has been extremely rewarding. As Terry commented earlier we were unfortunately not able to hire all 75+ former Totally Awesome Computer employee’s that applied. I would like to summarize how we responded to Totally Awesome Computer customers needs. We signed 5 new leases to expand our spaces and open new locations to serve the thousands of TAC customers that need help. We also hired 27 former Totally Awesome Computer employees and many non TAC employees. We are going to hire some of the remaining employee’s still assisting Totally Awesome Computers with their closure and wind down. We have purchased over $500,000 in extra parts and inventory to service TAC customers and have estimated spending over $250,000 in store improvements such as technical service area build outs at our 8 locations to serve former TAC customers. I apologize to Terry if I didn’t go into enough detail of our plans when we spoke as we didn’t predict the sudden closure of Totally Awesome Computers the day it closed and having to interview 75 people in 2 days limited the amount of time I had to explain our full plan to each person. Terry is a really fine person and I’m happy he found a great place to work. We’ve also received great support from Intel, AMD, and Microsoft and all of our suppliers to help us support and adopt TAC customers. So far it’s worked out really great as you can see from the flood of happy customer letters we have already received from Totally Awesome Computer customers. I just wanted to personally thank all former TAC employee’s who have assisted us in adopting TAC customers by supporting us and giving us the privilege to work with them. We would not have been able to handle such a large project without all the incredible team we have assembled. Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to serve and Thank you Joe Levi for putting up this great site. Please check out our website for more information. Feel free to drop me an email.

      Thanks again for all your support,

      Dan Young
      CEO – PC Laptops LLC
      Riverdale, Layton, Salt Lake City, Murray, Sandy, West Jordan, Orem, Las Vegas
      1-877-596-7283
      dan@pclaptops.com
      www.pclaptops.com
    • Terry Musser here again.

      Thanks Dan for your response. I've always loved you and your companies marketing. You've got some great guys over there that I've loved working with in the past. My hat's off you for what you're trying to accomplish. Filling in the void of Totally Awesome's demise is quite a project!

      Now that I've been working with StarWest Computers in North Salt Lake for a couple weeks, I'm really excited to be here. I am so blown away that StarWest will literally replace the defective parts in TAC business systems that have a remaining TAC hardware warranty! We also offer lifetime service to these customers which is simply incredible.

      It's great that some members of our local PC reseller community are at lest trying to pitch in by offering lifetime service. I really don't understand why other companies haven't been willing to pick up the hardware warranties too. Manufacturers like ASUS, AMD, Intel, Iomega, Western Digital, Hitachi, NEC, etc. will still honor them, that’s for sure. I've been working with corporate accounts since 2004 and was really concerned about what was happening. I had personally made so many promises to so many customers that are now being abandoned by my former employer. I'm sure glad to be with a company that is really looking out for the businesses in Utah.

      Today a former Totally Awesome client contacted us about warranty work that needed to be done. They reported having brought their system to PC Laptops during the last week to take advantage of having their TAC warranty continued. This customer was really upset because he was told he would have to spend over $500 to replace a video card, motherboard and power supply! Incredible! It's so hard to believe that anyone would take product still under warranty and make customers pay grossly exaggerated prices to replace them. Personally, I'd be ashamed if I did that. That's just wrong! He's on the way over here today to drop off his system. At StarWest, we're going to take care of business. We'll get their machine fixed and back to them ASAP. We won't charge for components that the manufacturer will still replace for free. Now that's something I can be proud of!

      StarWest was incorporated in 1985, that’s over 21 years ago. Located in North Salt Lake, we’re Utah’s oldest wholesale computer distributor in Utah. We cater to government, educational and corporate accounts. Due to our reduced overhead, we can get you the same quality equipment directly from our 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse at substantially lower cost.

      Give me a call. We've got you covered!

      -Terry

      Account Manager
      StarWest Computers
      (801) 936-8000 x104
      terry.musser@starwest.com

      240 North Redwood Road
      North Salt Lake, UT 84054
    • I forgot to mention...

      I heard from a good friend whose now working with you now that you thought I was upset that you didn't hire me... Far from it! Thanks for your concern, but I'm not upset at all.

      You choosing to not hiring me is probably the best thing that could have happened during this whole mess. Since I started working here my wife has been able to quit her job. I'm working with a crew that is more professional than I've ever experienced. These guys are so organized that it's amazing. I love it here!

      Best Regards,

      Terry
    • Anonymous
      Thanks again for your reply Terry,

      I’m sorry if I didn’t explain correctly what we are covering.

      Let me help clarify what PC Laptops is covering.

      1. We are covering Totally Awesome Computers business AND retail customer’s lifetime service guarantee at any of our 8 locations. I stress retail customers also because your post says business customers only. We are adopting ALL customers with Totally Awesome computers not just business customers.
      2. We are covering any hardware that is covered by the manufacturer. Some clients would seem to prefer upgrading there computers while in service and we are happy to offer upgrades if a customer desires so.
      3. We are also offering to purchase customers old computers as an option to trade in to newer models if they choose to upgrade to a newer faster system.

      Terry I’m glad that you found a great place to work and it sounds like you are doing a lot to help customers also. I wish the best of luck to you and thank you for your support as well.

      Many thanks for all the support.

      Dan Young

      Dan Young
      CEO – PC Laptops LLC
      Riverdale, Layton, Salt Lake City, Murray, Sandy, West Jordan, Orem, Las Vegas
      1-877-596-7283
      dan@pclaptops.com
      www.pclaptops.com


      Here is a small sample of many comments from happy former TAC customers we have received.

      Great Experience

      Hello,
      I just wanted to say thank you for the excellent service I received last week. I am a former TAC customer. I had some issues and I was somewhat skeptical about the service I would receive -if any- based on the TAC shutdown. As I walked in to drop off my machine to be repaired, not only was there no hesitation or issues but I was received with very open arms. Your employees treated me like one of your lifelong customers. I believe Porter checked me in at your Murray store, but I am not certain if that was his name. The others there that night were all very friendly as well.

      I was very impressed with your check in process, the bar code is much better than the old TAC system and it just seemed very efficient and professional.

      I was called by the technician (Mike Clayviellie) and asked some questions. He was a good listener and discussed things in a easy to understand way, yet didn't talk down to me.

      Picking it up was just as good of an experience. The crew in your Murray store was fun, knowledgable and enthusiastic. I was thrilled to see Jen, who I have worked with at TAC in the past. She is great, and will be an excellent addition to your team. I also saw Nephi who is someone I have known from TAC in the past, and I know he does an excellent job.

      I couldn't have been more impressed with the change over and I look forward to working with you in the future. Thank you for the great experience.

      Cody C.

      Service on desktop

      Thank you for the service you gave me on my desktop computer. I bought a laptop from you a couple of years ago and also a desktop from totally awesome last year. I bought your laptop because of your customer service guarantee. When totally awesome went out of business I was glad to hear you would honor their warranty. You took care of the problem, and went the extra mile, in only one day. That was awesome.

      I have never had a problem with your laptop and when it is time to purchase another one I will come to your store to purchase it.

      Thanks again,
      Steve P.


      Thank You!
      My thanks to Miguel Granda for helping me solve a software problem with Adobe Photo Deluxe. It was very helpful to have answers on the installation. Thank You for your continued friendship and support.

      Gerald H.


      Thank You for stepping up to the plate
      Dear Dan Young and Employees,
      I must take a moment and drop a line of Thank You. I was devastated when I found Totally Awesome was out of business. Their life time warranty, employees’ knowledge, employee help and being a local business was the reason I purchased my computer from them. I do a bit of free lance work to make ends meet so the appeal of Totally Awesome and the employees themselves were a big draw and comfort. I must add, I have worked with each of the employees at the Orem store at one point or another and they are top of the line.

      It has been such a comfort to know that you will pick up the ball that was dropped on so many of us. I understand this is something you are undertaking of your own desire. I for one appreciate your doing this so much and look forward to working with you and your employees. I have heard such good words on your business ethics and the way you treat your life long customers that I feel very comfortable in the knowledge that you will be taking care of me.

      I was about to take my computer in for service and an upgrade, but I’m glad I put it off. I will give you a couple of months to get organized in the desk top end and will then bring up my computer. I feel completely comfortable knowing your will service me well. You are amazing for taking us all under your wing as well as the former employees of Totally Awesome whom I have come to appreciate. You have no idea of how much this says for you as a person and the business you have built, I hope this act of goodness brings you much success in your personal life and business.

      Sincerely and much thanks,
      Susan L.


      THANK YOU !!!!!!!!
      Dan,
      I am a previous customer of "Totally Awesome" and I have been happy with their service but over the last while I have noticed a decline in their customers and on the rare occasion when I went into one of their stores the employees did not seem happy so I felt something was going on.

      Anyway, I am so grateful to you for extending your service to previous customers of "Totally Awesome". I recognize that it is a risk for you and it is not something you needed to do but I think you will be rewarded for it. I really think it is a smart move for you and I just wanted to thank you via email. You have me as a customer for life.

      Thank you very much.
      Kevin A.


      Fluk and Mary

      Hey! I love you too!
      I just wanted to thank you for helping me through "goto" since I live in Lake Havasu City AZ and it was not convenient to bring my computer in. Fluk helped me get my computer back on track from sending it to SLC and most likely getting the "last" service on the planet from TAC. My computer was sent back to me 3-3-06.

      I have a laptop from you guys I bought on 90th So. and you have helped me with it whenever I needed help and am looking forward to continuing our relationship and friendship in Henderson. I am soooooooo happy you have a store in Henderson now, and I will be telling my friends to come up there to see you for ANY thing. I have the utmost respect and confidence in your people and would say they are extremely courteous and helpful anytime!

      thank you so very much.....
      Mary M.
      Lake Havasu City, AZ
    • Joe
      I'd like to thank those of you who have commented on this post, especially representatives of two companies that have said they'll honor the TAC hardware and service warranties.

      PC Laptops and StarWest are definately respectible companies and I appreciate hearing from representatives of both!

      On a side-note, all posts and replies to JoeLevi.com are moderated (meaning that I have the option to publish or reject any post due to content). Unfortunately I cannot "line item" moderate a reply, either the post gets published or it does not.

      That said, this forum is for the passing of public information to its readers. I do not condone "private communication between two parties" on this forum. This means that a personal response to a public comment isn't appropriate; posts of that nature will be filtered.
    • Joe
      Today I came across the best collection of SuperDell articles, reports, and general information.

      http://superdell.blogspot.com/
    • Free Lifetime Service. Doesn't it just ring in your ears?

      2 questions: 1) How much does FREE lifetime service cost? 2) Whose lifetime?

      First Question: I have owned TAC PCs. I never had problems with Viruses or Spyware. Never a need for service in that way. A few power supplies went south and they replaced those. But those were covered under the hardware warranty.

      So here's what happened. I paid a GROSS amount up front for service I never used. So much for free service.

      Second question: Whose lifetime? Not yours. Its the lifetime of the PC. And an unwritten rule is that a PC 3 years or older is past it's lifetime. They will try to sell you a new one.

      In a nutshell, TAC (god rest it's soul) and PC Laptops make a LOT of money by overpricing their PCs and offering FREE SERVICE.

      I spec'd out a laptop a few months ago. Same options and features as one on the floor of PCL. When I got the final price, I was nervous that the client wouldn't accept my offer because of my pricing. I priced it out at $2,400. I was making a tidy profit.

      I compared my price to the model at PCL and was shocked to be quoted $3,600. THIRTY SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS!!

      Don't fall for the PCL marketing. If Dan really LOVES you, he wouldn't gouge you.

      Now answer me this: When was the last time you paid anyone for service UP FRONT? What motivation does PCL have to really service your PC and get it done right?

      The longer they work, the less money they make.

      One last question: Do you really "get it" when Dan says he "LOVES YOU?"

      If you want an honest deal with no up-front gouging, call me.

      Layne Mangum
      @yourPC Computer Solutions
      801.649.2356
      help@yourPCbuddy.com

      By the way, I can't honor your TAC lifetime service warranty. I will, however, give you an honest days work for a reasonable price. And if you buy a PC or Laptop from me, I will get you the BEST PARTS possible and beat the crap out of any price PCL can give you.

      Just sayin.
    • You didn't learn anything did you Joe, what a total waste of time.
    • Joe
      Hi Dell, I wondered when you would comment on the subject. I've edited the original post, removing some editorializing and listing additional relevant information and links (where available). As I mentioned above, I do not condone making "private conversations" public, but I will reply to your statement.

      I did learn quite a bit while I worked with you. You taught me about the importance of attitude, confidence, and the sheer will to succeed. I learned that it's better to make friends than enemies. You taught me about honor and respect, when it can be freely given, and when it must be earned, and how difficult it is to get back when it's lost. By your actions (and reactions) you taught me how to keep my head down, how (and when) to stand up for myself and my decisions, and how to live more frugally. By your example you taught me the consequences of not keeping personal and business lives separate. By the effects it had on the welfare of your company, you taught me how important it is not to react to people, just to circumstances; that it's best to attack a problem, not a person. I've learned to avoid even the slightest appearance of inpropriety. Your experiences with the legal system show me the reality of how, once charged, even if you win, you lose.

      Respectfully, I did learn quite a bit. For that I thank you. Thank you for the job when I needed it. Thank you for the opportunity to work with such a great group of people. Thank you for the environment to push the envelope not only on technological performance, but on outstanding service as well. Thank you for taking the time to teach me, to train me, to establish an environment where I was forced to continually better myself.

      I am sincerely grateful that I had the opportunity to work for you... to work with you. I gave back more than I got from you -- I felt encoraged to invest in something I beleived in, and still beleive in to this day.

      I don't feel it was a waste of time for either of us, and I am saddened that events have led to the conclusion that they have.

      I wish you well in all your future endeavors, and hope that you have learned even half as much as I have from the experiences that we shared at Totally Awesome Computers. After all, if we don't learn from history, we're destined to repeat it.
    • I'm a little late in the game here. But I truly hope that Mr. Dell remains the arrogant, scape-goating, bigotted, pig so I can enjoy a chuckle whenever his antics appear on the news. Despite his brilliant marketing, I was never, not even slightly, tempted to purchase a computer from TAC.

      BTW, if Mr. Dell had been racing through MY neighborhood endangering MY children, he would've been on trial for much more than merely brandishing a weapon.

      Just my opinion though, of course.
    • Robbie Moller
      Joe
      This may be a little late, but now that things have settled. Lets get blockston, john b, and a couple select few to run just a few stores and make another go at TAC....Of course that means we need you to SUPERDELL! We made the best product at a great price, with the worlds best service! I personally built thousands of those TAC systems out there, C Block and I built the first 10 SUPERNOVAS (9 stores 1 Dells house) for fun! We loved our product and would still be supporting it today givin the chance. I have read alot of web post that talk about TACs promises of product and failure to meet deadlines.... I not only built the systems, but for months i had to drive that big ol' truck around and deliver them too. I hear PC Laptops is doing great but lets face it (Dell this is for you)TAC was the best! well just thinking outload, Joe hope to hear from you! Robbie
    • I've been checking the blogs and stuff this week and have an opinion on this mess.

      Superdell just needed some help.

      Not from someone you call "doc" and gives you pills, but someone like a bookkeeper who could tell Dell that he could not (fire someone for being too dark or skin, reduce the wages of the staff, ask people to work overtime for free, offer a car to a city employee in relation to being considered for a contract, etc.)

      The antics were not that bad, the bookkeeper could have told him after the I-15 paraglide incident that if one of the drivers was distracted by him and crashed, they would own TAC.
      The use of force in the road rage incident sounded reasonable to me. The problem was that by NOT shooting one of his attackers, it was difficult to prove that he was in danger, on the other hand if the police arrived to find one dead and two being held at gunpoint, Dell could have easily shown that there was danger there. He could have sued the survivors for the trauma his kid would have experienced watched their dad have to shoot 1 or 2 attackers.

      YES, I KNOW…. You will all say that SuperDell should not have been speeding….. But let me point out that if any of YOU, or let’s say.. ME was to force a car off the road and approach it with… let’s say a rock or something, I/we would be arrested for playing vigilante. They would say that by failing to call the police and taking matters into our own hands… I do think that the wrong guy was arrested in that incident.

      I remember seeing on his website that he sold the fastest PC anywhere and that if anyone else claimed that he would sue them. I thought briefly about purchasing one, replacing the branding with mine and advertising the fastest PC on the planet… When Dell sued me and I won (‘cause he would be suing himself) I may have owned TAC outright.

      By the way,
      Is there any truth to the rumors that SuperDell sent two guys to Logan to get jobs at different computer shops so they could act as spies because SuperDell was thinking of opening a store in Logan?
      Rumor has it that these guys ended up opening their own store in Cache County…



      Lewis
    • Edward Fortner
      I worked with Joe at TAC so I know a bit about the whole situation. Dell Schanze is a megalomaniac that uses God and religion as a front for whatever he says. He only believes in freedoms that he finds necessary, screw what everyone else wants (see his stance on homosexual unions).
      As for how he treated people all of the stores had binders with emails from Dell and other management. I wish people would have got a good look at those binders; it proved how abusive Dell could be to his employees. We lost a lot of good people because of him.
      A few other things that made it rough for TAC was the lifetime support. TAC really did try to take care of the customers' machines and even more so, the data. Unfortunately spyware was really hitting us hard in those days and we'd have tons of systems coming in for repairs. Most of us didn't just reinstall Windows; we actually tried to fix the issues so we wouldn't loose customer data. But lifetime service doesn't pay technicians' salaries. In the end I was a tech manager with no other techs under me and 30-40 computers on the rack waiting to be serviced. Even after the doors closed I and a handful of other volunteers / employees worked for another month or so finishing repairs on customer's PCs in the warehouse. It was just a bad business model.
      After the whole thing came tumbling down Dan from PC Laptops was nice enough to offer some of us jobs. To be a PC Laptop tech you needed to be able to sell though and some TAC techs just didn't have the people skills; I was one of those that didn't get hired.
      In closing, TAC was a great experience for me. I became one of the best PC techs around due to some great teachers and I watched a great computer store rise and fall. I certainly miss my store, my customers and my fellow employees. I hope some day to see another business like TAC rise up in Utah. I'll be there fixing computers I'm sure; I just hope it has a better owner.
      If anyone needs to contact me you can check my profile at www.linkedin.com.
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