Tiger Direct

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TigerDirect (also known as TigerDirect.com) is a major direct online retailer of computer electronic items based out of Miami, Florida, founded by Gilbert Fiorentino, Carl Fiorentino and Daniel Brown in 1987 in Miami, Florida. The company was privately owned until 1996, when it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Systemax (NYSE - SYX). According to several Tiger Direct ads, it is a Fortune 1000 company. TigerDirect is the largest division of the Systemax family of companies.

1 The TigerDirect Story
2 TigerSoftware
3 TigerDirect
4 2005 Apple Computer lawsuit
5 OnRebate and user complaints
6 References
7 External links

[edit] The TigerDirect Story

TigerDirect offers products through several channels:

Consumer Direct online at TigerDirect.com
Consumer By Phone through a monthly distribution of 2 million TigerDirect.com catalogs
Business Direct online at TigerB2B.com
Business By Phone through a monthly distribution of the TigerB2B Catalog
Reseller Sales
Government and Educational Sales
Retail Sales

TigerDirect has offices in Miami, Florida (Corporate Headquarters and 2 retail stores); Naperville, Illinois (Distribution Center and 2 retail stores, 2 Corporate Sales Offices); and Raleigh, North Carolina (Retail Store and Corporate Sales Office)

TigerDirect also works synergistically with sister company Global Computer Supply.

Systemax also operates a website servicing Canadian residents at TigerDirect.ca.

Systemax also operates the rebate processing website OnRebate.com which processes rebates for TigerDirect as well as other firms.

[edit] TigerSoftware

TigerDirect started as Tiger Software, a publisher of titles for both PC and Apple Computer computers. Tiger sent millions of mailers and catalogs annually to spread the word, including their launch in collaboration with Microsoft of Windows 95 and an accompanying $ 95,000 Sweepstakes.

Some of the titles published by TigerSoftware included 'The Typewriter,' 'PopDrop,' among many other titles distributed on the then cutting-edge CD format, launching a stand-alone NEC CD player in the late 90s for $1000 to great success as people were able to escape their ties to tape and floppies as the only media alternatives at the time.

[edit] TigerDirect

TigerDirect evolved from TigerSoftware when the Company began selling build-it-yourself PC kits and inexpensive computers. Utilizing various manufacturers in the US and Canada to build their custom configurtions, TigerSystems were available in both desktop and notebook models.

Being a technologically advanced company, TigerDirect launched TigerDirect.com in the late 90s, providing sales of computer and electronics, books and software. In 1998, the catalog title officially was changed from TigerDirect to TigerDirect.com.

In 2000, TigerDirect expanded their product offerings to include 'refurbished' and 'recertified' products, brand name computers from IBM, HP, eMachine, Gateway and others. Over the years of 2000-2004, TigerDirect experienced excellent growth and reached the top 200 websites in the world, according to Alexa.

[edit] 2005 Apple Computer lawsuit

In early 2005, the company filed suit against Apple Computer, 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 Computer received trademark approval for version 10.4 (Tiger) of its OS X operating system in 2003. Tiger Direct registered opposition against Apple's filing with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board regarding this registration. On May 13, 2005, Apple Computer won the case brought against them by TigerDirect, with the judge noting that "The Court finds that the marks are distinctly different."

[edit] OnRebate and user complaints

Users at several Internet scam-reporting message boards report that TigerDirect and its sister organization OnRebate.com deliver shoddy equipment or fail to pay promised large rebates on items. Support requests by e-mail and phone are refused or delayed. The Better Business Bureau has given TigerDirect an "unsatisfactory" rating for its performance in these matters. These allegations also exist against its twin site (in design and merchandise), globalcomputer.com. A website named TigerDirectSucks.org carries pro and con messages about the company, including what purport to be postings from ex-employees.