Tiger Direct - History

History

The company was founded as Tiger Software, a publisher of titles for both Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh in 1989. In 1989, Tiger Software became a subsidiary of publicly held Bloc Development Corporation (NASDAQ:BDEV). Bloc Development was also the parent company of BLOC Publishing, 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 (NASDAQ:TIGR).

TigerDirect evolved from TigerSoftware when the company began selling build-it-yourself PC kits and inexpensive computers, using manufacturers in the United States and Canada to build its custom desktop and notebook configurations. In 1996, it was acquired by Systemax (NYSE: SYX) The commercial website TigerDirect.com was launched in 1996, selling computer and electronics, books and software. In 2000, TigerDirect expanded its product offerings to include "refurbished" and "recertified" products, brand-name computers from IBM, HP, eMachines, Gateway and others.

On January 6, 2008, TigerDirect's parent company Systemax Inc. announced an agreement on 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. The CEO Gilbert Fiorentino was forced to resign over dishonest activity he was responsible for. His brothers were also removed from the company for theft.

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," and, commenting on the volume of complaints on the Internet, that "Tiger's rebate promises appear to be toothless." Consumer-reported difficulties obtaining the rebates led to an investigation by the Florida Attorney General and a failure to maintain a satisfactory BBB rating. 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."

On November 4, 1999, case C3903, the Federal Trade Commission issued a decision and order (which expires in 20 years) against TigerDirect for violations of the Pre-sale Availability Rule, the Disclosure Rule and the Warranty Act. Without admitting any wrongdoing, TigerDirect agreed to:

1. Not represent that it provides On-Site Service unless all limitations and conditions that apply are disclosed;
2. fulfill obligations under the warranty within a reasonable period of time after receiving notice from the consumer; and
3. shall 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.

Consumers that are still not finding relief for their not honored rebates from TigerDirect or OnRebate are advised to contact their states Attorney General. You will need to provide documentation, but you will get the money due you.