Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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Nishi Gupta reportingMany of Totally Awesome's 80-something employees have already lined up their next jobs. About a dozen are already working, and others are gearing up for the job hunt.
Former employees tell us they've gone through quite an ordeal. But instead of dwelling on losing a job, they made the best of other opportunities.
It's more than totally awesome...
Chris Pack, Already Working, "It's Incredible."
In less than twelve hours, Chris Pack found another job. When he'd lost the one he'd had for some 5 years at Totally Awesome, he had mixed emotions
Chris Pack, Already Working, "A little bit of everything: angry, sad. Kind of like the last day of school before summer vacation. Kind of exciting, felt like big changes were coming."
He couldn't be more right.
Mike Fuller, PC Laptops, "Indoctrinate them to the PC Laptop culture...the way we greet our customers.."
This rowdy bunch at PC Laptops added Pack and about twenty former Totally Awesome employees to its payroll. Twenty-four year old Mark Pratt interviewed last night and this afternoon
Mark Pratt, Found Another Job, "I actually got the call about thirty minutes ago for them to have me come down and start filling out my paperwork"
He got an offer, but while former employees were making the best of their situations..
Dell Schanze, Totally Awesome Computers: "Totally Awesome Computers is going out of business. Yes, thanks to all of you. Which is too bad."
Dell Schanze, the owner of Totally Awesome Computers decided who was really to blame for his store closing shop. Schanze blamed the media.
Dell Schanze, Totally Awesome Computers: "You just destroyed that greatest computer company of all time. We won the world system builder award. We are the best in the world, the world champion. All this hatred was created by you. You're basically angels of Satan. All I can say to the people in Utah is, please pray for all the news people.""
This latest isn't his first time in the spotlight. He seems to make headlines at least once a year Last year, police charged him for reckless driving and pulling out a gun in a Draper. In 2004, he said Provo wasted taxpayer money on inferior computers; And in 2003, Schanze offended Native Americans by saying a fictitious Indian tribe died because they were intellectually challenged
Former employees say they were still in the dark about the closing, one says he saw it coming...
David Facer, Looking For a Job "Ever since the whole gun incident, I kind of noticed a decrease in business" I took it with a grain of salt, just got my resume ready and I guess now that it's happened, I go on the job hunt."
Totally Awesome customers may have a place to turn should their computers need repair. Several computer stores told KSL they will honor Totally Awesome's warranties- with some changes and charges, that is.
(Disclaimer: KSL offers these links only as public service, and does not offer any warranty or guarantee regarding the following businesses.)
1. PC Laptops- lifetime warranty on labor, manufacturer's warranty on parts
2. Superior Computers- one year warranty beginning Monday, March 6, no warranty on parts
3. Abcan Computer Solutions- $49.00 trip charge- only make house calls lifetime warranty on labor, manufacturer's warranty on parts