Bloc Publishing
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (computers, electronics) |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Frank Millman, Jorge Torres |
| Headquarters | El Segundo, California , United States |
Area served | North America (United States, Canada) |
| Products | Computers, electronics, computer components |
| Parent | PCM Inc. (since 2015) |
TigerDirect operated out of El Segundo, California as an online retailer specializing in computers, electronics, and related components. Once under the ownership of Systemax, a company recognized for acquiring the intellectual properties of defunct U.S. retail chains such as Circuit City and CompUSA, TigerDirect incorporated these brands following their shutdowns in late 2012.
In 2015, TigerDirect discontinued all physical retail locations, coinciding with PCM Inc.'s purchase of Systemax's North American online technology retail division. By 2019, TigerDirect had also terminated its Canadian e-commerce operations.
The business primarily focused on selling computer electronics through online platforms and catalogs, utilizing rebate-driven marketing strategies to maintain competitive prices. Additionally, it operated brick-and-mortar stores and maintained business-to-business sales channels.
History
Originally established in 1985 as BLOC Development Corp., the company initially concentrated on utility and application software development, with its key product being "FormTool," created by founders Frank Millman and Jorge Torres. By 1989, Tiger Software became a subsidiary under BLOC Development, which also oversaw BLOC Publishing and SoftSync.
By 1991, under Gilbert Fiorentino’s guidance, TigerDirect transitioned from software creation to catalog-based sales. Due to financial challenges, it was sold to Global DirectMail (which later became Systemax). In 1994, TigerDirect introduced smaller but profitable catalogs such as GraphicsExpress and Mac catalogs. Following an unsuccessful acquisition attempt by Hanover House, Systemax acquired TigerDirect in 1996 (NYSE: SYX).
Acquisition of CompUSA and Circuit City brands
On January 6, 2008, Systemax purchased the CompUSA brand along with its trademarks, e-commerce operations, and up to sixteen retail stores located in Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico. Subsequently, on May 13, 2009, Systemax acquired the intellectual property of Circuit City, including trademarks, brand name rights, and domain names for $14 million. The previously defunct CircuitCity.com website was reactivated following this acquisition. By late December 2012, both brands were phased out and merged into TigerDirect.com.
Retail closures and sale to PCM
On March 16, 2015, TigerDirect declared plans to shut down all but three retail outlets to concentrate on online sales and B2B operations. Its Canadian presence included six stores in Southern Ontario; all were closed during 2015 and replaced by an online distribution center managed by Acrodex or PCM Canada. The remaining stores were located in Jefferson (Georgia), Guaynabo (Puerto Rico), and Miami (Florida). At the same time, the distribution center in Naperville, Illinois was closed.
In November 2015, PCM Inc. acquired Systemax’s North American Technology Group—including TigerDirect—for $14 million. This division had reported operating losses totaling $68 million by late 2015, in contrast to Systemax’s other profitable segments. The deal was finalized on December 1, 2015; it involved transferring B2B customer data and intellectual property rights while web assets were scheduled for handover by February 15, 2016. Concurrently, Systemax announced the closure of its remaining distribution centers and retail locations.
By late December 2015, TigerDirect initiated clearance sales with a no-return policy as part of inventory liquidation ahead of the official transfer to PCM.
Website Relaunch and Shutdowns
On February 15, 2016, TigerDirect unveiled a redesigned version of its electronics e-commerce platform under the ownership of PCM Inc.. The updated TigerDirect.com expanded its technology product offerings and continued to serve a substantial B2B clientele while revamping its marketing strategies to draw in new customers. PCM also oversaw TigerDirect.ca, catering to Canadian consumers, which ultimately shut down in November 2019. By the close of March 2023, TigerDirect had discontinued all its retail activities.
Federal Trade Commission Decision
On November 4, 1999, the Federal Trade Commission issued a ruling against TigerDirect for breaching the Pre-sale Availability Rule, Disclosure Rule, and Warranty Act. Although TigerDirect did not concede any fault, it committed to fully disclose all service restrictions, promptly honor warranty commitments, and provide warranty terms before purchase, including state-specific consumer protections.
Apple Inc. Litigation
In early 2005, TigerDirect initiated legal action against Apple Inc., accusing the company of trademark infringement concerning Apple's use of "Tiger" for Mac OS X version 10.4. Despite TigerDirect holding registered trademarks related to "tiger," Apple had secured approval for the "Tiger" trademark in 2003. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled in Apple's favor in May 2005, determining that the trademarks were sufficiently distinct.
InfoWorld Coverage
In 2006, InfoWorld journalist Robert X. Cringely reported that OnRebate.com, an affiliate handling rebate distributions for TigerDirect, appeared to focus on delaying or denying rebate claims due to "insufficient documentation." Consumer dissatisfaction with rebate processing led to an inquiry by the Florida Attorney General and negatively impacted TigerDirect’s rating with the Better Business Bureau. A former controller disclosed that this rebate approach was deliberate: customers who actively complained received payments, while many others were ignored, relying on customer forgetfulness to minimize payouts.
Dell Litigation
On April 17, 2009, Dell filed a lawsuit against TigerDirect alleging that the reseller marketed discontinued and obsolete Dell products as new items covered by Dell warranties. The complaint further asserted that these products were sourced from a third party and promoted using an unauthorized altered Dell logo. Dell became aware of these issues after customers sought price matches from TigerDirect.
Florida State Lawsuit
On September 4, 2009, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum brought a lawsuit against TigerDirect, OnRebate, and their parent company Systemax for failing to issue promised customer rebates. Systemax pointed out that a similar class action initiated in 2007 had been dismissed in August 2009 and denied the allegations made in the Florida lawsuit. The dispute was eventually resolved with a $300,000 settlement.
CBC Investigation
In 2014, the Canadian consumer program Marketplace featured TigerDirect in Season 42, Episode 4. The episode exposed how the company altered a customer's negative online review before posting it on their website. Despite repeated requests to remove the edited review, the customer was unsuccessful until Marketplace intervened on their behalf.
Founders found guilty of fraud
In 2014, Carl and Gilbert Fiorentino, brothers and top executives at Systemax Inc. and its TigerDirect division, faced charges for orchestrating a scheme to secure $9 million in kickbacks while concealing these earnings from the IRS. This plot involved directing more than $230 million in transactions to an Asian supplier of computer components between 2002 and 2011, generating over $9 million in unlawful payments. Gilbert pleaded guilty to conspiracy in 2015, and Carl admitted to conspiracy involving fraud and tax evasion. Both were sentenced to prison terms—Gilbert received five years, and Carl was sentenced to six and a half years. In 2016, a restitution order required them to repay $35 million to Systemax.