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{{Short description|Defunct Canadian computer retailer}}
⚫
{{Infobox Company
{{About|the defunct Canadian company|the US Federal Agency|Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive}}
| company_name = NCIX.com
⚫
{{Infobox company
| company_logo = [[Image:Ncix logo.gif]]
| name = NCIX Computer Inc.
⚫
| company_type = [[Private company|Private]]
| logo = NCIX.com Logo.png
| foundation = 1996 |
| trade_name = NCIX
⚫
| location = [[Richmond, British Columbia]], [[Canada]]
⚫
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| key_people =
| industry = Online retail sales
| industry = Online retail sales
| fate = [[Bankruptcy]] And [[Liquidation]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1996|04|28}}
| founder = Steve Wu
| defunct = {{start date|2017|12|01}}
⚫
| location = [[Richmond, British Columbia]], [[Canada]]
| products =
| products =
| revenue =
| revenue =
Line 12: Line 17:
| net_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| subsid =
| subsid =
| footnotes =
| homepage = [http://www.ncix.com www.ncix.com]
| homepage = {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920065304/https://www.ncix.com/|date=September 20, 2018 |title=www.ncix.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
}}


[[File:NCIXMarkham2.jpg|thumb|NCIX store in 2015]]
'''NCIX.com''' (or '''Netlink Computers Inc.''') is an online [[computer hardware]] and [[computer software|software]] retailer based in [[Richmond, British Columbia]], [[Canada]], founded in 1996 by Steve Wu. It has retail outlets in [[Vancouver]], [[Burnaby, British Columbia|Burnaby]], [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]] and [[Langley, British Columbia (district municipality)|Langley, British Columbia]]. Its motto is “Great technology, selection and service.” Its sister website for the U.S. market is http://www.NCIXUS.com.

'''NCIX Computer Inc.''' (formerly known as '''Netlink Computer Inc.''') was an online [[computer hardware]] and [[computer software|software]] retailer based in [[Richmond, British Columbia]], [[Canada]], founded in 1996 by Steve Wu (伍啟儀).<ref name="Steve-Wu">{{cite web|url=http://www.21cbh.com/2012/nfcity_831/325615.html|title=Information about Steve Wu|publisher=21cbh.com|date=August 31, 2012|accessdate=August 11, 2013|archive-date=July 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724015449/http://www.21cbh.com/2012/nfcity_831/325615.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/12115/ncix-files-for-bankruptcy-after-restructuring-attempts|title=NCIX Files for Bankruptcy After Restructuring Attempts|first=Anton|last=Shilov|website=www.anandtech.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.superlife.ca/2017/07/20/ncix%E5%9C%A8%E5%AE%89%E7%9C%81%E5%85%B3%E9%97%AD%E4%B8%89%E5%AE%B6%E9%9B%B6%E5%94%AE%E5%BA%97-%E4%BB%85%E5%89%A9%E4%B8%87%E9%94%A6%E5%BA%97/|title=NCIX在安省关闭三家零售店 仅剩万锦店 &#124; 新闻|website=news.superlife.ca}}</ref>

==Outlets==
It had retail outlets in [[Vancouver]], [[Burnaby]], [[Coquitlam]], [[Richmond, British Columbia|Richmond]] and [[Langley, British Columbia (district municipality)|Langley, British Columbia]], as well as [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]], [[Mississauga]], [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]], [[Toronto]] and [[Ottawa, Ontario]]. At one point, NCIX had 3 shipping facilities, one in [[Richmond, British Columbia]], another in [[Markham, Ontario]], and one in [[City of Industry, California]]. By July 17, 2017, NCIX had closed the Mississauga, Toronto, and Ottawa retail locations. NCIX declared bankruptcy with the [[Supreme Court of British Columbia]] on December 1, 2017, and [[liquidated]] all stores and processing orders.

== Demise ==
As one of the few surviving PC retail chains in Canada, the company "invested heavily in large walk-in retail outlets… all of which were expensive to run", rather than further online sales assets to compete more effectively against [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] and [[Newegg]]. Furthermore, the company prioritized "sales of individual computer parts over complete systems" at a time when consumers and "millennial gamers with relatively high disposable incomes" opted for built systems from trusted brands while "the number of hobbyists who want to build their own hardware is dwindling".<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biv.com/article/2018/04/bankruptcy-electronics-retailer-ncix-both-opportunity-and-warning-competitors|title=Bankruptcy of electronics retailer NCIX both an opportunity and warning for competitors|website=Business in Vancouver}}</ref>


In July 2017, NCIX closed all their Ontario retail outlets in Ottawa, Mississauga, and Toronto and shortly after its Markham headquarters office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncix.com/contact/|title=Contact Us – Email – Phone Number – NCIX Store Locations – NCIX|website=www.ncix.com|access-date=2017-09-12|archive-date=2017-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916193551/http://www.ncix.com/contact/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History==
NCIX began operations in 1996, originally as walk-in retail outlet in [[Burnaby]], British Columbia. In 1998, the website was conceived to provide a growing number of Canadian and U.S. customers access to the store’s large selection of computing products. In 2002, NCIX began establishing additional walk-in retail outlets in the [[Greater Vancouver Area]]. The Vancouver store (located on [[Broadway (Vancouver)|West Broadway]]) commenced operation in 2003, while the Richmond sector was opened to the public in 2004. The Langley outlet opened in 2006 as the chain’s largest walk-in retail outlet.


In November 2017, NCIX closed its Vancouver, Burnaby, and Coquitlam stores. Canada Computers then announced they had taken over the leases on these locations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadacomputers.com/location.php|title=Store Locator – Canada Computers & Electronics|website=www.canadacomputers.com}}</ref>
The early 2000s saw a need to expand the Burnaby outlet twice, then serving as both retail outlet and principal stock warehouse. In 2004, the company moved its corporate headquarter and supply warehouse to [[Richmond, British Columbia]], leaving only walk-in retail operations in the Burnaby area. The company enlarged its venue capacity once more in 2005. Since the increase in venue capacity in 2004, staff capacity has quadrupled to in excess of 120 employees.


On November 30, 2017, the last retail store located in Lansdowne Mall, Richmond closed, with only their headquarters in Richmond left.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/72137-ncix-files-bankruptcy-after-closing-all-retail-stores.html|title=NCIX files for bankruptcy after closing all retail stores|last=Synek|first=Greg|date=2018-12-02|work=TechSpot|access-date=2018-10-14|language=en-us}}</ref>
==Website==
* Features a [[internet forum|user forum]] which includes discussions about products, systems, and technical issues.
* Distributes and posts weekly e-newsletters featuring sale items.
* Offers preconfigured systems with the NCIX brand.
* [[Competitor indexing|Price-matching]] is offered to meet competitor pricing (upon approval)
* Has a [[reseller]] program (“Premier Partner Program), selling products at wholesale prices for bulk purchases
* Offers a redeemable reward system for product reviews.


On December 1, 2017, NCIX filed for [[bankruptcy]] with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, under File Number 170816.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/pc-parts-retailer-ncix-files-for-bankruptcy-after-closing-physical-storefronts/|title=PC parts retailer NCIX files for bankruptcy after closing physical storefronts|work=pcgamer|access-date=2017-12-05|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/12115/ncix-files-for-bankruptcy-after-restructuring-attempts|title=NCIX Files for Bankruptcy After Restructuring Attempts|last=Shilov|first=Anton|access-date=2017-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-ncix-closure-bankruptcy-2017|title=Vancouver-based NCIX files for bankruptcy after closing all stores|last=Chan|first=Kenneth|date=2017-12-04|work=[[Daily Hive]]|access-date=2018-10-14|language=en}}</ref>
==Rating==
NCIX is moderately-high rated online retailer on [http://www.resellerratings.com ResellerRatings.com], with a six-month rating as of [[2008-07-14]] of 8.84/10 (above average).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.resellerratings.com/store/NCIX |title=NCIX.com (aka:Netlink Computers) Customer Ratings, Reviews and Prices |publisher=[[ResellerRatings.com]] |date=2007-06-25 |accessdate=2007-07-14}}</ref>


=== Server data breach ===
==Better Business Bureau==
On August 1, 2018, a Craigslist ad listed as “NCIX Database Servers - $8500 (Richmond BC)” was found by Travis Doering of Privacy Fly, indicating unerased servers and data from NCIX operations were available for sale containing user data dating back 15 years. Employee data, including [[social insurance number]]s, was also leaked. Doering stated that in one database alone there were 3.8 million Canadians' information.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thousands of Canadians' personal data from NCIX servers listed on Craigslist: cybersecurity expert {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4476625/ncix-server-data-breach/ |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> The data was obtained from an abandoned warehouse where NCIX stored servers before their bankruptcy after the servers were sold to make up for the $150,000 rent fees owed to the owner of the warehouse.<ref name="privacyfly">{{cite web |title=NCIX DATABREACH |url=https://www.privacyfly.com/articles/ncix_breach/ |website=Privacy Fly |accessdate=26 September 2018 |first=Travis |last=Doering |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002112919/https://www.privacyfly.com/articles/ncix_breach/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> This prompted an investigation by the [[RCMP]] and Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia, and the police seized the servers.<ref>{{cite web |title=RCMP investigates after servers of bankrupt NCIX allegedly offered for sale with data intact {{!}} CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-and-privacy-commissioner-investigate-alleged-ncix-breach-1.4833976 |website=CBC |accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref> Despite this, the data on the servers had been copied and sold multiple times before the servers were seized.<ref name="privacyfly" /> Software engineer Kipling Warner since sued NCIX and their auctioneer for failing to properly protect the information.<ref>{{cite web |title=Proposed class action lawsuit claims data breach exposed personal information of 258,000 people {{!}} CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ncix-breach-private-computer-lawsuit-1.4838149 |website=CBC |accessdate=26 September 2018}}</ref>
NCIX has been member of the [[Better Business Bureau]] since September 1996. The company abides by the code of ethics as set by the Bureau and meets and maintains standards of membership to the BBB. The complaint records show the company has resolved all disputes accordingly.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://reports.hurdmanivr.com/0037/136226?&language=1&ra=MjQuODMuOTguMTYw&rf=d3d3LmJiYnZhbi5vcmcvY29tbW9ucmVwb3J0Lmh0bWw=&hr=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5iYmJ2YW4ub3JnL2NvbW1vbnJlc3VsdHMuaHRtbD9tZW1iZXJzb25seT1ZJm5hbWU9bmNpeA==&header=N&fax=Y |title=BBB Member Rooster |publisher=Better Business Bureau |date=2007-06-25 |accessdate=2007-06-25}}</ref>


== Notes ==
== Trivia ==
The "X" in "NCIX" does not have a defined meaning.<ref>{{cite web |title=What does NCIX stand for |url=https://forum.ncix.com/archive/index.php/t-2393732.html |website=forum.ncix.com |publisher=NCIX Computer Inc. |access-date=19 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603071635/https://forum.ncix.com/archive/index.php/t-2393732.html |archive-date=3 June 2013}}</ref>
<references />
==See also==
* [[Linus Sebastian]], who first appeared as a regular presenter for NCIX


==External links==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
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*[http://www.ncix.com/ NCIX.com (Canada)]
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*[http://www.ncixus.com/ NCIXUS.com (U.S.)]


== External links ==
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[[Category:Online retail companies of Canada]]
{{Commons category|NCIX}}
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[[Category:Consumer electronics]]
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* [http://www.ncix.ca/ NCIX.ca (Canada)]
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* [http://ncixus.com/ NCIX.com (U.S.)]


[[Category:Online retailers of Canada]]
[[fr:NCIX]]
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[[Category:Defunct retail companies of Canada]]
⚫
[[Category:Consumer electronics retailers of Canada]]
[[Category:Companies based in Richmond, British Columbia]]
[[Category:Defunct companies of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Canadian companies disestablished in 2017]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2017]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Companies that have filed for bankruptcy in Canada]]

Latest revision as of 23:19, 7 November 2024

This article is about the defunct Canadian company. For the US Federal Agency, see Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive.
NCIX Computer Inc.
NCIX
Company typePrivate
IndustryOnline retail sales
FoundedApril 28, 1996; 28 years ago (1996-04-28)
FounderSteve Wu
DefunctDecember 1, 2017 (2017-12-01)
FateBankruptcy And Liquidation
HeadquartersRichmond, British Columbia, Canada
Websitewww.ncix.com at the Wayback Machine (archived September 20, 2018)
NCIX store in 2015

NCIX Computer Inc. (formerly known as Netlink Computer Inc.) was an online computer hardware and software retailer based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1996 by Steve Wu (伍啟儀).[1][2][3]

Outlets

[edit]

It had retail outlets in Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Richmond and Langley, British Columbia, as well as Markham, Mississauga, Scarborough, Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario. At one point, NCIX had 3 shipping facilities, one in Richmond, British Columbia, another in Markham, Ontario, and one in City of Industry, California. By July 17, 2017, NCIX had closed the Mississauga, Toronto, and Ottawa retail locations. NCIX declared bankruptcy with the Supreme Court of British Columbia on December 1, 2017, and liquidated all stores and processing orders.

Demise

[edit]

As one of the few surviving PC retail chains in Canada, the company "invested heavily in large walk-in retail outlets… all of which were expensive to run", rather than further online sales assets to compete more effectively against Amazon and Newegg. Furthermore, the company prioritized "sales of individual computer parts over complete systems" at a time when consumers and "millennial gamers with relatively high disposable incomes" opted for built systems from trusted brands while "the number of hobbyists who want to build their own hardware is dwindling".[2][4]

In July 2017, NCIX closed all their Ontario retail outlets in Ottawa, Mississauga, and Toronto and shortly after its Markham headquarters office.[5]

In November 2017, NCIX closed its Vancouver, Burnaby, and Coquitlam stores. Canada Computers then announced they had taken over the leases on these locations.[6]

On November 30, 2017, the last retail store located in Lansdowne Mall, Richmond closed, with only their headquarters in Richmond left.[7]

On December 1, 2017, NCIX filed for bankruptcy with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, under File Number 170816.[8][9][10]

Server data breach

[edit]

On August 1, 2018, a Craigslist ad listed as “NCIX Database Servers - $8500 (Richmond BC)” was found by Travis Doering of Privacy Fly, indicating unerased servers and data from NCIX operations were available for sale containing user data dating back 15 years. Employee data, including social insurance numbers, was also leaked. Doering stated that in one database alone there were 3.8 million Canadians' information.[11] The data was obtained from an abandoned warehouse where NCIX stored servers before their bankruptcy after the servers were sold to make up for the $150,000 rent fees owed to the owner of the warehouse.[12] This prompted an investigation by the RCMP and Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of British Columbia, and the police seized the servers.[13] Despite this, the data on the servers had been copied and sold multiple times before the servers were seized.[12] Software engineer Kipling Warner since sued NCIX and their auctioneer for failing to properly protect the information.[14]

Trivia

[edit]

The "X" in "NCIX" does not have a defined meaning.[15]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Information about Steve Wu". 21cbh.com. August 31, 2012. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Shilov, Anton. "NCIX Files for Bankruptcy After Restructuring Attempts". www.anandtech.com.
  3. ^ "NCIX在安省关闭三家零售店 仅剩万锦店 | 新闻". news.superlife.ca.
  4. ^ "Bankruptcy of electronics retailer NCIX both an opportunity and warning for competitors". Business in Vancouver.
  5. ^ "Contact Us – Email – Phone Number – NCIX Store Locations – NCIX". www.ncix.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  6. ^ "Store Locator – Canada Computers & Electronics". www.canadacomputers.com.
  7. ^ Synek, Greg (2018-12-02). "NCIX files for bankruptcy after closing all retail stores". TechSpot. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  8. ^ "PC parts retailer NCIX files for bankruptcy after closing physical storefronts". pcgamer. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  9. ^ Shilov, Anton. "NCIX Files for Bankruptcy After Restructuring Attempts". Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  10. ^ Chan, Kenneth (2017-12-04). "Vancouver-based NCIX files for bankruptcy after closing all stores". Daily Hive. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
  11. ^ "Thousands of Canadians' personal data from NCIX servers listed on Craigslist: cybersecurity expert | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  12. ^ a b Doering, Travis. "NCIX DATABREACH". Privacy Fly. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ "RCMP investigates after servers of bankrupt NCIX allegedly offered for sale with data intact | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Proposed class action lawsuit claims data breach exposed personal information of 258,000 people | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  15. ^ "What does NCIX stand for". forum.ncix.com. NCIX Computer Inc. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
[edit]
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