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Business Blunders
113 posts filed under Business Blunders.
- Who Owns Travelocity Now? The Roaming Gnome in 2026Travelocity is owned by Expedia Group, which paid Sabre $280 million in cash in January 2015. The site still books trips, and the gnome still works.
- Is Sun Microsystems Still Around? Oracle Owns ItSun Microsystems is gone: Oracle paid $7.4 billion in 2010 and renamed it Oracle America. Java and Solaris survived, the SPARC line did not.
- Why Nortel Failed: The $4.5 Billion Patent AuctionNortel failed as carrier spending collapsed and filed for bankruptcy on January 14, 2009. Its 6,000 patents later sold for $4.5 billion.
- Who Owns WorldCom Now? Verizon Kept the MCI NameWorldCom is gone: it filed Chapter 11 in July 2002 with $103.9 billion in assets, and Verizon has owned the MCI name since January 6, 2006.
- Is Nextel Still Around in 2026? Chirp Died in 2013Nextel is gone: Sprint killed the iDEN network on June 30, 2013. T-Mobile owns the name now, upheld by a federal appeals court in 2024.
- Flooz.com Explained: The Dot-Com Cash That VanishedFlooz.com is still defunct in 2026: the online gift currency suspended its site on August 8, 2001 and filed Chapter 7, with $35 million gone.
- Who Owns EarthLink Now? WaveDivision Capital DoesEarthLink is still in business in 2026, but Trive Capital no longer controls it: a WaveDivision Capital group closed the purchase on October 20, 2026.
- Who Owns Virgin Megastore Now? Zero US Stores LeftVirgin Megastore has had zero US stores since 2009. Virgin Group licenses the name; Azadea runs 40-plus stores in nine Middle East markets.
- DIVX Explained: Circuit City's $337 Million FlopDIVX was Circuit City's pay-per-view DVD. It ran from June 1998 to June 1999, and every disc stopped playing on June 30, 2001.
- Is SkyMall Still Around in 2026? Yes, Online OnlySkyMall is still around in 2026, but online only: C+A Global bought the bankrupt in-flight catalog for $1.9 million back in 2015.
- Why Montgomery Ward Failed and Who Owns It NowMontgomery Ward closed all 250 stores in 2001 after 128 years. Colony Brands bought the name for $15.5 million in 2008 and runs wards.com today.
- Who Owns Packard Bell Now? Acer Relaunched It in 2026Packard Bell is owned by Acer, which relaunched the dormant 1990s PC brand in 2026 with a 499 euro DotBook laptop sold everywhere but the US.
- Is Tower Records Still Around? Online and in JapanTower Records is still around online and as a Japanese chain owned by NTT Docomo, but all 89 US stores closed in the 2006 auction.
- Who Owns eToys.com Now? Toys R Us Bought the NameToys R Us has owned eToys.com since February 2009, part of a reported $2.15 million bankruptcy lot. No eToys store has run since 2001.
- Who Owns Broadcast.com Now? Yahoo, Idle Since 2002Yahoo still owns Broadcast.com and has run nothing on it since 2002. It paid $5.7 billion in 1999 for a site with $22.4 million in sales.
- Is Angelfire Still Online? Lycos Closed It in 2026Angelfire is not still online. Lycos shut the free web host down on April 24, 2026, two months after every hosted page had already broken.
- Is Discovery Zone Still Around? One Playground LeftDiscovery Zone closed its last centers by the end of 2001 after two bankruptcies. One unaffiliated playground still uses the name in 2026.
- How Many Rainforest Cafe Locations Are Left in 2026?Rainforest Cafe still runs 16 US restaurants in 11 states in 2026, down from 59 at its peak. Landry's owns it, and Disney Village closes this year.
- Is Kinko's Still Around in 2026? Only in JapanNo US store carries the Kinko's name: FedEx paid $2.4 billion for the chain, then took an $891 million charge in 2008 to drop the word.
- Is G4 TV Still On the Air in 2026? No, Since 2022G4 TV is off the air. Comcast Spectacor shut the gaming channel down on October 16, 2022, eleven months after reviving it, at 1,000 viewers.
- Is Photobucket Still Around in 2026? What It CostsPhotobucket is still around in 2026 as paid storage: plans start at $5 a month, and a limited free plan returned for new sign-ups in 2026.
- Who Owns Game Informer Now? Gunzilla Games DoesGame Informer is owned by Gunzilla Games, which bought it in March 2025 after GameStop killed it. Print is back at 10 issues a year.
- How Many KB Toys Stores Are Left? Zero Since 2009How many KB Toys stores are left? Zero. The last ones closed on February 9, 2009, and the brand now survives as a license and a Comic-Con booth.
- Is FAO Schwarz Still Open? 10 US Stores in 2026FAO Schwarz is still open: one Rockefeller Center flagship plus nine Nordstrom shops since June 2026, run under license by ThreeSixty Group.
- Is Woolworth Still in Business? Only as Foot LockerWoolworth has had no US store since 1997. It renamed itself Foot Locker in 2001, and Dick's Sporting Goods bought that company in 2025.
- Who Owns Sharper Image Now? No Stores Since 2008Sharper Image is owned by ThreeSixty Group, which paid $100 million for the brand in December 2016. No stores have opened since the 2008 liquidation.
- Is the Disney Store Still Open? 20 Left in 2026The Disney Store is still open, but only about 20 US locations are left in 2026, down from 747 in 1999. Europe lost its last in January.
- How Many Sam Goody Stores Are Left? One, in OregonOne Sam Goody store is left in 2026, at the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford, Oregon. Sunrise Records owns the name, and Ohio lost its store in 2025.
- Does Nokia Still Make Phones? Who Makes Them NowDoes Nokia still make phones? No. Nokia sold its handset business to Microsoft in 2013, and HMD's license to the Nokia smartphone name ended in 2026.
- Who Owns Borders Now? The $13.9 Million Brand SaleBorders closed its last US stores in September 2011. Barnes & Noble owns the name now, bought for $13.9 million with 48 million customer records.
- Is Hollywood Video Still Around? Every Store ClosedHollywood Video closed in 2010 when Movie Gallery liquidated 1,900-plus stores. MGIP, LLC of New Jersey still holds the trademark in 2026.
- Is Barnes and Noble Still Open? 720+ Stores in 2026Barnes and Noble is still open: more than 720 US stores in 2026, 60 new ones planned, six closed, and Elliott is lining up a London IPO.
- Who Owns Claire's Now? The $140 Million BuyoutClaire's is owned by Ames Watson, which bought it out of bankruptcy for about $140 million in 2025. About 900 stores trade in 2026, none in the UK.
- How Many Boston Market Locations Are Left in 2026?Boston Market listed six restaurants in 2026 and only three answered the phone. The chain had about 1,200 locations in the late 1990s.
- Is GameStop Still in Business? Stores Are ReopeningGameStop is still in business in 2026 with 1,598 US stores left, record quarterly profit, and closed locations reopening since September 11.
- Is Redbox Still Around? Why Kiosks Are Still ThereRedbox is gone: its parent was liquidated in July 2024 and all 24,000 kiosks went dark. One contractor has recycled more than 4,700 since.
- Who Owns Yahoo Now? Apollo and the 2026 IPO PlanYahoo is owned by Apollo Global Management, which holds about 90 percent since 2021. Verizon kept 10 percent, and a $20 billion IPO is now in play.
- Does Yahoo Answers Still Exist? It Closed in 2021Yahoo Answers does not still exist. It went read-only on April 20, 2021 and closed on May 4, 2021, after 300 million questions since 2005.
- Who Owns Napster in 2026? All Six Owners Since 2001Napster is owned by Napster Corporation, formerly Infinite Reality, which paid $207 million in 2025 and shut the music service on January 1, 2026.
- Is Sega Still Making Games in 2026? No New ConsoleIs Sega still making games in 2026? Yes, as part of Sega Sammy Holdings, whose games arm sold 326.6 billion yen in the year to March 2026.
- Is MySpace Still Around in 2026? What Is Left of ItIs MySpace still around in 2026? Yes, myspace.com is online and owned by Viant Technology, but the 50 million songs uploaded before 2016 are gone.
- Is Kmart Still Open? The 3 Stores Left in 2026Is Kmart still open in 2026? Yes, but only three stores are left: Miami, Guam and St. Thomas. It had 2,114 the day it filed for bankruptcy.
- Is CompUSA Still Around in 2026? Zero Stores LeftIs CompUSA still around? No. Its last 103 stores were sold to a liquidator in December 2007, and the brand was written off in 2012.
- Who Owns Sears Now, and How Many Stores Are Left?Sears still exists in 2026, owned by Eddie Lampert's Transformco, with five full-line stores left from more than 3,400 at the 2005 Kmart merger.
- Who Owns Atari Now? Wade Rosen and a 48.8% StakeAtari is owned by Atari SA, a Luxembourg company. Wade Rosen's IRATA LLC held 48.8% in September 2026, and revenue hit a decade high.
- Is Toys R Us Still in Business? 160 Stores in 2026Toys R Us closed all 735 US stores on June 29, 2018. WHP Global owns the brand now, and 120 new US stores open for the 2026 holiday season.
- Is Palm Still a Company? From Pilot to a $349 PhoneIs Palm still a company? No. HP bought it for $1.2 billion in 2010, wrote off $3.3 billion a year later, and TCL has kept the brand dormant since.
- Is Blockbuster Still Open? The Last Store in 2026Is Blockbuster still open? Yes, one franchise store in Bend, Oregon, and it kept trading after brand owner Dish DBS filed Chapter 11 in June 2026.
- Does AOL Still Exist? Bending Spoons Owns It NowDoes AOL still exist? Yes. Bending Spoons bought it for about $1.5 billion in January 2026, cut 108 jobs, and now charges $9.99 a month.
- Who Owns Compaq Now? What Is Left of the BrandCompaq is not a company any more: HP absorbed it on May 3, 2002 and still owns the name, which is why Compaq TVs sell in India in 2026.
- Why Iridium Failed and Who Owns It Now in 2026Iridium spent $5 billion on 66 satellites, filed for bankruptcy in 1999, and sold for $25 million. Rocket Lab is now buying it for $8 billion.
- Are Beanie Babies Worth Anything? 2026 PricesAre Beanie Babies worth anything? Most sell for $1 to $5 in 2026, not thousands. Ty Inc. still makes them, and Princess averages $25 to $35.
- Is the Sega 32X Worth Anything? About $200 in 2026The Sega 32X sold about 665,000 units after its $159.99 launch in 1994 and now runs about $200 loose, ten times its $19.95 clearance price.
- theGlobe.com Today: The 606% IPO That Left a ShelltheGlobe.com is now an empty shell company with no employees and $15,115 in cash. Its 1998 IPO closed up 606 percent, a record that still stands.
- Does Excite Still Exist? IAC Closed It in 2026Excite does not still exist. IAC shut excite.com down in August 2026, 27 years after CEO George Bell passed on buying Google for $750,000.
- Why the TurboGrafx-16 Won Japan and Lost AmericaNEC's TurboGrafx-16 ruled Japan as the PC Engine but sold just 750,000 US units by 1991. Konami owns the library now, and a Mini shipped in 2020.
- Is PointCast Still Around? AOL Bought What Was LeftPointCast is gone: the push network stopped in March 2000 and AOL bought the successor in 2003. It had refused $450 million in 1997.
- How the NES Saved Video Games After the 1983 CrashThe NES saved video games after the 1983 crash with a retailer buyback deal and a lockout chip. Nintendo sold 61.91 million of them.
- Are Standalone GPS Devices Still Sold in 2026?Standalone GPS devices are still sold in 2026: Garmin's Drive 53 lists at $149.99. TomTom quit the US device market and Magellan is now a MiTAC brand.
- Who Owns Wine.com Now? The 2001 Bankruptcy SaleWine.com is still in business in 2026, owned by the private company founded as eVineyard, which bought the name out of the 2001 collapse.
- Is Prodigy Still Around? Only as an Email DomainProdigy, the IBM and Sears service that outgrew AOL, is gone. Only prodigy.net email survives, and the 1996 sale fetched $78.12 million.
- Who Owns the 3DO Now? Throwback Entertainment DoesThe 3DO trademark belongs to Throwback Entertainment, and no 3DO console has shipped since 1996. A 2026 revival collapsed in under a week.
- Is Microsoft Bob Still Around? Only as a DownloadMicrosoft Bob shipped in March 1995 at $99, sold about 58,000 copies and died within a year. In 2026 it survives only as free Internet Archive disk images.
- Is Kodak Still in Business in 2026? Yes, and ProfitableKodak is still in business in 2026 and profitable again after a 2025 going-concern warning. Film revenue jumped 40 percent last quarter.
- Who Owns Segway Now? Ninebot and the End of the PTSegway still exists in 2026 under Beijing owner Ninebot, but the Personal Transporter ended on July 15, 2020 after about 140,000 sales.
- Who Owns Tumblr Now? Automattic Paid $3 MillionTumblr is owned by Automattic, which paid about $3 million in 2019. Yahoo had paid $1.1 billion in 2013 and wrote off $482 million of it.
- Is Flickr Still Around in 2026? SmugMug Owns ItFlickr is still around in 2026. SmugMug has owned it since 2018, free accounts cap at 1,000 photos, and Flickr Pro runs $82 a year.
- Is There a New Tony Hawk Game? The Series in 2026No new Tony Hawk game is announced as of October 2026. The last was Pro Skater 3 + 4 in July 2025, and its studio cut up to 90 jobs.
- Sega Game Gear: Why It Failed and What It Costs NowThe Sega Game Gear failed on battery life: six AA cells lasted three to five hours. Sega sold 10.62 million units; the Game Boy sold 118.69 million.
- Is SimCity Still Playable in 2026? Yes, From $4.99SimCity is still playable in 2026: SimCity 4 Deluxe lists at $19.99 and SimCity 3000 at $4.99, but EA has shipped no new game since 2013.
- Who Owns Commodore Now? The Brand Is Back in 2026Commodore still exists: investors bought the brand in July 2025 and now sell the Commodore 64 Ultimate for $299.99. How the 1994 collapse happened.
- Is Neopets Still Around in 2026? Yes, and GrowingNeopets is still online in 2026, owned by World of Neopia after a 2023 management buyout. It passed 400,000 monthly players in February 2025.
- Why the Atari Jaguar Failed and What It Costs NowThe Atari Jaguar sold about 125,000 units before Atari quit hardware in 1996. Sealed consoles have since gone for $1,199.99.
- Is WordPerfect Still Around in 2026? Corel Sells ItWordPerfect is still sold in 2026 by Corel, owned by Vector Capital since May 2026, but the last new version shipped in 2021.
- Is Lycos Still Around in 2026? Who Owns It NowLycos is still online in 2026 as a small portal owned through Brightcom Group. Terra Networks paid $12.5 billion for it; Ybrant paid $36 million.
- Is HD DVD Still Around? Why It Lost to Blu-rayHD DVD is dead: Toshiba quit on February 19, 2008, after Warner Bros. went Blu-ray exclusive. The retreat cost the company about $1.1 billion.
- Is Lotus 1-2-3 Still Around? IBM Killed It in 2013Lotus 1-2-3 is discontinued: IBM stopped selling it on June 11, 2013 and ended support in 2014. It once held 70% of the spreadsheet market.
- Do They Still Make Netbooks? Why the Eee PC DiedNo. Netbooks peaked at 38.8 million units in 2010 and the last ones shipped in 2013. Chromebooks under $200 now do the job the Eee PC did.
- Who Owns Gateway Computers Now? Acer Still DoesGateway computers still exist as a brand: Acer bought the company in 2007 for $710 million and now sells Gateway laptops only through Walmart.
- Who Owns Boo.com Now? Hostelworld Holds the NameBoo.com burned about $135 million in 18 months and died on 18 May 2000. Hostelworld owns the name now, bought in a $375,000 fire sale.
- Does the Motorola Razr V3 Still Work in 2026?The Motorola Razr V3 cannot make a call in the US anymore: T-Mobile cut the last 2G network on August 3, 2026. What one costs now.
- Is the Nokia N-Gage Still Around? Who Owns It NowThe Nokia N-Gage is gone: Nokia stopped the hardware in November 2005 and closed the N-Gage service in 2010, after 3 million of a 6 million target.
- Is Excite@Home Still Around? AT&T Took the NetworkExcite@Home is gone. It filed for Chapter 11 in September 2001 and AT&T took the network for $307 million, about one percent of its $35 billion peak.
- Why the Sega Saturn Failed and What It Costs NowThe Sega Saturn failed after a $399 surprise launch in May 1995 and sold 9.26 million units. A working console costs $180 to $280 in 2026.
- Why the Apple Newton Failed and What It's Worth NowThe Apple Newton shipped in August 1993 at $699 and Steve Jobs killed it on February 27, 1998. A complete MessagePad 2100 sold for $541 in 2023.
- Is the Original Xbox Still Supported in 2026?The original Xbox lost support in 2006 and Microsoft closed its Xbox Live service in 2010. Fans rebuilt the servers, and 39 games still run.
- Is AOL Time Warner Still a Company? What Is LeftAOL Time Warner stopped existing in 2009. AOL is being sold to Bending Spoons for $1.5 billion; Warner Bros. Discovery holds the rest.
- Is Kozmo.com Still Around? The Brand's Fate in 2026Kozmo.com died in April 2001 after a $280 million loss. Los Angeles grocer Yummy Foods owns the name now, and the site has been dark since 2023.
- Is Circuit City Still in Business? Zero Stores LeftCircuit City closed its last 567 stores on March 8, 2009. The name survives online under an owner who bought it in 2016. Zero stores left.
- Did Amazon Almost Go Bankrupt in the Dot-Com Crash?Amazon never went bankrupt, but it came close: a Lehman analyst gave it four quarters of cash. A $672 million bond bought the time it needed.
- Is Webvan Still Around? The $830 Million CollapseWebvan shut down in July 2001 after burning about $830 million. Amazon owns the name now, and its founder is back with a robot warehouse.
- Why the Nintendo GameCube Lost the Console WarThe Nintendo GameCube sold 21.74 million units to the PlayStation 2's 155 million and died in 2007. Its games returned on Switch 2 in June 2025.
- Is eBay Still Around in 2026? 135 Million BuyerseBay is still around in 2026: a public Nasdaq company with 135 million buyers and $79.6 billion sold in 2025. It started with a broken laser pointer.
- Is RadioShack Still in Business? 2026 Store CountIs RadioShack still in business? Yes, as a brand only. Unicomer Group owns the name and 170 plus US dealers replaced a chain of 5,087 stores.
- Is Friendster Still Around? It Came Back in 2026Friendster deleted every profile in 2011 and shut down in 2015, but the name relaunched in April 2026 as an app with no ads and no algorithm.
- Is Fry's Electronics Still Around? All 31 Stores ClosedFry's Electronics is gone: all 31 stores closed on February 24, 2021, with no bankruptcy and no farewell sale. The Burbank store fell in April 2025.
- Does Ask Jeeves Still Exist? Ask.com Closed in 2026Ask Jeeves is gone: IAC closed Ask.com on May 1, 2026, sixteen years after it quit running its own search engine. Google paid for the last decade.
- Is BlackBerry Still in Business? Yes, but No PhonesBlackBerry still exists, but it has not made a phone since 2016. It earned $549.1 million in fiscal 2026 from car software and secure messaging.
- Is Digg Still Around in 2026? Yes, as an AI SiteDigg still exists in 2026, but as an AI news aggregator run by Kevin Rose, not a Reddit rival. The relaunched app shut down on March 14, 2026.
- Is Encarta Still Available in 2026? Why It EndedMicrosoft Encarta is not available in 2026: disc sales ended in June 2009 and MSN Encarta closed October 31, 2009. How to run it now, free.
- How MySpace Lost to Facebook and Sold for $35MMySpace lost to Facebook after News Corporation tied the site to a $900 million Google ad deal. It sold for $35 million in June 2011.
- Is Google Glass Still Around? Discontinued in 2023Google Glass is discontinued: sales ended March 15, 2023 and support that September. What the $1,500 headset was, and what Google sells now.
- Is the Microsoft Zune Still Around? Why It FailedMicrosoft Zune hardware died in 2011 and its services in 2015. Here is why it lost to the iPod, and what a used Zune HD costs in 2026.
- Who Owns Pets.com Now? PetSmart and the Sock PuppetPetSmart has owned Pets.com since December 2000 and redirects it to its own store. The sock puppet outlived the company and sits in a museum.
- Why Google+ Failed and When Google Shut It DownGoogle+ shut down on April 2, 2019 and Google Currents followed in 2023. Here is why a $585 million social network sat empty.
- Why Sega Stopped Making Consoles After DreamcastSega stopped making consoles on January 31, 2001, after the Dreamcast sold 9.13 million units. It still builds none in 2026, and says it will not.
- Palm Pilot Explained: The PDA That Phones ReplacedThe Palm Pilot sold a million units in 18 months, then lost to the smartphone. Palm shipped its last handhelds in October 2005.
- Who Owns MapQuest Now? System1, Debt and a No. 1 AppMapQuest is owned by System1, which bought it from Verizon in 2019. It hit No. 1 free app in 2026 while System1 warned on going concern.
- Was Apple Really 90 Days From Bankruptcy in 1997?Apple lost $1.04 billion in fiscal 1997 and Steve Jobs called it 90 days from insolvent. Microsoft's $150 million check landed on August 6, 1997.
- Why Netscape Navigator Lost to Internet ExplorerNetscape Navigator lost to Internet Explorer because Microsoft gave IE away inside Windows. Its usage fell from 76% in 1997 to 19% by 2000.
- Did Blockbuster Turn Down Netflix for $50 Million?Blockbuster did turn down Netflix for $50 million in 2000. Netflix booked $45.2 billion of revenue in 2025; EchoStar owns the Blockbuster name now.
- Did Yahoo Turn Down Google for $1 Million in 1998?Yahoo never bought Google and Google never bought Yahoo. The $1 million story is thinly sourced, and the real offer in 2002 was $3 billion.
- Did Microsoft Try to Buy Nintendo? The 1999 LetterMicrosoft tried to buy Nintendo in 1999 and Nintendo refused. The October 20 letter survives, and Nintendo is still independent in 2026.