Creative Computers, Inc. Launches Compaq SMB Sales And Marketing Strategy.

TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 1998--Creative Computers, Inc. ("Creative") (Nasdaq:MALL) today announced that it will launch a comprehensive sales and marketing campaign in partnership with Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) to increase Creative Computers' sales of Compaq product to small and medium-sized businesses.

The campaign includes a PC Mall Hot Line where customers can call directly to get Compaq product information, availability and place orders with PC Mall's trained account managers. Customers can call the PC Mall/Compaq Hot Line at [phone]. The partnership also includes a PC Mall-Compaq Web site located at http://www.pcmall.com/compaq and a ComputAbility-Compaq Web site located at http://www.computability.com/compaq, where customers will have direct access to Compaq product information, availability and the ability to place orders. PC Mall will have an outbound telemarketing team that will be focused on selling Compaq products into the small and medium-sized business marketplace. Creative Computers Integrated Technologies (formerly Elek-Tek) will also focus on supplying medium-sized businesses with Compaq products via their direct sales force.

"We are excited about our enhanced partnership with Creative Computers," said Compaq's Bob Gregerson, Director of Retail Channels for North America. "The partnership with Creative Computers offers Compaq a very efficient method to penetrate incremental commercial product opportunities in the small and medium-sized business segment. With Creative's diverse blend of direct response marketing, outbound telesales, field sales and e-commerce, they cover all the bases."

"As one of the fastest growing direct resellers of Compaq products, Creative Computers is excited about this opportunity to partner with Compaq and drive our business to the next level," said Dan DeVries, Creative's Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We received authorization to sell Compaq commercial products in 1997 and they have already grown to be our third largest vendor. We are focused on small and medium-sized businesses and we can help Compaq increase their market share in this segment."

Creative Computers, Inc. is a leading direct marketer of personal computers and related products. The Company offers over 45,000 products to its customers. The Company creates demand for its products through its distinctive, full-color PC Mall, MacMall and ComputAbility catalogs, outbound marketing, Internet marketing and its Web sites, and other promotional materials. The Company's staff of over 400 knowledgeable sales executives, telemarketing, customer service and technical support personnel work together to provide high-level customer service and gain customer loyalty. Creative also sells computers, computer-related products and consumer electronics, from a variety of leading manufacturers, in an Internet auction format, through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, uBid, Inc. uBid's Web site is located at http://www.ubid.com.

Creative Computers is a growing Internet force with its four Web sites, at http://www.pcmall.com, http://www.macmall.com, http://www.ubid.com, and http://www.computability.com. The sites offer more than 28,000 computer products - with detailed specifications for over 8,000 to search and order online. With approximately 50,000 unique users and 700,000 hits per day, the company's Web sites are a strategic part of the business. Customers may also call PC Mall sales at (800) 555-MALL, MacMall sales at [phone], ComputAbility sales at [phone] and Creative Computers Integrated Technologies at [phone].

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations and assumptions contained in the foregoing are forward-looking statements. The realization of any or all of these expectations is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and it is possible that the assumptions made by management may not materialize. There can be no assurances that the Company will be able to receive the expected benefits from the Compaq relationship. Reference should also be made to the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to those set forth in the section titled "Certain Factors Affecting Future Results" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for 1997.

    CONTACT: Creative Computers, Inc., Torrance
              Frank Khulusi or Richard M. Finkbeiner, 310/354-5600