circuit city has shorted out!

[Cybrvanr]

No buyer of the business was found, so they are going to liquidate all the remaining stores and sell off all the asssets. They started here in Richmond 60 years ago as Ward's TV & appliance. Back then, they were known for their bait & switch tactics, but during the eighties, they straightened up their act and was quite a nice place to buy stuff from. Then they started making bone-headed moves, like removing major appliances from their stores, and then firing all the experienced sales rep's.

Only problem now is best-buy does not have any direct competition, so although they may pick up business, their customer service and satisfaction is probably going to go down the toilet.

Although I hate to see any business fail, especially a local one, I sort of say "good riddance" to them, because in the past few years, every time I've gone into one of those stores, the employees don't know anything about their products, and don't help customers, so I leave the store empty-handed.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Good riddance to bad rubbish

Their returns policy was for **** too.

I got someone else "Switcheroo" (of old, used merchanidse) in a box that was seemingly sealed. My receipt was over ten days old. (It was a Christmas gift to be given, hello?)

Had to buy a new one to get a new receipt and return the old item in the new box and with the new receipt the next day.

oh honey you can't F me unless I lay down first.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Had to buy a new one to get a new receipt and return the old item in the new box and with the new receipt the next day.

Good boy Toggles! I don't blame you one bit for doing that, I would do the same. If they can do it to us, we can give it right back to them, literally. lol

 

[whirlcool]

When I first went into a Circuit City back in the 80's, I thought the concept was cute. Airline style ticket folders for your receipts, etc.
But I never found anything I ever wanted at the price I was willing to pay at their stores. I think we bought a cheap VCR there once thoguh.
I don't think anyone will miss them.

 

[toggleswitch2]

I had gotten someone else's "switcheroo" years earlier in Gertz department store as I bought my first food-processor. The accessories package on top was bright and new, but lawd have mussy, the "new" food processor below was yellow with use, and was encrusted with grease, food and yes--- had dog hair all over it.

I returned it and sure enough it was taken back. The clerk did not open the box. I was scared to death I would be accused of doing the dirty deed myself, but alas it's true: as one matures one's b**ls do grow and get downier.

 

[danemodsandy]

Good Riddance...

...To high-interest rubbish.

Our cleaning lady bought a $500 refrigerator from them. Since she has three kids and is single, she had a little difficulty meeting payments, and their collections department went to town on her. Collections called her on her cell while she was at our house trying to earn a living and upset her so much with threats that she broke down crying. That box cost her over $1200 to pay off; we had to help her, because we couldn't bear to see her go through any more hassles.

All quite legal, all covered in the fine print very few people even try to read, let alone understand, but it wasn't right for people who were already quite well off to enrich themselves like that out of the purse of someone who has so much trouble making ends meet. She could have had a nice side-by-side with ice and water in the door for what she paid for that basic box.

 

[Cybrvanr]

One of my most annoying trips to C.C. was last spring when I was looking for some 6 inch car stereo speakers to install in my camping trailer. I went into their stereo room where they had all the huge car ghetto-blaster subwoofers going, and I turned them off, and turned on a set of 6 inch speakers I was interested in. The sales rep gave me a dirty look, and went to the board and turned the ghetto blaster back on. I told him that I wanted to hear what the 6 inch speakers sounded like because I wanted to buy some. He then said that I needed to listen to them with the subwoofer because the 6 inch speakers would not produce any bass and I needed to buy a subwoofer too. It was obvious that he did not know anything about audio, and I told him that I was only intending to buy a set of 6 inch speakers for my camper for some moderate listening. He then said that I could not use the speakers in a camper, because they were designed for a car. I stated the camper has a 12 volt electrical system in a car radio in it already, but if he did not want to sell me a set of speakers, I will take my money up the street to another store, which I did...he looked dumbfounded that I was even attempting to do such a thing (both leave his store, and install car stereo speakers in an RV!)

 

[panthera]

The Wall Street Journal

(a far-left socialist, Marxist-Leninist-fascist rag) commented last year that CC did the dirty to themselves when they got rid of their best sales staff and replaced them with people they got cheap.

Personally, I never once had anything but the lousiest experiences with them. I feel sorry for the low-paid staff, but hope every single member of their management deserves to be shot with shit and hung for stinkin'.

 

[tolivac]

Actually didn't CC started out as the merger of Custom and Dixie Hi-Fi?Their first stores were in Richmond(Also HQ)and---Marlow Heights MD.For many years there was a big sign on this store mentioning that.I don't know I must have an auora about me or something-I have always had GOOD service from CC.The first major purchase from them-The Technics Speakers-purchased them from that Marlow Heights store-I didn't have a car in those days and took the bus to the store-the salesman took the speakers and me to my apt in his truck-He helpted me unpack and install them.He even took away the boxes!Then years later I bought my Hitachi "UltraVision" Rear projector HD TV-using that now with a Blu Ray player I bought from them.The delivory of the set came from Raleigh.The delivorymen were very nice and helpful-they knew the operation of the set first hand and helpted me connect it.I was impressed with their quality of service.It is sad to see them go like this.Guess there will be a "Going Out of Business" sign above the CC store here in Greenville-In the same mall the Linens and Things went under-the infamous "Going Out of Business" sign over their door.I did buy a couple of blenders from them for my collection-A Breville "Ikon" and a Waring "Retro" Rocket style blender.They were even selling their trash compactor-Marathon,Store fixtures and furniture used in the store-even their crappy Electrolux style Sanitaire vacuum cleaner.Passed on those things.Now the Linens and Things store sits dark, quiet, and empty.Oh yes that historical store in Marlow Heights started out as Custom Hi-fi before it was renamed circuit City--"Where the Streets are Paved with Bargains!"That was on a sign as you entered the store.

 

[alr2903]

Our last purchase from them was our infamous amana washer, that developed the "center seal leak" at the time around 1995, it did last about 7 years. the kicker was i had made them swap out the first one, the paint was damaged on the top where someone had bammed the lid back into the console, i saw CC take it off the truck and it was not in a box. I always suspected the first washer was a floor model. That was the last gay, green dollar we spent at CC. alr2903

 

[tolivac]

Wasn't Circuit City-but Sears-remember buying a "shredmore" from them and the top of the washers control bridge was damaged-and not a MARK on the washer box.The delivoryman asked if he could return the machine and bring another.He called the store-they didn't have another machine in stock so they knocked $150 off the price of the machine.I have traded that machine(since it was SHREDDING my clothes)toward a WP Imp 90 from the swap shop that I still have.
When I recieved both my speakers and Hitachi TV these came from sealed boxes.Both were unused and new.Guess I was lucky.Now it looks like my next TV will have to come from Best Buy.Greenville Appliance just doesn't have the same selection of TV's Best Buy and Circuit City have.Greenville appliance is best for "White Goods"

 

[westyslantfront]

I am sorry to see Circuit City close up as with any other retailer. Here in Tucson, I have seen the demise of
Linens N' Things
Mervyns
Sharper Image
American Home Furniture (local furniture superstore)

and I fear that before the recession comes to an end, there will be many other companies that are absorbed by other companies or will go out of business altogether.

Ross

 

[perc-o-prince]

OK... Please don't flame....

However, it's about time. Another forum member and I have had this conversation before, and I think a lot of folks here may agree.

It's called "culling," or, "thinning of the herd." In plain English, there are way too many stores selling the same things.

Linens & Things and Bed, Bath & Beyond were basically the same stores. And, you couldn't find anything in either of them that Wal-Mart, Sears, Target, or any of the other mass merchandisers didn't carry. Yes, there would be the odd buy-out (my grill, for example) but those were rare exceptions. Sorry to say, but good riddance to Linens & Things.

Same w/ Circuit City. How many different stores do we need that sell electronics? Personally, the only things I ever bought there were loss-leaders that were at great prices to bring you into the store to buy other goods. CompUSA closed their retail stores too, and no one complained. The only thing I found them useful for was their "free with rebate" goods that they would have quite often.

And, we still have plenty of competition to Best Buy, contrary to what a previous poster implied. For computers there is Staples, Office Max, Office Depot (well, who knows for how long), Wal-Mart and more. Major appliances? Sears is still a biggie and there are many, MANY, local stores for them. Same with A/V equipment. True audiophiles are going to generally build their own or go to specialty shops for their stuff. The rest will buy whatever cheap sh*t is on sale at Wal-Mart or wherever, with no regard to quality.

So, IMHO, good riddance to CC, and I wish the best for their employees. There will always be retail jobs available for those who are even half-decent.

Chuck

 

[launderess]

Well not all areas welcome Walmart stores, (there isn't one in NYC for instance, nor will there be so in the near future).

So what if stores basically carry the same merchandise, the name of the game is competition. Keeps the others on their toes. Macy's was right around the corner from Gimbel's, carrying much of the same things (just ask Lucy and Ethel).

 

[perc-o-prince]

I getcha, but it really isn't fair competition a lot of the time. Price matching, for example. Generally it has to be the same model. Well, HP put out a 720 model printer. That was the mass-produced model IIRC. Then, one major store got the 720C. Another got the 720SE. And yet another got the 720CSE. They were different model numbers, so the stores didn't have to price match. In this case, the only difference between two of the models was that the install disk for one came with a few more fonts!!

Seriously. How many places do you need to look for a flat screen TV? Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, JC Penny, Macy's, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, BJ's, Sam's... and the list continues ad nauseum (BTW, I can be at any one of these stores w/in 20 minutes and most of them are in a cluster less than 1/2 mile in diameter!). That's not counting the smaller, "local," stores that all carry them, and let's not even talk about the availability of them on the Internet! The same can be done with computers and many other goods we buy.

Competition is good. However, if only 100 of a certain item will sell in a cetain geographical area, what sense does it make to have 15 different stores carrying that item, with minor differences like a couple of additional fonts or something? You can only divide the pie into so many slices. Sooner or later someone's left holding an empty plate. This time, it's Circuit City.

Competition vs. confusion (and frustration).

Chuck

 

[tolivac]

There was to be ANOTHER Wall Mart built in Greenville and they were going to build it right across the street from the new Lowes.I LOVE the new Lowes store-all of the goodies.But I HATE WM-Getto Mart.The proposal to build the store in the area was DEFEATED-glad of that.One WM superstore in town is enough.And they don't carry a good or wide selection of AV equipment like Circuit City or Best Buy does.And I haven't seen AV gear at Target-at least not at the store in Greenville.To buiuld the WM near my neighborhood would have ment building a road straight thru a well known and vintage Houising district.The resedents in River Hills didn't want such and thing and signed a petition killing both the WM and its access road.YAH!!

 

[paulg]

TIP

Some years ago another big-box retailer was closing and was selling big-screen rear-projection TVs at low prices just before chaining the door shut. The sets didn't work but customers were told to take them in for warranty repairs. People snapped them up.
Well, unfortunately the store's TV repairmen had previously pulled the chassis to repair and never had the chance to reinstall them. Customers were buying empty TV cabinets! When they tried to get warranty repairs from their TV shops they were turned away because "missing guts" cannot be charged back to the TV manufacturer.
Buyer beware!

 

[launderess]

Personally

One must be very careful buying expensive and or high end electronics from a bankruptcy sale. As with the Circut City proceedings,all sales are final, no returns, and certianly no other recourse should one get the thing home and find bits missing, damage (internal or external), or should the thing simply die within a few weeks or months. Well one could contact the maker under the factory warranty, but that does not always equal great results.

From what one has been reading, the discounts at CC aren't that great. News reports tell of shoppers going into stores and coming out empty handed, as discounts are only about 10% or so. Know from first hand experience with the local CC store that closed in the previous bankruptcy "sale", one could find much of the merchandise some where else for less, even after the miserly discount.

No doubt, prices may drop in the final days, around March, but what state will things be in by then?

Normally large resellers of goods will go to these sales and work with liquidators to purchase bulk lots (where to you think all that stuff on eBay comes from?), and they probably will get a better deal.

L.

 

[perc-o-prince]

I'm sorry to disagree with you again, Launderess, but I have to ask if you've ever been in the retail market from the other side of the counter.

Of course the discounts aren't that good yet. It's the first weekend of the liquidation. All such liquidation sales start out at 10% off, usually boasting "10-20% Off" signs. As time goes on, the percentages get higher, 10% at a time. The liquidators try to get every penny out of what they bought so they start small and build the discounts regularly as time progresses... not just in, "the final days."

By the time the discount reaches 40%, most of the really desirable stuff is gone, depending on the genre of the store of course. For example, there was still Rachel Ray cookware at LNT when the discount hit 40%, but it disappeared very quickly.

Having shopped many of these sales, and having worked a couple, the store is not where the bulk goods bound for eBay are bought (unless you have some new inside information I've not heard of). If anyone's buying bulk, they could be buying from the warehouse or distribution center, but the liquidation companies are unlikely to sell for less than the advertized discount percentage. It's more likely that the bulk goods you're talking about are gray market goods that were bought from sources not authorized to sell them.

All in all, these sales are a crap shoot as far as price. You play a waiting vs. supply game. Will they have what I want when it hits 30-50% in another week? Or, should I grab it now while it's 20% off?

As far as warranties, that's all a new game too. Buying boxed goods with the original seals intact is pretty safe. If you're buying open box goods, check them before buying them. Warranties can be purchased through 3rd party providers who are more than happy to sell the warranty for a retail-purchased item. Square-Trade is one of these companies, and, as a matter of fact, they sent me an email offering warranties on CC liquidation merchandise the same day CC announced the closing.

Shop wisely!

Chuck