Circuit City Closing all US operations [Archive]

doctorcue

01-16-2009, 01:42 PM

Well, personally I saw this coming for years. As a former Manager, the company waited too long to change. By the time CC started making changes; Best Buy had already set up shop from Coast-to-Coast. I remember being in district meetings in the late 90s with "Best Buy is coming!" being chanted. Yet, their response was to insure pricing was good. They never thought of the experience. Best Buy is just more exciting to go into. CC always felt like an old Sears (no-offense to Sears). By the time they changed the sales staff from pushy to more BestBuy-like... it was too late. At that point they were headed into the same place as Montgomery Wards Electric Ave, Goodguys, CompUSA, etc.

As bad as CC was/is; I think it sucks that now our electronics retailers are Best Buy, WalMart, & Costco. Sure there are Frys but not that many. Sure you can buy whatever you want off of the web; but something about seeing it in person makes a difference for me.

So long CC. I made a bunch of friends there & met my wife there. So it wasn't all bad. I do wonder how my TV warranty/extended service will be honored. Who knows???

Dooge

01-16-2009, 01:46 PM

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-qa-cc-0116cn,0,7115691.story

Some questions been answered on there.. it seems tha the warranty is still being covered by a 3rd party company

cvm4

01-16-2009, 01:58 PM

I hate to see this happen. But the management just didn't seem too competent for the last couple years.

Starscream

01-16-2009, 02:27 PM

Circuit City had a decent audio installation service, but I hated going inside if I planned on buying something. Had to wait forever in the checkout line, even if there were only one or two customers in front of me. Customer service is everything.

JohnnyKay5

01-16-2009, 03:01 PM

Circuit City Bomb anyone?

Sailchaser

01-16-2009, 04:16 PM

Customer Service is the key to every business and with the huge cuts in labor at most big boxes it will just be a matter of time before we see others fall to the wayside.

Darrell

01-16-2009, 04:17 PM

I feel bad for all those who lost their jobs, but to me it seems like Circuit City has had one foot out the door for the better part of a decade. That chain is one of the worst priced, IMO. :2

:eevis

01-16-2009, 04:58 PM

While I feel bad for all of the employees, I don't think that it could have happened to a better company.
Two years ago, my wife was let go from there during their "Restructuring" She and I both worked there for 10+ years. I luckily got a state job about 2 months prior to the cuts, otherwise I would have been gone too. When she was let go, she had been a manager, a lead and a trainer, and she was let go without so much as an "I'm sorry" or a "Thank you for all your hard work" pretty much a slap in the face and a shove out the door. They wouldn't even let her walk out unescorted, like she was some sort of criminal 9same with the other 10 people that were let go. Needless to say, we are still feeling the reprecussions of that, since she could only get a part-time job paying minimum wage, because places were not able to work with her college schedule.
But at least she got to spend more time at home with our son, who was only 3 months old at the time.
Rant over
Again, I honestly do feel horrible for the 35k employes who will now be without jobs. I do wonder though, what will become of the money that CC would not release to her that ws part of her "retirement"? She was told at the time that they could not release it to her since it was over $5K

RGD.

01-16-2009, 07:22 PM

Actually I guess I am one of the few who preferred Circuit City over Best Buy.

I would normally order online then drive over and pick it up. Both places are close to each other - but Circuit City has a large parking lot - while Best Buy has an extremely small lot shared by about 20 other businesses. Half the time I have to park at the mall and walk across 6 lanes of traffic.

As for pricing - they always seemed to beat Best Buy. Just bought my wife a Toshiba LCD TV - lower price at Circuit City. Same thing for the Canon camera and HP laptop bought for my daughters.

In addition the first (and only time) time I ordered online for Best Buy - I needed a video card asap. Placed the order - only to get a message stating that it was not in stock - anywhere. Kicker is this: Since I had extra cash I used my debit card. Best Buy charged my card - and after calling the 1-800 number was informed it would be three weeks before my card would be credited. So yeah - out almost $300 bucks for 3 weeks. Pretty much just the same as calling them up and saying here - take my money and hold it but don't give me anything. Ended up using my credit card at Circuit City. Since then I have refused to deal with Best Buy. Guess I'm stuck now with ordering online from Newegg, Crutchfield, etc. from now on.

So I for one am going to miss them.

Ron

CigaSkills9

01-16-2009, 08:16 PM

A sign of the times! I hate to see CC go, but I'm a BB person. Like everyone else has said, I feel for the families!

Studebaker

01-16-2009, 08:49 PM

Circuit City was kind of the sentimental favorite for me. I bought my first Onkyo home theatre receiver from them in '00. Their sales staff did leave a lot to be desired in recent years though and I'd been going to BB more often when I wanted to buy from a big box store. I'm thankful for my job when they're dropping like flies all around.

hotreds

01-16-2009, 09:18 PM

Best Buy and W#ally World seem to have pretty much taken over the field. Cinci has lost a bunch of electronics retailers in the past several years. Tough times, indeed!

shilala

01-16-2009, 10:24 PM

THOUSANDS of stores have gone out of business this past year, and there are many more to go out of business this year.
Granted, some had a good hand in their own demise.
By far, the greatest impact on the downturn of the economy has been caused by gas prices. In the last 6 years the price has nearly tripled.
For sake of argument, let's say it's only cost twice as much over the whole term of six years.
We use 386,000,000 gallons of gas a day.
That is 845,340,000,000 gallons in the last six years.
Instead of paying $1,690,680,000,000 we paid twice that.
That means in six years almost 2 TRILLION EXTRA dollars went to pay for gas during Dubya the oilman's watch.

Now, all of a sudden, gas is about 30 cents higher than it was 6 years ago and it continues to drop fast.

The loss of two trillion dollars of money that's pumped back into the economy as folks buying stuff they don't need will cripple and kill LOTS of business.
I'm just hoping folks will place blame where blame is due.

For the sake of argument, and cause I rounded up, and because I know the numbers I figured up may be beat down by argument, let's call it One trillion.
Still makes a pretty valid point, and I have yet to hear any questions asked as to why it's been let to happen or why no one has asked why gas is now $1.50 a gallon.
I guess I'm just retarded, I dunno.

Oh, one more thing...
The gas prices have gone up in lots more places than the US. Lots of other countries are suffering even worse than we are because their economies are smaller. Some have completely collapsed.
Oh yeah...
We kicked up 588 billion so far to insure we get to pay double for protecting the oil, too. That'll put a dent in the economy a bit. At least that money created some jobs and fed some families. :tu

Tenor CS

01-16-2009, 10:31 PM

Can't say I will miss Circuit City. I had one close to me in Miami, and I was always perplexed as to why the line for returns was always 10x longer than the line for purchases.

shilala

01-16-2009, 10:52 PM

Can't say I will miss Circuit City. I had one close to me in Miami, and I was always perplexed as to why the line for returns was always 10x longer than the line for purchases.
Hehehehe.
I went to CC to see a laptop that I wanted to buy. It wasn't on display for some reason, but they had two boxed on the shelf. I wanted to physically see one to make sure I was okay with it (never saw one in person).
I was told I needed to purchase it in order to see it. I could do it right there and return it at the next counter if I didn't like it. Store policy.
At that moment Circuit City and I parted company and I've never been in one since. That was 6 or 7 years ago. I never did get to see that laptop. :)

tchariya

01-16-2009, 10:59 PM

About 15 years ago I interviewed for a CC job selling computers at one of their new stores. Well, they put me through 4-5 interviews even with the district manager and I was given a verbal of 'we would love to have you on the team'. Two days later, I get a call telling me I was 'over-qualified' to sell their computers. I was desperate for a job to help make ends meet.

Oh well...glad I didn't join up.

I'm sorry for those who lost their jobs without notice...without severance.

ChasDen

01-16-2009, 11:11 PM

..... Dubya the oilman's watch.

..... I'm just hoping folks will place blame where blame is due.

..... Lots of other countries are suffering even worse than we are because their economies are smaller. Some have completely collapsed.

Just curious since its a world wide recession, who's fault is it and where should the blame go?

Chas

M1903A1

01-16-2009, 11:16 PM

Just curious since its a world wide recession, who's fault is it and where should the blame go?

Chas

I agree...I think what we're seeing is not so much companies being laid waste by the recession as companies that were marginal at best in good times (for a variety of reasons) that are being brought down en masse by the economic situation.

I can remember being in my local Circuit City a few times in the last two years...I just can't recall actually buying anything. They seemed like a poorly-run operation that had lost its way.

shilala

01-16-2009, 11:20 PM

Just curious since its a world wide recession, who's fault is it and where should the blame go?

Chas
Who else?
I'm not aware of any other countries that have been raped quite like ours when it comes to numbers, except maybe a couple middle easterners. Our allies followed us right into it because they owed it to us.
A few folks can only take so much out before it hurts everything.

ChasDen

01-16-2009, 11:29 PM

Who else? :D

Come on your smarter than that :bh

A bumbling idiot (considered by those that don't like him) Cant be smart enough to bring down the whole world economy :confused:

If oil is the reason place the blame where it belongs:
Asia's demand for natural resources grew at an unheard of rate that drove the world into this crisis.
Add the greed of OPEC
The failed economic policy's of a decade ago where "Everyone should own their own home"
(Why should the fry guy at the burger house qualify for a home ???)

Fast forward 10 years and bam here we are.

Chas

ChasDen

01-16-2009, 11:33 PM

I agree...I think what we're seeing is not so much companies being laid waste by the recession as companies that were marginal at best in good times (for a variety of reasons) that are being brought down en masse by the economic situation.

Unfortunately I work for one of them that reaped the rewards during the building boom but has no clue how to survive during the tough times :(

Chas

Genetic Defect

01-17-2009, 04:50 AM

While I feel for the employees, there's a reason they're known as Circuit Sh*tty...

:tpd:

Genetic Defect

01-17-2009, 04:52 AM

Just curious since its a world wide recession, who's fault is it and where should the blame go?

Chas

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/428397/south_park_blame_canada/

MTB996

01-17-2009, 07:21 AM

Just curious since its a world wide recession, who's fault is it and where should the blame go?

Chas

Come on Chas, you know who's fault it is. Same person to blame for the 20F weather here in NC, the plane going into the hudson, the same person responsible for the dent on my wife's car and my son's 102 fever this morning....its all Bush's fault. Don't you watch the news! Thank god we're saved now!

Sorry for the political BS, back on topic.

Sorry for the CC employees who will lose their jobs, but the company was terrible. Poor sales tactics, ugly stores, etc. I always felt CC looked like a Best Buy from the hood (rude & people, dark & disorderly stores, less stuff available).

I don't know if anyone else has an HHGregg near them, but they make CC look like the best store on earth. Trust me, stay FAR away from HH Gregg (Unsatisfactory rating on BBB is for a reason), as they are much worse in customer service, fraudulent sales practices and improper denials of refunds, etc. They will NOT be far behind CC in getting what they deserve.

Studebaker

01-17-2009, 08:08 AM

I don't know if anyone else has an HHGregg near them, but they make CC look like the best store on earth. Trust me, stay FAR away from HH Gregg (Unsatisfactory rating on BBB is for a reason), as they are much worse in customer service, fraudulent sales practices and improper denials of refunds, etc. They will NOT be far behind CC in getting what they deserve.

+1

HHGregg opened a store here a while back and I went in during their grand opening period, looking forward to a good experience. Wrong! I think they opened the doors before they were ready. Advertised items weren't available, so-called sales folks on the floor were CLUELESS and made no effort to find what I was looking for OR offer to let me know when it was in. :fl

After about 10 minutes of futility I walked out and have never gone back. They may have gotten their act together by now for all I know, but they lost a sale that day (I probably went straight to BB and bought what I wanted) and they lost me as a customer for good.

If that's indicative of how they operate I won't be surprised to see them go the way of CC.

shilala

01-17-2009, 09:00 AM

Come on your smarter than that :bh

A bumbling idiot (considered by those that don't like him) Cant be smart enough to bring down the whole world economy :confused:

Chas
Turns out you're right, Chas. :tu
I looked into it a little further and turns out it was Francis. :D

backwoods

01-17-2009, 09:23 AM

i see they already pulled the circuit city website...:(

jitzy

01-17-2009, 09:52 AM

it's funny but if you go on the website now it directs you to something about the history of the store and you know what to me it looks like it had nothing to do with the economy but it started to become poorly run, in 1999 they made 12 billion dollars I really think the big problems for them started in 2003 when they converted to a single hourly pay structure in all stores, eliminating commissioned sales, by doing that you completely take the customer service out of the store and only need to hire less qualified people to do the job.

Heres the link to the history: http://investor.circuitcity.com/history.cfm

hotreds

01-17-2009, 09:59 AM

HH Gregg is hanging on here, but now they sell mostly appliances and TVs. They've gotten rid of all their computer stuff. One of the office supply stores here is also going under. Then again, we just got a new Petsmart with hotel! Go figure!

BigFrank

01-17-2009, 11:01 AM

Support China Shop at WalMart

N2Advnture

01-19-2009, 09:48 AM

Actually I guess I am one of the few who preferred Circuit City over Best Buy.

Nope, I'm with you Ron. Best Buy has nothing but inexperienced kids working there and if you're lucky to find one, it's never "my area" so just getting a secured product to checkout with is impossible.

I can't tell you how many times I went to CC and had nothing but stellar service. At least at mine, they were awesome.

BTW - I could care less about what a store looks like inside but agree that CC's marketing dropped the ball in retaining a large portion of the market share.

jjirons69

01-19-2009, 09:54 AM

Wait, me too. My last big purchases were from CC. I bought a full home entertainment setup and my TV from there 3 years ago. I liked the atmosphere in the store, too. Never had a problem at all. Sad to see all those folks without jobs now. Poor management can sink you in a minute.

Genetic Defect

01-19-2009, 09:57 AM

I never go to the big box stores for some nitwits advice cars electronics etc 95% I know more then the idiot trying to sell that and some retarded warranty.

macpappy

01-19-2009, 05:37 PM

When you don't know the answer to a question just blame Bush. It's the leftist politically correct thing to do. I mean it is his fault all the dinosaurs are extinct...

ChasDen

01-19-2009, 09:30 PM

Nope, I'm with you Ron. Best Buy has nothing but inexperienced kids working there and if you're lucky to find one, it's never "my area" so just getting a secured product to checkout with is impossible.

I can't tell you how many times I went to CC and had nothing but stellar service. At least at mine, they were awesome.

BTW - I could care less about what a store looks like inside but agree that CC's marketing dropped the ball in retaining a large portion of the market share.

We were talking about this today and unfortunately its getting harder and harder to get "help" anywhere.
Society as a whole is demanding fast everything at the expense of service.
There are times I just want to walk in, grab the cheapest whatever and go.
Other times I need advice, assistance and good old fashioned customer service.

Chas

RGD.

01-19-2009, 10:04 PM

I can't tell you how many times I went to CC and had nothing but stellar service. At least at mine, they were awesome.

You know I stopped in right after Christmas to pick up a digital optic cable that I needed. As I walked over in the general direction this kid asked if he could help me - I told him what I needed. He said he would show me where they were. Well they were out of them in the main area where they should be - he didn't give up. He checked another area and then another. He told me if I wanted to wait where I was instead of following him all over - he would keep searching. He took off and eventually found one in the PSII gaming section tucked back up amongst the games. That kid didn't give up at all. To bad he is out of job now.

Most of them would have stopped after not finding them in the main cable section.

Ron

Drazzil

01-21-2009, 10:52 AM

I will say this is 50% the economies fault and 50% Circuit Cities fault. Circuit City was the master of "Bait and Switch" advertising. In other words, the sunday advertisements would announce a crop of really great deals in the store, and then in the store they always had "misprint corrections" to their sunday ad's posted a week in advance to avoid actually having to honor these deals.

They also did a restructuring about six months back, firing all their workers who made over $10 dollars an hour. The last time I went into Circuit City I came in looking for a music CD, and in the process of the 17 year old employee finding it for me, he was only too happy to tell me about his ticket for marajuana poessession. I stopped going to Circuit City for anything three years back.

F_ck you Circuit City, may you rot in hell.