Working at Circuit City

Airplay355

I got offered a job at Circuit City that pays $.50 more/hour then my current job with 6 month raises instead of yearly raises.

For those of you who worked at CC, Tweeter, Frys, whatever what was it like? Do you think I should take the job? Was it boring? Is it a crappy job to have? Just tell me anything about it as I'm not sure if I should leave my current job for it.

zombie boy 2000

Airplay355 wrote:

I got offered a job at Circuit City that pays $.50 more/hour then my current job with 6 month raises instead of yearly raises.

For those of you who worked at CC, Tweeter, Frys, whatever what was it like? Do you think I should take the job? Was it boring? Is it a crappy job to have? Just tell me anything about it as I'm not sure if I should leave my current job for it.

What is your current job?

tommyboy

Airplay355 wrote:

I got offered a job at Circuit City that pays $.50 more/hour then my current job with 6 month raises instead of yearly raises.

For those of you who worked at CC, Tweeter, Frys, whatever what was it like? Do you think I should take the job? Was it boring? Is it a crappy job to have? Just tell me anything about it as I'm not sure if I should leave my current job for it.

what position... manager? salesman?

Kris Siegel

I used to work for Circuity City for a year. At first it was great.

I started in the "Expansion and Music" section (which basically includes everything BUT TVs, Audio, Car stuff, and Computers) and there was absolutely no pressure to sell anything. We were there to just help the customer.

After I transfered to Computers and then TVs, the pressure was on. We didn't get anything for selling tons of stuff (several days I sold more than everyone in the store combined ($10k+) and did not see a penny more). If you did't sell 10% or more of their protection plan on everything you sell, they began to threaten to fire people. Selling computers is a **** because they make practically nothing on each computer itself (the profit margin is so thin you don't even get a discount) so if you don't sell "attachments" (i.e. computer accessories, software, monitors, etc...) your attachment rate would go down and they'd begin threatening to fire you.

After I left there was a company wide survey and corporate found out about the management threatening to fire people and they ended up getting ride of many of their high level managers. Now it's supposed to be much better but I'm sure selling computers is still a **** because they want you to sell accessories. They have a good profit margin on TVs so it's not as big of a deal.

swerve

I have been at CC for 1 and 1/2 years and thus far I like it. I am just a regular product specialist but get paid well and treated like a human. While they encourage me to sell and learn the products the position is very low stress. I work in the Roadshop (Car Audio) and despite the ignorant customers I enjoy every second of it.

danger boy

take the job for the employee discounts. that's what i would do. plus it's a job in audio and video electronics. what could be bad about that?

Kris Siegel

Also, Microsoft has an awesome retail program you should get into. Basically you'll sign up at www.windowsmobiletraining.com and then watch some videos and take quizes. You'll earn points and you can trade them in for video games, hardware and software. I got Microsoft office 2005 professional for free as well as Monday 2006, Rise of nations and a mouse. It's quite sweet

Kris Siegel

Also, retail.xbox.com

VR3

Let me put it like this...

I wanted to work at CC. I am glad they denied me a job.

I am making twice, sometimes triple (Commission is fun) what I would of made there. They're lame.

KrazyMofo24

danger boy wrote:

take the job for the employee discounts. that's what i would do. plus it's a job in audio and video electronics. what could be bad about that?

Thats what I did with my part-time job at Fry's while I went to school last year.
I got my Rti10's, Csi5, Fxi5, at 75% off although I really really regret not getting the Lsi's. Got my 56' HDTV for $400.

Fry's is ok if you don't mind retail. I imagine Circuit City would be pretty similar, no rush to help more customers since CC isn't commission.

tommyboy

Kris Siegel wrote:

Also, retail.xbox.com

I don't work there anymore and I still use this site. Hey nothing wrong with free games.

PolkThug

CC was the easiest job I've ever had. The in-store discount sucks now but the "accomodation" purchases are great, you can buy directly from Polk, etc.

Ern Dog

I worked at the CC in Santa Barbara for 1 year, first portable electronic then video department. This was maybe 10 years ago and it was straight commission, so it was feast or famine. I liked it, but it got old real quick. Give it a shot and see what you think. You might be good at it. I've known several people who became managers.

Airplay355

Well I got the job, whether I take it or not is still up to me.

Currently I work for regionalhelpwanted.com and cupid.com. I'm basically their monkey, i do what needs to be done in the radio affiliate department.

I was very disappointed to find out they aren't commission anymore. Are there places that offer commission? It'd be nice to be able to make some extra cash for trying to sell things.

Toxis

yeah, CC has basically stopped all trainings and all they care about is that you sell boxes with MPG (cheese) on 'em. That's it. I would look into more of a specialty shop. That's where the fun is! Box moving is boring and ruins the industry.

michael_w

I actually just got a placement at future shop as a merchandiser. The intent was to start out as a merch and then move into either ipg (computers), ht or communications (photography, cell phones etc..) but I'm not so sure now. The whole commision thing has me on edge because I like to see the customer get the best thing for their money not peddle off a $30 usb cable along with the purchase that costs $4 anywhere else.

So far being a merch is okay... it's just a job basically. Something for cash and to keep me busy but the money is horrible and we work harder than most of the other staff on the floor. I think it would be a decent job if only it paid more. Since I'm not on commision they're cheap asses and start us out really really low.

One awesome thing I will enjoy about working for them is the discount. No idea if the public is supposed to know this stuff but anyhoo ~~ I get things for cost + 10%. Some things aren't much cheaper but others are pretty good deals. Right now I'm looking at picking up a set of Shure E3C headphones that we sell for $250cdn but at my price of $44.