Circuit City Woes

NotaSuv

another big box gong down the tubes

needing to close stores that are leased thru 2014 wont help

stock at .39 cents and no profits in a quarter for over a year....they should have taken the Blockbuster offer this summer

bye bye........................... cant say I have been in one for over a year and theres one close by........same with BB whos HQ is a mile from my house..just dont shop them.......

sucks2beme

NotaSuv wrote: »

another big box gong down the tubes

needing to close stores that are leased thru 2014 wont help

stock at .39 cents and no profits in a quarter for over a year....they should have taken the Blockbuster offer this summer

bye bye........................... cant say I have been in one for over a year and theres one close by........same with BB whos HQ is a mile from my house..just dont shop them.......

This is going to be a downer XMAS for most retailers. They think there will
be only a 1.5% increase in sales. News flash for Wall Street, try maybe down 10%? Or more.
They really don't get it. Expect a couple more to go under in 2009.
I don't think CC is really doing anything major wrong. It's just a lot of little
stuff that has snowballed into a slow spiral of death. It's not like CompUSA
that decided to become a half *ssed H/T retailer and leave the computer side
of the business to die off. I fully expect Conn's to be gone soon(Texas based).
They are truly lost. Just a smaller poorly stocked BB clone.

heiney9

Funny I thought they were going down the tubes for the past year. Yet, on Golf road in a suburb of Chicago (Shaumburg) they have a new higher end shopping mall with a brand new very nice looking Circuit City.

H9

WilliamM2

Circuit City has been going under for years. Ours closed 4 years ago now. No loss.

MikeC78

heiney9 wrote: »

Funny I thought they were going down the tubes for the past year. Yet, on Golf road in a suburb of Chicago (Shaumburg) they have a new higher end shopping mall with a brand new very nice looking Circuit City.

H9

Well, you are in one of the higher end suburbs of Chicago.;)

dkg999

MikeC78 wrote: »

Well, you are in one of the higher end suburbs of Chicago.;)

We just drove through! I'd move there but they get really anal about the wheels underneath my house

heiney9

MikeC78 wrote: »

Well, you are in one of the higher end suburbs of Chicago.;)

As Doug stated we drove thru on our way back from O'Hare. It just surprised me because I have been reading about all the financial difficulty they are in. Our CC here in Rockford isn't worth a damn. Some of the most clueless, uncaring, unknowledgeable people around. Won't even honor their own printed policy.

H9

MikeC78

Yep, sounds like the one here in Bloomington also. I was only kidding, probably a ritzy neighborhood?

Polk user

Every time I would walk in one it seems the car install department would ALWAYS have some cRAP music blasting at full volume. I would complain to the manager that I prefer not to shop with any music blasted at full sound let alone that drivel. They kept the music up loud and I haven't been back in years. Good riddance.

Airplay355

I used to abuse the hell out of their polk upgrade policy. I went from Rti10's to Rti150's and then somehow convinced them that I should be allowed to trade 2 Rti150's for a pair of Rti70's a Csi40 and a pair of Fxi30's + 100ft of speaker wire. I didn't think they were going to let me do it but they were perfectly fine with it.

Kris Siegel

I used to work for Circuit City back in the day and still have good friends that work there. This sucks but I can't say I didn't see this coming.

When I worked there, they would constantly threaten their employees if they made goal or less on their City Advantage Protection Plan (you had to do better than goal) then usually give those people less hours or tasks that takes them away from the selling floor.

Just before I left they did an internal company survey and found that the conditions were pretty bad. Some executives were terminated I believe and they began restructuring everything. I think the employee conditions greatly improved after this, however I never really see many customers going into Circuit City.

I'm not exactly sure what they problem is now. Perhaps they need to completely update their image? In my experience their prices are usually comparable to Best Buy (I like how PC games are occasionally cheaper at Circuit City during the first week of their release).

F1nut

You can say what you want about their sales force, customer service or selection, but it's still not a good thing that a company like CC is having the troubles they are.

danger boy

I think in 2009 and beyond you'll see a good number of retail stores go under or pretty close to it. especially if those retailers are "luxury" based ones.. meaning most of us can do with our current TV's and stereo gear for another year or two if we have to.. but can we do without food or clothing for a year or two? Nope. That's where the likes of Wally Mart will succeed because they carry a little bit of everything.

In my area the electronics store that will succeed will be Fry's. They are a computer, stereo, mobile audio, software mega store... with their excellent supply of goods.. I think they will survive and others will not.

It's to bad.. but I think CC made some bad decisions over the last 10 yrs or so by resting on their laurels (sp).

kgingras

Anyone who's livelihood or business model depends on plentiful leverage better start thinking about a back-up plan. Industries that rely on easy leverage are going to be decimated and CC is just one of them.

reeltrouble1

unfortunately at times.

Life is Suck--BDT

Matt Polk gave us a tidbit on the future as he sees it, he feels many retailers have no clue what they are in for and that for the first time for some they are going to have to compete for a dollar in a recession, he said for many "its just been far to easy".

RT1

polktiger

I actually buy from CC more than BB. BB is much more convenient, but you can catch much better sales at CC. The problem with both is their sales process. Electronics are really complicated anymore, and they have trouble adequately explaining technology to the customer. To top is off their displays are not condusive to selling electronics. DVDs, CDs, etc is fine, but heck you can get that stuff at Target. When I go in BB, there is never anyone in the Magnolia part, which makes it hard to sell that stuff.

Sure you can buy all their stuff online, but both CC and BB offer convenience, an "expert" that is not available online, and a chance to see/touch/hear before buying. Unfortunately, they really only capitalize on convenience since they rarely offer much as an "expert" and their see/touch/hear is ruined by their store layout. Since they tend to be more expensive than online they are really expecting customers to pay quite a premium for convenience/immediate gratification.

krabby5

I would rather shop at CC, except they never have anything I need when I go there. I went in there for a new cd they had advertised for $8.99, but I couldnt find it..plus no one was around to help...and those that were there never said a word to me or asked if I needed any help..so i just took their ad and price matched it at BB..

Now BB is just the opposite...their employees bother the hell out of you constantly....it seems they have more employees in the store than customers..rediculous.. It's kinda funny..you can spot them coming at you and you can just keep walking in circles, they will still follow you..

RichterCAG

My experience with Circuit City diverges a bit from those listed in the thread.
I had a great experience today. Purchased an Onkyo 805. Exemplory customer serivice. Really. I searched the Onkyo shelf, inquired about the 805, salesman told me they had an open box which they could sell.
In the end, they had 3 people looking for this reciever which was finally found behind the counter and it was a retail box.

Dennis Gardner

Exemplory customer service is moving you to a used/returned/opened/possibly broken item?;)

I see the big box issues exactly the same as I do "Fast Food". You are hiring entry level for 95% of your staffing
and you accidently "luck" into hiring someone that has a real interest in electronics/audio and the attitude of real service to others. Each store is only as good as its management, training and followup.

audiobliss

Interesting that you all have such a negative view of Circuit City. Sure, lots of times when you walk in it's hard to get noticed, hard to get good help, and you'll frequently get someone with a bad attitude at the register. Are those good, permissible things? No, not at all. But in my experience it's never really been any worse there than at any other stores. So, CC has been as good as BB (basically the only other main competitor in the area) for the most part. Neither seem to have a clear edge to me.

But this is news to me of them going under...that really stinks. I just bought a Magellan Maestro 3250 a few months ago and got the extended warranty with it. I'm glad I did, as this model turns out to be prone to several problems and I've already had to use the warranty to exchange it with a new one. However, I can't do that next time if (when) I need to if they're gone.

RichterCAG

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

Exemplory customer service is moving you to a used/returned/opened/possibly broken item?;)

I see the big box issues exactly the same as I do "Fast Food". You are hiring entry level for 95% of your staffing
and you accidently "luck" into hiring someone that has a real interest in electronics/audio and the attitude of real service to others. Each store is only as good as its management, training and followup.

Not exactly, smart guy.
My 805 was new in the box. The customer service was helpful, curteous, and knowledable. I had an easier time getting what I wanted from CC this trip then Best Buy.

heiney9

RichterCAG wrote: »

Not exactly, smart guy.
My 805 was new in the box. The customer service was helpful, curteous, and knowledable. I had an easier time getting what I wanted from CC this trip then Best Buy.

Much more the exception than the rule.

polkatese

Circuit City To Close 155 Stores; Exit 12 Markets -Report

November 03, 2008: 08:15 AM EST


Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC) plans to close 155 stores and exit from 12 markets, according to The Consumerist Web site.

The Web site posted a letter it said was distributed to Circuit City employees who will be affected by closings. "While an exact date has not yet been established for the store closure, it is anticipated that your employment with Circuit City will terminate on or before December 31, 2008," the letter said.

The letter, signed by Steve Saunders, director of associate relations, said the company hasn't yet determined if it will provide severance.

A company spokesman would not immediately comment.

-By Mary Ellen Lloyd, Dow Jones Newswires; 704-948-9145; maryellen.lloyd@ dowjones.com

fossy

The CC I shopped years ago just seem to change when they quit selling appliances.They never remodeled after the appliances were taken out & just filled the space with whatever they had or that's what it looked like to me.

Perhaps they should ask to be put on the BAIL-OUT list ;)

Danger Boy wrote:
In my area the electronics store that will succeed will be Fry's. They are a computer, stereo, mobile audio, software mega store... with their excellent supply of goods.. I think they will survive and others will not.

Ditto on the fry's -- the store here , no matter when I go (it's not that often) they are always busy.

billbillw

Just saw an article that all of the Atlanta area stores will close. They won't open on Tuesday and will reopen Wednesday with store closing sales, which are expected to last until the end of the year. Maybe I'll have to head up to my local store and see what kind of deals are to be had.

sucks2beme

billbillw wrote: »

Just saw an article that all of the Atlanta area stores will close. They won't open on Tuesday and will reopen Wednesday with store closing sales, which are expected to last until the end of the year. Maybe I'll have to head up to my local store and see what kind of deals are to be had.

Don't bother. Those *holes from the Liquidators in question cancel all the sales
and maybe drop 10% off list the first couple of weeks. In many cases,
the prices are higher than normal! By the time prices get good, most everything
is broken, damaged, or incomplete. Wait at least a month.
That's about the balance point to buy at. I don't get why store managers
can't run their own clearances. What they spend on the liquidators
pretty much negates the extra income the Liquidators squeeze out
of the store closing.

Mazeroth

They built a new CC (The City) a few miles from here about 6 months ago. I knew it was a huge mistake as I worked at CC for five years and each year saw them getting worse and worse. Low and behold, that store they just built is closing. Big surprise. :rolleyes:

wallstreet

A little off topic, but I was in BB the other day. They opened a new store down the street. This store is smaller than the normal oversized BB. It certainly had a cozier feel to it. I swear no less than five people came up to me to ask me if I needed any help. Freakin unbelievable. My son wanted to a new IPOD Touch. He's been working hard baby sitting, so I approved the spending of his money. Nice lady comes up, talks intelligently about the product, pick up a few accessories, and then walks us to a register and rings us up. Got to say, I liked the experience.