Circuit City

F1nut · February 2003

And I quess you think red light cameras are a good idea too! :rolleyes:

Jstas · February 2003

Originally posted by brettw22

I thoroughly believe that the general public is ignorant. I go into BB all the time, and yes, there are ropes, but rarely is there any sort of a line to take issue with. IMO, if the ropes weren't there, the people would all just group up. As for the bars (I think that you're talking about the cement pilons outside the door), if I had one or two million invested in a building and inventory, you can bet your **** that I'd take every precaution necessary to prevent anything from potentially damaging it. The security thing at BB is the same as what they do at Fry's Electronics. True, you can't steal something between the registers and the door, but I've seen stuff in stores where someone blows right through the cashiers only to be caught by the someone at the security desk. If the stores were yours, you'd want to protect them too........

I think you missed my point. While your opinion about the world is your own, the point I was trying to make was not asset protection but the simple fact that the asset wouldn't need to be protected if there was not a realized issue with the safety of that asset. I was not refferring specifically to the concrete pylings infront of Best Buy. I was just mentioning it in general. It has nothing to do with Best Buy protecting thier assets. BTW, I would make a bet that every one of Best Buy's stores is leased and not owned by Best Buy so in that case, they are only protecting someone else's property that is covered by insurance anyway. The same goes with the ropes. If the parking lot of your Best Buy is not packed stupid every single weekend then, there must be something wrong with your Best Buy. I know of 4 around me here and every single one is overloaded, especially during the holidays and every weeked, at any time of day, there are at least 5 people in line for returns/exchanges, all the time.

Originally posted by faster100I have never had a problem at BB, or CC really to speak of, I use the following stores as follows, Best buy for my computer parts, cdrw drives, blank cd's, keyboard, or mouse maybe, just parts.. they are cheap and always have rebates which i use succesfully everytime, infact best buy has one of the best rebate programs and support, I like "looking around" for something to do, have never been bugged in years by security ever!!! Get a grip and deal with it its thier policy and if you don't like it shop elsewhere..

Far as Circuit city, I use them for speakers basically only, maybe might get a cd or dvd player and thats about it, I know what i want and listen then buy.. I don't care what they know or don't know i just buy after i research before ever going there.. I have never had a problem returning anything, nor buying or upgrading speakers on their 1 year upgrade deal.. I like both stores and use them accordingly.. Maybe some of you are thinking way to much and are at a higher level then these stores and thus should shop accordingly and elsewhere..

They are business's and sell to people who want what they have weather someone "sells them " on the item or not.. they will get it somewhere.. get your own business and as large as these chains and lets see how you deal with training, security, staff and so on, It's not easy pleaseing everyone i am sure

I understand where you are coming from. However, just because you have had no problems with security doesn't mean others haven't. Most people here have not expressed any problems of their own with BB security. They have merely stated their displeasure with it and it has tainted the shopping experience at BB for them. Like you, they too are entitled to thier opinion. "Get a grip and deal with it." Whether it is teh store policy or not, it can be intrusive and invasive and counts as harrassment if they can find no probably cause to hassle you about your receipt. Whether it is in their store or not.

Whatever you use any store for, that is your perogative. However, like what was mentioned by another posted, in someplaces, all that is left is big store chains like BB and CC and all the little specialty shops have closed down. For me, the closest Polk dealer that isn't CC is in Baltimore, over 2 hours away. My "elsewhere" is very limited and it's rather narrow-minded of you to think that everyone's situation is a duplicate of yours. I realize that that may not be your true stance but, your posted comments do not show that.

Finally, the major gripe everyone has about the sales staff of these stores is, even if you know what you want, go into the store and show them the circular with thier ad for the item that you want, point to the circular and tell teh salesman "Iwant that one.", you still get a pitch. They still try to sell you things you don't want or need. It happens in every store. I used to work retail. I was told on several occasions to **** myself out and pitch a product to a customer just to get the product to move. It sucks for both the employee and the customer because for every customer that says yes, there are 10 who get aggravated at you and utter some explaitive towards what you are trying to pitch to them. Its a combination of that pitch, facist security regimes, uninformed sales staff anda general lacking in product selection and availablity that gets to people. Rightfully so because, like you said, the tastes and experience of many people in these forums are of a higher nature. There is no other place for some of us to go for any kind of equipment because even with the audiophile support of the little guys who carry what we want, the strength of these chain stores still kills them. They take away the bread and butter guy who just wants a nice home theater because the big stores beat prices of the little guy.

Systems · February 2003

Know what you want, don't expect guidance from the staff. Get in, get out, get on w/your life. Mags, forums, manufacturer's websites, locally owned small shops are the place to find out about or talk about the finer points.

Tour2ma · February 2003

Originally posted by Jstas
If the parking lot of your Best Buy is not packed stupid every single weekend then, there must be something wrong with your Best Buy. I know of 4 around me here and every single one is overloaded, especially during the holidays and every weekend...

Memo to self: Still may not be too late to buy BB stock.

Worst BB experience:
~5 days before Christmas. Bad mood to start with.

Return generic car charger (wrong one, my bad) for new cell phone. Wait 20 minutes in return line. Pick up genuine Samsung auto charger (right one) wait 20 minutes in checkout line. :mad: Get to car and try to charge phone, plug won't fit into phone. Wait 45 minutes in return line to return 5-minute-old charger. Walk out a "tad" steamed. :supermad:

Best BB experience:
~14 days before Christmas. Good mood.

P/U a couple of CD's. Walk right up to checkout. Joke with Cashier.

Manager walks up and gives Cashier piece of Double Bubble gum. Mgr walks away. Yell out, "Where's mine?" Mgr wheels and tosses piece.

Enjoy first piece of DB in years. Walk out happier than when entered.:D

Memo to self: We reap what we sow:cool:

Jstas · February 2003

"Memo to self: We reap what we sow"

THAT is so true!

You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar!

Still though, sometimes when you are in the best of moods and "sowing flowers" someone else is in the worst of moods "sowing weeds". Sometimes you may be sending out a good vibe but somebody else isn't and you are the recipient of that sowing.

I tell my girlfriend all the time, when we get a waitress or a clerk or whatever who is in a bad mood and treating us not the best way they could to cool her jets and stop getting worked up herself. Kill them with kindness, smile, ask them if they are having a bad day, give them a little joke. It goes a long way! So far infact, I have gotten free stuff like free drinks, free dessert and such just because I was nice to someone who was having a bad day.

More people should be nice to each other.

Tour2ma · February 2003

Do you make a habit of reading others memo's?

Jstas · February 2003

Well, do you make a habit of talking to yourself in public?

Tour2ma · February 2003

touche'

Shizelbs · February 2003

Well, I think I shall throw my two cents in. I like BB and CC, but only for certain things. I like how the BB employees don't want to talk to you. Why? Cause as stated before, I don't want to talk to them. I know so little compared to all of you, but I still know more about what I want before I go into one of these stores then the employees do. And can you blame them? These stores have so much crap to know about. I know they are focused in one area, but they aren't there to learn, they are there to sell. So, its not really their fault. And I doubt they carry the same enthusiasm that the dealer at your local specialty store will.
I like BB because their stuff is cheap. I will buy RAM for my computer and DVDs and CDs off the internet mostly. I also have good success with their rebates. Rebates are important to me. They have yet to screw up, and for me they have been pretty fast with them, at least for rebates they are.
I like CC. For one, they carry Polk. Two, their employees actually know something about their store and how it works. I can't say that about BB. Plus, they are also really good about price-matching. I like to see them be competitive with others. They have good hours and cheap digital media. They are also good for me if and when they have deals on computer stuff. (I am more into computers than home audio, but that may soon change).
So, for the record, I like them for what they offer. No store is the perfect solution. If there was a perfect electronics store, there would be no room for competition.
As for the security, I haven't found it that bad. I do like the idea that they are saving on stolen goods and reducing costs. Its never been a hassle for anyone I know. I know it can be a little silly, but can you blame them?

Shizelbs · February 2003

Agreed, put this thread to rest

Soccerplyr · February 2003

Circuit City has now made the sales staff hourly. Time to start calling it Best City or maybe Circuit Buy.

Jstas · February 2003

Originally posted by ATCVenom
Its nearly shamefull this subject has enjoed such a lenghty life-span.

Bottom of the line, this is a store for the masses...what....you were expecting SoundEX maybe? Enough said.

It's not shameful at all. There is nothing wrong with a good debate. I think that this has gone well. Sure some people had feathers ruffled but big deal! So what? Everyone will get over it. Still, don't look atthe argument for teh subject no matter how simple it may be. Look at it as a learning experience. You can find out alot about people by debating even the seemingly silliest thing!

I once participated in a thread that spanned 6 pages of 20 posts per page about...peanut-butter and jelly sammiches. Yes, peanut-butter and jelly sammiches! It was fun! I had a blast and learned alot about the people I was conversing with but there was alot of good info about things like breads, peanuts and peanut products and even jellies and other preserves. What use thy had ultimatly is probably quite small in realistic terms but that still didn't stop anyone from enjoying it.

As long as everyone keeps an open mind and is courteous with thier responses, there is no need to get upset. with any of it. Enjoy the debate for the debate. It sparks thought and yeilds thought provoking questions. Thinking about the subject and delving into it not only stregthens your mind but expands it. Being open to discussion about anything and getting into the discussion for the discussion is a great way to learn and retain information no matter how useful or trivial it is. See the debate for the debate and not the perception of the topic.

While I agree that the topic is basicallt dead for now because people are repeating things that have been rebutted already, I still think that it was a good exercise full of intelligent responses and good information and experiences. We may not all see eye to eye but I'll be we all see things in a different light even if it didn't change our minds.

Jstas · February 2003

Well, we aren't going to solve the worlds problems in this little forum. No reason we can't discuss the problems though. Makes for interesting conversation and may just lead to something a bit more important than a simple discussion on an Internet forum.

fireshoes · February 2003

Originally posted by Soccerplyr
Circuit City has now made the sales staff hourly. Time to start calling it Best City or maybe Circuit Buy.

Is that what the meeting was about? I'm sure any good help they had will be leaving now.

Soccerplyr · February 2003

The entire sales force became hourly today, effective tomorrow. 1800 sales people lost their jobs as well. 200 service techs also where fired.

Tour2ma · February 2003

EDIT:

Had what I thought was a funny post about PB&J's, at BB and CC, but pulled it as Soccerplyrs post hit while I was typing mine. Lost jobs no funny-time after that

Soccerplyr · February 2003

From what I'm to understand, any sales person that averaged over $20 and hour was let go. So this either means that the people that knew what they are talking about got the can or just the best "up" sellers. Needless to say, I doubt that anyone will get very good service at CC for a while: the wounds will have to heal first.

pensacola · February 2003

Hmmm. They always seemed a little over-staffed to me.

A bunch of young guys who liked to be around electronicstwisting knobs
and playing on the 'putersbut not helping customers (unless the
customer asked them to).

wlrandall · February 2003

Originally posted by F1nut

Shack, I'm with you bro! I will NOT show my purchase to the guard at Best Buys front door. It is NOT a benefit to do so, it's insulting to me and anyone who shops at their stores. When they ask me to see my receipt, I politely say "NO." Then they usually say, "Excuse me" to which I respond, "You heard me." If they persist at that point, I politely tell them to "**** Off!" I'm waiting for one of them to grap my arm or something because at that point it's assault, but I know they are instructed not to touch you or detain you so, no worries mate. I am amazed that so many people put up with that ****, it's like they are all sheep. Ceruleance I know you're not a sheep, why act like one!?!

BTW, while it may be store policy, it's not legally enforceable...they can't make you do it. People need to get a backbone!!!

AMEN!!!!!

It is by all trade laws illegal as hell for these trolls to interrogate you at the door. By law the transaction is sealed by the cashier when he/she hands you the "title" to your merchandise after payment. At this point, no one, except a law official, has the right to ask for or inspect your title to your property. Can a store owner ask to see the title to your car if you park in their lot?? NO.
Can a remodeler ask to see the deed of your house? NO. might not be the best examples but I hope you get the point. I, too, have blown past the Door **** and not once, even at Sam's which is the worst, had a hand laid on me or been chased into the parking lot. F1nut is right, they have no rights--DON'T SUCCUMB.

I'll get off my soapbox now...

faster100 · February 2003

Ok i admit although BB staff has never in 4 years in this erea i live now ever rousted me up at the door, I have seen them do to others and that is alittle over board, but to the people on this thread who are so P-oed over CC and BB i think you take stores and things for what they are, I find it amusing when me and my wife head to CC and leave with my wife saying, that kid didn't know what you were talking about, Honey you should be working here,

smile, Thanks Honey.....

Things get alittle tense on the board, please people debate as a debate but don't make personal attacks to people for what they feel or think, I believe i was quoted atleast once on this thread.

in the end, do you feel bad when a walmart employee doesn't know where something is?? Yes you do but consider the source and find it yourself, I to buy from all these stores so i am not bios here, we are all in the same retail store boat and its getting crowded so lets get along and debate nicely.. Please no quotes on me, LOL

Thanks

Lee Bailey · February 2003

Originally posted by F1nut
And I quess you think red light cameras are a good idea too! :rolleyes:

I for one think that they are a GREAT idea! People have gotten too stupid behind the wheel. Cell phone in one hand up against their ear, other hand with coffee, steering with their knees. Wakes you up when you get that first ticket!

As for CC vs BB, CC to me in my area has a much cleaner presentation, you can see from one end to the other, no warehouse feel like in our local Best Buy. Best Buy checkout lines are the slowest too.

Looks like most of us on the forums already know more about the way things work than the people that get hired at each store. This makes for us getting annoyed at their sales people. We just want to go in, and get what we want with the lowest price!

my .02 cents.

Circuit City

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