Curtains for Circuit City

[Singapura]

Circuit City has finally blacked out after years of brownouts.

Circuit City, along with 17 affiliates, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday in Richmond, Va., where the company is based. Its Canadian operations filed in Ontario courts.

Monday's announcement comes one week after Circuit City (nyse: CC - news - people ) said it was closing 155 of its more than 700 stores in 55 markets by the end of the year and firing about 17.0% of its U.S. work force. It also said it was considering all options to restructure.

[mountain]

Crap! Now where will I go to get tackled by multiple salespeople as soon as I walk through the door? I always hated that store.

[ChadTower]

They just opened one right by my house.  It's less than 6 months old.

[Ginsu Victim]

They were rubbish. Only thing I ever bought from them was my first DVD player for $200.

[Mauzy]

Oh they aren't gone quite yet. They only filed for Chapter 11. Of course there's very little chance they can restructure successfully, but stranger things have happened.

[AtomSmasher]

Oh they aren't gone quite yet. They only filed for Chapter 11. Of course there's very little chance they can restructure successfully, but stranger things have happened.

Yup, as the article says Kmart filed for bankruptcy a number of years ago and they're still around.

[Mauzy]

Best Buy isn't any better and they're probably next on the chopping block.

I agree with you completely on the price statement. Cables and accessories are where stores get their profit. TVs at Best Buy have very, very little mark up on them when compared to the shelf price. Ill wait to give a couple examples till I can find out for sure but, IIRC, TVs have single digit percentage markups on wholesale which is also seen, like you said, at Wal Mart and places like that.

As for the Best Buy is next on the chopping block, IDK about that. They seem to be doing well, though I live in a town with 50 thousand college students and most every electronics store does very well here. Even the Circuit City here usually has a half full parking lot. Between aggressive Geek Squad adverts and the prices for their services (its not uncommon to have a TV install go for $600...), Best Buy has a few years left in them.

[ark_ader]

Circuit City was great to buy TVs from.  All our US TVs were from Circuit City.

The sales approach was so similar to Ultimate and (if you are old enough to remember) Federated Group.

I hate fighting off sales people, but on the other hand I hate being ignored. 

Wallymart is right in the middle.  Good on price and customer service. 

[shardian]

Wallymart is right in the middle.  Good on price and customer service. 

Customer service at Wal-mart??? Never heard of it.

[Mauzy]

Circuit City was great to buy TVs from.  All our US TVs were from Circuit City.

The sales approach was so similar to Ultimate and (if you are old enough to remember) Federated Group.

I hate fighting off sales people, but on the other hand I hate being ignored. 

Wallymart is right in the middle.  Good on price and customer service. 

Where the hell do you live if there are Wal Marts with customer service?? Obviously no where near me...

[mpm32]

The workers and come to think of it the customers of the local Walmarts near me look like the cast from the day of the dead.

I hate shopping there.  It makes me feel dirty buying thing there.  But sometimes you can't beat the prices and you just go home and take a shower.

[ChadTower]

If you're bored and stuck in a Wal-Mart, here's a game to liven it up.  It's called,

"Make Eye Contact With a Wal-Mart Employee"

It's amazing to watch so many people shuffle and slouch around while staring at the floor 5 feet in front of them.

If I had to work at Walmart, and had to look at the average fat filthy hippo that shops there, I'd be afraid to look up from the floor too.

[Ginsu Victim]

Customer service at Wal-mart??? Never heard of it.

If you're bored and stuck in a Wal-Mart, here's a game to liven it up.  It's called,

"Make Eye Contact With a Wal-Mart Employee"

It's amazing to watch so many people shuffle and slouch around while staring at the floor 5 feet in front of them.

When I worked there, I made eye contact with every customer that crossed my path and I said hello.

Of course, I worked overnight and making eye contact was a way of letting shoplifters know I'm watching them.

[crashwg]

When I worked there, I made eye contact with every customer that crossed my path and I said hello.

Of course, I worked overnight and making eye contact was a way of letting shoplifters know I'm watching them.

Who shoplifts at night?  I've acquired quite a few things in my time but never at night...  It's just common sense that if you're one of 10 people in the store that there's more eyes available for you.

But a little more on topic...  Eh.  Not sure how I feel about CC.  I rarely buy anything from em.  (Can't say I've ever acquired anything from their either before you all jump to conclusions.)  Their prices are never lower than any other place you can buy the stuff they sell, especially with WalMart and the internet to compete with.  But I do browse there almost every time I go to the mall.  I suppose I won't care a whole lot.  It's not like a mom and pop type of place that you can really care that with WalMart around they can't stay in business...  Well, that's probably got a lot to do with the reasons they're in the situation they're in but you can't realy feel for the people who make their money off of CC.  All the little people will still have WalMart for a job in the end.   

[somunny]

I was listening to the business news this morning and there was a blurb about Best Buy being in trouble, as well.

[ChadTower]

I was listening to the business news this morning and there was a blurb about Best Buy being in trouble, as well.

Every major pure retailer says that in November.  They're setting up for the annual "spend as much as you possibly can during the Xmas season or everyone you know in retail will be unemployed in January" media run.

[ChadTower]

Dude, when compared to the average person I see wandering around in our local Walmart, tommy looks more like Tom Brady.  It's bad.  It's real bad.  Last time I was in there I saw a woman who must have been 350lb on an electric cart, wearing a mumu, and had her kid on a leash tied to the basket.  He didn't even have a "kid harness" on, it was just a rope tied to his arm.

Sadly, it's the only local place I can find Triple Thick, so sometimes I have no choice but to go there.

[Ginsu Victim]

When I worked there, I made eye contact with every customer that crossed my path and I said hello.

Of course, I worked overnight and making eye contact was a way of letting shoplifters know I'm watching them.

Who shoplifts at night?  I've acquired quite a few things in my time but never at night...  It's just common sense that if you're one of 10 people in the store that there's more eyes available for you.

The key word you used is COMMON SENSE. Meth addicts don't have any.

We had a lady push a basket up to an empty register and just started bagging everything up. Management just stood there and watched until she was ready to leave, and they already had a cop en route.

Then another time a guy does a smash and grab in the jewelry department at 2:00am, and tries to flee through the garden center, which was locked.

Let me repeat for the people who never caught it all those other times....I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA. Doesn't that speak volumes?

[ChadTower]

Maybe you guys just need to do a tooth check on the way into the store.

[JackTucky]

If I had to work at Walmart, and had to look at the average fat filthy hippo that shops there, I'd be afraid to look up from the floor too.

Yeah, I keep forgetting that you're perfect.  I was thinking you were some lonely jackass with a keyboard that spends too much time alt-tabbing between google and posting on forums.  Silly me.

Pinballjim might be the smartest person on this board.

[RayB]

Take a look at their stock, it's dropped like a rock.
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=BBY#symbol=BBY;range=5y

I guess Google is going out of business too:

Fix Those Long Links, Please!!!!!!!!
Maybe you haven't heard, but there's something called a "market meltdown" going on since September. EVERYBODY'S stocks are down...

[ChadTower]

Does that make RayB now the smartest person on this board?

[ark_ader]

Circuit City was great to buy TVs from.  All our US TVs were from Circuit City.

The sales approach was so similar to Ultimate and (if you are old enough to remember) Federated Group.

I hate fighting off sales people, but on the other hand I hate being ignored. 

Wallymart is right in the middle.  Good on price and customer service. 

Where the hell do you live if there are Wal Marts with customer service?? Obviously no where near me...

Well I worked at Wallymart for a few months as a Customer Service Manager (for some arcade collecting cash) and as I was well versed in customer service and product info, I achieved more sales than anyone else.  I trained the floor staff on product info and advised them the best answers, when asking if customers needed any help with their buying decisions.  Keep eye contact, smile and if you don't know the answer don't lie.  Just go and ask.

Granted I know not all Wall Marts have trained staff, but mine was, as I made sure of it.  It never stopped the thousands of customers buying $100s of goods when they just came in for some light bulbs or a carton of milk.  BTW is Walmart stock crashing right now?

Wall mart will be around long after Best Buy has gone out of business.  Besides Best Buy is not the BEST place to buy anything electrical, as their prices are quite high.  Many times I went to Best Buy for some software, only to find Walmart selling the same for $5 less.

 

I also feel sorry for those who criticize staff at Wallmart.  Yes they might be different, and their personal habits might be different to your own, but most of them are honest and have a good heart.  Next time don't post your issues on this board with regard to Wallmart staff.  Walk up to them and let them know how you feel.

Let the manager know or go to the customer service area, and ask for the Store Manager.  If they do not know there is a problem, how do you expect them to fix it, the next time you visit?   

[missioncontrol]

but its more fun to lump them all together and make fun of them behind a keyboard

[ChadTower]

Gotta agree - they are pretty lumpy.

[Aceldamor]

The sales approach was so similar to Ultimate and (if you are old enough to remember) Federated Group.

ZOMG!!  I remember those commercials....Fred Rated for the Federated Group...Wow....gratz taking me for a ride in the WAY Back machine!


Personally, I care not if CC goes under. I went there once, and after looking around for someone for 10 minutes I drove across the street and bought it from BB instead.

[Hoopz]

Let the manager know or go to the customer service area, and ask for the Store Manager.  If they do not know there is a problem, how do you expect them to fix it, the next time you visit?   

I've avoided shopping there for years unless I had no other option.  I did go in there about a year ago and ended up going to 4 different stores to find a sale item in stock.  The sales lady at the 3rd place found what I wanted at another store.  It would have been very easy for her to b.s. me and say they weren't in stock anywhere.  Instead, she was extremely helpful and went above my expectations.

I even commended her to the manager and pointed out that without her help and great customer service, I would have been out of luck.  Of course, he looked extremely pissed when I said that I hated shopping at Walmart prior to dealing with her.

[Mauzy]

Circuit City was great to buy TVs from.  All our US TVs were from Circuit City.

The sales approach was so similar to Ultimate and (if you are old enough to remember) Federated Group.

I hate fighting off sales people, but on the other hand I hate being ignored. 

Wallymart is right in the middle.  Good on price and customer service. 

Where the hell do you live if there are Wal Marts with customer service?? Obviously no where near me...

Well I worked at Wallymart for a few months as a Customer Service Manager (for some arcade collecting cash) and as I was well versed in customer service and product info, I achieved more sales than anyone else.  I trained the floor staff on product info and advised them the best answers, when asking if customers needed any help with their buying decisions.  Keep eye contact, smile and if you don't know the answer don't lie.  Just go and ask.

Granted I know not all Wall Marts have trained staff, but mine was, as I made sure of it.  It never stopped the thousands of customers buying $100s of goods when they just came in for some light bulbs or a carton of milk.  BTW is Walmart stock crashing right now?

Wall mart will be around long after Best Buy has gone out of business.  Besides Best Buy is not the BEST place to buy anything electrical, as their prices are quite high.  Many times I went to Best Buy for some software, only to find Walmart selling the same for $5 less.

 

I also feel sorry for those who criticize staff at Wallmart.  Yes they might be different, and their personal habits might be different to your own, but most of them are honest and have a good heart.  Next time don't post your issues on this board with regard to Wallmart staff.  Walk up to them and let them know how you feel.

Let the manager know or go to the customer service area, and ask for the Store Manager.  If they do not know there is a problem, how do you expect them to fix it, the next time you visit?   

You know why you achieved sales?  Because YOU were good at your job. Not because everyone in the store worked as a team and helped everybody out.  Of course not EVERYBODY who works at Wal Mart is a low life. Hell, my dad ran at least 15 different stores over 24 years and he has many, many stories of great people in these stores. The general public doesn't see these people though. Up until the last couple years, the best people in the stores were being moved into management.

I won't go into why my family and I have every right to be bias against Wal Mart these days.

As for Best Buy not being the best price, no. They sure aren't. 5 extra bucks for software is doing pretty good for their pricing. Look at their DVD prices. Those are shocking. People don't go to Best Buy for this kind of stuff though. They go for the big ticket items like TVs and computers. They know that the vast majority of the people in the departments know what they are talking about. You walk into Wal Mart and ask about the difference in two TVs, the clerk will know the resolution differences and simple crap like that. Best Buy employees know how to make sure you are really getting what you are wanting. What TVs or computers are best for gaming, movies, general internet usage and such.


IDK. I'm not trying to argue. Both stores have their Pros and Cons. It just depends on what you're looking for.

[SithMaster]

I think the general overall hatred of Walmart stems from its horrible reputation concerning its treatment of employees and the effect it has in destroying local communities.

[Mauzy]

I think the general overall hatred of Walmart stems from its horrible reputation concerning its treatment of employees and the effect it has in destroying local communities.

That fact doesn't help the company any, thats for sure.

[Ummon]

I remember when CC came here in the mid to late 80s. They were the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. Federated was almost mythical because they were based in California, and they were very awesome but for some reason didn't last very long. Then it was pretty much CC till they put in a Best Buy in the mid 90s. I'm surprised CC has stayed as long as they have. I prefer buying things online vs going to any store anymore.

Walmart: well, it does depend on region. I hit one in Kentucky I think it was and it was like going into a convenience store on the south side. The wal close by here isn't as nice as Target but it was almost pretty compared to that KY (um, yeah) store.

[RayB]

I'm not wearing pants! HA!
 

[SithMaster]

I think the most important thing to ask concerning CC's demise is when is the best time to get things at liquidation prices.  How long after they raise prices to discount to previous prices will it take to actually see a decent discount.  Can we even expect a discount with this FUBAR economy?  Why do they only carry pinnacle tv tuners now?

[shardian]

Take a look at their stock, it's dropped like a rock.
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=BBY#symbol=BBY;range=5y

I guess Google is going out of business too:

linky here

Maybe you haven't heard, but there's something called a "market meltdown" going on since September. EVERYBODY'S stocks are down, genius.

FIX/SHORTEN YOUR LINK!!!!!

[ark_ader]

I think the most important thing to ask concerning CC's demise is when is the best time to get things at liquidation prices.  How long after they raise prices to discount to previous prices will it take to actually see a decent discount.  Can we even expect a discount with this FUBAR economy?  Why do they only carry pinnacle tv tuners now?

Well if it was anything like CompUSA, good luck.  20% was as good as it got.

[RayB]

Also consider what happens when a big portion of your profits come from selling "extended warranties"...

[stephenp1983]

It's funny none of the news stories are mentioning this anymore, but what killed them was Wal-Mart aggressively pursuing the HDTV market.

Circuit City wasn't doing so hot, but then people were willing to pay $500 markups on TVs.  This worked great until Wal-Mart noticed and was willing to take a $5 markup.  Then Circuit City lost all their insanely price cables money, too. 

No kidding, the HDMI same cable that's $5 at Mono Price is $20-30 at Wal-Mart, and $70+ at Circuit City.  Best Buy isn't any better and they're probably next on the chopping block.

I worked at bestbuy when I was in college a few years ago, and they always mentioned their biggest fear wasn't cc or any other electronic retailor, but Walmart.  Walmart hit the grocery stores first, and now there going to take out other markets as well.