Do you think Circuit City is next now that CompUSA is gone?

[alansaysstop]

Did Sears buy into Kmart or vice versa? Either way, it's two companies going down in flames eventually.

As to BB vs. CC. I really can't stand shopping at CC. The only time I purchase something there, is when it's car audio related. Never anyone in the store, easy in, easy out. If I'm feeling lazy and don't want to install it myself, it's done in an hour or so. I try to buy most of my stuff at BB; prices are decent on movies, videogames it doesn't matter because they're the same everywhere, and blank media. Plus Reward Zone

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by alansaysstop

Did Sears buy into Kmart or vice versa? Either way, it's two companies going down in flames eventually.

As to BB vs. CC. I really can't stand shopping at CC. The only time I purchase something there, is when it's car audio related. Never anyone in the store, easy in, easy out. If I'm feeling lazy and don't want to install it myself, it's done in an hour or so. I try to buy most of my stuff at BB; prices are decent on movies, videogames it doesn't matter because they're the same everywhere, and blank media. Plus Reward Zone

Kmart actually bought Sears.

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by tron3

Ok, I am seeing a lot of hatred for Circuit City. To me, Best Buy is always more expensive, so I like Circuit City better.

Other than some movies, Best Buy is way cheaper. And they got rid of mail-in-rebates a long time ago, something I truly hated at CC, especially telling customers when I worked there.

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

I wouldn't want to be a CC stockholder, but I doubt you'll see them out completely anytime soon. Look at Kmart for an example of a chain that just won't die.


3 - CC just did an initiative to open 60 new stores with smaller footprints. And they are trying to slim down square footage in general. That seems to be a smart idea, but it seems to fail in execution when you see what they carry and how they lay it out.


Philosophically they don't seem to have the young, aggressive outlook they need to gain ground on BB. It seems like they keep using the same basic strategies they have since the 80s and aren't willing to change. I don't think they will shut down completely, but without a substantial leadership shakeup I think they are going to continue to lose ground to BB.

CC Stock is less than employees wage per hour.
3 - Smaller stores are not really a good idea. Look across America and it's the big stores that get the most customers: Walmart, Best Buy, and shopping malls. In general people stay away from small stores for some reason, especially if they are not grouped together.

That and they try to emulate Best Buy's structure but somehow can not. And yes the leadership mostly does suck, from corporate all the way down. And the employees are almost treated like the commissioned employees of the 80s/90s. But instead of commission, it's all about daily individual sales of attachments. Best Buy cares about those sales too, but are more relaxed and loose, and have more fun.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

2 - CC seems to have good service for returning stuff overall (and I think that helps them) but there is an amazing level of ignorance in the individual staff on products. Things like no preorders for big games, special editions, rewards cards, etc...

EXCUSE ME? I know there are preorders on games, and what's the deal with the Circuit City Reward Card?

~Alan

[atomik kinder]

The only CC nearby me closed several years ago. There were just too many other good places to shop. Also they just happened to open across the street from Nebraska Furniture Mart, where everybody shops. As I recall, they didn't last too long.

[Matt X]

I used to work for CC years ago, Back during the DIVX debacle (anyone remember THAT war?). They used to pay associates hourly + commissions. now I think it's all hourly. what kind of quality service do you think that encourages? not much, if you ask me. I don't shop there enough to have much experience w/their customer service these days, but what issues I have had, there service was average at best. Absent the service issue, I'd say price and selection of pretty much anything they sell sucks balls and THAT could end up killing them.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

EXCUSE ME? I know there are preorders on games, and what's the deal with the Circuit City Reward Card?

~Alan

CC pre-orders are hit & miss. The one that amazed me was WoW: TBC which had a guaranteed install base day 1. That was money all of CC should have been trying to grab - if you saw a preorder it wasn't driven by corporate.

My memory may be off (since I didn't get one), but they just started a rewards card in the last year or so - compared to BB's well establised one.

[jon s]

after CC downgraded their sales people to hourly workers, it's not surprising their sales tanked as well. They also got rid of their appliances department, lost the Apple line... They can't make a big profit in the fourth quarter. You can figure what's going to happen.

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

CC pre-orders are hit & miss. The one that amazed me was WoW: TBC which had a guaranteed install base day 1. That was money all of CC should have been trying to grab - if you saw a preorder it wasn't driven by corporate.

My memory may be off (since I didn't get one), but they just started a rewards card in the last year or so - compared to BB's well establised one.

OK, I've seen probably 20 or so game pre-orders (granted, not a lot, but I just assumed it was cause I rarely looked in that section).

I don't have a Rewards Card, but I know some people who do, and some who will shortly. It had to have been at least two, maybe 3 years since they've had it.

~Alan

[robsdoghouse]

Circuit City is running a $8.96 clearance right now on video games from the xbox360 and ps3. I have picked up like 10 titles and exchanged them for 29.99 credit at walmart for dozens of blu-ray titles.

[scook]

CC is the salvation army of electronic stores, if (very rarely) their prices are by some small chance lower than BB I will price match. In my area the CC is a joke, worn down, absolutely terrible workes who know nothing and a poor selction. This means absolutely nothing to everyone but I thought I'd share a funny story:

There is a elderly lady that works in the movie department within my CC that if you ask her where a movie is (That is'nt a huge blockbuster) she'll reply were all Sold Out. Being the person that I am I never believe sales reps let alone little old ladies in a HD section (dont get me wrong I love old people) but to my utter suprise I would find the movie that was SOLD OUT and I went up to her after this happened like three times and went up to her saying is this the Movie that you said was sold out because theres 10 of them RIGHT HERE. I then went to Customer Service explaining the situation and before I could finish the Girl said:

"O was it an older lady" I replied "Yes" then she said "yeah thats Sheryll when she does'nt know where something is she'll say its sold out". I was absolutely astonished and said this is a huge issue is she the store managers mother, and that was the last shopping experience I had at CC.

A little long but worth the vent.

[blukrank]

I have found some deals in Circuit City.When I bought The Simpsons Movie at Circuit City,Circuit City had it for $29.99 while next door at Best Buy they wanted $34.99.

[scook]

Originally Posted by blukrank

I have found some deals in Circuit City.When I bought The Simpsons Movie at Circuit City,Circuit City had it for $29.99 while next door at Best Buy they wanted $34.99.

Price match, they can afford such low prices due to the way they treat their employees, Horrible.