Buyer Beware at CC

[My_Two_Cents]

Just a heads-up to those looking for "bargains" at the Circuit City stores that are "liquidating" inventories. I saw this report on the news this morning, and thought I would pass it along to anyone interested.

Bottom line: Know the retail price of what it is you want to buy, and be real careful before you buy anything from a liquidator.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=6326174&page=1

So how do the liquidation prices compare overall? Because only part of the Circuit City chain is going out of business, it was a rare opportunity to compare prices at regular stores run by the company with those at closing stores run by the liquidators. The two are not connected.

One example: We saw a Samsung HDTV that was only available as an open box item at the liquidation store and cost $1,799 with all sales final. But at Circuit City's regular stores it was available for $1,599 brand new — $200 less, plus we could return it.

The clerk in the liquidation sale TV department gave us some advice.

"To be honest, I would go to a normal Circuit City for bigger TVs," she said. "But you didn't hear it from me."

Of the 60 electronics products we compared, a third were the same price or less at regular Circuit City stores. And the majority of those that were cheaper at the liquidation sale were only 5 percent to 15 percent less.

When we told consumers outside of a going-out-of-business sale about our findings they were amazed, but not surprised.

"What does going out of business mean if you are jacking up the price rather than lowering the price?" said one woman.

"I think anything that they put a 'sale' sign on, people are going to be more inclined to buy," another said.

[york weir]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

Of the 60 electronics products we compared, a third were the same price or less at regular Circuit City stores. And the majority of those that were cheaper at the liquidation sale were only 5 percent to 15 percent less.

So 40 items were 5 to 15% cheaper at the closing store but at least 1 items was more expensive.

It's good advice but they make it sound like all items are more expensive.

[bilbravo]

Originally Posted by york weir

So 40 items were 5 to 15% cheaper at the closing store but at least 1 items was more expensive.

It's good advice but they make it sound like all items are more expensive.

From the OP: "Of the 60 electronics products we compared, a third were the same price or less at regular Circuit City stores. And the majority of those that were cheaper at the liquidation sale were only 5 percent to 15 percent less."

I read that to mean at least 20 items were equal price or cheaper at the non-liquidation CC stores. They only specifically mention 1 item being MORE, but I'd say there's a good chance that more than 1/20 of those items were more expensive.

[jw]

yea my brother said they marked the prices up, then took the discount off the MSRP, prices are horrible

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

yea my brother said they marked the prices up, then took the discount off the MSRP, prices are horrible

They're doing the exact same thing at Linens-N-Things. Wife and I were in there last weekend looking to get new stoneware, but walked out after seeing the prices were really no better than what we found elsewhere.

[Clark Kent]

Most of these liquidation sales are scams until the discounts start approaching real savings like 50 or 60% off. They take advantage of uninformed consumers who don't understand the regular pricing of these items at other stores.

[Beta Man]

One example: We saw a Samsung HDTV that was only available as an open box item at the liquidation store and cost $1,799 with all sales final. But at Circuit City's regular stores it was available for $1,599 brand new

$200 "Box removal Fee" jeez.... first a hefty "Disposal Fee" when you buy new tires.... now this...... I guess it's just the price you have to pay......

Put me down for 3 Samsungs

[toef]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

yea my brother said they marked the prices up, then took the discount off the MSRP, prices are horrible

Isn't that how it always works?

I was at CC a couple months ago, and they had an open-box TV for sale. The same TV also happened to be on sale that week, so you could get a new one in a box for less than they were selling the open-box one for (and they wouldn't drop the price of the open one).

[un4gvn94538]

they have always seemed a little shady. the last thing i bought from them was a sacd online. they sent me a scratched, used one that was re-shrink wraped. and the store i called to see if i could exchange it was very rude. im glad the store by me is closing. i would rather see a second frys or maybe a best buy.

[alomar]

Little late, this was all over the news about....oh.....3 weeks ago when CC first started the sales. I work for them and can tell you undoubtedly its true, but not for everything, mostly big ticket items. And the sad truth is its not just CC. Any retailer who goes into liquidation does the same thing. The pricing and inventory is controlled by the liquidator. And the liquidator is looking out for #1, themselves. So they take advantage of the uninformed customers by making appear they are getting a deal to get that extra little on top. Linens-N-Things is doing it, CC is doing it, and our local Mervyns also. The Mervyns has been liquidating for about 7 months now because no one will buy they stuff at those prices.

Best part is working through one. Getting the customers in sayin "you know, I can get that online for cheaper". Well no chit shirlock, what ya doin here anyways???

Bottom line, dont blame the retailer, blame the liquidator. They are evil, lemme tell ya.

[bhampton]

Ha Ha,

Reading this made me realize that I don't buy something like that without knowing and fretting and trying to justify the price for at least a month.

=Brian

[clyon]

time is ticking

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/09/news...city/index.htm

less then 1 week before they go belly up!!!

[xtop]

Originally Posted by clyon

time is ticking

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/09/news...city/index.htm

less then 1 week before they go belly up!!!

i saw this yesterday..but it didn't seem like it was a credible source so i didn't post. but man it'll be glorious and sad when they leave.

on one hand, its one of the worst retailers i've ever been in. on the other..less competition hurts us all