Best Buy vs CIRCUIT CITY (here's a treat from me to you)

[Deja Q]

:*

http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-9822633-56.html

Whereas Best Buy had specific lines for the types of products people were buying, Circuit City had the lone checker for each line, head throughout the store to pickup big ticket items, such as a PlayStation 3 that someone ahead of us wanted. That move, along with what seemed to be the most outdated computer system I'd seen at a electronics retailer in some time, slowed things to a crawl.

Article has more, but the real gems are from the talkback section:

Circuit City is living in the 1980's with backroom inventory control systems. If you ask for something, they pull out a paper listing that is generally 2 weeks out of date and it says what they think they had on hand 2 weeks ago. In this day and age, it's unbelievable! and horrible to the shopper, who has no way to know if something isn't on the shelf, if they have it in the back room (generally now) or if it's on the wrong shelf somewhere in the store.....

and

Just maybe firing your help and hiring them back at a lower salary took the extra 'caring' out of the employee's x-mas spirit.

Then again, the management got their bonuses, so no harm done!

and

I am a resident in Rochester, NY and I had a very bad experience at the local Circuit City store (Henrietta, NY). Couple of weeks ago, I had gone to the store to buy a 46” Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV (model LC46D64U), with the prior knowledge that it will be on 2-day sale after Thanksgiving for a price of $1299. I enquired with 3 sales people and the store manager that if I bought the TV that day, would they price adjust in case the TV is discounted on the 2 day sale after Thanksgiving. They all assured me that Circuit City will honor the 30 day-price adjustment policy as along as the TV was not a doorbuster sale item (which turned out that it wasn’t when CC came out with its official ad). In fact, the sales personnel encouraged me to buy the TV at that point, so that I could avoid the morning rush and also remove any chances of the TV running out of stock. With multiple confirmations from store employees including the manager, I purchased the TV. They also asked me that to avoid delays, I should come after 12 pm on Friday for any price adjustment issues.
When the official CC ad came out with the discounted price of $1299 for the same TV, I went to the store on Friday afternoon to request the price adjustment. I was taken aback and shocked when the same employees completely denied what they had told me earlier. They behaved rudely, and said that the CC policy had changed couple of days ago regarding price-adjustment. Although this might be true, I am surprised as to how this could affect me as the policy was not in effect when I purchased the TV. The store manager in an ill-mannered way asked me to either return the TV or live with the earlier price tag. Of course, I ended up returning the TV.
I just wanted to make any potential Circuit City customers about the lies and ill-informed comments their sales people and even store managers make to entice you in buying their products. I certainly have made the decision to never purchase a product from Circuit City again.

and finally

I work at the local Fox affiliate, and I was of course stuck in the
audio booth and unable to shop. I did however get to see
numerous stories from around the country and it seemed
Minnesota had the weirdest setup. The local Mall, Eden Prairie
Center (down the street), had over 50 stores open at 1 AM!!!
They even gave out three $1000 shopping sprees for the first
group of people. The lines were insane (I watched from our live
shot inside the mall) and the parking lots were at capacity with
people circling. The Best Buy (Not in the Mall) opened at 5AM,
and the parking lot was full well before opening, along with
people camping out from Noon on Thanksgiving to get their
$500 off the Generic Brand HDTVs. I am proud to say I did not
participate in the craziness, realizing the time wasted in some
lines isn't worth the discounts, along with the outdoor temp
dropping to 15 degrees overnight.

Crazy! Just wait for "Cyber Monday"

Lots of other comments abound. Enjoy! :D

[Warpy]

1. I haven't walked into a Circuit City since they were stupid enough

to try to pump their stock by announcing they were getting rid of their higher paid employees (who knew the stock) in favor of new hires (who generally don't know their thumbs from their bums).

If I can't find it at Ultimate, Best Buy, Comp USA or a couple of local outfits, I'll do without.

[BushOut06]

2. Circuit city is a FUCKING JOKE

I'm no fan of Best Buy, but I just can't bring myself to go into a Circuit City. I'd rather drag myself into a Walmart to purchase something than go into CC.

[mitchtv]

3. Try Sears

[AllieB]

5. Sears is still a good-quality outfit.

I have had Sears appliances and vacuum cleaners since I moved out on my own from the parents. They have good warranties also.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Wow! Thanks for the info. I'll never set foot in a CC again.

[John1956PA]

6. Sometimes it comes down to the competence of the staff of the particular store.

About a month ago, I went to a "big box store" which is a competitor to Circuit City and received poor service. I then went to a Circuit City store and received excellent service.

[mitchtv]

7. I'm sure the employees who were fired this summer

then rehired at a lower salary , felt all warm inside.