*sobs* Circuit City chief is 'very dissatisfied' *uncontrollable crying*

[Deja Q]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/21/news/companies/circuit_city/index.htm?postversion=2007122117

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Circuit City shares plummeted Friday after the retailer reported a much wider-than-expected third-quarter loss that it blamed on its ongoing store reorganization and double-digit sales declines of gadgets like camcorders and DVD players.

The Richmond, Va.-based company - the No. 2 electronics retailer after Best Buy - reported a loss from continuing operations of $208 million, or $1.26 a share.

Well, that's what they get for firing their top level workers, some 3400 of them... oops.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Those criminals were hawking extended service plans on TV last night...

...and they're supposed to be going out of business in the next few months.

:eyes:

NGU.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Circuit City once aggressively pursued me to purchase an extended service plan...

...this was a few years ago, when I'd purchased a DirecTV system from them. The guy who called me said "I'm having a hard time understanding why you would NOT want to take advantage of the protection that we are offering you" and I said "I'll tell you what. I'll hang up so that you can go think about it."

I got approximately 12 mailings from them but only that one phone call.

[symbolman]

20. Buwhaaa!! LOL

Best line yet for a hard sell!! Love it :)

[jmowreader]

21. My ESP tale of woe

My wife wanted a combination TV-VCR (this was several years ago), so we went to Circuit City to buy one.

We got up to the counter with the $179 unit, and the clerk started pushing the Extended Service Plan really, really hard. "Okay, how much is it?"

Circuit City didn't have a declared ESP for TV-VCR combos. You had to purchase the $90 plan for the television section, and the $90 plan for the VCR section, to have coverage on this device.

"Now tell me why I should spend $180 to purchase a warranty for a $179 item." And all of a sudden she started reeling off the standard script for ESP attachment.

There was a manager standing there, and I asked why I was being offered a $180 extended warranty on a $179 product. He reeled off the same script.

They really couldn't figure out the problem: if the warranty is more expensive than the product, wouldn't it be just as economical to buy two TVs and stick one in the closet in case the other breaks?

[Deja Q]

11. That's CompUSA...

Which, at least at the store I frequented, they had competent people there. At least compared to Shircuit Shitty and Bloat Buy... These days I'll go internet or BB if I must. The blueshirts are usually a bunch of twits, and they're the only people who can get into "Geek Squad" (which amazingly hadn't been shut down after being caught using pirated software for business use and later getting caught stealing peoples' personal data, shit...)

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Why is the store with competent staff going out of business and the others still operating?

:shrug:

[Deja Q]

29. Well

They catered to nerd types, but also jacked up the prices big-time. Some parts were grossly overpriced...

And I'll agree; the C-USA I frequented had decent staff there... other locations weren't so well-staffed...

[jmm]

15. I once was foolish enough to get an extended service plan there

After opening my laptop box and seeing the screen was cracked I went through a fun six week ordeal that ended with me throwing a conniption fit in the front of a Circuit City until they agree to fix it for free and refund my warranty money. They even offered to have it delivered to my place free of charge once it was repaired. I wonder why they didn't want to go back to their store ;-).

[riverdeep]

28. Don't do conniption fits anymore.

Apparently, you're going to get tasered.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2509209

[Booster]

26. Them pushing their extended service plans on me is the reason

I don't shop there anymore. They would get down right snippy if you didn't take the warranty. One sales guy said "well, what if you get home and it doesn't work"? I said I'm bringing it right back to you and you're going to give me one that does work.

[timtom]

32. Are you certain you're not thinking of CompUSA?

Are both going out of business?

[Tesha]

42. No, that's CompUSA that's going hard-drive-up. (NT)

[msongs]

2. only compusa had worse customer service - gee what happened to it? nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. CompUSA took the gold medal for all-time worst customer service, period. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

5. Maybe they need to tase more customers like Best Buy?

:shrug:

[Deja Q]

8. Hey, I was at Best Buy tonight. They didn't tase me...

Nor did they ask me to show proof that was my credit card, but whatever...

Maybe if I stripped to my underwear they'd have tased me. I know how much they like to use battery powered devices...

[Paulie]

12. Oh man, that pissed me off so much I walked out

I went in to buy a $100 item. Old stock something people don't normally buy (a wireless repeater, not an access point). Anyways, I started to pay, and they asked for my phone number, I said no. He said they needed it, and I needed the item, so I gave it. Then he wanted my fully mailing address. I said what if I pay in cash, said I still needed it. I told him to void the transaction, watched him, then walked out. Kid didn't seem to understand why, looking at me like I was crazy for not giving up all that info. At Baby's R Us, they ask, I say no thanks , and they put in a fake number. Which is why the latter continues to get my business, while Circuit City can go the way of SILO (remember those losers???)

[riverdeep]

30. I mentally carry a fake address and number.

I got sick to hell of numbnuts asking me that. Instead of making a case out of it and going into some speech about privacy etc., I got a number and address out of the phone book and use that, when doing cash purchases. No one's the wiser, it screws with their data collection, and the cashier doesn't get an earful. I do wonder sometimes about the poor schmuck I use getting a bunch of junk mail.

[usaftmo]

39. I do a variation of that.

I'll switch around the digits of my phone number. As far as the address goes, I give them the address of a neighbor or coworker that I hate.
:evilgrin:

[Xipe Totec]

14. Just trying to figure out where Circuit City went wrong

What is the formula for success?

What is the right level of tasing to produce profitability?

:evilgrin:

[timtom]

33. Me! Me! I think I can answer part of that.

I recently went to Circuit City to purchase an item. I saw no one on the floor, save one stalwart lad yakking on his cell phone...ON A PERSONAL CALL!

I stood near him doing my exaggerated "I'm so confused" look and he made a point of turning his body away from me and continuing his stupid conversation.

I left, vowing never to return again.

[Xipe Totec]

36. Now, see? That's what I mean

they could have tased you as a warning to other customers not to leave without a purchase.

They're not staying current with customer loyalty research.

[Sugar Smack]

6. So you've boarded the against-big-business bandwagon?

Eh, so've I. :rofl:

PS. Boo-hoo.:P

[Deja Q]

7. Depends on the business, but yeah...

I don't think Circuit City's CEO has the right to claim disappointment on the profit loss.

But he'll probably retire with a big golden parachute; as reward for giving all those workers golden showers...

[timtom]

34. Golden Showers!

Hilarious.

"Hey, wouldja look at that. It's raining. Honest."

[alfredo]

9. Those losses should ensure a huge year end bonus.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. One pushy salesperson was enough for me. I never went back to CC

Screw them.

I don't need some eager-beaver staffer hounding me while I look at merchandise.

[Deja Q]

13. Maybe they were just desperate for attention; wanted you to ask 'em out?

I did that once; it was amazing how quickly I got peace and quiet... :rofl:

(actually, I didn't, but I wanted to ask her out...)

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. The wife would probably frown on that...........

[marmar]

17. So when will the "Going out of Business" sales begin?

I give them until March.

[sendero]

18. Some of you may remember...

... several months back Circuit City decided to fire most of its highly paid sales staff.

As Dr. Phul (of it)would say, "how's that working out for ya?"

[Deja Q]

22. It's quite obvious the correlation between firing their better/higher paid employees and this drop

in profits.


If the CEO can't see that...


Still, methinks it's too late for that org. Last time I was in one of those stores (1 month ago), no redshirt gave a damn when this person went through the pilfering detector at the back of the store, which promptly sounded. I just gawked in shock as all the redshirts were either "helping" other customers or covertly wanking by keeping their hands down their pants... hey, they have plenty of security cameras to do the dirty work. Maybe that's why none of their own cared...

I had to silently giggle; the person going through it was accustomed to such devices... she didn't even jump as it went off...

[Nay]

37. Yes, my son was in that FIRST wave of commissioned sales staff,

"laid off" five years ago. Now, this kid KNOWS computers/phones/TVs etc., built them himself as a teenager, knows the ins and outs of all of it. He was doing pretty well on commission, and was happy to help customers because that's how he made his paycheck.

The day they gathered them all together and told them, basically, that they were "too expensive" and were going to be laid off, well, he was totally shocked. Especially when management told them they could get their jobs back the next day, at a low hourly wage, no more commissions!! Of course, they nearly all quit in a huff, which is what management really wanted. A couple of long-time employees stayed, just to hang in for retirement, but the next year they got FIRED before they could collect!

Now, I read in the paper that Circuit City is trying to retain its valuable employees by offering big bonuses -- the "valuable employees" being only store managers and above! The very idiots who have caused the downfall of the company over the past 5 years are getting BONUSES! When will they figure out that their most valuable employees were the knowledgeable kids who sold stuff on commission?

How's my son doing now? Just fine, thank you -- he's a union electrician, making more $ than God.

[Snotcicles]

23. Screw your employees, costumers screw you. It's called free enterprise. nt

[Deja Q]

24. But they'll go into poverty. They need government subsidy - stat!

:nopity:

And the customers are right to ignore that biz. Ditto for the costumers... Circuit City looks like a bunch of twits in clown suits without needing help from an outside agency...

[Snotcicles]

25. Big Box stores F'em. nt

[salin]

27. encouraging spending sprees that led to many years

of buying on credit with consumers going further and further into debt, while cost of living (food, energy, gas and housing) escalates - and gee what a surprise when suddenly consumption of nonessential goods goes down.

[AP]

38. People can't convert home equity into a wide screen tv anymore? Who is surprised?

Now, if we had spent the last 8-12 years building up an economically and politically powerful middle and working class...

[salin]

40. I haven't heard anyone say "thank goodness Gore wasn't president"

in YEARS. Those pro-bush knee-jerk voices have fallen silent. I watched McGlaughlin (sp) Group last night (haven't seen it in years), and felt like I has walked into a room with a tv on in an alternative universe. McGlaughlin slammed Bush/Cheney and their horrendous policies every chance he got (that is - nearly every time he spoke). He used to be pretty solidly GOP supporting.

Btw, great to see you, AP!

[smalll]

31. No full-throated technosnobbery yet? Let me do it for them -

Circut City? Bah! I buy ALL my stuff online on VOIP through foxfire godzilla. On a Mac, of course. Anyone who still shops (or works) in "stores" is a subhuman loser worthy of ridicule. I spit my half-chewed couli of ceviche risotto at them inadvertently, in gales of laughter!

(Was I close?)

(PS: Snoticles right above just got lazy I think and negelcted to make their full case, leaving that to me.)

[killbotfactory]

35. Golden parachutes for everyone!

And by everyone, I mean the CEO's who ran the company into the ground, who are clearly misunderstood geniuses who were to far ahead of their time for the stupid public to catch on.

[rocktivity]

41. "We underestimated the financial impact

from the disruption of our transformation work"...said CEO Philip Schoonover...(He) went on to say that Circuit City's "issues are primarily self-induced but are addressable."

Anthony Chukumba, analyst with FTN Midwest Securities, said Circuit City..."had a lot of turnover in its executive suite and (is) being outperformed by Best Buy...

Well, at least he ADMITS it was "self-induced." And since transforming Circuit City ino a slave-wage glorified sweatshop HASN'T worked, perhaps the best way to "address the issue" is for there to be another turnover in the executive suite--the kind that turns out the CEO!

:headbang:
rocknation