Bedlam breaks out at Circuit City

After Best Buy mega-stored Circuit City to oblivion, the hapless retailer has quickly gone to pieces.

On Friday, Circuit City said it was liquidating all of its stores. Then, on Saturday, there was a big liquidation sale at my local Circuit City--up to 30 percent off. The checkout line was almost as long as the lines you encounter on a typical Saturday at Fry's--the mostly California- and Texas-based sprawling electronics warehouse. (The line actually snaked to the back of the store.)

Understand that I'm not giving Fry's any backhanded praise. Fry's is so big, so unwieldy, and, in some respects, its sales policies so lax that, as a rule, I avoid it (unless I need a nuts-and-bolts item like a Torx screw).

But Fry's is still a going concern. Circuit City isn't. The store that I visited on Saturday had been taken over lock, stock, and barrel by the liquidator. I interviewed (very briefly because she was on checkout duty) the "store manager" who said that, as of Saturday, her new immediate boss was the person from the liquidation company. That person, in effect, was now running the show, she said.

My local Circuit City (in southern California) on Saturday had lines inside as long as Fry's--though that isn't necessarily a compliment

(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

Inside, it was close to pandemonium. (The manager would not let me take pictures inside the store.) Consumers swarming everywhere: every one of them with at least a few breathless questions and scant employees to provide answers. And consumers seemingly snapping up anything that wasn't nailed down. (I've never seen so many HP wide-screen monitors in one checkout line.)

One male employee in the section I was browsing, spent most of the time I was there (about 15 minutes) pleading ignorance and searching for a manager who never (apparently) materialized.

A female employee I talked to outside (she was on break) said no one knew it would happen--until it happened.

What was ironic (and sad) was that I had been to this same Circuit City a few weeks before and an employee had boasted that this store would not close (in the wake of the limited nationwide store closings Circuit City had announced in November) and would be around for a long time.

My take as a consumer? The sheer scale, selection, organization, and relative attention to display detail that one senses at Best Buy proved to be a huge disincentive for going back to Circuit City--and CompUSA for that matter. Statistics don't lie. I have been to Best Buy dozens of times in the past two years. I've been to Circuit City--even though it's closer--maybe six times, and always as a last resort.

Ask your casual consumer, who is familiar with both stores, why Circuit City failed and the answer is often summed up in two words: Best Buy. Others will say Amazon--but that's another story.

[setgo]

I went out there today and they were still being Circuity City. Up to 30%? And nothing you really wanted. I'll go back when their days are more desperate. Today was a joke and a waste of time.

[superaznman]

I totally agree! i was at circuit city today and the best deal they had was 10% off! on headphones! come on, if they want to liquidate stuff at least try to make the stuff cheaper!

[willv3613]

when they are more desperate, how much more desperate do they need to be, they are closing there stores. its good to see you help the economy by only buying products from stores that are closing, because you want something for free. wow god job buddy, way to help out.

[gboess82]

At the store I worked at, we did 10% off the sale price for today only. Some people got some crazy deals, and many of the TVs were sold below cost. Maybe that's why, for the most part, people were nice to me and my fellow associates. <br /> <br />And the point of liquidation is to turn remaining merchandise into cash, i.e. "liquid" assets. So on the first day, why mark down something 50% if someone is going to pay for it when it's 10% off? From a business standpoint, it makes perfect sense. <br /> <br />But I don't know what's worse: the vultures at the liquidation companies that mark prices up before marking them down and will fire a CC employee for taking off 11% instead of 10% if their math was wrong, or the vulturesque customers that complain that they're getting ripped off on the sale that they were never forced to make.

[gboess82]

Oh, and at my store, the 10%, 20% and 30% off signs were CLEARLY marked with what was 10, 20 and 30% off. There were posters up all over the place with the sales. But people kept asking "so what's the price of this TV after the 30% off sale" and I would politely say "this TV is xxx after the 10% off" and that was enough. They either bought it or didn't, and rarely argued. <br /> <br />But where were all these customers in the last 3 to 6 months? Your financial situation is likely not better than it was, but I sold almost $15,000 alone, as did 2 other people in the TV department. As a store, we made 275% to our budget today. And that's even with people mad that it's "only" 10% off. Our regular sales blew the liquidation prices away, but it was a ghost town for the last month. That flow would've been nice, and might have been able to save our company. So picking at a dead and rotting company's carcass when it could have been saved is why I call you vultures.

[malcolmkettering]

willv3613: "way to help out the economy" you say derisively. Don't you think the $8 trillion we've borrowed from our grandchildren to 'rescue' the economy has been enough? I don't think I can give any more. Now you want me to pay full/nearly full retail for plastic crap from China?<br /><br />to the author: having lived outside the US for most of the past few years, I had only heard of Best Buy and had never been in one. Finally I got the chance last summer and what a disappointment. Granted it was only one experience but on the other hand the key to retail success is to provide a consistent customer experience every time. It wasn't much better organized than a giant Radio Shack the employees I encountered were clueless. I was looking for iPods and iPod accessories, normal ones, and I had two or three of them running around with their heads cut off. Sum it up in one word: TRAINING. Having worked for a year or so in the Apple Store counting as my only retail experience, I saw more clearly than ever how their retail concept is 100% unique these days with an emphasis on training and service. And they are very successful yet no other retail outlet has figured out the 'secret sauce' of retail which is so simple: TRAINING. It is sad that Best Buy is the 'best' that the big box retailers can do; someone should come along and blow their doors off by providing a REAL customer experience, the customers would be floored.

[TheReaperD]

@malcolmkettering: The problem is, this is the US. People will complain about bad customer service but, when given the choice between going to a store with good service or a store where everything is cheap (both in price and quality; even if the "deals" are perception rather than reality), 90+% of them will go to the "cheap" store.<br /><br />If there is any doubt of this look at Walmart's sales figures verses the rest of the retailers this holiday season. The major retailers know this; they pay a lot of money to watch these kinds of trends. The Apple store is an anomaly supported by Apple's rabid fan base. (Disclaimer: I am a former Apple employee.) Almost every major store that actually focuses on customer service, not just say it in their advertisements, are either dead or dieing.<br /><br />Personally, I hate this trend. I like to go into a store, have my questions answered quickly by a knowledgeable staff person checkout quickly with a real person and have help out of the store if I desire it. I seem to be one of the few Americans (US) that is willing to "put my money where my mouth is" and go to a store with good service and pay more. But, more and more often, this choice is being taken away from me. As there are not enough people who feel like I do, the stores either change their practices to keep up with the "discount" stores or close entirely.<br /><br />Right now, I loathe my fellow American (US) consumer. The self described "bargain hunters" tend to be some of the most rude, obnoxious and unscrupulous people I meet.

[gggg sssss]

@willv3613 its all crapola made in china anyway

[D_advocate]

I once worked for a major electronics chain that closed down years ago, and the first day of the liquidation sale was one of the toughest days in my whole life. It was bad enough that after 10 years I was losing a job that I loved. And it was equally sad that I would never work with the same bunch of wonderful people again. I was worried about how I was going to pay my bills, and how soon I would be able to get another job during the difficult times of that period. <br /><br />But the most heartbreaking experience of the whole ordeal, were the customers that showed up on that day. These were not the same people that usually came to our store. Something had changed. They all had greed in their eyes. Not one single person that came into the store was the least bit sympathetic towards our situation. Not one person said they were sorry to hear myself and thousands of others would be losing our jobs. No one, not a single one gave a damn. <br /><br />The only thing on their minds was how much money they were saving. They asked how much a certain product was marked down, and regardless of my answer would then demand that I take off more. When I tried to explain I was not allowed to lower the price further, many would become angry, some would actually start screaming! Some without hesitation, would even call me a "liar" when I told them the product was already marked down below cost. <br /><br />Seeing the same thing happening now to the employees of Circuit City, brings back all these painful memories once again. To them I wish to offer my sincere condolences over losing your job, and hope all of you are able to find new employment that you will enjoy very quickly.

[zb-iv]

With one exception, every time I went to Circuit City, it was a waste of time. Best Buy didn't put them out of business, they put themselves out of business by not having the things people wanted.<br /><br />The only time they had something I wanted, it was a Sony home theater system. And it turned out to be defective (the firmware has a bug in it that Sony wants $400 to fix - the system only cost $500. The only reason I went there was because I had just been to Best Buy for the last time - to exchange a defective DVD (which they accused me of *stealing* from them because I didn't have my receipt - even though I wanted to exchange it for another copy of the same DVD).<br /><br />Every other time I went in there, they didn't have what I wanted. A long S-video cable (50-ish feet long) was the most recent trip. Nope, they didn't have anything like that.<br /><br />I always walked out of there wondering "why did I waste my time coming here again?".

[CCPFT]

They can't really be Circuit City because they don't own themselves anymore. The liquidators own the inventory and set the prices.

[goat4life]

glad it was a waste of time! hope u get a better deal next time dush! 34,000 ppl lost thier job and alls u care about is a deal. lowsy ppl in the world i tell u!

[thejokker]

I dont need to feel bad for a company that can't keep up with the market. I expect that after enough poorly run business go under the market will rebound and people will be able to find work. I don't blame the store manager for the companies bankruptcy, but at the same time i expect the manager to find work once the marketplace adjusts. <br /><br />Maybe the store closings force some people to try new kinds of work, to try to go out on their own, to join new business types. And pretty soon new economies and new industries will dominate the market. Or, maybe they realize that this is a bad time to get a job so they rededicate themselves to school and finish up their BA or start a graduate program and come out with a new career path.<br /><br />People who believe in the free market are not lousy people. I trust peoples ability to succeed on their merits and that requires me to accept the failure of some for the success of others.

[setgo]

I'm sorry people lost their jobs, but that's not my fault. CC made a lot of mistakes to get them to this point including firing their more experienced and higher paying sales staff in favor of less knowledgeable cheaper staff. Never the less, it's over now and time to get rid of the merchandise.<br /><br />And the next time you try to insult someone junior, use the spell check or sneak into your mom's bathroom and look at the spelling on the box. Moron!

[beach_dude42]

I completely agree, thejokker. I don't need to feel bad for a company that has made tons of mistakes over the years. When the market was good, Circuit City might have been able to get away with poor customer service, but now that the market is down, companies that made bad decisions are facing the consequences. Once the market is left with only strong companies, it will rebound. This is also why the auto industry shouldn't be bailed out.

[trisha_k]

I am obviously in the minority. I have had nothing but great experiences at the Circuit City I frequent. I am saddened that they will be closing their doors forever, and so many employees will now be unemployed.<br /><br />The employees we have encountered at Circuit City have been knowledgeable, friendly, and always "up-to-date" on their information. Last year we purchased our first large, HD flat-screen television from Circuit City, and the salesperson seemed to know everything there was about this technology. When the Wii was so hard to find, surprisingly I walked in the same time a shipment came in and the salesperson promptly went into the back to get me one (I think it was a matter of luck...but, nonetheless, the salesperson didn't make me come back when they were on the shelves). He also explained exactly what I needed to get started (extra controllers, etc.), and chatted with me about the various games he thought my family might enjoy.<br /><br />I also enjoyed shopping online and getting GREAT deals, and being able to just drive up to the store and pick up my purchases. This is important to me because there are weeks I will work 50 - 60 hours and don't feel like shopping.<br /><br />Several years ago, we purchase an MP3 player for our daughter for Christmas. We purchased it more than 30 days before Christmas at a good sale. At Christmas, we found out that it wasn't the greatest MP3 player (the features weren't very intuitive)...even though there was nothing wrong with it, the manager of the store allowed us to exchange it. (BTW...we're now iPod users...she's older now and I trust her not to break it! LOL!).<br /><br />I am going to miss Circuit City...along with its great customer service, knowledgeable employees, and great selection. I pray that all of these employees are able to find work quickly.<br /><br />FWIW...the Circuit City we shop at is in Lake Worth, Texas.

[gjrhine]

Learn how to spell and maybe you will get another job.

[SeizeCTRL]

The only sad thing about that is now there's a lot of rude unemployed people who would rather talk amongst themselves instead of actually help a customer. <br /><br />What I find ironic was that in the last 2 weeks, my local CC had a complete turn-a-round on how they dealt with customers. It was amazing to see that there were people at every register and people actually asking if I needed help. Up until that point, CC employees were the rudest bunch of dimwits I'd ever seen. Often it felt like I was being a nuisance when I went to ask for help with something because they were text messaging, talking or just doing everything possible not to help you.

[rccoffee]

When Circuit City closed in Phoenix, display model computers were .05% off. People came in empty-handed and left the same way.<br /><br />CompUSA closed here years ago. The training classes were very popular and you could talk to an actual repair technician without a lot of hassle.<br /><br />Now, we only have Fry's Electronics and Best Buy. Neither really had good sales for the holiday season and . . . I switched to Macs 4 years ago so I go to the Apple Stores!

[BigGuns149]

Overall I was underwhelmed by most of the holiday sales this year, but the quality of the sales has been in decline the last two years for sure. A lot of liquidations don't tend to result in huge discounts because the liquidation company has a responsibility to try to get as much as possible for the inventory. A lot of the larger stuff(eg. TVs, computers, etc.) they will attempt to sell at the store, but a lot of the smaller stuff they can throw in a single flatbed truck and sell to somebody else en masse. I've found very few strores truly sell to the bare walls. Due to the ignorance of some of the early shoppers on what is a good deal very few good stuff will be left after this weekend. Therefore, most of the stuff they will sell cheap near the closing days is going to be junk CC should have never bought.

[idfubar]

Thank God no one got trampled - consumerism is a scourge...

[Lerianis]

No, it is not a 'scourge' in the slightest. You just have to realize that if you are going to a closeout or liquidation sale, you are going to have to be a LITTLE bit more careful and watchful than you usually are in a store that is not busy.

[foobar0127]

Going to these stores is always worse than sticking a screwdriver in my eye. I'm glad they're out of business. I don't think I've ever encountered any employee in one of these stores that was qualified to work in any retail store, let alone an electronics retail store. Every time, when I was leaving, I said under my breath, that I can't wait until online shopping puts this place out of business. Looks like I got my wish.

[willv3613]

I think you should keep a screwdriver in your eye, thats good you think that 34,000 people lost thier jobs because you would rather sit your lazy self at home and buy something online, rather help others keep thier jobs. congrats on being an ass.

[Rants&Raves]

willv3613: I'm not shopping to keep established inefficient companies offering poor service in business; I am shopping to maximize my utility. Either they are part of the solution mix that I seek and, if there are enough people like me, they survive and thrive; or they don't. If what people say here is true and they reduced the expertise level of their staff, then they can't compete with the crowdsourced expertise of the Net, so the Net wins. If you are brick &#38; mortar, either go for convenience or exceptional service.<br /><br />Otherwise, there's always cheaper elsewhere. I'll spend the money saved elsewhere, and help (to the extent that we both benefit) keep these guys who get it in business.

[Rants&Raves]

Addendum to my previous comment: this doesn't make thousands of layoff right; my prayers are certainly with these people. Just don't blame the consumer for the strategic inefficiencies of a company's management.

[wrangler12]

willv3613 - you sound like you may be a Circuit City employee. If so I am sorry that you are losing your job. I'm sorry that all of the employees are losing their jobs. <br /> <br />But Circuit City is a poor excuse for a store at least in my area. I've tried to shop at the two stores in my area, but the employees always seem to be more concerned about chatting with each other or on their cell phones than they are with helping customers. It's been a rare occasion that I've found what I needed at a Circuit City store. At Best Buy it is the polar opposite. <br /> <br />Circuit City doesn't deserve to survive. <br /> <br />As for spending money elsewhere, it is a free market. And people spending their money at stores that provide good products and service helps to keep the employees of those stores in a job, doesn't it?

[steggy123]

willv3613, your ignorance, attitude, but especially your spelling, is appalling. You, and people like you, are the reason companies like Circuit City fail. I can only assume you?re a CC employee, and yes I believe you deserve to lose your job. Sales is a competitive market, and Darwin?s law applies. Only the strong survive. If you?re stupid, you die. <br /> <br />Expecting consumers to feel sorry for you and CC because after years of poor service, high prices and shoddy selection, you?re going out of business only strengthens my faith in a free market economy. If you want hand outs from us, your ?customers?, go get yourself to the nearest unemployment office, because you are destined for nothing greater. If Amazon or Best Buy has a better price on the same or similar product then your ?liquidation? sale, I?m going to buy my products from them. I don?t feel that I should spend more of the money I earn out of pity for your sorry existence. 34,000 employees lost their job because of 34,000 employees, not because we?re too ?lazy? to shop at your overpriced store. You have only yourself to blame for your failures. <br /> <br />My advice to you is to go back to school. Learn the difference between ?there? ?their? and ?they?re?, and maybe take a business class or two. You?ll be better off, and in a much better position to succeed at whatever job you do.

[steggy123]

Really?... <br /> <br />Apparently punctuation typed in a word processor isn't recognized by this comments system. I apologize for all the ?'s instead of the actual punctuation.

[ritsuchan]

I don't disagree, I was always disappointed with Circuit City's selection and customer service. I never found what I was looking for there, either because they didn't carry it in stock or I simply couldn't *find* it, and the staff couldn't find it either. Their weekly circulars / sales weren't that great, either. Maybe I'm more 'selective' than most, but even at the liquidation sale of one of the local CCs here, I didn't find anything worth buying at the bargain basement price. While I think it's sad that so many people are losing their jobs, I am not really surprised by what's happened. The company leaders needed to make changes a long time ago to make them more competitive and this is the result of their failure to do so.

[ywkhgqo]

@steggy123.<br />Take it down a notch. You don't need to thrash at him like that. If you lost your job, you'd be pretty f-ing pissed off too. And it is probably not the fault of the 34,000 employees, but the fault of the management. The management makes decisions on how much training a salesperson gets, prices, policies. Obviously the management did no do that well. I wholly believe circuit city should go under but one should think about the people this affects.

[Cali900]

Transposing the i and e while typing quickly is common. True, he did it twice, but I wouldn't say this is 100% proof he can't spell the word.<br /><br />Will, progress is sometimes cruel. Would it have been right for people to to keep buying horse-drawn carriages to save wheelwright jobs when the automobile came out?

[steggy123]

ywkhgqo: <br />I know I was harsh with him. It was entirely intentional. The man is blaming anyone and everyone but himself for his predicament. <br /> <br />Yes it's awful to lose your job. I'd be upset if I lost mine. I would not, however, blame my customers for buying from my competitors for a lower price, or to get better service. Nor would I blame management for not training me well enough. Put the effort in to learn your products by yourself, the information is on the box. If you don't know what it means, look it up, we're in the information age. Have an opinion, have a recommendation ready for your customers that isn't just the most expensive model. Don't expect to be paid just for showing up. There isn't one successful business man or woman in this country that only put in their 40 hours a week. <br /> <br />Of course I feel for these people, and their families. God knows this is probably the worst time in recent history to be out of a job. I can only hope they find new ones quickly.

[brotherkurt]

I look forward to the bright, shiny day in the not-too-distant future when I celebrate the implosion of that bastion of corrupt, overpriced technological crap known as Best Buy. After years of their putrid presence in my home town, I have been foolish enough to purchase four stereos that didn't work, one dishwasher that didn't work, and been subjected to the rhetoric about their so called "warranties." Amazon will destroy them as well and the world will be better off without company that trains its employees to lie.

[willv3613]

thats good because these stores make the products. i would understand if best buy were in the business to make everything they else, but there not, they buy it from a vendor then they sell it. so i guess amazon who sells the same products from the same vendors would not have any faulty prducts because they are online, where you cant go and talk to anyone, you would rather just wait and send the product back and wait. smart!!!

[BigGuns149]

I have never been fond of BB, but I must say that generally speaking the store has little or nothing to do with whether something works or not. If you keep buying stereos that don't work chances are you are either buying a model with a high rate of defective units, you have incredibly bad luck, or you are doing something wrong. If you truly hate the buying experience than why did it take you so many bad experiences before you stopped shopping there? <br /> <br /> I will agree that generally nobody should shun a company for one bad experience, but if you never have a positive or at least a benign experience at the store you would think you would at least give a competitor a try.

[neocon4jesus]

I agree, Best Buy will be next to go out of business, and I say GOOD!. Amazon is a much better buying experience than worst, I mean best buy and their prices are better too, which all the cheap people in the USSA want. <br /><br />I used to work in retail and hope I never have to again. Americans have become a bunch of cheap Aholes! All they care about is how cheap they can get something and then when they can't have a salesperson explain it, they ***** and moan. <br /><br />Maybe the Terrorists were right about America. Maybe we are a bunch of materialistic, self absorbed people that just want our big screens to watch porn and our ipods to listen to rappers sing about their skanks and hoes.<br />God bless America, lol.

[ElectronicsKing]

brotherkurt...do you think that BB, or any other retailer for that matter, manufactures the products you mentioned? If so you really need to educate yourself.... Here is my guess...you bought cheap junk (which you could purchase anywhere), didn't purchase the warranty on the products, and then once it was outside of the manufacturers warranty it broke and you "expected" that the store would give you a new one for free...<br />My opinion, BB or Circuit are better without you as a customer. Stick to WalMart or Amazon and see what happens when you try to pull the same tactics...<br />Ive worked in retail for many years, so called "customers" like you are nothing but a PITA.

Agreed. In my area, it's Best buy that is truly horrific and need to go under. Not saying that that CC was perfect by any means but they were angels in comparison. My staff hate BB so much that I if they got out of line I would threaten to send them to BB. They knew they would be hassled for any purchase big or small so I guess they are good for something.<br /><br />Sorry to see CC go as they were a fixture in our area for a long time. Good luck finding new jobs.

[ferretboy88]

You should not even have to buy a warranty. If the product is good it will last.

[Lerianis]

brotherkurt.... I sorta agree with you. I got smart a long time ago and for ANYTHING but stuff that ONLY BEST BUY SELLS (like the Gateway computer my parents bought!) I go online and order it. I just WILL NOT GO TO THE STORES ANYMORE, because their prices are extremely overinflated, to the point where you would have to have a minus IQ to go to them.

[eyeman1]

Agreed! Best Buy during holidays is an experience filled with stress and disgust. We have several stores in a radius of 9 miles from us. My son chose to buy a GPS from one, on or about Thanksgiving weekend, and was mislead by the salesperson as well as the mfr, with regard to the bluetooth capability of the unit. His next trip back from college, we attempted to return the unit, unused to a Best Buy shop nearby [not the store he bought from but in the same area.] It was Christmas week, and through the lines and crowds, we found a new unit FOR $100 MORE, AND ATTEMPTED TO EXCHANGE. The store manager refused the exchange unless we would pay a premium restocking fee. I walked out, ate the restocking fee but did not upgrade. I will never go back to that dump. I told the manager that, had he been working in any of my shops, I'd fire him on the spot for that decision. If the decision was one made by his superiors, I'd fire them too. If that's corporate--well, my decision to shop online and screw the brick and mortar big box stores would eventually have its effect. Well, there it is! First Circuit City, next Best Buy...It's simple, if you must compete, do so on service and customer satisfaction. iF YOUR STAFF DOESNT CARE TO EXCEL IN THESE AREAS, KISS YOUR BUSINESS GOODBYE. WHO NEEDS YOU?

It's too bad people will paint Circuit City's failure as part of the economic downturn. They have been an awful place to shop for years, and have finally died a long-deserved death. I don't know how many of their employees were actually responsible for the crappy service, never-arriving rebates, ugly stores, and bad selection, (you know who you are...) but they deserve to be looking for a new job. I feel bad for the rest of them being dragged down by a lousy company.

[Simpsonjaycatt]

So I am assuming you are referring to the guaranteed done in two days firedog service, the rebates that are fully controlled by the manufactures and not the company, and your hate for the color red???<br /><br />But thats right because of all that I get your sly pity and you telling the people I work with the deserve to be out of a job. We should just go fire everyone that doesn't give it 100% at what they do. then the world would be a perfect place.

[BigGuns149]

I don't question that CC was poorly managed, but the bad economy I think pushed it out of business about a year faster. I predicted almost two years ago when CompUSA started closing that CC would be next. There are a *lot* of companies that had been struggling for years that in better times may have found new investors who thought that they could make the company turn 180 degrees. I joked 2 years ago that if I had a couple billion dollars that I would seriously consider buying CC making it a privately held company and fire most of their management because I thought that the company was undervalued due to poor management. Had they simply re-evaluating bringing back a commission pay structure and change their product inventory to reflect what people really wanted I think that they could have not only survived, but even thrived. Alas, their management sat on their hands and were waiting for a buyer that never showed up.

[MSSlayer]

Why feel bad for people who have to work retail?<br /><br />It is their own fault for not bettering themselves, and certainly their fault for working for a company like CC.

[il-kelma]

@MSSlayer below: You are a pompous a**hole. Their fault for not bettering themselves? Just because you had opportunity handed to you on a silver platter, that justifies deriding the real desperate situation these people find themselves in? I'm glad you had the money to "better yourself", through college or whatever schooling you paid for. I'm glad you don't have a poor family that you have to work to support. Retail is unskilled labor for the most part, we should feel the MOST sorry for retail workers because they will have a very tough time finding a job in a tight job market. <br /><br />Unfortunately for you, not all people who work in retail are druggies, morons or lazy *****, that would let you feel pretty darn good about yourself now wouldn't it? Sadly, the world is a harsh place and some people pass on opportunities sure, but a lot of people simply have no real choice but to pass on them. How would you like to get into college but not be able to attend because you can't pay for it? Or even worse never apply because if you don't work your family can't live on their own income for whatever reason.<br /><br />It ain't always the case sure, i'm not here to combat a blanket generalization with another but for christ's sake have some pity, spare some prayers or good thoughts for people who's lives have just become very very difficult.

[MSSlayer]

LOL<br /><br />I earned my college education through military service.<br /><br />Given the fact that anyone can get a college degree somewhere, there is no excuse.<br /><br />I used to work retail for a small amount of time while recovering from medical issues, before getting my BS and MS. I know it sucks, and I also know that the employees are unmotivated to better themselves. I don't feel sorry for them. If they like that life, then more power to them. That is great!<br /><br />However, don't try to guilt trip people into feeling bad for you because you limited yourself to working at a company that couldn't survive. A year ago, it was a pretty sure bet CC was going down.<br /><br />If someone is still working their today they either are undesirable elsewhere(not likely, if you qualify to work for CC, you will be perfect for wal mart) or you weren't paying attention. Either way it is your fault.

[tm_anon]

@MSSlayer<br /><br />I attended college for 4 years, I'm one class short but can't afford to take it. My only choice right now is retail in order to pay for that job since I don't feel like getting killed in Iraq. Good for you that the military paid for your "betterment" but that's not an option I take lightly. I've spoken with many who have college degrees, the guy who ran the company I worked for who ran it into the ground had a business degree. I'm more skilled, better educated and more able to improvise where necessary to get the job done but I'm sure he's got a better chance at getting a job. Do you really think he's a "better" person than me just because of a little piece of paper?<br /><br />What you should learn from this recession we're going through right now is that the better you think you are, the more people you're going to crush when you fail. Circuit City was run by idiots with college degrees, Banks are run by idiots with college degrees and the moron who's leaving the Presidential Office tomorrow has a college degree.<br /><br />Get over yourself and try to actually make yourself a better person. Find out what that really means before you call someone else an idiot for working the job.

[HlLLARY CLITON]

I think Wal Mart will take care of Best Buy

[Rants&Raves]

Hopefully not.

[BigGuns149]

Not likely. Walmart doesn't overlap with BB enough to realistically put them out of business. BB's A/V department is larger than the typical Wal-mart entire electronics department. Furthermore, while I hate BB as much as the next guy I have to admit that they finances are still better than CCs finances have been in a better part of a decade. BB has plenty of assets to ride out the current recession. To make matters better, BB will probably pick up most of CC's customers. Since most CC stores are within 5 miles of a BB store most customers will simply take their business to BB. Most of the remaining business is going to be picked up by regional chains or independent electronics stores. <br /> <br />Outside of the south where Wal-Mart is most popular most people wouldn't even associate Wal-Mart with a place to buy electronics. If you asked somebody the name of a store that sells electronics BB or CC would be one and two for sure. Wal-Mart at best would be distant third.

[cahomsy]

Hate to tell yah Hil, Wally World is going the way of Circuit City soon if they don't stop enslaving the Chinese people and start making things here, very soon. In fact it's going to be harder times in the far east sooner than later. Those shirts that cost 94 cents to make in China and sell for $15 here are going to be history. Most of the black women that I have talked to and have worked at Wal-Mart here in south Florida all tell their friends and family to stay away. Either for wanting a job or for shopping. There is nothing in any Wal-Mart that can even hold a candle to quality even from the local dollar store. It's a shame how Sam Walton's vision has been destroyed by greed, as well as his promise of only buying American, of course if you ask any of the management of Wal-Mart they'll call that a lie and you a liar. Like Circuit City Wal-Mart's management has suckled from the *** of greed for too long and now that the *** is dry they are starving and doing whatever it takes to suck whatever they can out of your wallet. All the while the executives are laughing all the way to the bank with their millions in their pockets.

[ElectronicsKing]

Doubt it...Wal Mart is a hideous place...nothing but second rate products, terrible service, dirty stores, and un-educated employees. Oh, and the customers that actually choose to shop there..not much better. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Wal Mart

[batvette]

If you aren't shopping at Wal-mart, and you bought it at a brick and mortar retailer, 9 out of 10 times you paid more for it. You may have gotten more knowledgeable help for your premium, but the way I buy things I usually do enough homework so that when I get there I know as much about what I'm buying as they do. <br />However as said Best Buy's product lineup is so much wider there will always be room for a specialty retailer of its type across the street from Walmart, small towns perhaps not. <br />Maybe Dayton Hudson (Target'!) can hook up with CC's facilities vendor and get 30% off some RED PAINT? I have a feeling there will be a run on the blue stuff.....

[guptasingh]

I think a lot of the problem is poor management &#38; profit seeking for the short term. They got rid of their highest paid employees who could really generate sales for cheaper entry-level peeps and this is the payback. Once, they even lured Best Buy management &#38; sales from the Seattle area and fired them a few months later as a "management strategy." I think the drugs they were taking were bad, gave them hallucinations. No love lost that place heavily sucked.

[dennisl59]

As soon as Walmart starts selling major appliances, the others, over time, will fall like dominos.

[BigGuns149]

Wal-Mart would dramatically have to expand their selection to even threaten BB. I hate BB, but having the largest name recognition for electronics retail they are probably going to be the biggest beneficiary of the closing of CC, which should make them even more influential over buyers. Considering that BB many vendors largest buyer and about to become even larger I think BB would wield enough influence to limit the advance of challengers, Wal-Mart included. I hate BB, seriously they are an overhyped store, but BB is quite a bit larger and their finance statements look pretty good considering the economy. Even Wal-Mart is struggling and talking about layoffs so the fact that BB, which is focused more upon luxuries isn't doing worse is a good sign.

[cahomsy]

There isn't a major appliance maker worth their salt that would even sell a vacuum cleaner belt to Wal-Mart. Would you, as a manufacturer, be willing to take a loss just so Wal-Marts management can make millions?

[ferretboy88]

Warranty on a walmart HDTV=$59 for two years. No questions asked. <br /><br />Warranty on a Circuit City HDTV=$300 plus

[calpolycrew]

Warrantys at Walmart and Best Buy were always cheaper then Circuit City....why you ask??? <br />Because Circuit City's warranty was not pro-rated, meaning if you paid $2,000 for a TV and it broke and couldnt fix it, you got a check in the mail for $2,000. At Best Buy or Walmart its all pro-rated, meaning if your TV broke and they couldnt fix it...you would get whatever the TV was worth at that time. A TV purchased for $2,000 and it goes down after three years, is not worth $2,000 in that third year. Come on now, $59 for insurance on a TV thats going to cost you $1,000+....read the fine print.

[Dalkorian]

Personally, I despise all retards who are stupid enough to set foot inside a prostitute-mart. Working uneducated employees 50 hours and paying them for 30 so you don't have to offer them medical benefits is criminal, yet everyone's starting to do it now to compete with them. It's because of the idiots who shop there, they are America hating traitors who deserve to be shot on sight.<br /><br />Yeah, I really hate prostitute-mart that much. You might be saving a few cents on that purchase, but you're doing it at the expense of your children's future. Is that really a bargain?

[phobophobiac]

Everytime i went to CC, there always was this idiotic hip-hop / club <br />music playing, and i always wondered why they allow lyrics with adult themes <br />even though there are little kids inside with their parents. <br />But i always dismissed this thought thinking that the times ARE changing and back in my times piercings, tatts and dirty fingernails would get you fired. <br />The bubble gum clueless assiociates in semi-saggy pants, acting like they are on break. <br />Although Fry's and BB employs no geniuses, atleast i don't have to <br />hear repeating beats and idiotic lyrics about some tramp shaking her <br />butte next to a bouncing low-rider.

[conchchowder]

I agree with everything you said...esp. the music/saggy pants thing

[ferretboy88]

Even today the idiot bass was up full blast driving me nuts. I wanted to stab the speakers.

[batvette]

You DO realize "Leave it to Beaver" was cancelled a few seasons back, right, Grandpa? Perhaps Pat Boone at 120db from a pair of 15's in that SUV would be more appropriate? LOL!

[Draq Wraith]

Circuit city redesigned and dropped most products i shoped for so i dropped them. COmpUSA dropped most products i shoped for moved sucked more so after being sold to a mecian co so i dropped them. Frys in the place where i shop sucks for trying to find anything i want and when i ask they have nothing of what i want. ALl i want is an ATI all in wonder card for my PC and can't find any quality anywhere near me, and i want a linux distro i like not some rehash. I hate the fact Novell took over SuSe they suck SuSe didn't until novell took them over.<br />Oh well thats change for you!<br />Retail would sell more if they carried what i wanted.<br />D~W

[Katchan22]

Not being able to find what I am looking for is always a struggle for me in all these major stores so the poor customer service is a huge drawback for me. I refuse to even go into a BB store anymore because it is always a huge waste of time. They have no problem approaching me and asking if I need any help but when I ask a question they run off and never come back with an answer. There have even been times when I have attempted to find the person who was helping me. So I shop at Microcenter now. I don't think they are a huge chain yet but I always spend hours in the store (it is a hour driive from my home) and I did most of my holiday electronic shopping there. What keeps me coming back is the store having in stock the item I went to the store to get and then as I shop I find other items I did not necessarily go to pick up but that I need. Impulse shopping is key to any store strategy. Why do you think they have the candy at the checkout? :)

[surfz-zup]

Hey, that's a picture of my Encinitas store. I drove past it today, and thought about stopping in, but 30 percent is not enough. Maybe if I was looking for a tv.<br /><br />It is sad about all those employees. It is not their fault that management screwed up. I think I started going to Circuit City in Washington DC around 1982. There weren't any stores like that back in those days. I got my first boom box there, back when that rage started. In those days, electronics stores were all rip-offs, and there weren't any national chains that I recall. Or you could go to Sears. NYC had some discount stores, but they were only in NYC. Circuit City was a great development in retailing, and I bought probably hundreds of things for 10s of thousands of dollars there over the years. My first camcorder, in 1988, after my first child was born. TVs and VCRs. A couple more camcorders. Some cameras. My first DirectTV system. The occasional smaller purchase, like tape recorders, walkmans (men?), tapes, gadgets, stereos.I used to love to go there, even when I wasn't buying anything.<br /><br />I haven't gone to Circuit City for a few years, and before that, I hadn't gone much. Best Buy usually has better prices, or at least the same, more selection, and a better experience all around. I am a total geek, so Fry's is my main source of supply, and I am able to find what I want there. Their sale prices are great, and their normal prices are usually pretty good. It is intimidating there at first, but once you know your way around, it is not so bad, at least in San Marcos. San Diego is very chaotic.<br /><br />I digress, but the bottom line is that Circuit City blazed a trail in electronics retailing and led the way for many many years. It did not evolve with the times. I am sorry to see it go.

[batvette]

good post! Circuit City was the bomb 20 years ago. <br /> <br />Remember Good Guys? <br /> <br />Like Frys as well (I'm in Ocean Beach, SD) but have walked out of there fuming a few times, vowing never to return! Yet a week later returned as their prices and selection were unbeatable.

[edtechlab]

Apart from the bad management, I feel for the 13000 folks and their families.

[tunes57]

I work for Best Buy at the Greenbrier ,Chesapeake Virginia store in the home theater dept.We were insane busy because of the Circuit City liquidation.Customers would go to CC to find a bargain and find our prices lower.Customers were very pissed off with CC.They had people on corners of the streets near the store proclaiming 30% off in store.A complete lie-in store product was brought to full retail price,then 10% off.To all out there,home theater at Best Buy has no restock fee and we have a 30 day price match policy to any local store,be that Walmart,Sears-but nolonger CC

[Simpsonjaycatt]

While they were angry to walk into our store to see the sales where not as good as they thought, even before we marked our prices down we have had better prices than you all. It wasn't until your unadvertised sell that started just miraculously started yesterday that you guys beat us on some prices. But we all know once we close for good you guys will simply jack up your prices again due to lack of competition. Having walked in the your store every sunday for that past 2 years as part of my job it is clear we have always had better prices. Our layouts were worse, and game plan to sell wasn't the greatest, but our passion for the company will never be matched by anyone in any best buy with your infamous 5 minutes per customer rule, with the buy or go away mentality.<br /><br />Stop bashing us, we are closing. In a matter of weeks you guys will have all the customers any ways.

[batvette]

"will simply jack up your prices again due to lack of competition." <br /> <br />Amen, brother. This is the bad news of this issue we're really overlooking.

[buelligan83]

"will simply jack up your prices again due to lack of competition". <br />Not likely. At my BBY, we price match EVERYBODY, not just CC. My biggest competitor was Amazon when I was in the Camera/Camcorder department. Now that I am in Musical Instruments, Musician's Friend is my biggest competitor. Don't forget about the online beast...

[Myshkin57]

@ Simpsonjaycatt: So are you suggesting people should have been paying more at Circuit City so that Best Buy would keep its prices low? That's just ridiculous and your suggestion that Best Buy will now raise its prices because of Circuit City closing is laughable. Best Buy's competition is, and has been for years, online stores. <br /><br />I do not know how people at your store were as far as customer service is concerned, but at the stores I went to the employees were unknowledgeable and unhelpful. Every time I've needed assistance at a Circuit City I've had to literally chase people around the store to get some assistance. <br /><br />Circuit City also suffered from strange decisions about product displays. I remember going into one a few months ago because I saw online that they had a netbook I wanted to look at in the local store. I went there, but they didn't have it out. I asked an employee if they had it and he said that they did (after I had to explain to him in several different ways what the product was because he had never heard of it) but that they did not keep them on display. Why in the world does it make sense to not have your newest products on display at a technology store? It boggles the mind.

[1kingsfan]

I want to thank everyone for bashing the job that I've loved doing for many years. Store 3375 and my employees are suffering but almost every single customer is just out for that "deal". Where the heck were you months ago? 10% off? Really? You waited outside my store for several hours today to get $5 off a radio? In the not-to-distant future I'll be out of a job - a job that I loved and that MY ASSOCIATES did very well. Sorry about your poor experiences but like most things - what goes around comes around. Wishing job loss on an already struggling economy? Way to be compassionate.

[Simpsonjaycatt]

That thing that makes things the worse is that we as employees are getting blamed for not selling it to them cheaper. Watching my AM and OPS manager being bombarded by people looking to play lets make a deal and then become told that they deserve to not have a job for not giving them the brand new 120hz 52inch tv sitting in the back for pennies on the dollar was just sickening. As a sells person I don't have it nearly as bad as them as I don't have thousands tied up in what is now useless stock, and also by getting paid hourly I am actually getting extra for working what looks like will be 50 hour weeks with the 10 or so employees that have decided not to show up any more after today.

[gboess82]

Agreed. I've enjoyed my time at CC and always made sure that my customers were happy. Most of the people were compassionate, but there were some people that only cared about getting the cheapest TV they could find without regards to us employees. Some guy was screaming at me that someone **at another store (best buy)** lied to him about our sales, so he came alllll the way over, 2 whole miles, and was pissed. I ignored him and walked away, and he's still yelling at me "I know you're going out of business, so you don't give a s---...." and was promptly escorted out of the store. I had fun today because so many people were nice, but in the next couple weeks, we're going to start seeing peoples' true colors. <br /> <br />And why do people keep saying BB had better prices? On all these blogs on several websites that's what I'm seeing. In the TV department, we had a big dry erase board with the main tvs, our prices and BB's prices, and the savings at CC. If BB was better priced, it was in red, and let me say that the red marker never ran out. With our price match, it's unbelievable that ignorant consumers flocked to BB when they could have had any of BB's sales plus extra savings at CC. I wish more people would have known about that deal, as many people took advantage and saved, and many more could have saved.

[Joe Force]

I personally liked the CC store by my house. I'm sorry to hear this all happen. I typically avoid BestBuy at all costs and that's not gonna change - I'll buy online if I have to. Just remember all these people "looking for a deal" and thinking about only themselves will be taking it from behind sooner or later. This bad economy will spare no one.

[thejokker]

I don't have any ill feelings for you, your fellow employees or the company. I went to the store looking for a deal today and left because it was just normal sales stuff. I understand how being in the center of this may make it harder, but I believe this is necessary for our economy to work. If you were a good manager or you had good sales people, i trust that you will all find employment for a more efficient company or do something on your own. <br /><br />My belief in free markets does not mean i wish for job losses. <br /><br />What if amazon or best buy or some other store has to expand their staff to feed the demand for electronics?

[ElectronicsKing]

Sorry to hear about you losing your job...I've been throug this scenario myself and know how awful it is. My condolences go out to you and your team

[ferretboy88]

Your store never had any deals. They were trying to sell DDR-800 ram for $120 when you can get it online free shipping for $30.

[MSSlayer]

Where were you and your associates months ago? <br /><br />Having a circle jerk in the corner, ignoring customers, thats where.<br /><br />Customers don't owe you anything.

[Dalkorian]

by Simpsonjaycatt January 17, 2009 10:48 PM PST<br />Watching my AM and OPS manager being bombarded by people looking to play lets make a deal and then become told that they deserve to not have a job for not giving them the brand new 120hz 52inch tv sitting in the back for pennies on the dollar was just sickening.<br />-----------------------------------------------------------------<br />Funny, that's a big part of why I left that business over 20 years ago. I guess you don't have the skin for it either.

[Chrisredfield1]

In the end, Wal-Mart, eBay, and Amazon will fight each other to the death.

[BigGuns149]

BB will stick around for a while and I doubt that Amazon and Ebay have the money nor the desire to buy up most of the online competitors. I doubt that NewEgg for example will fold without a fight.

[malcolmkettering]

And it is going to be a bloody fight! As consumption decreases each year due to worsening economic conditions and the black hole of debt we've dug ourselves, these three companies will be fighting viciously for an ever-decreasing slice of the pie. If energy costs turn around and start shooting back up like some predict for 2010, then both Walmart and Amazon might be in trouble because their business models rely on cheap transport/shipping. eBay on the other hand relies on more flexible shipping/delivery options and don't forget the future king of the hill: CRAIGSLIST! There is likely to be an explosion of high-quality second-hand material for sale in the coming years and it will be a local market relatively unaffected by shipping/transport costs.

[MSSlayer]

Consumption decreasing is a very good thing.<br /><br /><br />One of the reasons we are in this mess is we are way too far on the demand side.<br /><br />Supply side(ie real investment) is what makes an economy strong.

[Simpsonjaycatt]

While we all agree that 30% off on accessories and 10% off everything else is not a great sell, coming in and harassing employees and cursing us out is not really excusable. We were taken over by a liquidating firm and they control all the prices, they won't even sell us employees stuff cheaper. So you can all stop claiming we are saving the good stuff for us and so on and so forth cause its just not happening.<br /><br />And while many of us are understaffed as angry employees have rightfully stormed off to find other jobs, the fact that i cannot be every single persons individual shopper does not make me a slow or retarded person. Plus the fact that when you ask me a question about tv's and I won't immediately jump out and say that the 120hz 1080p lcd's are our best tv's and that plasmas are somehow significantly worse doesn't mean I don't know what I'm talking about. <br /><br />To think I got a customer who was nice today a brand new Pansonic TH50PZ800U, 2 monser 800 hdmi cables, a monster dig opt cable, a monster 3600mkii surge protector, 200ft of monster speaker wire cable,an onkyo txsr706, a set of Polk Tsi300bk tower speakers, the Energy Take Classic 5.1 speaker set, and our recently fire install firedog inhome guy to follow her home and delivery and set up everything for her immediately for $2600 plus 150$ on the side for our fired employee because the tv box was opened and she took the time for us to take everything out and plug it all up to make sure it was in fine condition we moved everything to open box and get her a real good deal. Yet still she was made felt uncomfortable about her sell as she was leaving with unknowing customers telling her that she just got ripped off and cleaned out.<br /><br />And I was told that i should burn down somewhere for ripping off middle aged woman who don't know anything about electronics. Circuit might not be the best place in the world, but it is clearly showing that our customers and shoppers are not really any better.

[nickgt08]

Well, you did sell her "Monster HDMI cables". Those are what I would call a rip off, 2-5$ cables from amazon work just as well.

[Simpsonjaycatt]

well if you notice we practically gave them away ne way... if you think she got ripped then you are ridiculous...

[ferretboy88]

Monster cables were not even on sale at all. $215 for a set. What a joke.

[MSSlayer]

You did rip her off.<br /><br />Now you know why people don't feel bad that CC is going down the sewer.

[batvette]

The fact that Monster has an overpriced product does not mean this guy or his company ripped anyone off. Last time I was at CC they did have a budget priced accessory line, and amazon doesn't have a salesperson there to answer questions middle aged ladies have when they buy complex AV systems. <br />Perhaps if your complaints about CC were mature and tangible they would be more seriously considered as actionable by CC staff when they were still able to do such a thing. <br />As it is much of the banter on this story would drive most people who've worked retail into a mindset where taking a break or ignoring customers outright became a more tolerable way to get through an 8 hour shift. Walking into a building that costs money to lease and staffed with employees who want to be paid, and you'd proclaim "I can get these at amazon for $2-5!" and I'll tell you to go there and keep going there. <br />Which is where, please?

[Malenx]

Monster cables at best buy and cc are both marked up average 350% over store cost last I checked.

[Myshkin57]

batvette: You said "The fact that Monster has an overpriced product does not mean this guy or his company ripped anyone off. Last time I was at CC they did have a budget priced accessory line..."<br /><br />What you say suggests that the woman was ripped off. If Circuit City has budget priced accessories and the woman was pushed into buying expensive name brand stuff, it seems pretty clear that she was ripped off.

[Noneyabeeswax]

Well it's not the employee's fault that the liquidators mark everything way up and then take a percentage off that. If people were smart they'd wait a while. But every Tom, Dick and Harry, Mary, Sue and Ellen sees a "sale" sign and they immediately lose their minds. Pffft.<br /><br />My problem with Circuit City, Office Depot, and Office Max has always been the mail in rebates. They really never put anything on sale without a damned mail in rebate. I hate hassling with the rebate companies to get my money. If you're gonna put something on sale, put it on sale. That is the very reason I go to BB or Amazon.com. Heck even eBay is better than dealing with rebate companies. Mail in rebates are a ripoff. That plus the fact that if Circuit City had been competitive in pricing, people would have bought their items. <br /><br />It was a combination of things that made me decide to shop elsewhere. prices, rebate hassles, and every time I walked into Circuit City I had a very hard time getting help with a purchase from the sales people. I've never had that problem at BB, or on eBay, or Amazon.com.<br /><br />So I'm sorry people lost their jobs, but The company should have done something different instead of clinging to the same old way of doing things.<br /><br />I'm expecting Office Depot, or Office Max to go next, to tell you the truth. Just about everything they put on sale has a mail in rebate attached to it. people get tired of being ripped off. And I won't buy anything with a mail in rebate. If a rebate is offered, I don't think I should have to wait three months and and fight with the rebate company the whole time, AFTER I met all their hoop jumping demands.<br /><br />Why should I spend my hard earned money that way when I can get it cheaper elsewhere, and without the hassle?<br /><br />And if I won the lottery tomorrow that doesn't mean I should spend more for an item because it's sold at a store you work for. I don't want to rip anyone off, but at the same time, I'm not going to spend more than I have to, on anything.<br /><br />That's the kind of mentality that got the economy in a jam in the first place. Spend, spend, spend. Even if you have to max out your credit cards, spend! The consumer society, buy, buy, buy. <br /><br />I didn't spend like a maniac then, and I won't now either. The liquidators can kiss my rear, because I KNOW how they operate. So yeah, you're an employee and you got caught in the middle. I know it must be hard, but your upline bosses were idiots.

[Joetwopointoh]

How many times has anyone walked into a local CC looking for a specific item only to be told it wasn't in stock at the store but that they should order it via CC online? That more than anything, spelled the demise of their actual stores. Many brick and mortar's have been making this same fatal error for several years now and will surely follow suit shortly.

[saedre]

Um, I've never been told that at Circuit City. The one time I couldn't find what I wanted in their store, where I was just casually shopping for some lenses for my camera (not really serious about buying) I was told they could order it for me and have it brought to the store so I didn't have to pay shipping. Now, Best Buy on the other hand, oftentimes didn't have what I wanted (despite their "great selection") or I couldn't find it because their shelves were a mess and their employees were always crowded around computers instead of helping people (seriously, does it take FOUR PEOPLE to find out if you have something in stock?) I was looking to get a new point-and-shoot camera and stepped into Best Buy to see if their prices were any better. The camera I wanted came in four colors, but they only carried one color. No, it wasn't that the other three weren't in stock; they just didn't carry them, despite the fact that they had the other colors displayed. The salesperson told me I could order it online, but I needed a new camera that day (I was leaving for vacation the next day and didn't want to have to drag my expensive camera along with me) so I ended up going to Circuit City, where they had the color I wanted.

[cincylynne]

That happened to me just a few weeks ago at CC. I was looking for a satellite radio antenna and was told to order it online because the store was out of stock. I didn't want to wait a few days so I went across the street to BB and they had multiple antennas in stock and on the shelf.

[1kingsfan]

For Simpsonjaycatt : I hear ya buddy. Today was an absolutely horrible day at my store. Between customers wanting a brand new $2000 TV for 75% off and customers telling me that they're glad we're going out of business -it's a wonder most of my associates didn't already quit. I spend most of the day consoling them. Maybe if the customer stepped back for a second and saw past the 30% off signs they'd see how difficult it is for us to smile through our tears knowing we have AT MOST 2 months left. Sorry for what's happening to you too - no one except those involved understand what we're going through and the media only makes this worse. Good luck finding a job.......at least I know my management team supports me......something you'll never see at Best Buy.

[Simpsonjaycatt]

Good luck to you buddy up their in Nor Cal these last couple of weeks too. While I know we need to get rid of everything in our store we can only hope that things get better over the next couple of days. It is sad seeing the heart ache on some of our senior employees that have been at this for over a decade now and have to come in to be harassed for hours today. <br /><br />These people in L.A. though were just straight out vicious today from the profanities to the boycotting in the parking lot harassing employees as we left when our shifts were over. I must say that I have never been so popular to have been booed by over 100 people standing in line to get in calling me and my work buddies names for having to use an LP at the door to keep the fire hazard limit down and not having deals that were good enough for them.

[ferretboy88]

What deals? They never had any. At least when compUSA was going under they lowered the prices. Different stores had different prices and nothing was 30% off. Nothing. Newegg.com is the place to go.

[MSSlayer]

Work for a crappy company and this is the expected result.<br /><br />It sucks you are losing your job, but the writing was on the wall for months.