Posted on 01/18/2009 5:32:36 AM PST by dennisw
Marked-down merchandise attracts throngs to L.A.-area stores as the bankrupt electronics chain prepares to close.
Shoppers eager to grab their share of discounted plasma TVs and Blu-ray DVDs lined up in droves today as Circuit City stores began liquidating inventory. Bankrupt electronics retailer shutting down 567 U.S. stores, laying off 34,000 workers.
By late morning, the line outside the Circuit City in Hollywood was almost 100 people long. Carlos Reyes, 24, and girlfriend Diana Anzora, 22, of Los Angeles, lined up to buy video games and DVDs.
"We don't want to get anything too big," he said. "You don't want to not be able to return an HD or plasma."
Andrew Lobel, 26, had different plans. The screenwriter from Los Feliz -- and first-time Circuit City shopper -- stood in line for 40 minutes for chance to snag a 46-inch LCD television on sale.
"I'm waiting to trample someone to death," he joked.
The scene outside the store looked very similar to that on Black Friday, Lobel said. Steady stream of customers had been lining up outside since the store opened at 10 a.m., said store director Jesse Alcaraz. A handful of them read books to pass the time. Some called friends to pass on the word about the sale.
Inside, the atmosphere was busy but not hectic, as customers mostly flocked to TVs and browsed bins of marked-down PlayStation and X-Box games. Merchandise was marked 10%, 20% and 30% off.
By 5 p.m., the Circuit City in Glendale was running low on popular merchandise, having sold out some television monitors. Laptop computers were also in high demand, said Miguel Hernandez, Glendale store manager.
Today's sales were up 25% compared with most days, and the store had four times as many customers as normal for a Saturday, Hernandez said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
CC had only 10% off @ Tyler store on Saturday, but the sheeple were grabbing anything right and left.
Only 10% off here in Michigan too.
I got news, CC's people are just as bad.
Once they made the decision to kill all sales commissions at CC and go straight hourly, the quality of individual at CC dropped through the floor. When I worked at CC, there were guys there who had been working there, supporting their families, for well over 10 years in many cases. They were very knowledgeable and hard-working. CC brought this themselves and have no one else to blame.
Just bought my Sunday paper to see the ads. The Circ City ads say nothing about deals or liquidation. My local Circ City appears to have your wife's model for $399.
I think you nailed it.
Circuit city seemed to be more expensive than other retailers. Identical products in nearby stores that were less in price. (not even mentioning online competition)
If they give a 20% off now, it just brings them into parity.
One of the cleveland stores was closing before xmas. By the time I went there was one tv and mostly media and accessories left. Baught my wife a cell phone charger for the car for around 2 bucks.
Another closer by just started theirs. I’ll give it a week or two and then stop in to pick up any other accessories I need - blank media, batteries, cables, memory, etc. It’s the only reason I have to go and the only thing that I’ve seen with a reasonable mark down.
Back around 1989 I bought a telephone set at CC. The clerk started to go into the "Have I got a deal for you" extended warranty routine. I told him I wasn't interested. he said to bear with him as it was a slow day and he had to look busy. I said OK, suffered through the pitch and when he was done I still refused the offer. So help me, he gets ticked off and in a rising voice says "You mean to tell me you let me go through this when you weren't going to buy it?". I was thnderstruck, as the guy was serious. I just told him "You gotta be kidding", walked out, and NEVER set foot in a CC again. No big effort on my part as there was so much competition.
My worst experience at a CC was when I asked a question about a computer and realized that I already knew more than the staffer did about the product.
CC always had “professional” salesmen and they generally had higher margins than BBY for many years ,,, all that started turning around in the late 1980’s and in the late 90’s they started hiring “off the street” same as BBY but they never got their prices down far enough to compete effectively... This has been a long time coming ....
Sorry, it was $360. Marked down 10% from $399.
That’s in Oxnard, CA.
Some of the electronics actually cost more than they did last week on sale. The liquidators put everything back to MSRP, then marked the sale prices.
DVDs and CDs were 20% off, but I don't think I saw anything, with the exception of audio/video cables, that was 30% off.
“I was under the impression that Guarantees & Warranties were issued by the manufacturer, not by the retailer.
At least that’s been the case with all the electronics I’ve ever purchased. “
You are correct for the most part. What I was alluding to was that first 30 to 90 days where a store exchange is possible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.