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Circuit City’s Liquidation Sale Revisited: When Deeper Discounts= Higher Prices

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The HD Guru® made a second visit to his local Circuit City store in Hicksville, NY on Feb. 5, 2009 to check on the progress of the bankrupt company’s liquidation sale.

About one third of the original HDTV stock, then discounted by 10%, had been sold since the original January 17th  visit.  Now, signs posted around the TV department declared LCD flat panels 20% off  “original” price, while plasma HDTVs were now 25% off.

You may be surprised to learn that while the percentage discount increased from 10 to 25%, the actual “sale” price also went up!

How is that possible?  Circuit City’s liquidator upped the “original price” prior to increasing the discount percentage!  All but one of the HDTVs surveyed had been re-tagged with an “original” price higher by $100-$600 depending on the model.  The result?  In reality, the posted “greater” percentage discount produced a higher final price!

All Circuit City liquidation sales are “Final” and all merchandise is “As-Is.”  If you purchase an HDTV (or any other item) and when you get it home you find out it is damaged or it does not function properly it is your problem.

Manufacturer’s defects can be repaired under the manufacturer’s warranty but if the set is physically damaged, you are probably out of luck.

Below find the old and new survey results consisting of (from left to right) Circuit City’s  old pre-liquidation price, the 10% off January 17th liquidation price, the current  (2/5/09) marked price, the price after current 20%-25% markdown, and the price at the HD Guru’s Pricegrabber link.  Unlike Circuit City’s liquidation, most Pricegrabber merchants have exchange policies for defective merchandise and many have return policies, check with the individual Pricegrabber merchant for details.  (Key Pan=Panasonic; Sam=Samsung; Son=Sony)  Pricegrabber pricing listed is subject to change.

Make/Model 1/17 “Was/10%off 2/5Was/Now Pricegrabber

Pan/TH42PZ80U  $999.99/$899.99      $1299.99/$975    $869.99
Son/KDL46V4100 $1599.99/$1439.99 $1699.99/$1360   $1183.24
Son/KDL46XBR6$2799.99/2519.99   $2799.99/$2240     $1919.00
Sam/HL67A750 $2199.99/$1979.99  $2399.99/$1920     $1449.95
Sam/PN50A650 $1699.99/$1529.99  $2299.99/$1725    $1699.88
Sam/LN52A650  $2399.99/$2159.99  $2699.99/$2160    $1487.00
Sam/LN46A650 $1799.99/$1619.99  $2099.99/$1690    $1398.94

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To learn more about Circuit City’s Liquidation, check out our other posts here (LINK) and here (LINK)

Copyright ©2009 Gary Merson/HD Guru® Inc. All rights reserved. HD GURU is a registered trademark. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission. The content within is based upon information provided to the editor, which is believed to be reliable. HD GURU is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Comments

JB
Posted on 8th February, 2009

I’ve always liked CC. For me, they’ve always had much better customer service than BB. BB can be downright hostile when it comes to simple exchanges or returns. CC was always very straightforward. Maybe that’s why they went belly up, I don’t know.
Others may disagree but I’m very sorry to see them go. Having said that, it makes zero sense to buy a big item like a TV from them unless they are truly selling at firesale prices (like 75% off the ‘real’ original price). Take it home, plug it in, it smokes and it’s your problem to deal directly with the manufacturer. No thanks.
Thanks for the info HD Guru.

MB
Posted on 9th February, 2009

HD Guru,
Thanks for the good information. I wish I would have read this before I went to the store in Seal Beach, Ca. They have equipment that is supposed to be 20% off and refuse to sell it at that price. I pointed to their add and the CC rep said that the liquidator can sell at what ever price they want to, I do not know how that is legal. My first clue should have been that everyone that walked out the door did not purchase anything.

Anyway, thanks for the good information!

Chance Stevens
Posted on 11th February, 2009

Hi Gary,

I hope that you (or someone from the site) actually reads the comments. My site really loves the work you do, and I realize how small a world it is when you are in Long Island, New York and I grew up in Freeport.

I recently wrote a story about TV subsidies and have a series I’m working on around how to make sure you buy not just the best TV, but the best TV for you. So far I’ve only done part 1, but the rest should be done shortly.

I won’t lie, most of the site is to drive sales, but we’re looking to create more good content to help give people a reason to come back. Please feel free to let me know if anyone looks good to you or if there’s a way we could do a study together. You can email me at info [at] tvlampsnbulbs [dot] com.

Have a great day, and continue the great work.

Lee
Posted on 21st February, 2009

Have to agree with JB, if you’re going to buy from a store that’s not going to be around anymore then it’s really not worth it unless it’s truly a spectacular price, and by all indications, that’s NOT what the liquidator who bought CircuitCity is offering (yet).

The great prices likely won’t happen ’til the very end, and by then anything worth getting will likely be gone. So maybe if you want some POS Westinghouse or whatever low-end cheapie set at an even better price, it might be worth it. But otherwise, blah.

‘Going out of business’ sales are just hype. Lots of free publicity to get the dummies to come herding in to buy sets at the same prices they were before, lol.

eyalylu
Posted on 23rd February, 2009

Went to CC and purchased directv DVR for $119 and three HD receivers for $69 each, much cheaper than buying direct, also picked up XBOX 360 ELITE 120gb for $279, got a warranty for the XBOX from squaretrade for 4 years for $25, the specials are there just have to know where they are hiding all the premium merchandise, (right behind customer service desk) if you ask for it you’ll get it, also the real deep discounts on the “floor” is in home audio, Klipsch RF2 FOR $209? RF3 FOR $227? Now thats a real deal if anyone know market price on these babies,hopefully this info helped,sorry to see them go but thats life, go get yours.

Larry D
Posted on 26th February, 2009

All Fixture managers can contact me @ ignaramos@aol.com to sell there remaining remote controls… thank you Larry

chuck
Posted on 13th March, 2009

ISSUE: VALUE OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES PURCHASED??

Any idea as to the value of the two & three year electronic-equipment warranties purchased at a cost of $150 -$250. and due to expire in the years 2010 – 2012?

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