Update- Read The Latest On Circuit City’s Closing LINK
Addendum
Circuit City’s posted “current” price in a “closeout” store is not the same as Circuit City really charges (at its own website) for the same product. It is tagged significantly higher with five out of five TVs surveyed!
The HD Guru priced five HDTVs at its closeout store in Massapequa, NY. Comparing the original and 10% off closeout prices with prices listed at Circuitcity.com revealed the “current” pre-closeout price written on the price tags was actually $200 to $400 higher than the “real” current selling price of all five HDTVs at CircuitCity.com . After the 10% off closeout price is taken into account, 3 out of 5 HDTVs remained $60-$100 more than the same item at Circuit City’s website!
A Circuit City spokesman was contacted by email. At press time we are waiting for a response (the site will be updated when a response is received). The HDTVs priced are as follows
Model/Store Price/10% Off Price/ “True” Current CCWeb Price
Samsung/PN50A550 $1999.99 $1799.99 $1699.99
Samsung/LN46A550 $1699.99 $1529.99 $1449.99
Samsung/LN52A750 $2999.99 $2699.99 $2699.99
Sony/KDL40V4100 $1399.99 $1259.99 $1199.99
Sony/KDL52XBR6 $3499.99 $3149.99 $3299.99
This week Circuit City (CC) announced the closing of 155 of its stores. The doors of these stores were reopened yesterday (Nov. 5, 2008) for a closeout sale. Hilco Trading is conducting the sale under their sale policies. Visiting a local reopened CC store revealed a “No Return” rule that is markedly different from Circuit City’s previous store policies. Use the information below to help you decide which items you may want to consider purchasing on closeout.
All of the merchandise in the 155 closeout stores is marked down. Currently, sealed HDTVs are 10% off the Circuit City’s tag price. Video game consoles are at 5% off, DVDs and Blu-ray discs are tagged at 20% off, video/audio cables were at 15% off, DVD/Blu-ray players 10% off and TV stands were at 15% off (the percent discount may increase in the near future, depending on how fast the remaining merchandise moves). A warning: all sales in the closing stores are “FINAL” and all merchandise is sold “As Is”. If you take an item home and encounter a defect, you are only covered by the manufacturer’s warranty; there are no returns, refunds or exchanges. For this reason, the HD GURU highly recommends you confirm a sealed HDTV is undamaged before purchase. If you do not check it first and there is concealed damage, the product probably will not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Also, beware that under Hilco’s rules, you cannot “power-on” a new HDTV to confirm it is functional before purchase. This means: if the set is dead when you get it home, you will have to get it repaired under warranty before you can use it. Depending on the maker, parts and service availability, this could take days or weeks.
Open Box and Display Merchandise
All display products are being treated as “open box” currently with the same 10% discount, however, according to the salesperson at CC and confirmed by a Hilco representative, you can try to negotiate with a manager to obtain a lower price. HD Guru suggests you choose the of the make and model you want to purchase before attempting to bargain the price. Also, check out the lowest on-line price for the same model. You can use the HD GURU/Pricegrabber link on the lower left side of this web page. Different types of HDTVs have different issues concerning demo products. Here are tips for all HDTVs and specifics for plasma, rear projectors and LCD flat panels.
On the back of every HDTV is the date of manufacture. Learn the date. You should assume the TV went up on display shortly thereafter, as the big box retailers tend to get the new merchandise upon release and put it on the floor quickly. Based on Circuit City store hours of operation, you should estimate 400 hours a month use. Keep in mind all displays are in the brightest “showroom” mode, which minimizes the life of the light source, phosphors in plasmas, fluorescent lights in LCD flat panels, and lamps in rear projectors. According to the CC salesperson, none of the display products have the original boxes or packing materials (more on this later). Verify the demo model has the following parts, if missing, you will have to purchase a replacement at your own expense and you should use this as a bargaining tool. The Owner’s Manual (replacement up to around $50 for the original, though you may be able to download and print off the manufacturers website), Table Stand for flat panels (replacement cost around $300), Power Cord and included cables and accessories (around $10-$50). Original Box and packing material if you need to ship the TV back to the manufacturer for repair (up to $300 if ordered from the manufacturer). The original factory remote control is required to assure you have access to all functions including service codes (should the set require service adjustments in the future). Check the owner’s manual to assure the remote provided is the same model remote control supplied with the TV (replacement is about $50-$100). Set makers often pack unique remotes for certain models.
Here are the specific caveats for the three types of displays.
LCD
Set makers generally rate the lifespan (to half brightness) of LCD flat panels at 60,000 hours, however these claims are unsubstantiated and one company’s internal test data puts the life at around 15,000-20,000 hours. Therefore, if the demo model is 10 months old, it has already used up about 10%-25% of its lifespan (10 equals about 4,000 hours use). You should bargain the price down accordingly. Make sure you c\Check the surface of the screen for scratches or permanent marring. LCD screens have special surface filters. Screen surfaces are not repairable and require a panel replacement, which costs about the same as replacing the TV.
Plasma
Set makers generally rate plasma lifespan at 60,000-100,000 hours, though this in the lower wearing “home” mode not brighter shorter life “store demo” mode. I guesstimate the lifespan in store demo mode is about one-half the hours (30,000- 50,000). Calculate usage and bargain accordingly based on its remaining life. Also, check for screen scratches and reject the plasma if you see one.
Rear Projectors (DLP)
Check for screen defects (scratches, cracks or marring) and reject the TV if present. Replacing a screen is impractical (estimates cost $400-$700) and probably isn’t covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Projection lamps generally have a lifespan of about 2000 to 3000 hours and cost $100-$400 for a bulb replacement module. Manufacturer’s lamp warranties (if any) generally cover bulbs for a short periods after purchase (typically around 1-3 months)
Getting Your Flat Panel Back Home Without Damage
You should never lay down a Plasma and LCD flat on its back or face. If placed this way the glass in the screen can easily crack making the TV useless. Flat panels should always be upright (even if in the factory carton) supported on the bottom on a flat surface (such as the back seat cushion). If the display is uncrated, it’s best secured mounted on its factory supplied table stand. Have someone hold it so it does not tip and break while transporting it. An alternative transport method, lean the front face of the TV’s bezel against the seat back, cushioning it across the back panel and edges with blankets to protect it. Once properly cushioned and protected, you may use seatbelts or bungee cords to secure in the TV in place. NEVER have anything apply pressure to the screen and never support the TV on the screen. A cracked flat panel is not repairable, as the panel must be replaced. The cost of the new panel and labor will equal or exceed the price of the HDTV.
DVD and Blu-ray Players
Disc players are mechanical devices and wear out based on usage. HD Guru recommends you stay away from a demo model, however, if you must consider one, make sure all functions work properly such as drawer opening and closing, properly, access doors are not broken and all rear jacks are intact. Confirm the inclusion of the owner’s manual and remote control. Remember, name brand Blu-ray players will be available on sale in a few weeks for $149 or less. Good luck.
Copyright ©2008 Gary Merson/HD Guru® 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.
Dear ex-CC employees complaining about rude customers:
The first thing anyone in a service industry needs to qualify, or even last in the job needs is a thick skin, and the ability to see the big picture.
These customers don’t have any idea about what the machinations of a company in liquidation is, they are responding to an advertised claim the store is closing down. Common logic suggests that a store closing down has a lot more to lose by staying open, and not selling anything than if they sell at say, cost plus 10%. Basic economics & logic. If the prices in the store are higher than competitors, then the customer has a right to feel like he has been deceived. Most people when they are deceived, are angry. Put yourself in their shoes, and maybe you’ll have the qualifications for another job in retail. If not, find another field.
Don’t get me wrong, noone is happy about anyone losing their job, but if you can cope with it with grace, and get over yourself, you’ll make life a lot easier for yourself and everyone else…
Is that simple enough, CC employees?
I bought a sony cybershot dsc-t70 camera for $80, it sells new online on ebay and other stores for at least $180.
We are a 501c3 group like to know if you do not sale all your would you like to donate it to us
When you close the store can you donate the stuff you do not sale to us we are a 501c3 are # 856-308-4419
I went today and tried to use my gift certificate and they wouldn’t accept it because they say they aren’t Circuit City anymore even though the signs say Circuit City and all the employees are wearing Circuit City uniforms.
According to Circuit City’s bankruptcy FAQ’s website at http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/CC/568012013x0x272351/C0100213-25E0-4BDB-9558-F5807A7EACED/CC_FAQ_Part_5-Liquidation_Sales_updated_2.12.09.pdf
they will honor Gift Cards as long as the store you visited is still open (obviously it is). I suggest you call you state’s Attorney General office immediately for guidance and perhaps your local newspaper’s consumer reporter.
HD GURU
Pending rebates through circuit city itself you can kiss it goodbye. If it’s through the item’s manufacturer then it’s still good.
Anyone know about pending rebates?
This article is most certainly accurate. I bought an HDTV at Circuit City almost 1.5 yrs ago, and when I went to the liquidation sale last week I found that the exact same model of TV is being “liquidated” at $200 MORE than I paid for it.
Buyer beware!
My son would like to buy a Nintendo DS Lite, does anyone know how much it would cost on sale in PA with the sale?
I went to the one here in Huntington Beach, CA which left me with one persistent thought . . . WTF?????
Almost every “sale” item was 10-20% MORE than I could buy it almost anywhere else. But what should I have expected from a company which things it’s ethical to fire all its employees and replace them with workers who are willing to take half as much.
Good riddance to a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad institution. It’s not a “sale” – it’s charity for rich, incompetent owners.
Reply Daisy:
This is in direct reply to Daisy, regarding the Sony laptop computer. I’m sorry, but that is too little information to advise you as to whether that is a good deal or not. You may want to do a web search on the laptop model number; you’ll probably be able to quickly determine if that is a good deal or not.
They at least should provide an extra discount to us, the individuals who can show how many thousands in their stocks we lost… But that’s another story…
I see the high prices in the original price. Many of the items after the 20% are really at the special price they have it for christmast sales. I walk for 3 hours the store last Tuesday but don’t found nothing that convince me. I don’t know if it was mentioned before, but at some items, like the cameras and printers they have a paper in the display that is down the table where the cameras are and where it is the bar code, there is also an expiration day… So what this means, look for the item a day after the expiration of that discounted sales price and look if the price is good for buy. Online prices are better and you don’t need to pay an extra 5 – 10% in state taxes, but for items that you need to pay high shipping charges like an plasma/lcd, check the prices and buy them later. Wait for the first week of march… Stores don’t have a lot of merchandise but you will found good prices. Good luck.
they basically get a piece of the pie usually a percentage. for making sure nobody steals the pie
just to let everyone know cc is not bought by the liquidator. they are called in to liquidate merchandice when major corporations file bankruptcy to insure thing are not done under the table. this is to keep things above board, for cc’s lenders and crediters to make sure everyone gets as much of their money as possible. i used to work for a liquidator, this is how i know
Well thanks for letting people that don’t know about this Circuit City thing. Know I’ve got a question, someone’s trying to sell me a laptop computer SONY, believe it is a 15″ for $400.00 is it a good deal or not.
after reading the posts of the employees you can easily see that they have no clue about retail.
retail merchandise is generally marked up 40%-50% from what its bought for
yes in rare instances like playstation-xbox will company take hit on unit because they can make money on games
tv’s are not sold at below costs thats ridiculas you would be lucky to find one thats only marked up only 20%
in my experience with cc their employees have absolutely no training in customer interaction product knowledge etc. not to say best buy is any better in this dept. mainly do to their employees have high turnover so it doesnt make sense to spend tons of money on training them.
where bb employees beat cc is that there is more supervision and policy to keep them in line. Ive been to several cc stores and it always felt like when you would get a substitute teacher and nobody would do any work. It was like a social scene with all of them conversating and when you ask for help it was like you were asking for some big favor. you were better off not asking for help because most likely you would get misinformation. is it the employees fault no, because they are mostly kids with no supervision or training it was managements fault ultimately. What these kids should look forward to is working a meaningful job, I just hope they realize that in most jobs you don’t punch in talk to your friends misinform a couple of folk and leave. good luck emo freak kiddies and gangsta suburbanite wannabes all the $8/hour jobs where you do nothing are disappearing guess mommy and daddy can pay for your emo star tatoos and fake bling bling here is a list of possible new jobs- best buy, gamestop, taco bell, car wash, priesthood, home depot, chi-chi’s, comic book store, local go-go, grocery cart collector, I’m sure i’m missing some help the kids out.
Let’s just make this really simple for everybody.
DON’T GO TO CIRCUIT CITY! THERE ARE NO DEALS!
Circuit City is nothing more than a fatal accident on the highway. You want to look out of morbid curiosity, even though you know it’s wrong.
Considering buying a pioneer 6020. My question would be, if by chance I have trouble in 5+ years with the tv and pioneer is talking about getting out of the hd, will I have trouble getting service or parts? Also, if I’m able to buy a Sammy 63 inch, 650 for $700 less would I be best just buying the Sammy or is the Pioneer still worth $700 more? Thanks for the input. Rich
Well said “Going down with the ship”…I agree…people DO NOT UNDERSTAND the logistics behind liquidation and start expecting things at a price as if free…PEOPLE STOP YELLING AT THE EMPLOYEES OF CIRCUIT CITY…let’s make them feel better and help them get a job !!!!
* our selves
I’ve worked for Circuit city on and off sense 2004. Reading all the bull crap people write and honestly think is quite annoying. Circuit city IS being run by the liquation company. They have at least one rep from the company running every store. 7 days a week. Making US do THEIR work, and putting out selves out of a job. Now, having said that. When you come in and decide to complain, get nasty/rude with us about the same stuff 100 other people ALREADY HAVE, your not going to get a “Nice” sales person. I work at the customer service and have had to yell back at quite a few people. WE JUST WORK THERE! and having ANY job at this point, is better than no job.
We have ZERO control over prices, tags, returns/exchanges. We are NOT allowed to mark things at Higher or lower prices. As a Customer service rep, we’ve lost all of our privliges in the computer system, and that includes those prices adjustments and returns, etc. WE’RE the ones LOSING OUR JOBS. SO THINK ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU BITCH that you can’t get something CHEAP enough. Go some place else, we no longer care.
And if you remember correctly, CIRCUIT CITY HAD a return policy. 14-30 days depending on the item… We can’t do that stuff for you now because the LIQUIDATION company deems it that way. And to the people who are nasty about 34,000 people losing their jobs. Choke on it. Karma comes around… No one TRIES to screw customers over.. WHY would we want to hear you guys BITCHING? Get it done right the first time, your happy and out of the store… The stupidity of people amazes me.
SO after all that. Open your packages before you leave the store to make sure the games, movies, tv, (or what ever your buying) is in good condition. We have Plugs running on 2 walls for TESTING TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS. If you leave the store we’re unable to help you. and QUIT BITCHING AT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. we’re just there for the last couple pay checks, and we won’t always be nice when your a douche.
Prices are slowly going down. I’m eyeing an item which is still $30+ more than cheapest online price (after 25% off on all audio stuffs). I’m waiting and if it doesn’t drop at all or the stock is gone, i still have the option to buy online.
I went in the first day of the liquidation sale and found the 7.1 receiver that i wanted still on sale for $326 plus 10% off. Being the cheapskate that I am, I decided not to but it thinking the price will still drop. Went back the after 3days to find out the price was raised to msrp of $426 plus 10% off. Oh well. But, I did get a really good deal for another receiver. There it was, a clearance item (last one left, another 7.1 receiver)marked at $361 plus 10% off. It was an Onkyo TX-SR705. This is going for at at least $500 anywhere online.
So if you are not in a rush, WAIT!
Hip Hip, the feds call what you described, in detail, credit card fraud. And you and your fellow felons had nothing to do with CC’s downfall.
And if you can wipe with $100 bills, what the hell are you doing going to CC for installation of anything? That statement alone takes “the principle of it” right out. Pricks don’t have principles, just an overwhelming majority of the world ignoring them because they aren’t worth the time.
Circuit City has NO bargains. How Stupid are people? The people are buying stuff up at Circuit City like it’s some great sale. The DVD’s are priced at MSRP,and they are now 20% off. Thats no sale, go online and buy them at Amazon. In my opinion the masses are really dumb if they think they are getting any deals.
First…to help you the few of you that got ripped off by short circuit city, if you used a credit card, just do a chargeback. You get your money back and Circuit C will pay $35 in fees to your credit card.
If that doesn’t work, try to sue them in small claims, set the trial date as early as possible. They won’t show up. When you get summary Judgement, send a local sheriff to collect the money out of the register at your local CC. A friend of mine did this with target and it works great.
If that doesn’t work or you don’t want to go through the trouble, buy something of equivalent value + your trouble in time and money WITH A CREDIT CARD. Then ship back the item they ripped you off with by fedex/ups so that you have a tracking #. Then do a chargeback with your credit card telling them that you got a broken item and they didn’t want to take it back in the store. Here’s your proof of having returned the item. Tadaaaa….like magic, you now force an exchange on them.
Ever since CC ripped me off on car installation to the tune of $400, I really disliked the store. Charging me for parts that I didn’t need and were not installed. I even spoke to the manager of the CC and he said he didn’t know what the items were on the receipt so he couldn’t make a judgment on refunding me the difference. I even requested to cancel the extended warranty on the items I purchased and I was told I could not because they gave me a special price. This was a lie of course. I can wipe with $100 bills, it wasn’t the money it was the principle of it. After that the only reason I bought anything was to test it out to make sure it worked, then I would return it after I received from an online source really cheap. Kept doing this over and over. To all the CC employees getting fired, I’m sure you screwed over someone like me. So I repaid you back by spreading this little scheme to everyone I spoke to. It paid off, you’re soon to be out of a job. This is great news for me, hopefully if you own a house, you’ll be in foreclosure which drives down the price of the housing market even more. It’s going to be so sweet. The cool thing is, my tax money has to only support you for a few months. After that, you’ll be begging me for change at the local gas station. All the while, I’ll come in and buy your house for 50% off and still get $15,000 from the gov’t. The only thing I feel bad about is that your corporation bought these giant buildings that can’t be resold to smaller retailers, they will have to be torn down.
“cc does not exist yet” sorry for the typo….CC does not exist anymore.
Ed-
Your a complete idiot. As if the posts that already state that CC does not own their merchandise wasnt enough of a clue as into why the employee cant change pricing. Even the manager cant. You then go on to rip on them. Can you read? I know the employees at that store your talking about. Alex is a great sales person. The red head…is a great sup. When he said no its because he cant do anything regardless of what the price tag originally said. For all you hating on employees or CC for not price adjusting to save you twenty dollars. Stop being a cheap ass for christ sakes. CC does not exist yet, yes the stores have Circuit City logo still on them. But they dont exist. Im so suprised at the amount of people on here that blame the employees for not doing enough to save them money. Ridiculous. Spend a day working a liquidation and you ll see why they act as “little “. Maybe today ED would be a good time to start reading about liquidations and how they work….maybe then you d be educated and understanding of at least the pricing. Until then, youll probably go thru life blaming everyone else for your own problems. Hey Ed your they typical arrogant, uneducated, rude ass customer that blames everyone else. Wake up and realize the problem is not a employee, its YOU! Once you realize this your life might get a little better. Have a great day.
3 weeks ago Circuit City Roseville, CA, had a Sony 19″ lcd priced in the computer at 349.99, and 10%.
Next week they announced a 15% discount. Now the Sony 19″ lcd was priced 424,99 in computer. Last week they advertised 20% for all TVs. I visited the store and the Sony TV 19″ was priced in the computer at $499 less 20%, 399 special offer price
Would you call this cam or simply misleading advertising? The identical TV can be bought in Costco Roseville, for $299 any day.
I asked the store manager about this. His reply: “is there anything else I can help you?”. Then he turned around and walked away.
The only TV that is bargain is an Element 19″ ay $160. But there are no returns and no exchanges, and Element is the brand of Circuit City. I would never buy a TV that can misfunction named Element.
Enough with this nonsense. Is there anything good on sale yet?
Josie:
I believe you have to filed with the bankruptcy court which would be a waste of time because your claim would be at the bottom.
I was at the CC in Deptford NJ and two days ago and the prices are still to high. However, it looks like some stock is going down. Someone said it is customers with gift cards that are forced to by now.
I am always amazed at the language used by some individuals on these comment sites. Due to their lack of education and brains, mostly caused by the brainless parents who raised them, they find the need to cover this up by the use foul or crude language. Time to grow up guys.
Husband bought carstarter for me for christmas…was’nt in stock. Everything was pre-paid. Went back (45 minutes) to store dec 26… carstarter was in but another part neccessary to installation was not.
(installation was free with deal )We left on vacation Dec 27…called our Ohio store from Florida when liqidation was announced to ask what to do about our installation ????
I was told that this was the last day for installation, however just return the carstarter when we came home & they would refund entire purchase…they were’nt closing til March !!!
So took starter to Ohio store Feb.2 & they said no returns ! I explained & they said finally said they would refund installation fee,(that was the free part, remember? )I had to fight to get them to also credit the required accessory that I never received ! Any suggestions as to where I might take this complaint to return the starter & get ALL my money back ???? thanks for any help out there !
ONLY GOOD DEAL DVDS U ACTUALLY SAVE PRETTY DECENT MONEY ON BLU RAYS
CC never even made an attempt to fairly price items and as a result they are closing.
These liquidators are stepping in and trying to make a difference by doing the same thing as the group they’re replacing.