Those poor saps who bumrushed Circuit City this weekend thinking they’d save money on a TV were paying more—before sales tax—than at most online stores, according to HDGuru and our own quick survey.
Gary at HDGuru checked out a store in Long Island and found that the Panasonic TH42PZ85U that lists for $US1100 was selling for $US990, but PriceGrabber offered it as low as $US930. Ditto for Sony’s $US2800 KDL46XBR6, which sells for $US2520 at Circuit City but online for $US1975.
Lest you think this is a one-off thing, and that the Long Island store might not have been representative, my conversations with someone at an Orange County, California Circuit City revealed more or less the same pricing on mainstream Panasonic and Samsung models. I cross checked them with Amazon, and they were available online for substantially less, and that was before I factored the free shipping and sales tax breaks.
We only checked TVs, but knowing CC’s historically crappy pricing, I can only assume this is a trend. Did any of you make a run for it? And if so, did you get any actual deals? [HDGuru]
CC Employee
January 20, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I work(ed) at Circuit City, and the prices we have now are set by the liquidators, not CC. In many cases, the liquidators’ “discounted” prices are actually higher than Circuit City’s original prices. This is done in order to take advantage of the mindless consumers storming their local Circuit City looking for a bargain. They think they’re getting a good deal (prices are cut “up to 30%”, after all), but in reality, they’re getting raped. Too bad they weren’t so eager to lose their money before CC was turned over to the liquidators; I might still have a job.
Report PermalinkJoe
January 21, 2009 at 12:46 AM
I would easily pay an extra $30 to get a TV in a store like Circuit city rather than order it off a website. It has been my expiriance that shipping a TV UPS or Fedex is a good way to destroy them… It would take at least a $100 difference for me to consider buying the same TV off a website rather than a store. That is the way I feel, at least with the big ticket items.
Report PermalinkSteve
January 21, 2009 at 1:36 AM
I went in in Flint, MI and found several computer and console games that were double the price I could get them for online.
Every single game I looked at was cheaper at the Target down the street, which is not exactly discount central.
Report PermalinkAnother Employee
January 21, 2009 at 5:01 AM
I completely agree. Where were these people when we needed them the most? Where did all their money come from? Idiots.
Report Permalinkthe tide
January 21, 2009 at 7:05 AM
On Saturday I got a great deal at CC on an HDTV and a blu-ray yesterday because the liquidators had failed to arrive at the location by then. I had befriended the store director in October while researching the items. The store director sold me a Sony HDTV and a Sony 550 blu-ray at near or less than store cost because the liquidators didn’t arrive there until Sunday. I got the LCD HDTV at about half the price marked on it in the store, and the Sony 550 for about $50.00 less than the best price I could find using shopping.google.com with my iPhone. Both items where brand new in box items, although it took a while to find a television selection that wasn’t down to the floor models. In fact, people shopping for HDTVs at my local CC will discover that there are very few HDTVs available other than the floor models. CC hadn’t got much inventory since November because they had to pay cash to get anything from vendors. Meanwhile, the store director who worked with me was very knowledgeable and nice, retorting, “What are they going to do – fire me!” as he range up a transaction for me at a loss for the corporation.
I went back to the store on Sunday. There were lots of people, but there weren’t a lot of sales of anything significant that I observed because the liquidators wanted the high sticker price on the displays minus a measly 10%, which is more than the sale prices CC had on items during the holiday season! Anyone who had done their comparison shopping research knew the prices weren’t any kind of deal. I scoured the store and took notes on items I thought might be interesting once they get marked down to 50% off or more. I hope that daily evening visits should net me some great bargains on some items I don’t need, but I might like to have at a compelling price. For example, once the $99.99 Monster cables are marked to $25.00, I’ll purchase a few extras.
All in all, the demise of CC was only an opportunity for price and product savvy people. For the average person who bought anything they were getting ripped over the weekend. However, given that my local CC hadn’t appeared to move much more than a few DVDs at 20% off, I have the impression that people figured out that nothing was really on sale at the so called liquidation sale. It looks like timing is going to be everything for people hunting down bargains at that debacle. Thankfully the Sony gear I purchased was in perfect condition and is providing excellent enjoyment at this very moment. I do intend to make regular visits to my local CC stores in the coming days and weeks, and may pick up a few items if I can find them at fire sale prices.
Report PermalinkClare Mullen
January 21, 2009 at 3:32 PM
I popped into Circuit City as I walked under them putting the “STORE CLOSING” on the Brentwood Tennessee store – hoping to get a deal. (we were having coffee at Starbucks)
There were no deals to be had!!! We are looking to upgrade our flat screen TV. Not a chance at 10% off which doesn’t compare to online prices. Also,,, I was hoping to get my daughter an onboard flash for her Sony A300. – Still way more than online prices. No wonder they are going out of business. I am not an online shopper. I like to see and feel what I am buying – but not at these prices.
Report PermalinkEmployee
January 22, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Shutup. Honestly, where were you worthless consumers over the past months? I thought you had no money? But now that theres a Going out of business sign you magically have plenty to spend. AT A HIGHER PRICE THAN WHEN WE WERE OPEN.
Before you got service, now you get none. I hope when you come in to the store, nobody helps you.
You are paying 10% off the MSRP, and you think its a good deal? When you could have had the tv at 30-40% off when we were open WITH a good return policy and you got information on the product.
I hope you choke on anything you buy.
Report PermalinkThis Guy
January 22, 2009 at 1:16 AM
Circuit City had good pricing compared to other brick and mortar stores before the liquidation. Almost everything (except their ourrageously high priced cables) was cheaper when they were still in business. Now the liquidation prices that are in place are there TO take advantage of the idiot consumers out there who dont have the attention span required to comparison shop. The average person just sees “going out of business sale” and assumes that everything is priced lower than in otherwise would be.
Those people deserve to be taken advantage of just for thier stupidity.
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