CAG subpoenaed by CC

[tatteredpotato]

Link

If you're a regular listener of the CAG Cast (and you know we are) you may have already heard the news on this week's show that Cheap Ass Gamer has been subpoenaed by Circuit City. The retailer is attempting to get personal information on forum member Speedy1961, as part of legal action they're taking against him for posting info from Circuit City ads. The subpoena specifically mentions a forum posting that revealed the PS3 price drop before it was formally announced.

As Cheapy D says, the only personal information the site takes from users is an email address and an IP address. He's not rolling over though, saying he will "do what is right and legal." We just hope Cheapy wasn't being a tightwad when he hired his lawyer, we doubt Lionel Hutz will be much help here.

 

[lupi]

Of all the things to go after, info on the ps3 price drop :rolleyes;

 

[tatteredpotato]

I'm willing to bet Sony went after CC because of the leaks, otherwise don't you think they'd be upset about the MS leaks too?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: lupi
Of all the things to go after, info on the ps3 price drop :rolleyes;

Leaking the ad probably cost them a bit of money since it gave people the opportunity to buy before the price drop and then pricematch. Not to mention they probably got some flak from Sony since their ad was the first to leak (well before the drop, no less)

 

[purbeast0]

I still don't see how what he did was illegal or anything. Is it against the law to scan ads?

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: mugs
Leaking the ad probably cost them a bit of money since it gave people the opportunity to buy before the price drop and then pricematch. Not to mention they probably got some flak from Sony since their ad was the first to leak (well before the drop, no less)

How does that lose them money though? If they had happened to buy the system shorty before the price drop they would have been able to price match anyway. If they were waiting for a price drop to buy the system, and if they didn't know in advance of the drop, they wouldn't have bought the system until after the price drop anyway. It seems like it's the same amount of money to CC either way.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: Thraxen
....

Damn you and your Startdust highscore! :|

 

[lupi]

Even if everyone and there brother knew about it and purchased to price match; that's only $10 per console. Since the PS3 is barely selling 100k console in the entire country per month, I'm thinking that CC's portion of that is rather minuscule and to say it cost them $1000 would probably be stretching it. Even if their direct loss amount is higher, it is still way below whatever additional legal fees they are paying to start an investigation.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: mugs
Leaking the ad probably cost them a bit of money since it gave people the opportunity to buy before the price drop and then pricematch. Not to mention they probably got some flak from Sony since their ad was the first to leak (well before the drop, no less)

How does that lose them money though? If they had happened to buy the system shorty before the price drop they would have been able to price match anyway. If they were waiting for a price drop to buy the system, and if they didn't know in advance of the drop, they wouldn't have bought the system until after the price drop anyway. It seems like it's the same amount of money to CC either way.

If you pricematch after the fact, you get an extra 10%.

Considering that the rumored retailer cut is around that much (or less?), it's gotta hurt at least a little bit.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: mugs
Leaking the ad probably cost them a bit of money since it gave people the opportunity to buy before the price drop and then pricematch. Not to mention they probably got some flak from Sony since their ad was the first to leak (well before the drop, no less)

How does that lose them money though? If they had happened to buy the system shorty before the price drop they would have been able to price match anyway. If they were waiting for a price drop to buy the system, and if they didn't know in advance of the drop, they wouldn't have bought the system until after the price drop anyway. It seems like it's the same amount of money to CC either way.

CC has a 110% pricematch policy, so they'd lose $10 on each system bought less than 30 days before the price drop. That's probably about how much profit they make on each system.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: mugs
Leaking the ad probably cost them a bit of money since it gave people the opportunity to buy before the price drop and then pricematch. Not to mention they probably got some flak from Sony since their ad was the first to leak (well before the drop, no less)

How does that lose them money though? If they had happened to buy the system shorty before the price drop they would have been able to price match anyway. If they were waiting for a price drop to buy the system, and if they didn't know in advance of the drop, they wouldn't have bought the system until after the price drop anyway. It seems like it's the same amount of money to CC either way.

CC has a 110% pricematch policy, so they'd lose $10 on each system bought less than 30 days before the price drop. That's probably about how much profit they make on each system.

they only price match themselves at 100%. Showing them a competitors ad at say 499 wouldn't do much as they'd have it at 499 also. My CC won't give you 110% difference if competitor's price and their price are the same. Maybe yours is different. Mine are nazis though and I don't ever shop their again. Idiots think they own the store.

Q: Will Circuit City match its own prices?
A: Yes, if you purchase an item from us (in-store or on circuitcity.com) and we advertise the same item at a lower price within thirty days of your purchase, we will refund you 100% of the price difference. Bring the advertisement and your original sales receipt to your local Circuit City for the refund.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: herkulease

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Thraxen

Originally posted by: mugs
Leaking the ad probably cost them a bit of money since it gave people the opportunity to buy before the price drop and then pricematch. Not to mention they probably got some flak from Sony since their ad was the first to leak (well before the drop, no less)

How does that lose them money though? If they had happened to buy the system shorty before the price drop they would have been able to price match anyway. If they were waiting for a price drop to buy the system, and if they didn't know in advance of the drop, they wouldn't have bought the system until after the price drop anyway. It seems like it's the same amount of money to CC either way.

CC has a 110% pricematch policy, so they'd lose $10 on each system bought less than 30 days before the price drop. That's probably about how much profit they make on each system.

they only price match themselves at 100%. Showing them a competitors ad at say 499 wouldn't do much as they'd have it at 499 also. My CC won't give you 110% difference if competitor's price and their price are the same. Maybe yours is different. Mine are nazis though and I don't ever shop their again. Idiots think they own the store.

Q: Will Circuit City match its own prices?
A: Yes, if you purchase an item from us (in-store or on circuitcity.com) and we advertise the same item at a lower price within thirty days of your purchase, we will refund you 100% of the price difference. Bring the advertisement and your original sales receipt to your local Circuit City for the refund.

The posters at my CC clearly said 110% the last time I went in (though that was at least a month ago).

Don't forget the idea is you're supposed to match the price AFTER you have already purchased it. We've done this several times at BB even immediately after purchasing the thing. They've never given us a hard time about it.

 

[herkulease]

Originally posted by: mlm
The posters at my CC clearly said 110% the last time I went in (though that was at least a month ago).

Don't forget the idea is you're supposed to match the price AFTER you have already purchased it. We've done this several times at BB even immediately after purchasing the thing. They've never given us a hard time about it.

Yeah I know you pricematch afterwards

but I don't think there's any store that price matches themselves for 110% percent.

Bestbuy, frys, CC, it always 110% difference only with competitors.

You only get 100% difference if they have a lower price within 30 days.