So Circuit City is now officially 'The City'?

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
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I thought sometime last year they were running a test store with the name, but didn't realize they had officially adopted it.

The new CC they just built across the street just got a big 'The City' sign outside it today. On a side note, I thought they were closing stores, not opening them. Interesting.
 

Vehemence

Banned
Jan 25, 2008
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"The City is a new venture being taken on by Circuit City Stores, Inc. These new concept stores originated in Norfolk, Virginia and also opened one store in the Richmond Virginia market have proven to be very effective in helping Circuit City sales.

Circuit City plans to open approximately 55 new stores by 2009, most of them being The City. The stores give customers a more hands-on experience with the products they plan to buy and assist the associates in giving the customers the best experience possible.

Associate uniforms differ from those of traditional stores, associates wear black shirts with jeans rather than red uniform shirts with slacks at traditional locations. Associates are also equipped with Tablet PCs to assist customer's in making their purchase."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_City
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
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Jul 19, 2001
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LOL, surprised they won't make em wear tutlenecks like Steve Jobs :)
 

wyvrn

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
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Originally posted by: dNor
"The City is a new venture being taken on by Circuit City Stores, Inc. These new concept stores originated in Norfolk, Virginia and also opened one store in the Richmond Virginia market have proven to be very effective in helping Circuit City sales.

Circuit City plans to open approximately 55 new stores by 2009, most of them being The City. The stores give customers a more hands-on experience with the products they plan to buy and assist the associates in giving the customers the best experience possible.

Associate uniforms differ from those of traditional stores, associates wear black shirts with jeans rather than red uniform shirts with slacks at traditional locations. Associates are also equipped with Tablet PCs to assist customer's in making their purchase."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_City

Sounds like they are trying to differentiate. But it may not work. People want big selection at cheap prices, aka Walmart, Frys and Best Buy. The service model has gone the way of the dodo bird.
 

WaTaGuMp

Lifer
May 10, 2001
21,207
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So if Good Guys were still around would they be called Good or Guys, hmmmmm.
 

PepePeru

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2005
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we built this city!
we built this city!
we built this city on cir - cut - treeeeeeee!!!!


 

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
165
106
"nobody beats the wiz" became "the wiz" before going kaput.
"circuit city" becomes "the city" before...
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
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I like this cunning business strategy. I can't wait to see it implemented by more businesses.

Bed, Bath & Beyond - The Beyond
Software Etc. - The Etc.
Saks Fifth Avenue - The Fifth
Old Navy - The Navy
Wal-Mart - The Wal

We're through the looking glass here people...
 

mrSHEiK124

Lifer
Mar 6, 2004
11,488
2
0
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
I like this cunning business strategy. I can't wait to see it implemented by more businesses.

Bed, Bath & Beyond - The Beyond
Software Etc. - The Etc.
Saks Fifth Avenue - The Fifth
Old Navy - The Navy
Wal-Mart - The Wal

We're through the looking glass here people...

:laugh:

Thank you, may I have another?
 

Soundmanred

Lifer
Oct 26, 2006
10,780
6
81
I remember in high school when the trendy teen clothing store "The Buckle" was named "The Brass Buckle".
 
Feb 6, 2007
16,432
1
81
Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
I like this cunning business strategy. I can't wait to see it implemented by more businesses.

Bed, Bath & Beyond - The Beyond
Software Etc. - The Etc.
Saks Fifth Avenue - The Fifth
Old Navy - The Navy
Wal-Mart - The Wal

We're through the looking glass here people...

:laugh:

Thank you, may I have another?

In the Navy you can put your mind at ease
In the Navy you can find some new capris
In the Navy come on and help the mother land
In the Navy our clothes are made in Vietnam
 

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Well, I'm just glad it isn't This City.





Because we built This City on Rock and Roll.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
25,375
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Another money losing venture from the red team.
 

jaredfs

Member
Jul 20, 2008
59
0
0
'Cause you belong to the city
You belong to the night
Livin' in a river of darkness
Beneath the neon lights

You were born in the city
Concrete under your feet
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
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OK, I'll be the iconoclast.

Roughly 5 months ago I bought a really nice videocamera (Canon HV30) online from them. They had the item in stock at the time (not many did as it was new and a hot product) and for a good price. Additionally, they were offering 1 year no interest/no payments with the CC Credit Card. I signed up for the card and tried to buy the thing online.

Stupid website didn't recognize my new card number, so I called the 1-800 number. Got some guy who turned out to really know what he was selling. He not only knew the specs on the cam (easily read from the manual) but how it compared to it's competition. He got me the no-interest deal, plus free shipping. YES; he did try to sell me the 4-year extended warranty at the bargain price of $400. But he asked once, I told him that the camera wouldn't even be worth $400 in a year. He laughed and just said "OK man...I won't push it." :)

I've since paid off the cam and enjoy it very much. HD video is a beautiful thing. :heart:

I know all the bullshit retailers like CC and BestBuy are normally crap. And normally the mindless, untrained zombie teenagers that work in their stores don't know a blank CD from a DDR2 FBDIMM. But I received GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE for a change.

And that sold me. Well, that and the no interest 1-year loan of $1K.

So, I :heart: CC and real customer service. I hate WorstBuy and their mindless drone, extended warranty selling concubines that don't know a damn thing about what they're selling.

I hope CC makes it. :)
 

palswim

Golden Member
Nov 23, 2003
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www.palswim.net
Yeah, I actually like Circuit City. I bought my laptop there and had all my siblings do the same. I didn't really have to have much interaction with customer service, but it wasn't terrible. Sure, they tried to sell the warranty junk, but I expected that. But, I just like their prices and offerings better than Fry's on certain items. So, I hope they stick around, too. Best Buy can fade into oblivion, but I do want other places to go than just Fry's (and I know some people would kill for that).
 

mb

Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
Well, it actually has seemed to help at least get people into the store. There are usually a lot of cars in the parking lot for The City here in Richmond. At least, a lot more than before.. it was usually empty except for employees and maybe a couple customers.
 

m1ldslide1

Platinum Member
Feb 20, 2006
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I don't really care about them either way - I avoid big box electronics as much as possible. When television shopping I went in there and the television specialist had no idea what contrast ratio or response time was. I politely explained it all to him and moved along.
 

Exterous

Super Moderator
Jun 20, 2006
20,598
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Originally posted by: m1ldslide1
I don't really care about them either way - I avoid big box electronics as much as possible. When television shopping I went in there and the television specialist had no idea what contrast ratio or response time was. I politely explained it all to him and moved along.

Unfortunately I think this is where razor thin margins have hurt the most - associate knowledge level. Both CC and BB are hiring people at lower wages and training them less than several years ago (I know they weren't always the best trained, but it was better than it is now)