Boycott Circuit City

[pedroh 21]

#######..When it laid off 3,400 Circuit City veterans - 8 percent of its work force - last week, the giant electronics retailer discarded decency along with better-paid, knowledgable staffers who are being replaced by lower-paid knuckle-draggers.

The icing on the cake? Laid-off workers, after 10 weeks can apply for their old jobs at a fraction of their former salary.

PR honcho Bill Cimino, who explained the layoffs were made because the workers were paid above the "market range" for their jobs. (He blamed that on managers not observing salary caps.)

#######.. yay for corporate America.. I never liked CC, it was expensive, now, I'm never going there..

[Amby 490]

I never liked Circuit City either but I agree I am definately never going there either. A friend of mine was laid off and they told him he could reapply for his job again. He told them where to stick it. I think it is absolutely rediculous.

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

#######..When it laid off 3,400 Circuit City veterans - 8 percent of its work force - last week, the giant electronics retailer discarded decency along with better-paid, knowledgable staffers who are being replaced by lower-paid knuckle-draggers.

The icing on the cake? Laid-off workers, after 10 weeks can apply for their old jobs at a fraction of their former salary.

PR honcho Bill Cimino, who explained the layoffs were made because the workers were paid above the "market range" for their jobs. (He blamed that on managers not observing salary caps.)

#######.. yay for corporate America.. I never liked CC, it was expensive, now, I'm never going there..

If you folow that logic you should boycott Ford as well well for laying off the low paid workers and none of the execs

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Boycott Circuit City because they saw the writing on the wall and knew they could no longer afford to employ knowledgeable and experienced sales staff?

If they can turn this into a winning strategy, good for them. For the sake of the American consumer market I wish it doesn't work, but if it does then clearly CC Management knows something I don't.

I effectively boycott them because I've always found shopping there to be a bear and because Best Buy is sooo much closer LOL.

[pedroh 21]

#######..When it laid off 3,400 Circuit City veterans - 8 percent of its work force - last week, the giant electronics retailer discarded decency along with better-paid, knowledgable staffers who are being replaced by lower-paid knuckle-draggers.

The icing on the cake? Laid-off workers, after 10 weeks can apply for their old jobs at a fraction of their former salary.

PR honcho Bill Cimino, who explained the layoffs were made because the workers were paid above the "market range" for their jobs. (He blamed that on managers not observing salary caps.)

#######.. yay for corporate America.. I never liked CC, it was expensive, now, I'm never going there..

If you folow that logic you should boycott Ford as well well for laying off the low paid workers and none of the execs

well, i don't even like Ford cars.. Honda FTW

and CC layed off the 'high paid' employees (11 dollars.. yea, a fortune)

Edited April 14, 2007 by pedroh

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

#######..When it laid off 3,400 Circuit City veterans - 8 percent of its work force - last week, the giant electronics retailer discarded decency along with better-paid, knowledgable staffers who are being replaced by lower-paid knuckle-draggers.

The icing on the cake? Laid-off workers, after 10 weeks can apply for their old jobs at a fraction of their former salary.

PR honcho Bill Cimino, who explained the layoffs were made because the workers were paid above the "market range" for their jobs. (He blamed that on managers not observing salary caps.)

#######.. yay for corporate America.. I never liked CC, it was expensive, now, I'm never going there..

If you folow that logic you should boycott Ford as well well for laying off the low paid workers and none of the execs

well, i don't even like Ford cars.. Honda FTW

Yes and I guess Honda stays in business and does so well by not managing their staffing expenses.

and CC layed off the 'high paid' employees (11 dollars.. yea, a fortune)

Yes, because CC realized its competitors weren't paying as much. That translates to direct impact on the bottom line.

Like I said, I'd like to think the American consumer values the advice (read "is willing to pay more for') of knowledgeable sales staff. But if CC can pull off this strategy, it'll prove I'm wrong and they're right. And if they are right, this is the smart thing to do.

[pedroh 21]

#######..When it laid off 3,400 Circuit City veterans - 8 percent of its work force - last week, the giant electronics retailer discarded decency along with better-paid, knowledgable staffers who are being replaced by lower-paid knuckle-draggers.

The icing on the cake? Laid-off workers, after 10 weeks can apply for their old jobs at a fraction of their former salary.

PR honcho Bill Cimino, who explained the layoffs were made because the workers were paid above the "market range" for their jobs. (He blamed that on managers not observing salary caps.)

#######.. yay for corporate America.. I never liked CC, it was expensive, now, I'm never going there..

If you folow that logic you should boycott Ford as well well for laying off the low paid workers and none of the execs

well, i don't even like Ford cars.. Honda FTW

Yes and I guess Honda stays in business and does so well by not managing their staffing expenses.

and CC layed off the 'high paid' employees (11 dollars.. yea, a fortune)

Yes, because CC realized its competitors weren't paying as much. That translates to direct impact on the bottom line.

Like I said, I'd like to think the American consumer values the advice (read "is willing to pay more for') of knowledgeable sales staff. But if CC can pull off this strategy, it'll prove I'm wrong and they're right. And if they are right, this is the smart thing to do.

well, IMO firing knowledgeable staff for a bunch of n00bs earning 6.15 an hour, will turn CC into a Walmart.. try walk into the electronics section of wally world and ask the associatte to explain you the difference between 1080p and 1080i.. so now CC staff will be clerks, not people that know a little bit..

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

well, IMO firing knowledgeable staff for a bunch of n00bs earning 6.15 an hour, will turn CC into a Walmart..

I agree. It will. That said, CC management clearly feel that executing this strategy will bring more value to their shareholders. Time will prove them right or wrong.

If they are proven right, that will mean a large segment of American electronic consumers no longer value (where 'value' means 'willing to pay more for') experienced and knowledgeable sales staff.

[KHURRAM SERAJ 0]

I go with BB anyway their prices are much better and much more knowledgeable staff

[pedroh 21]

well, IMO firing knowledgeable staff for a bunch of n00bs earning 6.15 an hour, will turn CC into a Walmart..

I agree. It will. That said, CC management clearly feel that executing this strategy will bring more value to their shareholders. Time will prove them right or wrong.

If they are proven right, that will mean a large segment of American electronic consumers no longer value (where 'value' means 'willing to pay more for') experienced and knowledgeable sales staff.

I guess already some segments do not need that 'added value' of knowledgeable staff.. i.e. Internet sales.. now you can research stuff online, and I dunno, buy an HDTV 200-300 bucks cheaper than in a CC or BB if you do internet purchasing...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I guess already some segments do not need that 'added value' of knowledgeable staff.. i.e. Internet sales.. now you can research stuff online, and I dunno, buy an HDTV 200-300 bucks cheaper than in a CC or BB if you do internet purchasing...

Exactly!

Not only that, you can research a product online and buy at a retail outlet (if you're uncomfortable buying online).

Knowledgeable sales staff is going to become (or already has become?) a niche product.

Edited April 14, 2007 by Gupt

[pedroh 21]

I guess already some segments do not need that 'added value' of knowledgeable staff.. i.e. Internet sales.. now you can research stuff online, and I dunno, buy an HDTV 200-300 bucks cheaper than in a CC or BB if you do internet purchasing...

Exactly!

Not only that, you can research a product online and buy at a retail outlet (if you're uncomfortable buying online).

Knowledgeable sales staff is going to become (or already has become?) a niche product.

yea, probly, good thing I left before all the BS.. Shack started doing it too.. well, the actually started with top management first.. firing a lot of corporate employees.. now they're taking a lot of comissions incentives and 3rd party discounts we used to get, oh and no more accumulated vacations.. I guess it's a common trend now on all retail stores..

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

yea, probly, good thing I left before all the BS.. Shack started doing it too.. well, the actually started with top management first.. firing a lot of corporate employees.. now they're taking a lot of comissions incentives and 3rd party discounts we used to get, oh and no more accumulated vacations.. I guess it's a common trend now on all retail stores..

It is. You can thank the Internet to a large extent for obsolescing the need for live knowledgeable sales staff.

Change is constant these days and people who expect the markets they service to need them forever... are delusional. Your needs change and so do theirs.

[JoeMama 0]

If you folow that logic you should boycott Ford as well well for laying off the low paid workers and none of the execs

I'm Toyota all the way. Never a problem! I've had a couple of Fords...they were nothing but problems! What's that tell ya?

Edited April 14, 2007 by altimixdj