Circuit City laying off 3400 higher salaried employees, to be replaced by lower waged personel. They're citing the "plasma price war" as one of the deciding factors (big box stores were the other), smells like restructuring to me. First Tweeters now Circuit City, who's next?..............Some blame can also be attributed to internet sales.
Not that I entirely care, because I rarely shop at CC anyway, but still not good news. "Big box" stores? I'm sure Costco is cutting into their profits
The market is just that way in the last few years... It wasn't really publicized but Cambridge Soundworks recently closed ALL of their retail stores and do business online only now.
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Or maybe people are finally coming to their sense and DON'T want to be dicked around with anymore....
SheepStar
If all the B & M stores go by the wayside, where will anyone go to audition new products?
It's one thing to ship a pair of speakers back and forth across the country for a trial, but when it comes to these TV sets, it can get pretty pricey, not to mention risky. Can anyone say "restocking fees"?
BTW, isn't Circuit City married to CompUSA, or is that someone else?
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GoodGuys were associated with CompUSA, and that was just to acquire some of the brands they carried and to keep GG afloat for a little longer since they are gone now (closed by CompUSA). And now CompUSA is on their way out as well...
__________________ HT: Marantz SR-8300, 2X Audiosource Amp300, 5X GR Research A/V-2s, Adire Audio Tempest sub, Oppo BDP-83, RC2000MkII, Panamax 5100, Panamax Max2 sub, PS3 60G (dead) (250G) + 320G USB
Bedroom: Marantz PM-7200 Integrated, GR Research A/V-1s, Sony 222ES SACD, Denon 2900, RC3200 remote
Internet sales are fine as long as there is a balance of B&M versus virtual stores. As Mark pointed out, if you theoretically negate all B&Ms, the friendly virtuals will no longer be too friendly, re-stocking fees, higher shipping rates, higher prices. After all competition is necessary for the consumer to get a break. One such example in my town was Home Depot, years ago when they were getting established they drove all the mom and pop stores out of business with below market prices in some items (it gets people in, then they get you going out), the mom and pops couldn't make money so they closed. Lo and behold we have no decent mom and pops left down here, the rest were "forced" to become ACE protectorates. Now Home Depot isn't that cheap anymore. All these chains will have to change their business model, learn to adapt or they will disappear much to our harm as audioholics.
If all the B & M stores go by the wayside, where will anyone go to audition new products?
?
Small Mom & Pop boutique stores thats where. If people would realize that you can get a deal from these places. Just like the big box stores, and have a better auditioning room.
The problem IMO with the big box stores is that they don't really offer a considerably different product than Sam's or Costco. It is mostly the same products but at higher prices. More stores need to do what BB did and integrate Magnolia (or other mid-fi brands). That's the only business model that makes sense to me. The way to compete with Sam's/Costco is to not compete - offer something different (preferably better).
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If all the B & M stores go by the wayside, where will anyone go to audition new products?
It's one thing to ship a pair of speakers back and forth across the country for a trial, but when it comes to these TV sets, it can get pretty pricey, not to mention risky. Can anyone say "restocking fees"?
BTW, isn't Circuit City married to CompUSA, or is that someone else?
Since when is one of those stores considered a "good" place to audition speakers? Maybe they'll have to fix up their mandatory warranty police, and ditch the pushy sales tactics things will turn around. I worked at best buy, if you aren't selling, you aren't working.
Although I mentioned speakers, note I used them in an exclusionary fashion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheep
Since when is one of those stores considered a "good" place to audition speakers? Maybe they'll have to fix up their mandatory warranty police, and ditch the pushy sales tactics things will turn around. I worked at best buy, if you aren't selling, you aren't working.
SheepStar
The crux of my statement was these biga$$, delicate, heavy TV's that are now all the rage. Speakers are pretty much a commodity nowadays. So are most electronics.
__________________
If you follow only two simple rules in this life, you will do well.
#1 - Never tell anyone everything you know.
Circuit City In Trouble
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