Anthony paid Circuit City $1,271 for a new 40″ Samsung LN40A550, but what he received was a “scratched up, dinged to hell, beaten and abused FLOOR MODEL OPEN BOX” LN40A330. As a Circuit City employee, Anthony thought exchanging the TV or receiving a refund would be a cinch. Boy, was he wrong.
We make it back to the Duluth store (Store 3220) and the floor manager Mike Jones starts giving Anthony crap about returning the TV, saying that “we wont take that TV, sorry but I have a store to run. You can take it back to Athens.”
How about we just get our money back? I mean, we got the wrong TV, we should at LEAST get a refund. We had the receipt and everything.
Nope. No refund. Mike tells us that we can “leave the TV on the curb for all he cares, he’s not taking the TV back and not refunding the money.”
Anthony is (rightfully) livid, and calls his manager, his manager’s manager, anyone he can to get this thing resolved and us leaving with either the correct TV or a refund.
No dice.
Upper management decrees that Anthony must take this busted ass floor model with him to Athens so that his district manager can sort the whole sordid affair out. It appears that Mike Jones is under the impression that Anthony is trying to pull a fast one on the Duluth store, by walking out of there with the correct TV and attempting to return a busted floor model as if that was the one he received when he was there eariler.
So what does that mean for Anthony? He’s currently out $1200, he’s being accused of lying, and has a busted ass floor model of a TV to show for it.
Doesn’t seem all that new. How’d Anthony pay?
Had Anthony charged the entire balance to his credit card, he would have been able to end the situation by filing a chargeback, or, if the television wasn’t a piece of busted junk, possibly doubled the manufacturer’s warranty.
Circuit City appears to have resolved the situation. His friend says only, “The whole fiasco is over. Anthony has the TV. Case closed. gg Circuit City.” Yes, gg, Circuit City.
F*ck Circuit City [The Hansen Family Website]
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@rellog: Yeah, it’s tough, but it’s important to make sure that what you’re paying for is what you’re getting.
More and more I’m opening boxes before checking out. I haven’t done this with anything large, like a TV, yet. I do it all the time at Target, because they sell two types of things: the cheap-ass Target brand stuff which is all right, and the expensive and worthless brand name shit that someone’s paying to put on the shelves, and the two are hidden in different sections. I open the boxes and packaging and take a good look at the item to see exactly what I’m getting. I repack it all as well as possible if I don’t intend to buy it and I stick religiously to the “you break it you bought it” motto (unless it’s a Christmas ornament–I hate those glass balls).
I’m doing it at Best Buy and Circuit City now when I get computer parts, and I’d do it on any purchase over $500 whether it’s taboo practice (as my wife thinks) or not, regardless of size. That’s just too much money to risk on the chance of some asshole manager’s idea of dodging liability.
I bought a similar floor model TV from Circuit City, a 40″ Sony Bravia, and my experience was fantastic. The TV had been out of the box for less than one day and didn’t have a single speck or scratch on it anywhere. It’s worked flawlessly since we bought it, and we saved about $600 over the price of the brand new model.
Circuit City has usually offered pretty good customer service at my store. I was really impressed with how they handled Black Friday — an organized line formed and flowed parallel to the store. About 15 minutes before opening, late arrivers started to gather near the front of the line so they could force their way in front of the hundreds of people who were already standing in line. Circuit City employees formed a wall between the rushers and the line so order was maintained. I was very impressed with how well they handled the rush.
Must have missed the “no returns on floor models” signage
@tofu:
hey smart guy, read all the info before making cool, snarky comments.
@dweebster
read all the info. Im well aware of how sketchy it looked, but I guess me being an employee caused me to give them the benefit of the doubt on my TV.
And it is customary to leave your box at the store unless requested. The box meant nothing. Serials were not checked, and even if they were, this tv had the LN550A sticker slapped on it. The sticker and the box matched up, but the tv did not.
If I hadnt worked for CC, I would have been up dookie creek. Thats my point of this whole fiasco.
@buzzybee:
Yeah because most circuit cities, have big open areas where you can just unpack a 40″ TV and inspect it.
Seriously, your argument would work if he was buying a toaster but he bought a 40″ TV!
Somethin’ wacky about this story. The guy who bought the TV is actually a Circuit City employee (presumably at the place he bought the TV?). Why did they go all the way over to an out-of-reach Circuit City (Athens) instead of the closer one (Duluth) that refused him? No explanation given. Why did the store he bought it at open the box, remove and re-wrap the TV in bubblewrap? and why are there two receipts from different cashiers and cashes (the first one identifying the purchaser as an employee)?
Sounds like Anthony here knowingly bought an demo-off-the-floor unit and tried to pass it off as the store’s evil doings in order to replace it with a brand new one.
Funny how the web site says the issue is resolved but they don’t indicate what actually happened. Maybe something to the tune of “we have a video of you knowningly buying a demo TV, want to change your answer?”
@mariospants: I also wondered why he didn’t go back to his own store to return the TV. But since I don’t know the area I wasn’t sure if the Athens store was just closer than the one he worked at.
I certainly hope he isn’t dumb enough to try pull a fast one on CC and then write to Consumerist when they didn’t fall for it.
@buzzybee:
Playing peekaboo in the store in a good idea.
I’ve known Anthony for a lot of years, and he is the farthest from a ‘con man’ as you’ll find. So for everyone doubting his story, you’re all wrong. No one should HAVE to inspect their purchase regardless of price, because it should go without saying that their purchase is in pristine condition. So it shouldn’t be an issue as to wether the box was opened or not. He was screwed over, bottom line. I’m just happy it was resolved and Anthony got the TV he purchased, in the condition that it should have been in, in the first place.
This is why I dont buy anything from these street electronics stores, they all seem more than eager to stab you in the back should anything go wrong.
@mariospants
although I appreciate your enthusiasm, you are dead wrong. Here is why…
I bought the TV near my parents house in Duluth, due to a multitude of reasons (none of which are any of your business). I was in the area. I had help bringing it home.
The store took it out of the box and wrapped it in bubblewrap in order to get it to fit inside my sedan. I dont own a truck.
And finally, the first receipt is the actual receipt, and the second is called a “pick ticket” that the warehouse uses to retrieve the TV.
The issue was resolved by me getting my TV. GG NOOB.
and folks, for the last time, I bought a NEW TV, and was given a beat up floor model. I didnt buy a floor model, and never will.
Ok first off the employee works at CC in Athens he purchased it from CC in Duluth I personally opened his NEW IN A BOX TV and Bubble Wrapped it for him as per his request and garentee that it was Factory sealed prior to my opening it. The TV was without a scratch or mark upon it. I am willing to put my 10 years of Warehouse experiance behind the fact that this guy was trying to pull a fast one over on CC. It is plain and simple what happened…HE GOT CAUGHT. upon his return of the tv I was the one who inspected the TV Brand and model IT DID NOT MATCH. As well as it should be known that Mike Jones is an honest man who does not “screw people over”he has a dedication and work ethic that is admirable. I will also say that I am no longer employeed there as to personal reasons and have moved on to better things, there is no love lost between myself and CC. and I do encourage any one to “shop arround” but CC is usually the best deal. As to why Im speaking up, some of my friends will ask, I was always taught that at the end of the day all a man has is his good name and personal integrety and I cannot sit quietly while Mikes is being falsly tarnished.