For those in our audience who don’t remember, Circuit City was once a large and thriving chain of electronics stores. It filed for bankruptcy and liquidated in 2009, then returned as an online-only brand just a few months later. When the new owner liquidated in turn, the new owners made a shocking announcement: they planned to revive the brand as a retail chain of brick and mortar stores. Now the opening of those stores has been pushed back again. [More]
circuit city
Re-Zombified Circuit City Opens Storefront On Amazon
By 6.23.16 — Updated: 11.21.16
Back in 2009, electronics shoppers turning to Amazon was one of the factors blamed for the demise of the retailer Circuit City. Now Circuit City, under its second post-bankruptcy owner, is beginning a retail comeback by opening a retail storefront on Amazon. They’re starting out by going where the customers already are. [More]
Circuit City Is Returning From The Dead: Yes, Again
By 1.27.16
Back in 2009, the medium-box consumer electronics chain Circuit City closed. Systemax, the owner of TigerDirect, acquired the brand’s website and customer list, and kept it going until 2012. Late last year, Systemax decided to shut down its technology business, and that included selling the twice-defunct Circuit City brand. Now yet another company has acquired the brand and wants to make a go of it as physical retail stores. [More]
The Last Vestiges Of Circuit City To Disappear On Dec. 31
By 11.14.12
It’s been four years since Circuit City, once the nation’s second-largest electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy. In the spring of 2009, the brand’s new owner, Systemax (you know it better as TigerDirect), resurrected Circuit City as an online-only operation. But it looks like the chain’s name didn’t carry enough worth, and it will soon vanish into history. [More]
Don't Rush Into Buying Stuff At Liquidation Sales
By 2.10.11
With the news that the Ultimate Electronics chain is to be liquidated, we were reminded of the Circuit City liquidation and the lessons consumers (hopefully) learned from that debacle. [More]
Circuit City Rises From Dead, Traps Customer In Laptopless Purgatory
By 2.9.11
Systemax, the same company that now owns TigerDirect and the CompUSA brand name, devoured the remains of Circuit City and relaunched it. Unfortunately, this zombie retailer seems to have the collective customer service skills of…well…zombies. Kelly ordered a laptop, which is waiting around to be shipped. No one seems capable of throwing the computer on a truck, or telling her why the computer has not yet been placed on a truck. [More]
Yes, You Can Still Make Claims On Your Circuit City Extended Warranty
By 4.3.10
If you bought a TiVo with an extended warranty at Circuit City before the chain died and came back as a retail zombie, TiVo forum poster Mark has good news and bad news for you: It is still technically possible to use your warranty, but doing so requires superhuman levels of persistence. [More]
Circuit City Stores Could Rise From The Dead
By 3.26.10
Systemax, owner of Tiger Direct, scooped up the remains of Circuit City last year for $14 million, a year after buying CompUSA for $30 million. Now the corporation has opened some new CompUSA stores and is considering doing the same for Circuit City, Chicago Breaking Business News reports: [More]
Best Buy Can Now Overcharge New Yorkers 'Round The Clock
By 10.20.09
If you like Best Buy, come to New York City! In November the company will open its first 24-hour store, in the remodeled carcass of the Circuit City that formerly anchored Union Square. In fact, it’s probably best we call it the Circuit City Best Buy to avoid confusion. According to Best Buy’s PR department, the store will also feature “the largest Best Buy Musical Instruments Department in the United States.”
Florida AG Sues TigerDirect For 'Continually Blaming Customers' For Rebate Delays
By 9.8.09
Waiting for a rebate from TigerDirect? Good luck with that. In a suit filed last Friday, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum is charging the company with, among other things, promising customers that rebates would arrive in about 8-10 weeks of submission, when in fact “a vast number of customers experienced delays ranging from one to more than eight months, before receiving their promised rebates, if at all.” The suit also charges TigerDirect with engaging in “deceptive and unfair trade practices.”
Circuit City Sure Had A Lot Of Optimism Near The End
By 8.20.09
Check out these ridiculous corporate propaganda films from poor, sweet Circuit City, back when it was still struggling to differentiate itself from Best Buy in some way other than “worse.”
Goldman Sachs Thinks Walmart And Amazon Are Gonna Kick Best Buy's Ass
By 8.12.09
Best Buy has been downgraded to neutral from “buy” by Goldman Sachs on concerns that Amazon.com and Walmart are poised to begin a serious asskicking.
Man Can't Track Down Phantom Circuit City/Chase/Best Buy Credit Card
By 7.14.09
Ah, the perils of having a credit card issued by an electronic store that dies a slow, painful death, only to come back, haunt you and resist all attempts at seances and exorcisms.
The "New" CircuitCity.com Ships Shoddily-Wrapped TV Mount Missing Half Its Parts
By 6.13.09
The new CircuitCity.com is already disappointing customers, this time by shipping a half-complete TV mount that looks like it was wrapped by an over-caffeinated octopus. Unsurprisingly, our anonymous tipster had to slog his way through two customer service departments before extracting a promise to ship out the missing parts. Why can’t CircuitCity.com just ship him a new mount? Apparently, they have to first botch the parts shipment. Our tipster decided this wasn’t worth his time, and instead ordered a second mount. Circuit City promises to refund his money once they receive back the defective mount…
Circuit City Sends Rebate Check One Year After Purchase
By 6.4.09
Jan bought a keyboard from Circuit City last year. Since then, the company filed Chapter 11, the stores liquidated and closed, and another company bought the name. But last week, Jan finally-FINALLY-received her rebate check. Now she wants to know: is cashing this thing a good idea?
Tell Eerily Resurrected Circuit City To Step Off In One Easy Step
By 5.27.09
Just like the ending of a horror movie, Circuit City has gone and plunged its soil-covered claw from its grave. Its site may have new owners, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost all of your tasty personal info.
CircuitCity.com Reborn As… Circuit City!
By 5.23.09
CircuitCity.com is back, and it looks eerily familiar. The zombie website is now controlled by Systemax, the same folks who own Tiger Direct. Though the new site may look similar to the old, no doubt part of Systemax’s goal to keep alive a “proud brand that America has grown to count on,” it isn’t nearly as consumer-friendly as we would like…
By 5.22.09
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Circuit City is dead. Long live Circuit City! Circuitcity.com is already about to relaunch. They’ll let everyone know via Twitter when they open. No word whether they will actually be distinguishable from TigerDirect.
