Circuit City announced today that it is close to finalizing a deal to sell all or part of its operation to one of two undisclosed potential buyers— but if the deal falls through— the store could be liquidated.
ELECTRONICS
Best Buy's Holiday Discounts Failed To Impress
By 1.9.09
Best Buy’s same store sales were down 6.5% as their discounts failed to convince you to buy, says Bloomberg.
Fisher-Price Kiddie Camera Comes With Fun And A Computer Virus
By 1.3.09
Jeff says his kid’s new toy, a working camera from Fisher-Price, tried to give his computer a virus when he plugged it in!
NYT Investigates TV Shrink Ray
By 12.26.08
Is nothing sacred? The New York Times is reporting that the grocery shrink ray, that scourge of the savvy supermarket shopper, has now been turned to televisions.
Remember: You Don't Need To Buy Expensive Cables For That New TV
By 12.26.08
Adam writes in with a reminder for those of you who got a new TV, Blu-Ray player, or video game system this holiday season: you don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy HDMI cables.
Criminal Complaint Against Embezzling Fry's VP Unsealed
By 12.23.08
Read the dirty details of the 26 page complaint against the Fry’s VP caught embezzling $65 million here. Post your favorite tidbits in the comments.
Fry's VP Arrested For Embezzling $65 Million
By 12.23.08
A Fry’s VP was arrested last Friday for embezzling $65 million from the electronics retailer to fuel a gargantuan gambling lifestyle and feed his appetite for excess.
Consumer Electronics Glut Forbodes Post-Christmas Price Slashing
By 12.22.08
Season’s Greetings from Obvious Land: There’s a glut of electronics on the shelves as shoppers only buy essentials. I predict crazy post-Christmas deals as vendors desperately shovel excess inventory out the door. [BusinessWeek] (Photo: Getty)
Scams 101: Do Not Buy Things From The Internet Using A Wire Transfer!
By 12.9.08
The BBB has given us a heads up about a new scam that targets holiday shoppers — pop-up internet electronics stores that only accept payments via wire transfer.
Free Shipping Today At Thinkgeek
By 12.1.08
Free shipping at Think Geek with coupon code CYBERMONDAY. Gawd, is “Cyber Monday” an obnoxious/perverted-sounding name or what? [ThinkGeek] (Thanks to Geoffrey!)
End Of Month Is Best Time For Gadget Haggling
By 12.1.08
A salesman at a major electronics retailer told FreeMoneyFinance a bevy of tips you can use to bargain down the prices in-store on big-ticket items, like:
Circuit City Bouncing Refund Checks, But Will Reissue Them
By 11.26.08
If you have a Circuit City refund check not deposited before 11/10, it’s going to bounce.
28 Bad Things That Will Happen On Black Friday
By 11.24.08
A Fry’s electronic worker has posted his predictions for 28 bad things that happen inside stores this Black Friday. There’s things on there like registers being down, full-on face-punching between customers, and customers and employees getting away with shoplifting. It’s not just for Fry’s, I imagine these things will be happening in stores across America, assuming people have any money left to go Black Friday shopping this year. Maybe you can make the 28 things inside into a Bingo Card and play against your friends…
Circuit City Turns To Unrelentingly Optimistic Junk Email As The End Nears
By 11.21.08
Reader James forwarded us an unsolicited email from Circuit City that we had to post because it’s just so chipper about the fact that they’ve resorted to spamming him out of desperation. It cheerfully proclaims, “Now you’ll be the first to hear the latest news,” before informing him that he’d been “chosen” as one of their “best customers” to receive spam.
Fear For Your Rebates: Largest Mail-In-Rebate Processor Missing $9 Million?
By 11.14.08
Allegedly, the largest rebate processor in North America, Continental Promotions Group (CPG), owes about $12 million in consumer rebates, but only has $3 million available. According to an insider tip received by [H]Enthusiast, CPG is telling its customers, among whom are some of the largest consumer electronics retailers, to regive it the money necessary to pay out all these rebates. Otherwise, all your little rebate checks might start bouncing. Assuming, of course, you were ever able to get them in the first place…
Circuit City Gets A Loan, Lives To Fight Another Day
By 11.11.08
Circuit City has secured a loan from Bank of America that will pay for its operating expenses until it emerges from bankruptcy next year, says Bloomberg. This financing gives CC a new lease on life — Yes, we may yet see the bankrupt retailer rise from the ashes to continue its proud tradition of ignoring customers who are standing at the register.
Circuit City Files For Bankruptcy
By 11.10.08
Circuit City has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to their press release, this will allow them to undergo corporate restructuring, cut costs, get out of leases and figure out a way to still make a go of it. The stores will continue to operate, and they will seek to still allow for returns, exchanges, and gift cards.
