146 Responses to:
I'M DONE SHOPPING AT CIRCUIT CITY

# 1. 3/29/07 8:24 PM by jack
And the alternative. The world where employees are retained irregardless of bottom line.

We call that the Civil Service. And their sidekick the CSEA.

And that's why your taxes are so high.

# 2. 3/30/07 12:04 AM
tell congress to quit raising minimum wage it actually hurts tenured employees while paying others more than they bring in.

# 3. 3/30/07 12:07 AM
This shouldn't even be legal, but sadly , it is. I won't set foot in a Circuit City, no matter how good their sales might be. I don't spend my money in businesses that treat their employees so shabbily. (Anyone remember Radio Shack firing employees by e-mail?)

# 4. 3/30/07 12:22 AM
Circuit my ass!!! They can go straight to HELL!!!. I already made a comment on your last post. SCUMBAGS EXPBAGSRODINAIRTE! Circiut can go to HELL!!!! I will NEVER buy from CIRCUIT CITY.

# 5. 3/30/07 12:57 AM
CIRCUIT CITY SUCKS!!!! No more purchases from me!

# 6. 3/30/07 12:59 AM by SGM - Utah
I've become pretty selective as to where I spend my money. And you are right, I won't be shopping at Circuit City. Not that I ever did much, but it was nice to stop by once in a while and comparative shop. They couldn't answer my questions about a product I was interested in so I haven't gone back. I was really taken aback when I heard the news that these guys could apply for their old jobs as a lower pay rate. unbelievable. Perhaps they'll fill the jobs with illegals.

The loyalty in corporate America is gone and has been gone for some time. It's running over into government...now that's an oxymoron...like loyalty from your supervisors when you work for the government. Talk to me if you will about my mailman, who works for a quasi "for profit" US Postal System, who is an oriental, can't speak English, and can't find my home on his delivery route. And the guy whose been there for many years doesn't get the recognition and advancement, but his supervisors in the back office they get all the bonus money, but not the guys delivering the mail. Oh...I'm sorry we were talking about Circuit City and loyalty. I'm sorry, I got off subject.

Just one more reason that America seems to be in a state of decline and moral bankruptcy.

# 7. 3/30/07 1:09 AM
If you think Circuit City is screwing the rank and file, you should see what they are doing to management! They enticed people from Sears and other competitors, and they are screwing them royally! No more Circuit City for me!!!

# 8. 3/30/07 1:11 AM
I give them six months, tops!!!

# 9. 3/30/07 1:32 AM by D
there's a greater chance I'd vote for Hillary than shop at circuit city. How can the swine that did this sleep at night?

# 10. 3/30/07 4:38 AM by DR - Phoenix, AZ
Has this perhaps something to do with the newly mandated higher minimum wage? Cut everyone and then rehire?

At first though I was afraid you were going to say that the employees were replaced by telephones to customer service reps in India. You would enter a store, shop for a product and then pick up a phone to talk to someone about the product (a product picture) Then take a coupon to the register where the only human beings were working....

I still like Circuit City over Best Buy.

# 11. 3/30/07 4:41 AM by Dave - Scottsville, NY
Circuit City is digging there own Grave and it is up to us, who used to be customers to fill it in, as for the replacement sales people, this company will get what they pay for,Nothing, I for one will not shop there.

# 12. 3/30/07 4:41 AM by Lorette
Bob,

This is truely sickening though not surprising. Kodak used to pull a more subtle variation. They used to use the old "benchmark" defense. Let's say that you worked yourself up to $30,000 a year. It took me 21 years to do that. I assumed a greater responsibility in my 22nd year and they said, do the work first, THEN we'll reward you. Gone were the days that the promotion came WITH the money. My review came up and I scored a 5 or 6 out of a possible 7 in all categories. However, they could not give me any more money, not even a quarter an hour, because they "benchmarked" my responsibilities against "similar" jobs in the community and I was quote "overpaid". I asked to see the study they performed and asked what companies they benchmarked against and was told that was "confidential" Kodak documentation. What was the result of that? I grew up. I no longer took work home to put a couple hours in UNPAID. I no longer stayed the extra 45 minutes to finish something up UNPAID. I no longer came in on a saturday morning to prioritize my work load to get a good start on Monday UNPAID. It's just like you said.....it's about loyalty. It goes both ways. I gave them a fair 8 hours work for the rest of my career, no more or no less. The shame of it is they were getting so much more from me before they decided I wasn't "worth" what they had been paying me and what took me 21 years to earn. I have made my last purchase at Circuit City. There are plenty of other stores out there. I urge everyone to follow suit. Someone has to hold these corporations accountable.

# 13. 3/30/07 5:03 AM
Bob, I jumped the gun. Read my post yesterday. CIRCUIT CITY SUCKS!!! I will never shop at CC again. I will never again read their Sunday Circular. They can go to effing hell. They are A-Holes, big time. Sears pissed me off over fifteen years ago. Never been in their stores again. PERIOD. I don't care if they were giving schitt away. I have spent THOUSANDS in Circuit City. NOT ONE CENT MORE. Just Like SEARS. They SUCK, big time. And you will never see me interested in what they have to sell. It's easy. This is America. And you STILL have a choice. I have made mine!!!

# 14. 3/30/07 5:17 AM by Mark - Greece
Up until about 3 years ago, they used to pay their salesmen a small base and then commission. The go-getters sold the big-ticket items and got repeat customers. My son was one of the top salespeople at Greece-Ridge, and they did away with commission, but told them that they would 'restructure' their base so that weekly pay would be equivalent. All said and done, he would have dropped from an ave of $15/hr to about $6. He had to find another job, and our boycott started then. Just what I need, some 17-year old pimply-faced kid explaining HDTV or a tivo to me. Hello Best Buy!

# 15. 3/30/07 6:02 AM by Brian
This display of "loyalty" is not unique to Circuit City...it can be seen in many large corporations.

As for Circuit City in particular, what they did was a dumb business move. You can buy almost everything they sell cheaper online than in the stores. Many people use stores like CC to view and handle items, then go home and place an order online. One real benefit these stores offer is competent staff who can help customers and answer questions intelligently.

Circuit City just canned their asset. May they reap the rewards.

# 16. 3/30/07 6:17 AM by Terry - Albion
They didn't even say they needed to or . that they were having problems just doing it I just bought a camera from them.For all the extras I will go some place else.

# 17. 3/30/07 6:28 AM by Michael Bowerman - Pennellville NY
I will go along with your suggestion if this is what has happened. I believe this is fall out from the increase in the minimum wage. The government decided that starting workers should make more even without skills. So Circuit City took draconian measures to lower their costs. They do not have much pricing wiggle room so this is what they came up with. It sucks. Other companies will do other things such as freeze the wage scale which will lower their operating cost over time. Others will just lay off people which will disservice the customer. If we could just keep government out of things that they have no right to control we would all be better off. We are in trouble.

# 18. 3/30/07 6:29 AM by Jim B. - rochester,ny
c'mon Bob,as you republicans always say, if they don't like their jobs, they should look for a better one, or go back to school

# 19. 3/30/07 6:35 AM by tv - rochester,ny
From a purely consumer view, and pretending I don't really care how "moral" Circuit City is, that fact that they just fired their most knowledgeable employees at a place where advising customers on technology is KEY seems like a dumbass move to me. I certainly won't trust any advice I get from Circuit City employees if I accidentally find myself in one of their stores.

# 20. 3/30/07 6:37 AM by Chuck - Penfield
Bob,

If the remaining Circuit City employees are worried and ready to leave because they don't see any future, then Circuit City gets exactly what it wants.

This will provide constant employee turnover. Constant turnover means the ability to control wages by hiring high school students. After a few years of no raises they will leave for greener pastures and the company wins.

Circuit city will not be doing a mass firing again, they will just not give out raises anymore.

Can you tell I worked for a company like this before?

# 21. 3/30/07 6:53 AM by Ron
Interesting article. Would have been better if you had included the actual script, or at least a link to it. I've never shopped at Circuit City, but only because there isn't one around here. People need to realize that if they don't get an advanced education, they are just minions. Kids should be told that in high school. They are just tiny little ants in this huge economy. You need to go to college and get a degree in something besides english or history so you don't have to end up at a job taking hourly wages.

# 22. 3/30/07 6:54 AM by Dave - Webster
Bob,

I agree with you 100%, this is nothing more than corporate greed. I bought my new PC at circuit city 6 months ago, but I will never purchase there again. Sadly, you and I may be the only ones who put our money where are mouths are. For the rest, as soon as the greedy execs at circuit city run a good sale all the lemmings will rush down and buy regardless of what the execs did to the working man.

# 23. 3/30/07 7:01 AM - Mount Morris, N.Y.
Bob, Unbelievable ! This company will loose more from people refusing to shop there then they will save from firing all their employees. It will serve them right. I for one will not shop there again.

# 24. 3/30/07 7:16 AM by Kenny - Bedlam,Pa.
The local newspaper "The Morning Call" fired its' customer service dept. The contract went to the Phillipines, which is why I refer to it as the Manilla Call. This management style could be useful, if we would apply it to our legislators. The salaries,benefits, & perks they are entitled to after a minimum amout of time leaching our tax monies is disgusting. Short circuit city is too short sighted for my money.

# 25. 3/30/07 7:17 AM by Tim
I have never had a reason to shop there, but now, I do have a reason not to.

# 26. 3/30/07 7:23 AM
Exactly!! The only way to fight fire with fire is to stop shopping at Circuit City. Basically, for those of you who don't understand it in a polite manner, it means were gonna stick it up their ass so far that the sun ain't gonna have the ability to shine. Get my drift?

# 27. 3/30/07 7:23 AM
I will never shop at Circuit City - what they did is absolutely disgusting. I'd rather have the knowledge and expertise of well-paid staff when I'm purchasing expensive electronics. If I have questions, I want to know the employee knows what they're talking about and actually gives a damn. At $7.50 an hour - I doubt it highly that the employee is going to care one way or another.

Corporations who make this stupid move are just shooting themselves in the foot. Your employees are the most valuable asset you've got. Treat them well, pay them well, and you will have people who like their jobs and will do them well. Corporations can only benefit from that.

I guess the CEO and the rest of that ilk just weren't happy with the mega million dollar salaries and perks they were getting, so why not just fire all the 'well-paid' employees so they can up their own share of the loot?

# 28. 3/30/07 7:27 AM by Dave H - Rochester, NY
Bob: The Circuit City Shmucks who've made their decision to cut wages by firing and re-hiring, are guilty of-well, old fashioned capitalism! Our response should be just asold fashioned, as you've suggested-withholding our money from this Chinese Import MegaBum Store. Chinese Manufacturers dont pay any of their workers enough to purchase consumer products -they must export to the USA(at below cost sometimes).The Big Box Bums have ruined our Merchandising/Retailing Sectors as our Manufacturers have moved to China.Those of us who have worked a lifetime in manufacturing understand that the service sector is tied to the sustenance provided by the Manufacturing sector-as is our Big Government that sucks more and more dollars from the taxpayers trough. Lets tell the DunceCap MBA crowd of TwentySomething Managers to stuff it-as they have told the workers of Circuit City.Too bad we cant send the managers to the Afganistan/Pakistan border-w/out weapons. A just and correct fate would deservedly be theirs. Dave

# 29. 3/30/07 7:29 AM by James - Rochester, NY
One more reason why in 2107, America, if it exists at all, will be a mostly Islamic, Spanish speaking third-world country. Our great-grandchildren, if they exist, will be living in China and other countries spread out all over the globe, in search of ever more elusive decent jobs. No wonder the birth rate is plummeting among everyone but our current and future invaders; why bother? This also makes me mad thinking about our brave men and women fighting this pointless war, what the hell are they fighting to preserve?

# 30. 3/30/07 7:34 AM by Don - Fort Worth
They probably want to hire illegal aliens for the cheap labor. "A job no American would do" for that wage.

# 31. 3/30/07 7:36 AM
This happens all the time in corporate America. The difference is that they do it one person at a time, and they don't make a big announcement about it first.

You're right, though. I won't be darkening Circuit City's doors anytime soon.

# 32. 3/30/07 7:39 AM
What a contrast with the gentleman from Paetec you interviewed last week. Paetec will grow, and Circuit City will wither and die. Generally, doing right leads to success, and wrong to failure. Look at Kodak - had to quit the Better Business Bureau to avoid expulsion - on its way out of business. (excellent diversity though)

# 33. 3/30/07 7:41 AM by Dave - Fairport
Bob, I'm a life long concervative and I don't like unions. I really don't. But they came into existence for a reason. The corporate bigwigs continue to prove that someone needs to hold them to a standard of basic decency because they won't do it themselves. As for not using circuit City; I already boycott the automated checkout systems in the stores, on the theory of keeping my neighbors employed. But I just see more and more of them and more and more people use them. Because WE are the greedy ones. We can get it for 2 cents cheaper over here and we don't care if that company screwed our neighbors. We want the 2 cents. We need the 2 cents, not as many good jobs as there used to be.

# 34. 3/30/07 7:48 AM by Doug
This is exactly the same as Scrooge. When Scrooge bought out old Fezziwig the worker asked if he would be kept and Scrooge asked him how much he made. He said 5 shillings a week and Srooge said you can stay for 4. They knew it was wrong then 150 years ago and it is still wrong today. I will never go in that store again!!!!!!!!

# 35. 3/30/07 7:53 AM by Dave D - Oklahoma City
Bob,

I've got a "t-shirt" on this one. Couple of years ago, I was a "senior" team leader on a 160-person contract for the USPS. Existing company lost the re-bid and the new contract owners summarily reduced my annual pay 18 percent. Promised me that it was an error, promised me they would "fix" it...if I would just hang in there. After about 18 months of follow-up and smoke screens by management, I gave it up. The pressure, simple stress and my health weren't worth continuing with the company.

I remained loyal during this time, doing the best I could--heck, I even received merit promotions and cash awards for performance, however, my original salary was never reinstated.

I guess it's all about the money. Screw the employees and the service they are able to provide to the client/customers.

Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane. Keep up the great work. I/we love your writings.

Dave D

# 36. 3/30/07 7:55 AM by Mike R - Livonia, NY
Heeeeeeyyyyyy Bob,

Time to take you to task here.

Awhile back, there was the issue that Target was bringing in outside labor (i.e., cheaper) and ignoring the local labor market to build its stores.

A union guy called up to complain and you basically told him - Gee that's tough but if you can get a job done cheaper so that you can make more money, that's just business.

Why is it that a local union carpenter making $25/hr is told tough cookies but we're being asked to sing Koom-bye-ya with the guy selling TVs for $10.

In my opinion, in both cases, the people of this area got the shaft - and will continue to be bent over until our politicians wake up to the fact that this area is dying on the vine.

The want ads section in the D&C is barely four pages. The jobs sections in other cities' papers have their own SECTIONS.

No wonder we're losing population.

# 37. 3/30/07 8:03 AM by c - Rochester
Morning Bob. I hate circuit city anyway.

# 38. 3/30/07 8:10 AM by Larry - Virginia
Excellent column! This is like outsourcing, where the company lets their people go and those people often end up working for another company, hired by the original company, at less wages and benefits. I have sent this column to my whole address book even before making my comment. Let's hope others do the same!

# 39. 3/30/07 8:11 AM
YOU are the one against unions. You scumbag, dickweed, and everything else you call people in this BLOG.

# 40. 3/30/07 8:13 AM
I will never shop there again either. They have horrible customer service. I haven't walked through their doors since I purchased a computer there a year ago. It's no wonder when they pull things like this.

# 41. 3/30/07 8:21 AM
I would rather do business with Enron

# 42. 3/30/07 8:22 AM by mike - rochester ny
You are right on. Unfortunately raping the employees has become way too common. This was not so 20 years ago and they all did much better. Go figure.

On a separate issue it seems you are discussing more social issues, it seems you have lost your trailer roots. :-)

# 43. 3/30/07 8:26 AM by Dave - W. irondequoit, NY
Hadn't heard of this. but glad you brought it up.

I buy from Circuit City, mostly online, but even so, they will not get one red cent from me. I will continue to use their website for customer reviews etc just to cost them a few bucks.

# 44. 3/30/07 8:30 AM by Jeff - Midvale
I'm with you Bob. Heaven help us all if this is seen as a success by other employers in this country. Circuit City should fall flat on their nose for this fiasco - and fast.

# 45. 3/30/07 8:30 AM by rjs - Rochester,NY
Dead on! I'll never walk through their door again. But is it any different from scores of other companies. Some here in Rochester, Kodak, Xerox, B&L to name a few. Lay off the workers but keep the high paid management.

# 46. 3/30/07 8:31 AM by Bill - Batavia, NY
Bob,

If Walmart did this every politician and wacko consumer activist would be running for the TV cameras to slam the "Evil Empire".

# 47. 3/30/07 8:31 AM by Ron
So you just found out about corporate greed? Welcome to retail. Dicks was stingy as hell when I worked there. And the biggest scam is promoting someone to lower-level management. Much more responsibility, not much more money - they're really more poorly paid than the rest, given their level of responsibility - but they prey on the workers' ambition.

# 48. 3/30/07 8:32 AM by Fred - Rochester
Welcome to the real world of Corporate greed. I am losing my job (to India) after 26 years. Yet at the same time, the CEO got over 10 million $ in a bonus (for 2006). Where will it all end?

# 49. 3/30/07 8:32 AM
thanks for the job tip, that's $7.50 more than i make now.

# 50. 3/30/07 8:42 AM by Paul Martin - Rochester, New York
Kodak did similar in the past. I was laid off in December 1989. At the time I was making $14.00 per hour. Approximately 3 weeks later I received a phone call from my former boss. I was asked if I would like to return to work. I asked what the catch was. I was told I could return without benefits and at a rate of $6.25 per hour. I was insulted. I know how the employees of Circuit City must feel. Unfortunately this seems to be the practice of big business. The day of treating employees with dignity seems to be over.

Would you like to:
add your own comment? or send this story to a friend?