THIS BUSY SHOPPING weekend I got banned from the Burbank location of a $12.43 billion consumer electronics retailer. A Circuit City employee, identifying himself as the "store director," told me in no uncertain terms that I should take my business elsewhere. Even if my business was asking the company to honor its guarantee for car audio installation. (My left rear speaker works off and on.)His uncertain terms: "Get the fuck out of my store," and, "If you ever step foot in my fucking store again I will call the cops and report you for trespassing" and, fists raised, lunging at me, "I will take you down."
I wonder if this is what Merrill Lynch means when they report "most customers looked frustrated" at Circuit City stores this weekend. Yes, Merrill, I may have looked that way. But you should've seen how Burbank's store director looked as he chased me out the back.
I called Circuit City's 800 number - five times - to report the incident. Lots of forwarding and disconnecting. I could email Circuit City executives, or file a report with Glendale police. But why bother? That's one Southern California Circuit City store down, 47 to go. Get your banning fists ready!
18 comments:
Sounds like a jobs for The Consumerist.
consumerists.com (do a search for Circuit City)
tips@consumerist.com
I mean:
consumerist.com
It's time to stop taking shit from companies that don't treat their customers right. Let's all spread the word.
It's already on consumerist...
Welcome to the Circuit City hate wagon. We've been rolling down this dusty road for the better part of 15 years. Although I'd say the last 5 of those we've picked up a lot of steam.
I haven't stepped foot into a circuit city for the better part of 10 years. It took moving to Phoenix, AZ from Juneau, Alaska and needing a television. I went by Circuit City not knowing any better at the time. I was looking over the floor for a TV that wasn't too pricy and found a 27" Zenith. So they go in the back get me the TV and I check out load it into the back of my car and head home. I unpack it and it seemed strange that there was only a little bit of styrofoam and no plastic bags or manuals or remote. The TV turns out to be a Zenith but a different (cheaper) model then I had wanted or been charged for. So I took it back and spent the better part of the next month fighting with them. They claimed I was charged correctly I explain to them that it wasn't the TV I had been looking at. They then say it was a "newer" model when it obviously wasn't due to the manufacturer's sticker on the back showing the creation date of the TV.
Anyways in the end I got my money back and shopped elsewhere. I can only hope circuit city slides into brick and morter obsolescence soon.
omg! that's awful!! I hope you were able to get through eventually. We find ourselves going there now & again but never find what we're looking for so we haven't been in a while. That place is a waste of gas and time..
Beware of the Consumerist. Tons of people there threaten legal action, but they have absolutely no legal ground. I worked for Best Buy for 3 and a half years. I am hated by many people with my former association with the store. Having worked as a technician and customer service representative, I have dealt with countless incidents of a difference of expectation of service. There were times where the store was at fault, there were times where the customer had absolutely no grounds for an argument, and sometimes its a little from both.
The best thing I found, it to be patient and not become emotional (which the manager in this case seemed to avoid). Rarely do I ever get turned away for a problem with a retail store. Patience, respect, and a genuine case will take you MUCH FARTHER than you can expect. The Consumerist will often tell you to not take shit from no one but the CEO. Believe me, there are many more people who WANT to solve your problem. Big companies are not all out to exploit customers. A satisfied customer is worth more than their weight in gold. However, in today's world, there is a lot more scamming than most people realize and there is a lot of exaggerated sense of entitlement.
Ok, this is way longer than I expected, but have patience and you can get what you deserve. Take it from a customer-centric veteran.
Thanks everyone for your support! Now let's see how it goes at Circuit City Glendale.
And don't *ever* post a comment at Consumerist about how they constantly run "BestBuy/Circuit City sucks" stories - they'll ban you from posting. Seems that one of the editors does nothing *but* post BB/CC stories, which make up a huge part of Consumerist's story count. Consumerist can dish it out, but they can't take it.
Good for Consumerist. If Circuit City has something to say, let 'em start their own blog.
I think you missed the point. It's not that CC had anything to say. It's the endless, mindless repetition. After the 1,000th "Circuit City Sucks" post, we get it. Even the talking heads at Fox don't repeat themselves as much as Consumerist.
Endless, mindless repetition? I feel the same way every time I see a Circuit City commercial.
Ba-dum bum - ting!
If it wasn't for my DVR, I might have some idea what you're talking about. :)
At least we can all come together during this holiday season and hate Circuit City. You get the pitchforks, I'll bring the torches...
Bravo. Finally someone has reported on the horrible customer service at Circuit City. The nazi-like storm troopers who work the door and check your receipt at the Santa Monica location act like you are the employee and they are the customers. Circuit City eat my shorts. I'll go to Best Buy just to avoid the Circuit City employees.
Avoid Circuit City Sunset Blvd too! I went in there on Tuesday which is a pretty slow night. While standing in the cordless phone aisle I noticed a tall black male employee chatting with another man in the TV department. As I approached he turned and looked at me grimly and continued his personal conversation with the man.
I approached and waited for him to greet me and just let me know he'd be right with me, but he TOTALLY IGNORED ME! Firstly, this is uncommon for me as I am a young blonde woman and usually I get decent attention, I realize I've got the blonde female thing going so I was obviously surprised he was ignoring me so apparently. The guy he was talking to, btw, looked really uncomfortable and was AWARE how rude the CC employee was being.
Finally after standing there listening to his banal conversation for a minute I interrupted and asked if someone could help me. He sneered at me and said, "I'll be with you in a moment, I'm talking to somebody here."
Wow! Talk about effing customer service! I was aghast. No, I hadn't been sold something different, nor was I banned from the store, however I still couldn't believe the DEGREE OF RUDENESS their employees exhibit.
I finally walked out after getting close to the same lack of service from 3 other nerds behind the counter.
I'm sorry to hear that man. Check this, Circuit City is closing and liquidations start this sat. 1/17/09. They filed for chapter 11 bankrupcy and are closing all stores end of march. 1 more thing...KARMA!
You guys are assholes!
You can always find a job position here https://dissertation-center.co.uk/dissertation-formatting-service as an editor! You are welcome!
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