Stores Commiting Suicide

[fuser]

Fuck the Amish and their rolling heat fireplace.

(edit: there's another one that advertises the mantel is assembled by amish folk)

[Sky]

Don't knock veneers, either. Though I tend to think more of the older style, when it was veneer of expensive wood over solid cheap wood.

Nebu, good idea on estate sales, didn't occur to me for some reason. Because I'm fairly poor and have amazingly rich tastes. My fiancee laughs because she's seen it so often. When I shop, I don't look at price until I'm trying to narrow down my last few choices. And it's usually the most expensive stuff in the store.

Though I just put together a nice suit for 70% off...all the parts were the most expensive in their categories 70% off clothes is the only reason I don't look like a bum.

I think we should officially add the letter b to the word bum. Bumb.

[Broughden]

I think we should officially add the letter b to the word bum. Bumb.

Isnt that how the English spell butt though?

Bum= dirty homeless guy
Bumb= your butt

[Sky]

I think in England your butt is a dirty homeless guy. Or I guess it's houmeless guy.

[Lantyssa]

It's still bum.

[Righ]

I imagine that America uses 'ass' because they keep accidentally dropping the 'u' from words. One slip and you're saying 'bm' like Inspector Clouseau.

[stark]

Game over man, game over.

[Big Gulp]

Game over man, game over.

Man, I hate gloating with the economy the way it is, but these fuckers really deserved it.

[Signe]

I wonder if this means they'll actually mark stuff down or just mark it up and then down to make it seem like it's marked down. 

I might be babbling.   

[HaemishM]

They'll sell it to a liquidation company who will then mark shit up before marking it down.

[rattran]

Fuck CC. Poor layout of stores, employees that make BestBuy drones seem knowledgeable and helpful, shitty, shitty prices and selection for music/movies. They deserve to go under.

[Big Gulp]

Fuck CC. Poor layout of stores, employees that make BestBuy drones seem knowledgeable and helpful, shitty, shitty prices and selection for music/movies. They deserve to go under.

Do these stores not understand the concept of "find something, and do it better than anyone else"?  It's like they want to be all things to all people and just wind up as shitty palaces to mediocrity.  Newegg does one thing really, really well.  Same with Amazon.  I understand that they don't have as much overhead, but on the other hand they really don't provide customer service either, and you've got to wait for your stuff to get delivered.  Even with those problems I'd still rather go through them.

[SnakeCharmer]

They'll sell it to a liquidation company who will then mark shit up before marking it down.

Definately buyer beware.  That said, all the CC stores are starting their liquidation sale tomorrow.  Might find some decent buys, maybe not.  Going to hit the local one when the doors open and see what I can find.  Mostly just looking for some cheap RAM for the wifes laptop and a couple other low end items I've been putting off for no real reason.

[Strazos]

Actually Gulp, Newegg provides great CS when the need arises. They were always helpful, understanding, and prompt the few times I had bad video cards.

[Big Gulp]

Actually Gulp, Newegg provides great CS when the need arises. They were always helpful, understanding, and prompt the few times I had bad video cards.

Oh sure, I've had to return something before and they didn't give me any problems, but it's still a hassle printing off the RMD mailing label, going to the UPS store, and waiting (again) for the replacement.  That's where brick & mortar has a lot going for it.  It says volumes that I still don't consider this enough to go through them.  Instead I'd rather pay shipping and handling, wait the 3 business days to get my stuff, and if it doesn't work RMD it than simply drive 3 miles down the road and spend my money in their shitty store.

[Strazos]

There's a CC within a mile of me here...pretty sure I'm not even going to bother to poke around.

EDIT: I do have to take something back...I bought my Vizio from CC last winter. I suppose I may have done better online, but I'm not sure I want to take that kind of risk with a TV that might have to get returned.

Of course, they're still retarded and can't keep their website up for at least a few more days so potential customers can check their offerings.

[Righ]

So. Farewell then
Circuit City

It seems that
You have sold
Your last
Extended warranty

It's just what I needed

Too bad you didn't buy one
For your business

-- EJ Thribb (17½)

[MahrinSkel]

Why do electronics stores sell appliances?  I can understand the luxury-grade powered recliners to go with the home-theater stuff.  And even the refrigerator/end table for storing the munchies for your viewing/gaming process without having to get up to fetch.  But who in their right mind buys their washer/dryer/dishwasher from an electronics store?

--Dave

[Strazos]

If it's a reputable brand and not damaged when you get it, what difference does it make? Honest question, no snark.

[Merusk]

The same folks who buy books or clothes at a supermarket.  Folks just like the convenience of one store shopping and hang your arguments about limited choice and selection. It's one reason Wal*Mart is so fucking successful.

[rattran]

I bought my last major appliance (upright full size freezer) from BestBuy. They had the model I wanted, at a lower price than anywhere else. Previous appliance was a new stove, which I purchased from Lowes, again, model I wanted, at the lowest price.

[Venkman]

The same folks who buy books or clothes at a supermarket.  Folks just like the convenience of one store shopping and hang your arguments about limited choice and selection. It's one reason Wal*Mart is so fucking successful.

Err, slight difference in buying habits between books and refrigerators ;-) See how far selling a Kenmore Elite would get you on Aisle 11 

Brand awareness/loyalty, store faith, and price drive people to retailers. And price can come from volume in ways a Kenmore or Whirlpool-only store can't match. Plus side things like 0% financing where you can buy a few big ticket electronics.

There's a shorter distance between a TV and a stove than there is a couch and a stove.

[Signe]

Why oh why, does no one read, Private Eye?

[Tannhauser]

Earlier tonite I went to CC, thinking of grabbing some PC games cheap.  I didn't go in, it was a storm of bargain-hunters.  I hate long lines. :)

Was odd seeing so many folks at CC, lol.

[Merusk]

Earlier tonite I went to CC, thinking of grabbing some PC games cheap.  I didn't go in, it was a storm of bargain-hunters.  I hate long lines. :)

Was odd seeing so many folks at CC, lol.

I went through to see what the "Bargins" were.   

"20% off all CDs and DVDs!*"

*20% off of standard price ($15.99 for CDs, 19.99 for dvds). Does not apply to CDs sale priced at $9.99

40" Samsung 1080p  HDTV for $1500!

7.1 surround sound system for $379


Most amusing was seeing boxes for Tabula Rasa, Fury and Hellgate: London on the shelves for $39.99, $24.99 and $29.99 respectively.

[Big Gulp]

I went through to see what the "Bargins" were.   

"20% off all CDs and DVDs!*"

*20% off of standard price ($15.99 for CDs, 19.99 for dvds). Does not apply to CDs sale priced at $9.99

40" Samsung 1080p  HDTV for $1500!

7.1 surround sound system for $379


Most amusing was seeing boxes for Tabula Rasa, Fury and Hellgate: London on the shelves for $39.99, $24.99 and $29.99 respectively.

When your competitors normal retail prices undercut your bankruptcy liquidation prices I think we can pinpoint where your business model went wrong.

[MahrinSkel]

Every time I've gone shopping for major appliances, stops at Best Buy, Circuit City, and such were very short as I established that their prices started at 25% over the Lowes/Home Depot/Sears baseline, and went up fast from there.  Once I was sure they didn't have a closeout or floor model for sale with the features I was looking for, there was zero chance they were going to be competitive.  Selection was crap, and jumped straight from stripped-down cheapo models to high-end stuff (why would I want a network-capable washer-dryer?).

Quite frankly, the edges of a Best Buy don't exist for me anymore.  I've never seen them be competitive on anything but the games, movie, and minor electronics that occupies the center of the floor.  Circuit City I liked just because if you knew their stocking schedule, you could come in right before they'd be bringing in new stock for outrageously good deals on the discontinued stuff (like an HDTV that was still going for $1600 minimum, that I got out of them for under $600 right before Black Friday a year and a half ago because they were ditching all their 720P sets that weren't plasma).  But I figured they weren't going to last long once things turned bad economically, and when their suppliers started demanding COD for all new shipments last year, the clock started ticking.

In about another few weeks, they'll be dumping everything for whatever they can get, and there will be some outrageous deals to be had on high-end stuff from asst. managers who no longer give a shit what their numbers are, as long as they don't have to do the paperwork to ship stuff out.

--Dave

[IainC]

Why oh why, does no one read, Private Eye?

I read Private Eye and I got Righ's E.J. Thribb reference.

[Signe]

You're a star, Iain.  We might have to adopt you.

I'm confused, upset and alarmed by Dave's avatard!  Is it a giant chicken-man penis thing? 

[MahrinSkel]

You're a star, Iain.  We might have to adopt you.

I'm confused, upset and alarmed by Dave's avatard!  Is it a giant chicken-man penis thing? 

Who won the pool, Schild?

--Dave

[Signe]

We had a contest for a pool?     Where was I?!?

[Morat20]

I went through to see what the "Bargins" were.   

"20% off all CDs and DVDs!*"

*20% off of standard price ($15.99 for CDs, 19.99 for dvds). Does not apply to CDs sale priced at $9.99

40" Samsung 1080p  HDTV for $1500!

7.1 surround sound system for $379


Most amusing was seeing boxes for Tabula Rasa, Fury and Hellgate: London on the shelves for $39.99, $24.99 and $29.99 respectively.

When your competitors normal retail prices undercut your bankruptcy liquidation prices I think we can pinpoint where your business model went wrong.

The standard way to liquidate is FIRST you mark up everything between 20% and 40%. Then, once they're labeled, you mark them back down by the same (or even less) an amount.

Then you wait for all the people who didn't bother pricing it first to come get their "20% off on a new TV" sale. It gets rid of a good chunk of your inventory at a very profitable price.

You don't actually discount to cost or below unless it's too bulky or odd to sell in lots to, say, Best Buy or Amazon or on fucking Ebay for all I know. You'll only find good prices the last few days the store is open, on whatever they actually can't sell to ANYONE.

[Signe]

They have until sometime in March, don't they?  I guess they even get more merchandise in to sell during this time.  Evidently, people will buy big pricey items for 10 or 20 percent off if they were in the market for that sort of item anyway, even if they weren't planning to get it quite so soon.  All the fancy shmancy tvs and wide-screen monitors will probably be long gone by March.  I guess picking over CDs and DVDs might get you some stuff at the end of it all.  I'll probably need more printer paper by then!

[Grimwell]

Why do electronics stores sell appliances?

The answer for Best Buy was pretty easy to understand.

Where do your grandparents go to find an appliance? Sears. (or Jesus gives them one since they are dead)
Where do your parents go to find an appliance? Sears.
Where do you go to find an appliance? Where is the thing that I want with the best price? Oh hey! Let's look while we are at Best Buy getting this weeks movies!!!

Buying habits.

Older generations bought from department stores. Those departments existed to provide convenience.

Generation X and younger are Best Buy customers. We get their core product (all that stuff in the middle). We get their fringe products (TV, car audio, computers), because we like technology and technical toys.

Why stick a washer and dryer in there next to a stove and refrigerator? When they did this, and moved the appliances into the stores the reasoning was simple. Generation X was already comfortable shopping there, and was starting to buy homes and need more than movies, pot, and a video game system. Generation X needed a fridge to keep the beer cold, and something to heat up the hot pockets.

It was a market opportunity and an easy one to win with. They stock them because we already shop there and need them. Why not take the profits?

=)

[Triforcer]

Why stick a washer and dryer in there next to a stove and refrigerator? When they did this, and moved the appliances into the stores the reasoning was simple. Generation X was already comfortable shopping there, and was starting to buy homes and need more than movies, pot, and a video game system. Generation X needed a fridge to keep the beer cold, and something to heat up the hot pockets.

If only they would stock adult diapers or portable toilets, their stock would go through the roof!

And seriously, when I thought in my mind "Where would I go if I had to buy a major appliance?" my first thought was Sears.  I may be in my 20s but I grew up on a farm- the old ways die hard out there