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November 26, 2005
At Circuit City, the $200 laptop bait-and-switch
Posted by Dominic Basulto
In search of the perfect "Black Friday" shopping nightmare story, the New York Daily News is playing this one for all it's worth: a story about shopper rage at a Circuit City store in Rego Park, Queens, where cops had to be brought in to calm down a furious mob desperate for $200 Toshiba laptops. The problem is that Circuit City only had a limited number of these laptops available for purchase, a fact that led to frustration and anger for a crowd of 500 deal-crazed shoppers. (Apparently, shoppers came from as far away as Jersey City to wait in line for more than four hours, all in the hopes of scooping up a bargain-priced laptop) An NYPD officer who commented on the incident put the blame squarely on Circuit City's shoulders: "It's irresponsible for the stores to advertise sales, get people all riled up and angry when they've only got like 30 computers in stock."
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1. AMJones on November 26, 2005 02:25 PM writes...
I find the officer's comment to be amusing and a bit naive. I would bet that the Circuit City in question didn't have 30 units available; I'd bet they had three. That's how the loss leader works...
Permalink to Comment2. MS on November 26, 2005 11:08 PM writes...
In fact, I happen to be a sales manager at Circuit City and yes when it says on our ad right next to a promotion "limited quantities available" that is what it means. On that Toshiba laptop, it said "minimum 15 available per store". I know for a fact my store had 33 available to sell. Every retail outlet with the bargain electronics will state a minimum on the ad and customers need to expect long lines on the busiest shopping day of the year. Even Best Buy had a different laptop on sale for $350 and they had the same quantity as our store did. Maybe that will clear out some issues...
Permalink to Comment3. Carrie on December 1, 2005 04:47 PM writes...
It happened in Indianapolis, Indiana, too! Only they sold out to their employees 45 minutes before the doors opened! You want to talk about unbelievable! I know that did have to have at least 15, but that is completely unfair to the consumers! I have already written corporate about my experience and it will definately influence my future purchases.
Permalink to Comment4. Anonymous on December 14, 2005 09:40 PM writes...
Way to blame irrational behavior on Circuit City instead of the idoits who should be held responsible for their own attitiudes and actions. Did they really think the store would have 500 laptops?
Permalink to Comment5. TABITHA on January 10, 2006 04:45 PM writes...
H
Permalink to Comment6. Fred on January 24, 2006 07:40 AM writes...
Circuit City is just as bad as COMPUSA and Best Buy when it comes to laptop sales. Example of this was last weekend in Portland, OR. COMPUSA had a big ad in the paper with a sale price of $699.00 and a $200.00 rebate from Toshiba on a laptop. NOTHING was quoted in the ad stating limited quantities. I got to the store about 15-20 minutes AFTER they opened up. The store had only five(5) of the Toshiba laptops which were on sale. They had this ad next to the laptop all this past week until Saturday evening and they didn't even put a sign that stated item is sold out. The other store in the Portland area was just as bad. They refuse to give out rainchecks. Best Buy seems to have a similar sales gimmick to get you in their stores. BIG sale but none of the items on the shelf even if you get there early. I think that it's about time to boycott these stores and send complaints to their headquarters. I personally will not shop at either store in the future even if it means that I might have to pay a little extra for the items I purchase from another store.
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