Deals that probably aren't deals
This is a pic from Virginia, but it's a similar scene at Crossgates Commons.
We've seen a few local people mention that the prices at the Circuit City closeout have been less than stellar. (Props to bk for being cautious from the start.)
It appears this has been true across the country. So disappointing were the deals at a store in LA that people started shouting about them. After cruising through a store in Connecticut, PC World declared "many sale items sold at Circuit City were no bargain at all."
Retail "analysts" say this isn't all that unusual for a closeout sale. And Consumer Reports has gone so far as to tell people "beware" of the "deals" at CC -- it reports that many of the items on sale there can be bought for much cheaper online.
It's something to keep in mind if the bargain part of your brain lights up at the sight of the "Closeout!" signs as you pull into the parking lot at Crossgates Commons.
photo: Flickr user F33
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Comments
This looks exactly like Crossgates commons - except there is no snow. If you didn't tell where it was, we would have no idea. Sprawl is soulless.
... said biodiva on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:45 PM | link
Looks to me that even Crab Man (from My Name is Earl) is hurting in this economy and needs a second job.
... said Matt on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:58 PM | link
I noticed a similar phenomenon when Linens and Things went out of business.
... said superdupergirl on Feb 10, 2009 at 6:48 PM | link
I worked at Filene's when they liquidated, at first it was the same thing. Starts with a 10% discount, if you went to the Rotterdam location that wasn't liquidating, you could get a better discount with the coupons. The company hired managment that specialized in liquidating. Linen's and Things and Circuit City have probably hired the same people. It's not really their store anymore.
... said Carrie on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:08 PM | link
How true. I went to CC on the first day of the sale. People were buying up everything and the lines extended to the back of the store...but the prices were absurd! I was with my son; he saw a Vizio 42-in TV he had purchased online for about $700 selling on clearance (10% discount) for more than $1200! If those were CC's normal prices, no wonder that failed.
... said Bob on Feb 11, 2009 at 7:31 AM | link
I think it's weird that people think when a company is going under because of debt that it is just going to (literally) give away the store. How could they go before a bankruptcy judge and say they sold off valuable assets at low, low prices? Doesn't make any sense to expect these chain-wide closeouts to produce any bargains -- they NEED the money, or they wouldn't be going out of business. So they contract with a liquidation company, which also isn't doing it for free.
... said CJ on Feb 11, 2009 at 7:56 AM | link
Where is Crazy Eddie? His prices are INSANE!!
... said Barold on Feb 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM | link
Deal or No deal! lol I never bothered going to check out the sales...seemed i made the right choice...when CompUSA was closing a liquidation company also took over and some prices went up it was nuts! Always know the prices else where when it comes to a closing store do you dont get ripped.
... said tallguyy on Feb 15, 2009 at 7:21 PM | link