179 replies to this topic

[webuser]

I don't think this has been posted yet but here is a faq:

http://www.circuitcity.com/closed.html



For those comparing prices to "costco and sams club"... the products are NOT the same in about ever case when it comes to electronics. Costco and Sams will have the same "type" of tv and lead you to believe its the same but it IS NOT. If you check the exact model #'s, call the company supervisors like sharp etc... you will learn. The models of tv's are either specifically built for those places with cheaper parts and less features or are discontinued models. I've proven this point about 20 times already with different ones who purchased the "same" products at a cheaper rate via sams or costco. I'm not saying not to buy anything from costco and sams because they do have a great return policy but I am saying that your silly to compare the prices for the most part.

Some models numbers are changed specifically to appease certain certain retailers to make it confusing to comparison shop. This is common with mattresses. You often can't price match a mattress between stores because the specific model number is only sold at one retailer.

There may be "some" models or whole lines of equipment that are specifically made for warehouse clubs like the Vizio flat screens, but alot of what you posted is bs.
Alot of what Costco and Sams Clubs sells is exactly the same as what is sold at other stores. For instance, Apple does not make iPods with "cheaper parts" for Costco and Sams Club. A Wii or Playstation at Costco has inferior parts inside than a Wii or Playstation at Circuit City? Prove it.

There are items with model numbers changed to identify they were sold to a specific retailer, but your claim that means they have cheaper parts which implies what you buy at Costco is going to break or not last as long as what you buy from Circuit City has nothing to back it up.

The different model numbers are most likely the same obfuscation used by the mattress manufacturers to appease retailers. It gives an out for price matching and also will prevent people from buying a product at one retailer and then trying to get an exchange or refund from a different retailer claiming they lost the receipt.

[granto]

Some models numbers are changed specifically to appease certain certain retailers to make it confusing to comparison shop. This is common with mattresses. You often can't price match a mattress between stores because the specific model number is only sold at one retailer.

There may be "some" models or whole lines of equipment that are specifically made for warehouse clubs like the Vizio flat screens, but alot of what you posted is bs.
Alot of what Costco and Sams Clubs sells is exactly the same as what is sold at other stores. For instance, Apple does not make iPods with "cheaper parts" for Costco and Sams Club. A Wii or Playstation at Costco has inferior parts inside than a Wii or Playstation at Circuit City? Prove it.

There are items with model numbers changed to identify they were sold to a specific retailer, but your claim that means they have cheaper parts which implies what you buy at Costco is going to break or not last as long as what you buy from Circuit City has nothing to back it up.

The different model numbers are most likely the same obfuscation used by the mattress manufacturers to appease retailers. It gives an out for price matching and also will prevent people from buying a product at one retailer and then trying to get an exchange or refund from a different retailer claiming they lost the receipt.

Agree. 99% of that post is BS. What technology companies do (and I work for one) is package a club only product so that it does not appear to compete with the retail stores. Typically this is something like including a cable, stand, or other accessory and giving it a whole new part number. We do not have multiple production lines and swap inferior parts in/out (just think how expensive this would be to do that).

[bunny]

I agree. The different part numbers dont necessarily imply a 'cheaper' product. In fact, in many cases the warehouse version includes an improved component or feature, or something in addition to what you'd get at retail. For example, my vacuum cleaner included extra bags and a longer hose than the retail version.

I have a 55" DLP television set where I went through this "model number" situation. Sams and Costco sold the exact same television as Sears, with three different model numbers. The model number changes primarily prevent a customer from price matching between retailers, since the retailer will only PM identical model #'s.

All three television sets had the same parts, performance and capabilities.

Every electronics seller occasionally has a 'stripped' model made for them for a sale. Walmart does this a LOT. Those are simpler, more cheaply made, or have reduced features. I'm not aware of Costco or Sams Club selling the stripped models.

[webuser]

I wouldn't bother price matching with Costco and Sams even if Circuit City would price match. I would just buy it at the warehouse club so that I don't lose the better return and exchange policies they offer. Buying at Circuit City for the same price is still worse, so price matching with them is moot to me.
If Circuit City sold the same item for $1 less than Costco, I would still buy it at Costco unless I was 100% sure that I wouldn't need to return it.

[Ram_it!]

I don't think this has been posted yet but here is a faq:

http://www.circuitcity.com/closed.html



For those comparing prices to "costco and sams club"... the products are NOT the same in about ever case when it comes to electronics. Costco and Sams will have the same "type" of tv and lead you to believe its the same but it IS NOT. If you check the exact model #'s, call the company supervisors like sharp etc... you will learn. The models of tv's are either specifically built for those places with cheaper parts and less features or are discontinued models. I've proven this point about 20 times already with different ones who purchased the "same" products at a cheaper rate via sams or costco. I'm not saying not to buy anything from costco and sams because they do have a great return policy but I am saying that your silly to compare the prices for the most part.

Most of all, I would like to say that even though I was not a shopper of CC... I'm very sorry to hear it go under and very sorry to families that had counted on there employment with the company.

Circuit City has over 30,000 employee's and has been around for over 60 years. Its a big hit to the economy and many of its people... some of which may have worked there for god knows how long. Many may have had a bad experiance in the Folsom store (or all others lately) but a company thats been around for over 60 years deserves a salute IMO because they had to have done something right...

True in some cases but not in all. They used to do this alot more but now there are many of the items that are the exact same. I like to do the same thing as you and look to see if they are the same item. Picking up the ads during Christmas time there were many of the electronics that are the same. Also, things like the apple products are all the same. The idea of seperate part numbers for the wharehouses was a big idea a while back but more and more it is now becoming the same. The same is true for tires. I used to buy Michelin radial XLT tires for my truck but going to costco they were called a LT-X. The tread was a bit different slightly. However they had the same warranty and rode just as nice. My dad had the non costco version of the tire in the same size.

[JLS]

I should have been a little clearer on my post. Things like little ipods are not but a couple dollars difference then other stores and no.... ipods and PS3's are not different. But the deals are on target with other stores for those items too.

I also stated that the stuff is different OR discontinued (or about to be discontinued). For instance when Apple switched to the intel processors. The apple store etc started selling the proper intel models but costco received all the G5 models which had no further roadmap. That was the only time you seen Apple computers at costco. Why? Discontinued. The average person purchasing a computer has no idea about them so they just think they are "purchasing an imac" at a screaming deal. They don't realize that they are being suckered and buying off discontiuned stock...

I bought a brand new hp scanner for $300 bucks that had this fancy little photofeeder in it. When the photofeeder didn't work I called up HP for support. They stated that there was no fix for the photofeeder and to get my money back basically. That model was discontinued before I even purchased it and they sold off the remainders at costco.

Sharp. Alot of people such as my father felt they were getting this super deal on a sharp widescreen tv. Comparing prices to the 50 something inch HD widescreen sharp tv's. I was so mad when he bought it and bragged about the money he had saved so I began researching. I found that the model # was the same as the Aquas tv's but had one number different at the end I believe. This model of tv was not available by navigation on the Sharp website but only buy doing a search. I felt this was weird so I called up sharp to ask. The first guy on the phone couldn't answer. So I asked for a supervisor, couldn't answer so I asked for the next up the ladder. Finally I got one who knew what was going on. He informed me that the tv we purchased is made specifically for Costco/sams and is NOT an aquos. They are made with cheaper components and less software features so that they can be sold at a cheaper rate. They are Costco/Sams exclusives.

Major companies DO manufacture exclusives. Best Buy even has their own "Exclusive" samsung (the glowing one) tv. This wasn't a bad thing in that case but again... searching for prices for a friend and kept finding a weird match. When I dug deeper I found that out. Heck, dvd's are even sold in exclusives with special packaging and everything else.

The "model" #'s are not being changed for these companies to "keep track". They are changed because they are "different models".

My family has bought 2 of the 30 inch Vizeo monitor/tv's from costco. Both of them have blurry bars that run down the screen when your looking at them using a computer.

I purchased an HP camera from them for my honeymoon. All of a sudden... pictures are turning purple when taken. I call hp again and suprise suprise... that model is being discontinued.

If you think what I'm saying is "BS" fine. But if you did the research and talked to the higher up ones at sharp or others you will find that what I'm saying is true. You will also find that places like best buy, costco and sams DO have things built for them to exclusively sell at cheaper rates. Sometimes its not a HUGE difference like in the case of Best Buy but when it comes from costco and sams it is. For crying out loud think about it? Why would costco and sams be able to sell the same electronics for sooo much cheaper? My family owned an electronics shop for over 20 years. I still purchase my electronics strait from a distributer for the cost of what electronic shops buy them for and I still can't get anywhere close to the same deal. Because of different models FOR costco and sams.

[Dave Burrell]

Wow, you must have a bad luck streak or something with electronics at Costco?, I've experienced the exact opposite with everything I've purchased from there.

Maybe I'm just lucky? Everything's worked great and been of very high quality - and the one and only time I had a problem with a monitor, I brought it back THREE years later and got a full refund.

The Toshiba DLP I got two years ago is awesome and the Phillips LCD TV we bought last year has worked flawlessly. The Canon camera I got there 4 years ago still works great, even after being dropped a few times.

That's odd you've had so many issues with their products.

[JLS]

Like I said in my original post... their return policy is fantastic.

I've heard many good things from people who purchase from costco so I'm not trying to say that if you purchase there its crap... I'm just trying to say that price competing isn't the best idea because if there is a big difference in price... there is a reason. Also to be aware of discontinue products because that is a big reason costco gets these things at a cheaper rate. Companies aren't just going to trash all their discontinued models... they are going to sell them off in bulk.

[webuser]

I really can't believe much of what you say.
When Apple switched to Intel processors and sold their excess inventory with the old processors at Costco, it was pretty clear that they were not the new Intel processor models.
If someone buys a computer or a TV set without checking specs, that's their ignorance. If they buy it at Costco and don't like the TV's picture or performance of their new PC after they unbox it at home, they can go back and return it and get all their money back. At Circuit City, they lose the restocking fee.
iPods are not just a couple dollars difference. Best Buy sells 8gb iPod Nanos for $149.99 and Costco and Sams Club sell them for about $130. That isn't just a couple dollars difference and they are the same models.

Costco and Sams sell Garmin, TomTom and Magellan GPS units that are the same as what Best Buy and Circuit City sell them for a lot more other than when they have special sales such on Black Friday. Best Buy had an "exclusive" Garmin GPS, but the only difference is that it had a shiny piano black case that shows off fingerprints. The only problem with buying them from a warehouse club is that often there is little or no selection of GPS as stock comes and goes. In the case that the warehouse club didn't carry the GPS I wanted on the day I want, I would just buy the GPS online at Amazon.com.
Circuit City has the Garmin 850 for $699 minus 10% off at their liquidation sale, yet Sam's was selling the same model for around $499.
I bought a HD Tivo DVR at Costco for less than it was selling for at Circuit City and it does not have any lower specs or quality than the Tivos sold at full retail price at Circuit City.

[Dave Burrell]

Like I said in my original post... their return policy is fantastic.

I've heard many good things from people who purchase from costco so I'm not trying to say that if you purchase there its crap... I'm just trying to say that price competing isn't the best idea because if there is a big difference in price... there is a reason. Also to be aware of discontinue products because that is a big reason costco gets these things at a cheaper rate. Companies aren't just going to trash all their discontinued models... they are going to sell them off in bulk.

I did some price comparisons for a 500gb hard drive between amazon.com, costco and best buy and best buy actually has the best price, heading there today to pick one up.

[webuser]

I did some price comparisons for a 500gb hard drive between amazon.com, costco and best buy and best buy actually has the best price, heading there today to pick one up.

Costco had a 640GB myBook external USB hard drive for $89.99 when I was there a few days ago. Does Best Buy have something that beats that?

I have purchased several things at Best Buy. It's usually because it is not available at a wharehouse store (obviously Best Buy has much more selection than the electronics section of Costco) and I didn't want to wait to order online.
Sometimes Best Buy does have a special buy sale price that is the best deal in town, but their everyday prices generally are not.

[webuser]

name='davburr' date='Jan 19 2009, 10:11 AM' post='302641'
Maybe I'm just lucky? Everything's worked great and been of very high quality - and the one and only time I had a problem with a monitor, I brought it back THREE years later and got a full refund.

They reduced the refund/exchange policy for electronics to 90 days because too many people were returning things for cash back after years of use or exchanging PCs and digital cameras every year so they could get the updated models for free.

[JLS]

Webuser, I could care less if you believe of what I say or not.

For one thing costco sells its ipod nano for 137. I'm holding the receipt to mine right now and that same ipod can be purchased for that price at amazon for the same price or a few bucks cheaper. Apple sells their products with no discounts on their website so yes its 149 there. But I didn't say to only compare to apple.com thats silly.

I did state that the ipods are the same and surprise surprise... because of this the model #'s are the same!

The fact is that Costco never sold and apple computer until they discontinued the IBM processors. Then Apple dumped them all to costco to sell for hundreds of dollars off because they were DISCONTINUED. You can't blame a consumer for purchasing something discontinued. If someone walks into best buy and purchases a $1,500 computer then they are counting on it being an honest new product that they are paying for. My mom (an example, no she didn't buy one) isn't going to know anything about what an intel switch could even mean. She isn't going to go "online" and check specs for a machine she's gonna go to best buy or something and purchase a computer. Costco had absolutly no sign stating that this computer was discontinued or anything. They just made out as if its a top of the line machine and because its costco they are giving you a good deal with free apple care etc. Bottom line... Costco got it because its DISCONTINUED and thats one of the ways manufactures get rid of their old, un-popular or discontinued models.

Price comparison of CC. Sometimes they were really high, sometimes lower. They did honor their price matching with me when I purchased a keyboard that was $80 cheaper or something at good guys. Still, I never shopped there because I didn't really need to and their dvd prices were always kinda high IMHO (who wants to price match one dvd?).

You make out that the return policy at costco was years and they switched it because of people returning items after years of use and wanting to purchase a new model. Thats a silly idea to switch a policy from "years" to only "90" days for that reason. There must be other logic in there... Besides, I don't remember it ever being years for cash back. I just remember having a camera crap out on my on my honeymoon and because it was odviously broke they returned it without a hassle. I don't think they would ever just let someone return an unbroke product after years of use for cash back like you stated???

On the Mybook. I purchased one from Costco also. It sucks IMO. At least on a mac as it has a hard time recognizing it at times and some other issues. Plus when you compare prices on them make sure that its equal specs in the FW or USB 2 area. I believe they sell those models separately at a different price... I would go for a better known/rated external HD. I've got about 15 newer externals and thats my very least favorite...

[Dave Burrell]

Costco had a 640GB myBook external USB hard drive for $89.99 when I was there a few days ago. Does Best Buy have something that beats that?

I have purchased several things at Best Buy. It's usually because it is not available at a wharehouse store (obviously Best Buy has much more selection than the electronics section of Costco) and I didn't want to wait to order online.
Sometimes Best Buy does have a special buy sale price that is the best deal in town, but their everyday prices generally are not.

Best buy had the 640gb for 99.99 - I ended up getting a 1 TB drive for $129 at Best Buy

[webuser]

Webuser, I could care less if you believe of what I say or not.

For one thing costco sells its ipod nano for 137. I'm holding the receipt to mine right now and that same ipod can be purchased for that price at amazon for the same price or a few bucks cheaper. Apple sells their products with no discounts on their website so yes its 149 there. But I didn't say to only compare to apple.com thats silly.

I did state that the ipods are the same and surprise surprise... because of this the model #'s are the same!

The fact is that Costco never sold and apple computer until they discontinued the IBM processors. Then Apple dumped them all to costco to sell for hundreds of dollars off because they were DISCONTINUED. You can't blame a consumer for purchasing something discontinued. If someone walks into best buy and purchases a $1,500 computer then they are counting on it being an honest new product that they are paying for. My mom (an example, no she didn't buy one) isn't going to know anything about what an intel switch could even mean. She isn't going to go "online" and check specs for a machine she's gonna go to best buy or something and purchase a computer. Costco had absolutly no sign stating that this computer was discontinued or anything. They just made out as if its a top of the line machine and because its costco they are giving you a good deal with free apple care etc. Bottom line... Costco got it because its DISCONTINUED and thats one of the ways manufactures get rid of their old, un-popular or discontinued models.

Sams Club

http://www.samsclub....09-08splashipod

As far as Costco selling the old model iMacs, it was very plain to see that they were not the just-released Intel CPU models. Even people who do not consider themselves computer experts check a few basic things like how big is the hard drive, how much memory does it have and what processor does it have.
It was the old model and and was priced as such (which was less than other stores had been selling the same old model for a few weeks earlier). The people who paid full price for the exact same thing a few weeks earlier are the ones who should be upset.

Most everything I have purchased at Costco have been current model (such as my new Tivo HD and a GPS I bought the year before). If there is a tv on sale at Costco that has the specs I want and is a 2008 model instead of the 2009, I will still buy it if the price is right, but I haven't had that issue come up so far.