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 Circuit City's Unbeatable Price Guarantee? Hardly!
Posted Sat December 16, 2006 6:30 pm, by Justin G. written to Circuit City
Write a Letter to this Company | Rate this Company
I purchased a Garmin c340 GPS receiver on 11/20/06 for $499. On Friday, they advertised the same unit for $349.
http://bfads.net/pop/3813
Circuit City has refused to honor their own "Unbeatable Price Guarantee" posted at
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/lookLearn.do?cat=-13318&edOid=105471&c=1
which states:
"If you purchase an item from Circuit City and we advertise the same item for a lower price within 30 days of your purchase, we will refund 100% of the difference.
Our policy applies only to local, advertised store prices. It does not apply to online offers, special offers or promotions, including rebates, free-with-purchase offers and special financing."
The thoroughly rude store manager (Nick) at their Gurnee, IL location, as well as "John" at Circuit City's India-based call center claim that Black Friday ads are considered to be a "special offer". That's a convenient catch-all phrase that the conditions of which are not publicly available, nor available for direct quotation by either the store manager or the call center. So, "make it up as we go" is the mode of operation.
Interestingly, the same Garmin GPS unit is in this week's sale flyer for "$499 (before $50 savings)". I wonder whether or not I'll be able to get that $50 knocked off or if they'll claim that that too doesn't count because the sale flyer states $499 and not $449.
I'm surprised that Circuit City is so concerned about this $150 difference that they were willing and so able to forfeit any and all future purchases by me, my wife, my entire family, coworkers, and friends....all of who are stunned by this, especially after reading the "Unbeatable Price Guarantee" which is written in what is seemingly plain english as to not lead to confusion.
Bravo, Circuit City! In this day and age of ever-multiplying purchasing options you continue to violate the #1 rule of business. Please, continue to treat your customers like garbage. Your sales will reflect how this standard operating procedure works for you.
Based on Circuit City's "Unbeatable Price Guarantee" that is posted on their website, I expect to be credited the $150 difference in price.
In addition, I would expect Circuit City to clarify their "Unbeatable Price Guarantee" to specifically and publicly include the Black Friday promotional prices and any other secretly-defined "special offers or promotions" that are excluded from eligibility for Circuit City's price adjustment policy.
If Circuit City's "commitment to our customers remains strong" they would not establish policies and practices that can be construed as intentionally misleading.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/lookLearn.do?cat=-13317&edOid=105485&c=1
Please take the appropriate action to correct this perception of your company.
JG, Northwestern Chicago Suburbs
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Circuit City has now updated their "Unbeatable Price Guarantee"
webpage:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/lookLearn.do?cat=-13318&edOid=105471&c=
1
The link is the same, the content is different:
"If within 30 days from the date of our offer, you show us a lower,
currently advertised price from another local store with the same item
in stock, we will gladly refund 110% of the difference between our
price and theirs.
Circuit City's Unbeatable Price Guarantee does not apply to services,
nor does it apply to special offers or promotions, including rebates,
mail in offers, free-with-purchase offers, limited quantity offers,
bundled promotions and special financing. Circuit City's Unbeatable
Price Guarantee does not apply to products and services offered by
third parties operating in Circuit City's stores."
From their new FAQ section:
": Will Circuit City match its own prices?
A: Yes, if you purchase an item from us (in-store or on
circuitcity.com) and we advertise the same item at a lower price
within thirty days of your purchase, we will refund you 100% of the
price difference. Bring the advertisement and your original sales
receipt to your local Circuit City for the refund."
Clear as a bell to me. Once again, they're not exempting BF sales or
any other unique situation.
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by Jeffrey Posted Mon December 18, 2006 @ 12:13 PM
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It's pretty much standard that BF sales are "special promotions" and
are not to be used for these sorts of things.
Why?
Because everyone would run out 30 days before the sale (BF prices are
often available via "deal" web sites weeks in advance of the same) and
buy the items. Then, when BF rolls around, they'll come to get their
110% of the difference. For a normal sale, it's worth it for CC. For
the huge BF discounts, it isn't.
Now, I do think that CC should clearly specify BF as being excluded.
Why they don't say this, I don't know.
As I've established above, it's well worth it for them to lose you as
a customer to avoid to hordes of people abusing BF prices.
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by Tina N Posted Sat December 16, 2006 @ 7:29 PM
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by ANY company that does price matching.
Now, as to the impotent threat "me, my wife, my entire family,
coworkers, and friends"... Do you honestly believe that ALL these
people are going to just stop shopping there?
Your wife, yes, cuz she has to live with your unreasonable butt, but
all your coworkers and friends and family? I doubt it.
Black Friday prices are gimmick prices. Even Walmart doesn't match
prices on Black Friday.
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