Anybody work for Circuit City? (1 Viewer)

[Luis S]

Might get a job with them and want to hear from anyone whos worked there. How is the pay? More importantly hows the discount Any info would be greatly appreciated. My interview is tommorrow so I was just wondering aout it.

Thanks in Advance!

Luis S

 

[ShaunC]

I worked there 3 years ago. I was in distribution. Their benefits suck. Expect to pay out the nose for insurance. The pay will depend on many issues, geographic, your experience and your success on the job.

The discount is nice. You get anything (except software, movies, music) at cost. So the discount will be better for things that tend to have high mark-up.

Good Luck!

Shaun

 

[JeremyFr]

They fired my cousin a few months back when they got rid of everyone who was commission sales. Also I interviewed to do sales for them once they scouted me out while I was working somewhere else, pushed me through a 3 day hire process in less than a day offered me the job then told me 2 days later they couldn't hire me because I had bad credit. Dumbf**ks there loss

 

[Gregg Shiu]

I've worked there for half a year, and it's my first time in retail, so granted, some of the problems I've experienced just come with the territory. Circuit City is the pussiest company with customer service - meaning, customers who complain will almost always get their way. It's not like Best Buy, where people don't know anything and you just help yourself. At CC, only some people don't know much but you still are focused primarily on being the customer's bitch. Just swallow your pride sometime and know you're doing customers a service, or at least doing it to the best of your abilities, and enjoy it. BTW, the discounts are pretty nice, we get stuff for whatever Circuit City gets it for. The best stuff is as follows: Most Car audio is 30-50% off, accessories such as usb cables or coax cables are 40-93%, and TV's can be as much as 33% off. Just remember it's a customer-focused business, and best of luck!

*Quick edit - their f'ing application process and interview was even longer and more tedious than when I applied for a government job 2 years ago.

 

[JasenP]

It's not like Best Buy, where people don't know anything and you just help yourself.

This is an example of a broad statement based entirely on ignorance.

 

[Scott L]

I applied some time ago. They had me come in for 3 seperate interviews and finally sent me a postcard saying I didn't get the job.

 

[Luis S]

Wow thanks for all the quick replies everybody! So basically what you guys are saying is that even though I got this far,dont get my hopes up? Because Ill be honest with you guys my credit stinks. :frowning:

Is that going to be a problem like in JeremyFr's case? Jeremy or anyone else, do you know of such a thing happening often? WTF does credit have to do with my job performance?!?! Ive noticed alot more employers are looking at that now and it disturbs me in all honesty. I dont think its any of their buisness. Besides, who would be more hardworking than someone whos got to pay off that new reciever or DVD player they just bought!

Thanks for the info guys keep it coming.My interview is this afternoon. BTW should I just be upfront and like "Look my credit stinks is that going to be a problem?" And just save myself some disapointment possibly?

Thanks in advance,

Luis S

 

[Malcolm R]

In some cases, if the potential employee is in financial difficulties, they may also be more likely to steal from the company.

 

[Win Joy Jr]

The credit check is due to the fact that you are handling money and product. Teh advent of the Credit Check into our daily lives is alarming. Auto / Home insurance companies use it, employers use it, banks are now using it for opening up a checking account (without overdraft protection).

If you really want your credit profile dissected, get a job with a Top Secret clearance with the alphabet riders...

 

[Al Stuart]

Um, I used to work for them and it was an F'ing nightmare. This is the wrong time to start with a company that is either being bought or going out of business. I am still friends with some people who still work there (the ones who are left, a lot got fired for almost no reason whatsoever).

I suggest you read this frightening thread before even considering CC.

http://www.dvdfile.com/interactive/f...highlight=divx

DIVX finally comes back to bite me in the ass

Some of you may remember that I used to write the occasional inflammatory article on DIVX for the original bunch of guys who started this community, I hated CC and Richard Sharp for bringing this video equivalent of the lawn dart to the market.

I felt a particular right to do so, since I had once worked there for three years and was once top national salesman for their focus stores.

After I left, I went into Home Theater Design for several years, but when the economy tanked, I moved back to my home town, where I decided that because of the benefits and a steady promise of a job, that I would go back to work for them.

I worked their for six months, very successfully until the day corporate announced that they would no longer be a commision based company.

We were told that they would take an average of our salaries and turn that into an hourly wage, the only problem was that it meant letting go a lot of the guys who had been there for years because the hourly wage would run about $17.50 an hour.

The only thing that saved me was the fact I had only been there a short time. I decided I would stay on for a while until I could find another place that paid commision. Now here's the kicker:

Rumour began to go around that upper management was looking for ways to force people in the higher wage brackets out, that way they could save a lot of green, next thing I know I'm called on my day off by boss, he say's man I hate to tell you this, but someone said they said smelled alchohol on your breath yesterday, and unless you can get a note from your Doctor saying that the meds caused it or that you were not drinking I can't let you come back to work.

It was a load of crap, I informed him that I had quit drinking any alchohol because of a pancreatic condition, and even if did not have such condition that would not be drinking during the day.

I suggested that maybe some of the medication I was taking was causing an alchohol odor on my breath, then I told him I was outraged at the accusation, but I was going to see my Doctor that day anyway so I see what I could do.

My Doctor informed me that I should get a lawyer, that what there asking for was ridiculous and illegal, and that if they suspected I was drinking on the job it would be up to them to prove it on the day the statement was made, and that they knew that what they asking for could be not be given by him unless he was there on that day and gave me a blood test.

Suffice to say, I'm no longer with CC. The weird part is that a friend of mine who still works there called me up and asked me if I had ever written some articles on the net under the name Snarkfarms, I said yes I had. Then he asks if I remember using that name as my password to log onto my company Emails.

I suddenly felt a bit weak at the knees, how did he know that? Well, he'd been in the corporate office waiting talk to someone in management, and noticed a partially covered memo with my name and my password name at the top, the only thing he had time to read was, "Has been known to make public inflammatory post comments and articles berating the corporate something something.." Then someone came in, and that's all he saw except that he swears it was dated prior to my incident.

This so bizzare that I can hardly believe it myself, but there you are, maybe I will sue them.

SNARKFARMS


OH yeah,one more thing, when I filed for unemployement I got a letter back from the state that said they were refusing my request on the grounds that CC said that I had not been fired, I had simply abandoned my job.

And here was my response to him, which may appear even more scary in its similarity.

I also used to work for Circuit City and also left before they switched over to commission and also said some controversial things, although always publicly during meetings with 50 people or more. To use the world also again would be redundant, but I have to. I also got initiallly rejected for unemployment for the same reason you did. I was actually "fired" (I had wanted to leave in January after cleaning up in December, and had made my feelings widely known), although there was no actual reason given, I certainly didn't mind. Basically my boss disliked the way I use to embarass him frequently in public and I picked a fight with him to get fired, knowing that if I quit, I would not get unemployment. When I received notification of my rejection. I was also sent a questionnaire asking for specifics on my termination or as Circuit City put it, "job abandonment." I responded to the questionnaire and also added a 5 page single spaced letter detailing my termination and also how others in similar circumstances were treated. All of the Circuit City dirty laundry was aired. I had abundant proof that I did not abandon my job (I was put on two different types of administrative leave, one on my terms, one on theirs), including actually making an employee purchase at the store I worked at, during the time I was "absent."

Circuit City did not respond to the questionnaire they were sent and so I won my case. I suggest you do the same.

 

[Carl Johnson]

I put in a year working for Circuit City back in '97, the discount was nice and the pay was terrible. Considering they fired the companies whole commissioned sales staff earlier this year it's surprising to hear that they are even accepting applications. If you're looking for a career you'll be better off elsewhere, but if you're willing to settle for a few bucks on the side you'll be ok.

 

[Luis S]

Bullshit. Some people get into financial trouble because they have to eat,or pay the rent, pay the electric bill and so on. Not everyone with bad credit has been racking up the cards buying shit irresponsibly. Belive me if I knew a way and enough people Id be raising holy hell about this and doing my damndest to get it stopped. Some of us with bad credit are just trying to get back on our feet. And those of us that had go bankrupt,and are trying to make things work have to worry about this now? Its a form of discrimination IMHO plain and simple.

But anyway Im not looking to get a career here. Like Carl said Im just looking for a few bucks on the side to pay for school. Well Im going to head out now, Ill report back with what happens. Thanks again ecerybody for all the info and advice. I really appreciate it.

Later,

Luis S

 

[KyleS]

I worked for Circuit City for almost 4 years awhile back and before they stopped commissioned sales. I mainly sold computers but did do some audio/video as well. The best thing about the job was certainly the discounts on pretty much everything in the store, except videos & CD's. Besides the store cost on items you could also buy items directly from the manufacture (Accommodations) where you can get great pricing. Heck I bought my Infinity IL-60's, IL-36 center, & IL-10 surrounds for about $1500 when they were selling brand new for $3900.

Now that being said the work did suck for what you got paid for having to put up with the BS and constant sales pressure. I am sure that things have not changed even though they are not paying commission simply because they will force employees and grade them on how much service they still sell for the company.

As far as Al's comments go if the person in the letter was talking outside of Circuit about the company then he was breaking company policy and they wouldn't have made up an excuse to get rid of him they would have just fired him. Sounds like a bogus story to me or at least that there is a lot more to the other side of the story that we are not getting.

My advice is to look elsewhere unless you are just looking to work for the commission.

Circuit does have a long hiring/interview process where they have you take personality tests to see if you are prone to stealing, lying, etc (and no that will not help you get a job there)

They will also check your credit to see if you are a possible liability to the company. Using straight statistics people with poor credit are more apt to steal or be put in a situation to steal then someone who has good credit.
KyleS

 

[Al Stuart]

-Kyle

What you may not have noticed (and perhaps the information is not clear, because I have knowledge other than what is presente dhere), is that he wasn't even working for the company at the time he was making these comments. Notice he said that he had gone into home theater installation for a period of time. What is scariest, is that someone bothered to follow his path to the message board after he had conciuded his time working there, and figured it was him based on a matching screen name with his password. I can attest to the fact that during the last 8 months I don't even think he posted on dvdfile more than once or twice at all, if that many, and certainly nothing regarding Circuit City.

I was also almost fired for talking about the company off the site of the store, although I was only trying to address my concerns to a manager from a different store who I happened to run into on the street. He told me he was offended by my presumptions and line of questioning and turned me into my boss whom I had to convince not to fire me for several days. Which at the time would have disapointing considering how much I also used my discount heavily and that Polk Accomodation form. $3500 of speakers for $875 delivered.

And also the policies are not the same they are in fact worse. The store I used to work at has new rules which state that you have to have a 10% ESP rate (now I belive called City Advantage, but basically your warranty percentage towards the gross of your overall sales), which is unfathomable for the area we are in. No employee (at this store) has ever had any individual month in which they were even at 9%.

 

[Luis S]

Well Im back. Doesnt look good. :frowning: Had the interview,thought it went very well,took a second questionaire, and when I was done a manager simply said "We'll maybe contact you within 7 days if theres a position open for you." Say what? Theres a huge frickin sign that says they have an opening in a particular area! Somehow I have a feeling I wont be getting a call back :frowning:,I just wish theyd come out and tell you "sorry not gonna hire you."

Ah well kinda bummed me out a bit but nothing ventured nothing gained right? Gotta keep looking I guess. Thanks again everyone,youve all been very helpful. If I get an interview at another retail store count on me asking for advice again

Thanks Again,

Luis S

 

[Ted Lee]

don't fret too much luis. they have to tell you that - there are probably other candidates they're also interviewing - so they're just hedging their bets for now.

anyway, i worked at a couple different locations for about 2 years. tbh, i didn't like it too much, but i hate the commission environment. it's really tough to deal with if that's your livelihood.

i think now, in a non-commissioned environment you may have a better time. i don't know what kind of pressure mgmt may put on you, but back in the day it was annoying as hell.

esp (or whatever it's called now) is like crack to those guys - they push it harder then you'd believe. if you didn't sell it, you were harped on quite a bit. when my numbers were really low they actually moved to me to the ACE department! however, i must admit that i sold better in there then i did in home audio. of course, all that meant was i was "unofficially" cross-trained to sell in both departments - what a bunch of dorks.

anyway, it probably won't kill ya and you can always bail later if you don't like it. the discount is nice.

good luck!

 

[Luis S]

Yeah,I guess they could be playing it safe,but I dont think Ill be getting the job just the same.Shame too, 9.50 plus everything you want at cost. Not bad for a retail job these days. I swear if somone doesnt hire me soon though I going to initialize Project:Mayhem! Then they'll be sorry!

Luis S

 

[Gregg Shiu]

This is an example of a broad statement based entirely on ignorance.

JasenP, no please, tell me what you really think. The only thing I meant is that Circuit City is more customer focused than say, generally much larger stores such as Best Buy, which can only have so much staff on hand at any given time. Customers tend to have the self-service attitude there, whereas Circuit City's customers rely heavily on the specialists, it seems. At least, in the northern-va area. If for some reason, you took this offensively, my bad.

 

[David Preston]

Have you thought about getting a part time job at UPS. It can be a great second income. The also have tuition reimbursement like $3,000 a year I believe. Let me know what you think.

 

[Luis S]

David,

I would definately take a part-time at ups. I applied awhile back If I recall,never heard from them though.:frowning: Why do you ask? Can you hook me up?

Luis S