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Circuit City Is Coming Back (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the back-from-the-dead dept.

Following a tease of a CES announcement, current Circuit City CEO Ronny Shmoel confirmed on Monday that something called Circuit City will arrive as "a new, more personalized online shopping experience" starting February 15. The announcement even included promises of AI-driven recommendations fueled by IBM's Watson platform, plus unexplained "augmented reality" and "search by photo" features. Ars Technica reports: Curiously, Shmoel also promised "real-time tech support via video chat," but it's unclear whether this feature will include two-way video feeds -- and, thus, whether Circuit City is prepared for a deluge of Chatroulette-caliber video surprises from trolls. This online Circuit City rebirth may very well actually come to exist, as Shmoel claims that the company has put together a fully fledged inventory and distribution system, with a mix of known electronics brand names and "tier-two and tier-three" names (Shamsung? Panafauxnoic?). The same cannot be said for its CES tease of eventual brick-and-mortar showrooms in the neighborhood of 8,000-10,000 square feet, however. Shmoel already backtracked on similar showroom promises in 2016, and his CES pronouncement of future shops included no hard confirmations of locations or dates. But for anybody who dares to dream, Circuit City's showroom design partner, Taylored Group, released a concept render of its store vision which looks like a Radio Shack as if rendered in a Taiwanese hot-take news video.

47 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. It's just a website by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's not really a come back, anymore than the Atari box is a come back. They're just using the name to get some press. Worked too.

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    1. Re:It's just a website by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Circuit Blockchain City would have been better.

    2. Re:It's just a website by GerryGilmore · · Score: 1

      You bastard! If you weren't posting as AC I'd burn every Funny mod point I have!

    3. Re:It's just a website by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      Maybe they will bring back those shitty Divx players that killed them last time.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    4. Re:It's just a website by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      A website is all that us needed to keep people parts all over the USA.
      Find your parts needed online. When ready get them shipped for that project.
      A person asks for 10, 100 sets of parts to be shipped for a project that needs 15 parts.
      The project is made, a video uploaded. The how to order list is included so fans can place the same order.
      Fans can then request the extra parts direct from the person who made the video. Shipped out to fans as a set of parts with instructions.
      Dont want to build a project? The kit can be sent ready to use as the project has extra parts.
      Win for the website that sent out 15 project parts as the users are sharing its brands, lists from their site. Win for the person making the project video and their fans getting all the parts at a low cost from one well designed website.

      No wages in a store needed to count out one part by hand over a counter. For that city or states to set min wage.
      A web site and the cheapest state for wages to send parts out from. All over the USA without local wages, shops to need workers, upkeep.

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      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    5. Re:It's just a website by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      A website is all that us needed to keep people parts all over the USA.

      You keep parts of people? Sounds a little messy to me...

    6. Re:It's just a website by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      The messy part would be opening shops all over states than demand $15 an hour min wages.
      A website and quality delivery from a state with more realistic min wage can avoid all the other city and state wage costs around the USA.
      The more a shop in a city has to accept a minimum wage to $15 an hour the more a well located national website can pass on savings for the same parts.
      All the parts needed, in stock ready to ship. No need for local prices to cover a $15 an hour worker.
      Warehouse with robots getting packs of parts together ready to send out all over the USA from a pro business part of the USA.
      Not a new shop front in failed state with lots of regulations for a $15 an hour min wage.
      Put the wage savings offered by that state towards getting more parts in from China, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, England, other parts of the USA in bulk.
      The end user gets their project kit parts with lots of new innovative parts that no other shop in the USA can offer in store at that price.
      Then let the people who have the creativity to sign kits, projects create parts lists and get more savings as they drive business to the web site.
      Win, win for the brand and the customers all over the USA who get freedom of choice and great savings.
      Messy for the $15 an hour wage cities and their shops offering the same products.

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      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    7. Re:It's just a website by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yup, brilliant.

      I'm not the OP, but some of us have been lurking as A/C's for a long time, since it became less of a community.

      I've been here since it was Chips & Dips, but rarely login anymore, for that reason.

    8. Re:It's just a website by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 1

      I went to Menards (local hardware store like Lowes/Home Depot). They had some cheap as dirt lowend chinese tablets by: Polaroid and Packard Bell.

    9. Re:It's just a website by HalAtWork · · Score: 1

      Yes but their web services are state of the art.

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      Twinstiq, game news
    10. Re:It's just a website by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      AC this is about selling different electronics parts all over the USA from one location via a web site.
      Not the needs of on site food production and the changes to wage costs in one state.

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      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    11. Re:It's just a website by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      AC after finding a state that does not have a "paying its employees $15" law then an online shop can sell US wide without needing a "brick and mortar" shop in that "$15" wage state.
      Robots and low cost staff can fill parts requests.
      A much wider product range and innovative new products an average "brick and mortar" shop cant have in stock at a low price. People all over the US then have freedom of choice and range of products and prices.
      No need to risk growing staff wage costs in some states.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    12. Re:It's just a website by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      $15 an hour to sell a few resistors and a capacitor?

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      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  2. They could just open good stores by DogDude · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... they could just open good stores. That's something they've never tried before. I would much prefer buying my electronics at a physical store.

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    I don't respond to AC's.
    1. Re:They could just open good stores by bobbied · · Score: 1

      Just curious... What do you mean by "good stores"?

      I live in a major metropolitan are and we have a number of electronic stores here. In no specific order, we have Apple Store, Frys, Micro Center, and Best Buy and a couple of specialty retailers selling home theater and professional AV equipment. I think each as strengths and weaknesses. I'm just wondering what you think are the requirements of a "good store".

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      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    2. Re:They could just open good stores by DogDude · · Score: 2

      I live in a major metropolitan area on the East coast, and all we have is Best Buy and an Apple store (which isn't really an electronics store). Best Buy here stocks next to nothing, and the last time I tried to buy something in there, I was told to come back the next day, because they didn't have anybody who could sell me what I needed (a freezer). We literally have no electronic stores within hundreds of miles.

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    3. Re:They could just open good stores by bobbied · · Score: 1

      Wow, sounds like an underserved market... So you want a store that carries the item you want so you can buy it NOW.. In your case, a durable home appliance. I'm wondering, did you think to try Lowes or Home Depot at the time? They sell appliances too.

      Best Buy seems to be a bit under staffed here too. Actually, most retailers do around here. However there are at least 4 Best Buy stores within a 5 min drive from me and they always seem full. The issue here though is finding people willing to work retail and accept the pay. Our unemployment numbers have been 1% under the national for awhile and we are approaching a point where you simply cannot find low cost labor for retail work anymore.

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      "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
    4. Re:They could just open good stores by mlw4428 · · Score: 1

      Why are you buying an appliance at an "electronics" store? Why not go to an actual appliance store who specifically staff people who actually know more information beyond the marketing pamphlet they've memorized about any specific appliance they stock?

  3. Re:Hah by bobbied · · Score: 1

    I hate that and the "Extended Warranty" speech too...

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    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  4. Maybe if they try something different. by Major_Disorder · · Score: 1

    If they just try the same old thing it will no doubt fail again.
    I have thought it might work to have stores with a smaller storefront area, and mostly warehouse in the back. Do your comparison shopping in front, then press the button beside what you want to buy, and one is brought out for you. Alternately some sort of buy online, and pickup in store today model might work. But it is hard to beat Amazon 2 day shipping.

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    First law of people: People are generally stupid.
    1. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by sconeu · · Score: 2

      Back in the day (late 80s, early 90s), there used to be a place called "Best Merchandising" (or something like that). You have recreated their business model. You would go through the store, and write down SKU numbers. You handed the SKU list at the desk, and they would then bring them out of the warehouse in the back.

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    2. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Major_Disorder · · Score: 1

      Back in the day (late 80s, early 90s), there used to be a place called "Best Merchandising" (or something like that). You have recreated their business model.

      I have never heard of them, but it is possible a model like that might work for an electronics retailer now. Also we have much better computers now, so some sort of automated purchasing system could be integrated into the store, and made very fast. The big box model obviously no longer works.

      --
      First law of people: People are generally stupid.
    3. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Baron_Yam · · Score: 1

      In my home town, we had 'Consumers Distributing'. You'd leaf through the catalogue (pre-Internet, remember!) and write down the SKUs... then they'd magically come rolling in on a conveyor belt to the cashier.

      They had far too many products to have a reasonably-sized display floor for them, so they just didn't show anything.

      If I were re-creating that business model today, I'd have shoppers pick up a wireless scanner (or let them use their smart phone) and scan barcodes on a display floor (if you have no display, there's no point in a bricks & mortar presence). When they were done, I'd have a robot picker grab their products from the warehouse and deliver them to the cashier. In fact, I'd allow payment via their smart phones and have the robot deliver to a carport to be loaded directly into their vehicles.

      One or two humans to oversee the warehouse, one or two humans to oversee the customer-facing operations, and the rest automated.

    4. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I have thought it might work to have stores with a smaller storefront area, and mostly warehouse in the back.

      Show room warehouses have been done before, Service Merchandise (68 years) and Best Products (40 years) still went out of business around the time of everyone else.

      But there's always a chance a modern one will work.

    5. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by DogDude · · Score: 1

      The big box model definitely can work. I work at one. We're profitable and growing. Most people just don't know what they're doing when it comes to retail.

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    6. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Kargan · · Score: 1

      We had another localized chain in these parts that did the same thing, called Dolgin's.

      https://dfarq.homeip.net/remem...

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    7. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1

      Sounds like Service Merchandise.

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    8. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Kargan · · Score: 1

      And I guess the link I posted mentions that Best bought them out. That explains that.

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      Palaces, barricades, threats, meet promises
    9. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by bigdady92 · · Score: 1

      You mean like Ikea?

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    10. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by trailerparkcassanova · · Score: 1

      I remember them. They were what was called a 'catalog showroom'.

    11. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by sconeu · · Score: 1

      Thank you! That was what I was thinking of. Couldn't find a link!

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    12. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by mjwx · · Score: 1

      I have thought it might work to have stores with a smaller storefront area, and mostly warehouse in the back.

      Show room warehouses have been done before, Service Merchandise (68 years) and Best Products (40 years) still went out of business around the time of everyone else.

      But there's always a chance a modern one will work.

      You mean like IKEA.

      The GP pretty much described IKEA and about every furniture superstore since. You have set up products in the front showing you what it looks like assembled and then flat packed wardrobes in the back you pick up for cheap. Same with car parts, Euro Car Parts (ECP) in the UK. Tiny store front with practically no merchandise in it and massive warehouse out the back. This business model is quite successful, especially in the age of online ordering. I can order a litre of oil from ECP and pick it up from the nearest store or have it delivered to me, or a chair from IKEA or Argos.

      Given the success of this business model, I'm surprised a lot of traditional "stock on display" competitors are even still in business. Back on topic, I would have thought something like Circuit City would be best to come back as an online retailer, less overheads and you'd reach a wider audience that is already used to shopping online.

      * Yes, I can buy bits for my Honda (S2000) at Euro Car Parts. This makes no lexical sense but we just accept it like British people can and carry on.

      P.S. Why is IKEA capitalised like an acronym? Does it stand for something in Swedish?

      --
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    13. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by jae471 · · Score: 1

      Best Products

    14. Re:Maybe if they try something different. by Chaset · · Score: 1

      I got my HP48GX from a BEST store. I wondered what happened to them, and now I know.

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      -- "This world is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel."
  5. There’s your problem right there by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

    ”Shmoel already backtracked on similar showroom promises in 2016, and his CES pronouncement of future shops included no hard confirmations of locations or dates.”

    Well, the name “Future Shop” was already taken... so of course he had problems. /rimshot

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  6. Radio Shack is the one I'm going to miss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    One obvious problem was that they had way too many damn stores, and each store was usually too small.

    They should try the MicroCenter model with only one or maybe two stores in many metropolitan areas.

    1. Re:Radio Shack is the one I'm going to miss by hdyoung · · Score: 1

      Microcenter basically IS what radio shack used to be, to a very large extent. Yes, way way incredibly wayyyy back they were an actual electronic component shop, but that's back in the stone ages. Microcenter has some of that stuff too.

  7. Like Monkey Ward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Circuit $#!++y will come back just to the same extent Montgomery Ward has been back for the past few years.

  8. Of course. They need to ask one more question. by istartedi · · Score: 1

    "Can I help you?". NO. For the last time. Leave. Me. Alone.

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    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  9. Want to know a secret? by slashmydots · · Score: 1

    Last I heard, Circuit City as a brand/company is owned by the Systemax Group which includes Infotel and Tiger Direct. So either they sold it off or this is a Tiger Direct Walmart basically.

  10. Why would anyone invest money in this? by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 1

    IMHO, the only way something like this could succeed against Amazon or Walmart is if they scored exclusivity with certain brands and product lines.

  11. That's pretty cool by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 1

    I'll have another option for places to not shop.

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    Do you have ESP?
  12. How is this a good thing by sunking2 · · Score: 1

    Circuit City was about one step above Crazy Eddies. The salesmen on the floor were the worst group of sales bros I've ever seen.

  13. The heat is on! by stolidobserver · · Score: 1

    They'll be competing with Radio-Shank.

  14. After years of their 20% restocking fees... by greenwow · · Score: 1

    screw them. They often advertised "WinModems" (software) as real modems and included pictures of real modems with DIP switches in their ads even though the modems they sold didn't have them. They charged many of our customers restocking fees for those fake modems. They need to just die.

  15. Egghead or bust! by iamacat · · Score: 1

    If you are going to bring back old brands, bring back good ones. Circuit City was pretty much same as Best Buy, what's the point of duplication?

  16. Catalog Showroom by itomato · · Score: 1

    Display the thing in an amazing setting - demo it, and sell it to me.
    I'll pick it up in a box from cash wrap, or you can deliver it.
    Fry's has kept part of this element of Incredible Universe alive, to some extent. Buying a motherboard isn't quite the joy it once was, though.
    I never would have bought Fabulous Fred if it weren't for a working demo unit at Best/Service Merchandise/Sterling.