"at the same time as CompUSA has also struggled in the marketplace"

Well, not exactly at the same time, since CompUSA ceased to exist months ago.

Circuit City is going down because the upper-level management is completely inept. Their asinine policies in running the business have run that company into the ground. For example, a year or so ago, Circuit City executives decided to fire any sales associates that made over a certain pay threshold. At the surface, the plan looks like a good cost savings move. If you think about that move for more than say 30 seconds, you realize what they've actually done is fire anyone that has any experience. What they were left with was a bunch of associates without any experience in customer service or knowledge of the products. The executives then wondered why sales were not meeting expectations.

Fire the executives that created the mess at Circuit City and not give them a golden parachute. Apparently from me talking to the associates still left at those stores, the severance packages for the associates are tied to how well they move products in the next couple of weeks. Yep, let's pay people for how well they can sell luxury electronics during one of the worst financial crisis in 50 years from a company that's about to go bankrupt.

I don't know if I could complain about the wording. The CompUSA where I live seems to be struggling mightily. Not spending all my time watching it, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who's bought from them in the last few months.

Talk about struggling.

as I have oft called it. Yes I agee that current and recent upper level mgmnt has totally messed up this once relatively well run business. I have worked for them in the past (many moons ago when they had a decent compensation pkg for store employees and mgmnt)and then they went off the deep end s******* their retail managers and employees with their feeble attempts to cut costs. Typical of many American business, blame the victim/employees when things go bad. What me, no no no, we in management are not to blame. We are here to save this company by messing it up even worse. Unfortunately the employees will end up suffering with job loss as well as their local communities, and these clowns in mgmnt will undobtably get nice golden parachutes if they don't turn this around and go under.

I worked seasonally for Circuit City in college in the computers dept. They're a big PITA company to work for and their commission structure made it practically impossible for a part timer to make more than minimum wage which is a complete joke. So yeah, you wonder why their associates suck? It's b/c most of them are probably only making min. wage.

I haven't bought a thing at Circuit in probably 4 yrs...and the only reason I shopped there was b/c they were the only retailer that carried the specific model I wanted.

It's also interesting since CC is retrofitting an old CompUSA in my in-law's town to move in (almost done). I wonder if they will actually open now or just cut their losses.

And what will we all miss by Circuit City following Future Shop and CompUSA into the graveyard?

Here’s the list of stores closing:

http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/CC/455547123x0x245809/2BFAC9D9-6CEF-4027-9E51-1C635F42F7A7/110308 Store Closing List.pdf

Competition, mostly. Now we're stuck with just Best Buy.

Looks like it isn't just retailers too! Saw that Sony is having real financial problems too and Olevia just filed for bankruptcy! No one seems to be safe...though I did see that Vizio had grew in the 3rd quarter. Weird, but good! I like American companies doing well.

Does anyone remember that Circuit City, just a few years ago, was the best performing company in Jim Collins' book "Good to Great"? Obviously, Mr. Collins' approach to management is worth some reconsideration given the fall of Circuit City. It would seem a new approach to management would be worth considering. Read more at http://www.ThePhoenixPrinciple.com