Circuit City Botches GPS Install, $12k in Damages, Won't Pay Up
For most GPS systems, installation is as simple as sticking a suction cup on the windshield or an adhesive disc on the dash, plugging in an adapter to the cigarette lighter, and hitting the power button. But, if you want something a little more flush and integrated, you have to go with a device installed in your dash. Unless you're the adventuresome type and know what you're doing, dashboard installation is usually a task best left to the professionals. We say "usually" because we've come across a case where paying someone else to do the install was plainly the wrong call, resulting in $12,119 in damages to a 2007 Honda Civic Si.
The woefully bad install job was done at a local Circuit City store, where "qualified" technicians were attempting to install an AVIC-Z2. The installer proceeded to cut the wiring harness from the stock stereo, twist and solder together a new one, drill holes in the heating system, scratch up the front windshield, and crack all the plastic panels surrounding the thing. Sounds to us like the guy who tried to install his home satellite system with a .22 pistol could have done a better job. The install is so bad that the local Honda dealership won't release the car, saying all the shorted wires are a fire hazard.
The most irritating part of the story is that Circuit City isn't ponying up for the damages. To date, the electronics retailer has only paid $3,190, about a quarter of the total damages, and is forcing the victim in question to deal directly with his insurance company rather than just cutting him a check. That is some seriously bad customer service, which we hope will be rectified soon in light of the atrocious publicity this installation-fiasco is generating for the chain.
From Engadget
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
Julie said 3:41PM on 3-31-2008
I guess that is what happens when one of the number 1 places, lets go of all there good employees. I was wondering if you would tell me what store you went to, to have that done? I use to work for that company, and I was one of the 3400 that got laid off last year.
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y said 1:40PM on 1-04-2009
Looks like they aren't receiving much love these days!
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audrey hobbs said 3:51PM on 3-31-2008
I am not surprised. The so called expert installer was probably an illegal alien newly hired from the street corner.Circuit City sucks, salespeople are rude and dumb and products are shoddy. you really take a chance with this outfit.The poor guy needs to sue their corporate asses for megabucks.
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Rap said 6:27PM on 3-31-2008
The Roadshop at my store used to be great. Then they fired the manager who had been there for years and they fired the best installers and the rest of the good installers left. After that they put someone from "Entertainment" (TVs, basically) in charge of the whole thing, making very little more than a regular salesperson.
The point is that most of these Roadshops are probably hanging on by a thread (ie, have ONE person who is good and holding the department together).
The other point is that they have little respect for the difficulty of what their employees do, so they put anybody in technical positions since they think it's easy.
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BBMom said 8:14PM on 3-31-2008
That's why Circuit City is probably going to close soon and why Best Buy is flourishing. Customer Service and consistent quality in merchandise and services.
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J. Brian Thompson said 8:16PM on 3-31-2008
I believe Circuit City stores are "commission-only." This means the sales people must close lots of deals fast to make a living wage. They don't care about your problems after the sale. I also believe they stopped hiring Ph.D.s as managers and supervisors in the 70's. I would advise the screwed customer to hire a good laywer and tell him to rip their callous, incompetent faces off and wipe their butts with them. Inconvenience, pain and suffering compensation could probably be won. Yes, you can save a few dollars at cut-rate box stores, but don't hire these rats for anything that requires brains. They're not in that business.
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MIKE said 8:17PM on 3-31-2008
CIRCUIT CITY SHOULD REPORTED TO THE BETTER BUISNESS BUREAU IF THAT WAS MY CAR AND THEY DID ALL THAT DAMAGE THATS WHO I REPORT THEM TO I DON'T SHOP THERE I GO TO BEST BUY FOR MY ELECTONICAL THINGS THEY ARE PLEASANT AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING
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SonoranWolf said 8:22PM on 3-31-2008
I think Circuit City sucks also. The employees are rude and very unhelpful and the store is very disorganized. Cds aren't even alphabetized, they are just all lumped together. Good luck finding what you are looking for. At Best Buy, the employees actually ask you if you need help. Circuit City used to be a good place to shop, not anymore.
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Annie Rae said 8:24PM on 3-31-2008
So Circuit City doesn't stand behind their installers any better than their products.
Seriously...I'd go learn to be an engineer and build my own computer before ever buying ANYTHING at Circuit City again.
I won't even buy ink thre....in fact...I don't even drive thru the parking lot.
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Annie Rae said 8:25PM on 3-31-2008
So Circuit City doesn't stand behind their installers any better than their products.
Seriously...I'd go learn to be an engineer and build my own computer before ever buying ANYTHING at Circuit City again.
I won't even buy ink thre....in fact...I don't even drive thru the parking lot.
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Jeremy said 8:27PM on 3-31-2008
I worked at Circuit City in what was called the ROadshop for around 9 years, and I must say that everyone should stay as far away as they can from the car stereo installation area now called "firedog". No one is left tht has any clue what they are talking about, it frightens me to say this but I would never let anyone I know go to Circuit City to have car stereo work done. If anyone out there has any questions feel free to email me. I was a manager in the "roadshop" when I was let go and I have seen some abominations since I have left there....... thank you for your time
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rick said 8:26PM on 3-31-2008
Well this is nothing new! I brought my 2006 vette in to have an upgraded stereo and amp put in, it was a great unit however, i ended up in the same boat. my dash was mangled, torn, and beat senceless. I had the same problem, they tried to low ball me on the repairs. The car's electrical system was screwed up so bad that i had to have the car towed home. cirsuit city b.s.'ed me for weeks and then had the balls to give my insurance company the run around stating that i assumed liability for damage due to installing a non-factory radio!
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Jp said 8:27PM on 3-31-2008
I seriously doubt an installer can do $12,000 worth of damage to a dash board. I think this guy is trying to grab CC.
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Cody said 8:33PM on 3-31-2008
My Daddy was their best LPM they laid off last year. Now Daddy gets calls begging him to come back. Daddy also gets calls to help those still shipwrecked there new jobs 'cause they want out. Circuit City has gone to crap - article doesn't surprise us. Glad Daddy got out when he did....
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jack spratt said 8:27PM on 3-31-2008
Circuit City is the most ridiculous stores out there. Bunch of dumb @*#^$(*$)_ work there. been there 3 different times. They spemd more time grab assing than working. I hope that dump closes for good. They deserve it. You can get better service from a toilet flushing!
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Joe Dobbs said 8:29PM on 3-31-2008
I am not surprised. The so called expert installer was probably some stupid little white boy who kissed ass to get the job. They shoould have hired a Mexican! Stupid ignorant white people. Don;t hate cause Mexicans get it done right.
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Scott Chamlee said 8:38PM on 3-31-2008
Our local Circuit City sucks. You go in the store to look around and possibly actually want to purchase something and you can't get anyone to wait on you. I'm not surprised that one of their store installation departments totally "fubared" an install. This company will probably be gone by the end of the year. They are in trouble and it's a no brainer why. Best Buy won this war. It's all about customer service.
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Don said 9:58PM on 3-31-2008
Thanks for the insight into Circuit City, but before you put Best Buy in your speed dial you should know they had their negatives too. I purchased a laptop from them and paid for the extended warrantee. Long story short, they not only held onto the computer for a total of NINE MONTHS over 3 continuous non-repairs, it never worked properly again and then refused to live up to the replacement guarantee and never responded to any messages or letters I sent to the corporate office. Would have been cheaper to toss the laptop than to purchase the warrantee.
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Tom said 8:52PM on 3-31-2008
Shame on circuit city, a huge corp. can't fix this poor guys car ?? We as consumers are at the mercy of these huge corp.'s. It's a crap shoot.
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MARK said 8:58PM on 3-31-2008
dont suprise me one bit.we had one in kokomo indiana and their service was terrible.they didnt have a clue about anything in the store.their hire uneducated kids to do grown up work.the worst store i have ever done buisness with.
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