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Microsoft Responds To Reports Of Xbox Live Account 'Jacking' Did you offload an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 at Circuit City while the retailer was imploding? If you did, we hope you wiped your personal details from the machine. Because Circuit City didn’t.
A storewide liquidation always summons one’s buzzard instinct. One imagines the goods strewn about like carrion on the desert floor, practically there for the taking. Not so at Circuit City.
Given Circuit City’s recently publicised downsizing and rumoured credit concerns it probably won’t come as a surprise that the situation is dire enough for the US electronics and software retailer for them to file for bankruptcy protection. If that was out of the blue, aren’t you glad we prefaced the announcement with how unsurprising it would be? Now you won’t be shocked(!) to learn that Circuit City has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Following the weekend rumour that Sony had nixed delivery of electronic goodies to Circuit City amid credit concerns comes the official notice today that the electronics retailer is in deep financial woes.
Gizmodo had this jaw dropper yesterday: “Sony’s merchandise that was being delivered to nationwide Circuit City distribution centres was stopped in transit and ordered to return to Sony ‘among worries that Circuit City couldn’t pay for the shipments.’ ” Giz attributes the tip to one of its reliable inside sources.
This week there’s been a juicy rumour that Circuit City is taking back HD DVD players in exchange for Blu-ray players. Now our sister site Gizmodo has confirmed it from a variety of sources. If you purchased an HD DVD player—even if opened—in the last 90 days at Circuit City, you can turn in your HD DVD player for original credit on a Blu-ray player purchase.
If you have been lagging on checking out the frozen landscapes and giant bugs of Lost Planet now is your chance to do it cheap! This week Circuit City is listing Capcom’s Lost Planet (360 version) for the low, low price of $US 19.99. According to the pages I checked, the offer is only available through the website and not available for in-store pick up but you may want to check your local store just to make sure. I must admit I am way behind the tip on this game, but I just got a copy for the PS3 that I am anxious to try out. My skills with shooters have improved vastly since BioShock so perhaps I can get through this one without too much embarrassment.
Best of the Sunday Ad Video Game Deals (2/24 – 3/1) [CheapAssGamer]
Circuit City isn’t doing well when compared to the current success of the software world. But they have a plan. Over the last year, the company has run a trial testing the waters of selling used games. And they found that the plan worked out pretty well, increasing in-store foot traffic while creating a commodity with a higher profit margin than new games. Now they plan to expand the program.
By the end of this month, they will have 25 stores supporting used game sales. And by the end of this year, that number will grow to somewhere between 50 and 60. Given enough time, that number could grow as high as 689 stores (the total number of Circuit Cities in the US and Canada). That’s not exactly enough to thwart GameStop’s 4,700 storefront monopoly, but a little retail competition never hurt anyone.
Circuit City To Expand Efforts In Used Videogame Sales [CNNMoney via OpposableThumbs]
This week’s Circuit City ad is advertising 20% off on all DS games. They claim over one hundred titles are available, but as we all know from actually shopping these sales, the ones actually available in the store are rarely near the advertised numbers. Some of the highlights include Phantom Hourglass for $US 27.99 and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice For All for $US 14.99. In the same ad they also list Wii’s in stock so head on over to Circuit City for a Nintendo shopping spree.
Best of the Sunday Ad Video Game Deals (2/3-2/9) [CheapAssGamer]
Rumors have been flying about for some time that we here in the US would be getting a cobalt blue DS and it looks like they might well turn out to be true. GoNintendo reported seeing a pre-order page on CircuitCity.com displaying a cobalt and black DS Lite similar in style to the red and black that came out not too long ago. The listing has since been removed but the memory of it has DS color junkies champing at the bit. Word on the tubes is that the new color will be landing in the US sometime in the first part of February. Rumour? Fact? Cruel joke? Only time will tell!
