Complaint Review: Circuit City - Clearwater, Orlando, Florida

I don't know if you have a better business bureau in yor area. You can call before you make a purchase and see if any complaints have been filed against the company. You can also file a complaint with them. It is a shame customer service does not seem to exist anymore. Hopefuly you took advantage of the service contract. I always try to remember to abide by the service warrany free cleaning, inspections, etc. I have owned a digital JVC camcorder and have had many years of good service from it. Maintenence is the key. Clean the heads etc. But then of course I do live in CA not much salt air where I live. Good luck and always remember the old saying Buyer Beware.

Dear Consumer, I'm not a JVC fan. They have good audio equipment and not so hot video. But that aside, I'm a service tech in SC and I have run across several of the supposed corrosion defects in units I haved worked on in the past. Take note that I did say that they more likely are in fact DEFECTS. What I would suggest is that you return to the store and request to look at the corrosion on the printed circut board yourself and if I'm correct, you'll find that the little silver alluminum cans, called electrolitic caps, have the corrosion around the base and sometimes on the opposite side of the board. If you can get your hands on a magnifying lens or jeweler's loupe, take a look in good light at the base of the caps and see if the two leads one on either side are of a dark gray or black. The leads should be a bright silver and they may have some brown flux on them which is normal. They should be dry around their base. This all of course if they will let you see your machine apart sometimes Circuit City will put up a wall between the tech's and their customers. If this is the case, then request that the machine be returned either to the OEM factory or to you for an aditional service technitian's advice. Again I wish you luck on your endevor. NOTE-All the above advice is if the corrosion is not the result of salt air from the ocean which in some circumstances can even get into your bag when stored (but do not bring that to their attenion, let them bring it to yours).

As of 2001 I have been an employee of Circuit City.I have seen alot working at the Super store. From the elders coming in with a Cordless phone that we never carried before... ever!!! Expecting money back for a phone that was purchased some five years ago to the shoplifters taking memory stick's and trying to return them. A s a big part of Circuit City's Policy, "We're with you", We mean that in every sence. For the lady's and gent's who have had a bad experience I do apologize for the trouble this has caused. If you do Buy an open box item , Have no fear. Our managers and our Customer Service team are here to help you.Ask questions about the manufacture warranty and our Extended service plans before you buy. See how this benefits you. For the person who purchased an open box HP and "lost" the recovery cd's. We would have been happy to lend a hand and order one for you. We do have very experience sales councelors and installers on the job to install that Big Screen to that receiver. Your opinions do count, not in the long run but now. If you have a problem speak out in the stores or give us a call. If your electronics are giving you a problem, come on in and let us know about it. You may have walked in with a frown but I guarantee you . You'll walk out with a smile.

LIVING IN THE NORTH, I'M SURE THAT YOU DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND THE CORROSION THAT OCCURS HERE IN THE SOUTH. HAVING LIVED IN NW FL SINCE 1975, I HAVED LEARNED TO APPRECIATE THE WATER, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WITH AVG HUMIDITY OF 85%+ THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE YEAR, AND LIVING SO CLOSE TO THE GULF OF MEXICO, EVERYTHING CORRODES AT AN ALARMING RATE. STREET SIGNS, CARS, BUILDING FOUNDATION SUPPORTS, AND YES ESPECIALLY ELECTRONICS. IF YOU WERE TO TAKE YOUR CAMCORDER TO, OR EVEN IN THE VICINITY OF THE BEACH, AND THEN PUT IT "SAFELY" AWAY IN YOUR CAMERA BAG, YOU JUST SEALED THE MOISTURE UP INSIDE OF THE CAMERA! PART OF THE CIRCUIT CITY SERVICE AGREEMENT IS FOR THE ANNUAL CLEANING, WAS THIS USED? ANY TYPE OF ELECTRONICS THAT ARE USED NEAR THE GULF NEEDS TO BE ALLOWED TO AIR OUT IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT, PERIOD. THIS IS AN AREA WHERE YOUR OUTDOOR FURNITURE BEGINS RUSTING AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS IF YOU DON'T CLEAN IT REGULARLY. I AM SORRY ABOUT THE CAMCORDER, BUT I HAVE LIVED AND WORKED BY THE GULF IN THIS AREA FOR MANY YEARS, BARTENDED AT BRAND NEW BEACH CLUBS, OVER-LOOKING THE GULF, AND SEEN BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT DETERIORATE IN MONTHS. STOP PUSHING BLAME, START ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, AND START TAKING CARE OF YOUR EQUIPMENT...

I have owned a TV Repair Shop for seven years and have never had a camcorder come in for repair with corrosion, unless the customer dropped it in water or some other liquid. In fairness, Florida poses different weather problems than Chicago, but this just does'nt sound right. Most customers are honest with you when they bring in any type of electronic unit, but some folks are downright liars. When a unit comes in the shop for repair I check it out at the counter to protect myself and the customer. I can't begin to tell you how many times a person said to me when I'm testing the unit they'll say "it did'nt do that at home". Well, it's doing it now! I like JVC cmacorders, they are of very good quality and the movies are usally very sharp. I recommend Sony & JVC when buying camcorders. I would'nt buy a CANON camcorder. They make very good copy machines, but not camcorders. Another suggestion is check out the Consumer Reports Magazine at your local library and look up "camcorders" in the index in the back of the magazine before you buy, it's very useful and can prevent probelms like yours down the road, especially extended warranties. Tha's my two cents worth, hope it helps.

You live in Clearwater florida, plus if you have taken a trip to the beach is what has happened. Alot of manufacturers read there warrentys different for florida also, but what has happened is the corrosion has come from the salt air. Salt in the air will get into the cam and just sit there and cause corrosion. The salesperson should have told you about corrosion, sorry about that, but it is so bad of a problem that most hotels on the beaches change locks and washers and dryers, etc because of the salt air and what it does. So even after using it and placing it in its case will not help, it needs to be professionally cleaned about every 3-6 months to keep it from happening.

You live in Clearwater florida, plus if you have taken a trip to the beach is what has happened. Alot of manufacturers read there warrentys different for florida also, but what has happened is the corrosion has come from the salt air. Salt in the air will get into the cam and just sit there and cause corrosion. The salesperson should have told you about corrosion, sorry about that, but it is so bad of a problem that most hotels on the beaches change locks and washers and dryers, etc because of the salt air and what it does. So even after using it and placing it in its case will not help, it needs to be professionally cleaned about every 3-6 months to keep it from happening.

You live in Clearwater florida, plus if you have taken a trip to the beach is what has happened. Alot of manufacturers read there warrentys different for florida also, but what has happened is the corrosion has come from the salt air. Salt in the air will get into the cam and just sit there and cause corrosion. The salesperson should have told you about corrosion, sorry about that, but it is so bad of a problem that most hotels on the beaches change locks and washers and dryers, etc because of the salt air and what it does. So even after using it and placing it in its case will not help, it needs to be professionally cleaned about every 3-6 months to keep it from happening.

Call the Region Manager Dan Benning At 954-846-0117 x309

Often if you contact a store manager directly, they will be able to assist you if you have an extended warranty. If not, contact the 1-800 number listed in all the stores. If this is the first service you have had on the camcorder, you should be able to receive a full refund on the warranty if they won't replace your camcorder. I know it is frustrating but if you are nice but persistant with the store manager, they are often willing to help (especially if you are willing to upgrade the camcorder). That's my advice.

I am glad to see that some people are willing to stand up and fight these kind of situations. I too have have been ripped off in the past, not specifically by Circuit City, but by others. I would ask Circuit City to give you a detailed report of what exactly was the problem and what caused the corrosion, then I would put an add in the paper and find out how many other people they have done this to. Then maybe as a group you could fight it together. I would consider this a defective product, especially if you only owned it for a short amount of time. I would also contact the manufacturer itself and ask them some questions. GOOD LUCK!