Quote:
Originally Posted by
TalkingRat 
I looked at the Tigard, OR CC and they had only about 15, all 900s. A clerk asked if he could help, and when I asked about 901s, he said they only had 900s. I asked if that was because they were out, or hadn't got them in yet, and he told me "No, that is the only one the government will send us." I made some comment about that being a Buyer decision for his store and he said "No, these belong to the government, the government buys them for us and sends them to the store, but this is the only one they will let us have." I asked if he'd look it up on computer and see if other local stores had it and he said no, he was too busy with all his other customers, pointing to the one other customer in the area. Maybe they haven't hit the Portland area yet.
TalkingRat,
Your salesman was certainly mistaken.
Here's a summary of today's quest to exchange two DTT900 models (of February and March production) at the three area Circuit City stores (including Tigard) for DTT901 models.
These DTT900 models were purchased by me on behalf of relatives. The CC sales receipts are both dated 5/24/08 with both transactions originating at the Hayden Island store. I already had the March DTT900 back in my possession (and it was repacked exactly as it came from the store).
My first stop was picking up the February DTT900 (still packed exactly as it came from the store) from my west side relative.
Next, I stopped at the Tigard store not far from my relative's apartment. This store had a small number of DTT900 models on display (all from February and March). The salesman said they had no DTT901 models. I didn't mention that I had an exchange in mind.
Next, at the Gateway store I looked over their DTT900 models, perhaps around 50 on display (mostly March with a few April). I then inquired at the Merchandise Exchange desk. The young lady there was very helpful. I described the audio problem, sibilance and chirping, with the earlier boxes. I brought in the February DTT900 (complete with all packaging, right down to cables, remote, battery, bags, wire ties, manual, setup and warranty papers, etc.) and the sales receipt indicating one week left to go within the 30 day exchange period. I mentioned that the most recent models, such as the DTT901, corrected the audio problem and is now selling at the same retail price as the DTT900 at CC stores throughout the country. She scanned the sales receipt in order to flag the original transaction for an approved return pending arrival of new stock, even, she explained, if the new stock arrives after the 30 day period. Since her store had no DTT901 models she attempted to submit a special order through the exchange process but reported that the system wouldn't allow a special order related to an exchange. I offered to leave the DTT900 in order to confirm the transaction. "No" she said "just bring it in here or at any Circuit City store next week after more stock arrives."
Next I visited the Hayden Island store. They had around 80-100 DTT900 models on display (March and April) and an unknown quantity in the stock room. A salesman told me that they had no DTT901 models. I asked him to check for DTT901 stock. On their computer he found 13,000 DTT901 models in "our warehouse" but "none of them scheduled for distribution." (This confirms that the local CC stores are holding back DTT901 models until the DTT900 models are sold out.) He said that the only way to get a DTT901 was to place a special order with them and it would arrive with their next regular shipment. I thanked him for the information and left.
