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Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame

September 24, 2008

I know I will endure the wrath of many contributors to “Talkback” by writing this: Phil Schoonover, who left Circuit City as chairman, president and CEO on Monday, is not entirely to blame for the chain’s problems.

Circuit City experienced years of questionable decision-making before Schoonover got there in 2004 and took the top jobs in 2006.

Here are some costly decisions prior to his arrival:

  • 1997 — Divx pay-per-view disc format, backed by Circuit, which eventually costs the retailer tens of millions (if not more);
    2000 — Circuit drops a core category, major appliances, just as the market is about to explode at retail. National competitors and independents benefit as Circuit City moves to low margin “grab and go” CE products;
  • 2002 – CarMax, its profitable used-car chain, gets spun off by Circuit. The car retailer is still alive today and profitable.
  • 2003 — Circuit fires many of its commissioned sales force, which again helps independent retailers who hired their ex-employees and made plenty of its suppliers wonder why it was still selling to the national chain.

Sure, Schoonover made plentyof his own mistakes. He was hired to turn things around, which he didn’t.

But plenty of damage was done before he got there.

More on Circuit City will be posted Monday, Sept. 29, when its quarterly financial is scheduled to be released.

Posted by Steve Smith on September 24, 2008 | Comments (45)

January 7, 2009
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
a cc employee commented:

I have been in retail 2 decades. It is always the CEO's fault, because they follow the "


January 7, 2009
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
a cc employee commented:







I have been in retail 2 decades. It is always the CEO's fault,
because they follow the "


January 7, 2009
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
a cc employee commented:







I have been in retail 2 decades. It is always the CEO's fault,
because they follow the "


December 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
billddrummer commented:







It's true that Schoonover shouldn't get all the blame. After all,
he didn't sign the long leases in poor locations, didn't drop
appliances at the beginning of the housing boom, and didn't
continue to pay leases on empty storefronts after stores closed. I
think that the company could have survived if those things had been
fixed when he arrived. But they weren't.


December 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
billddrummer commented:







It's true that Schoonover shouldn't get all the blame. After all,
he didn't sign the long leases in poor locations, didn't drop
appliances at the beginning of the housing boom, and didn't
continue to pay leases on empty storefronts after stores closed. I
think that the company could have survived if those things had been
fixed when he arrived. But they weren't.


December 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
billddrummer commented:

It's true that Schoonover shouldn't get all the blame. After all, he didn't sign the long leases in poor locations, didn't drop appliances at the beginning of the housing boom, and didn't continue to pay leases on empty storefronts after stores closed. I think that the company could have survived if those things had been fixed when he arrived. But they weren't.


September 28, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Jack Meoff commented:

The job was way over his capabilities. Here's someone who got the Sony slot because he climbed up the ladder and knew how to play the politics to do so and moves on to Tops where he never stands out in the crowd. His decisions were made by Turchin and he moves up the ladder again to Best Buy where once again he knows how to play the politics and he's then selected for the CC job. He instantly screws up by alienating the most experienced sales people and cleans house. He couldn't hold on at that stage. So now he walks out with close to 2 mil severance and some other nitwit will hire him based on his "experience." Way over his head...way over.


September 28, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Jack Meoff commented:







The job was way over his capabilities. Here's someone who got the
Sony slot because he climbed up the ladder and knew how to play the
politics to do so and moves on to Tops where he never stands out in
the crowd. His decisions were made by Turchin and he moves up the
ladder again to Best Buy where once again he knows how to play the
politics and he's then selected for the CC job. He instantly screws
up by alienating the most experienced sales people and cleans
house. He couldn't hold on at that stage. So now he walks out with
close to 2 mil severance and some other nitwit will hire him based
on his "experience." Way over his head...way over.


September 28, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Jack Meoff commented:







The job was way over his capabilities. Here's someone who got the
Sony slot because he climbed up the ladder and knew how to play the
politics to do so and moves on to Tops where he never stands out in
the crowd. His decisions were made by Turchin and he moves up the
ladder again to Best Buy where once again he knows how to play the
politics and he's then selected for the CC job. He instantly screws
up by alienating the most experienced sales people and cleans
house. He couldn't hold on at that stage. So now he walks out with
close to 2 mil severance and some other nitwit will hire him based
on his "experience." Way over his head...way over.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
I knew Phil when... commented:







He was fond of provoking others with the adage, "failure is not an
option." But, it was Phil who failed to deliver. He substituted
style for substance, ego for common sense, and a short-sighted
attitude for quick witted intelligence. He certainly was aware of
the past transgressions of Circuit City before he got there. He
painted a Schoonover portrait of what could be. But, in the end he
failed to deliver on his rhetoric and platitudes. And, for that he
is entirely to blame. And, well compensated for the troubles he has
caused.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
I knew Phil when... commented:







He was fond of provoking others with the adage, "failure is not an
option." But, it was Phil who failed to deliver. He substituted
style for substance, ego for common sense, and a short-sighted
attitude for quick witted intelligence. He certainly was aware of
the past transgressions of Circuit City before he got there. He
painted a Schoonover portrait of what could be. But, in the end he
failed to deliver on his rhetoric and platitudes. And, for that he
is entirely to blame. And, well compensated for the troubles he has
caused.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
I knew Phil when... commented:

He was fond of provoking others with the adage, "failure is not an option." But, it was Phil who failed to deliver. He substituted style for substance, ego for common sense, and a short-sighted attitude for quick witted intelligence. He certainly was aware of the past transgressions of Circuit City before he got there. He painted a Schoonover portrait of what could be. But, in the end he failed to deliver on his rhetoric and platitudes. And, for that he is entirely to blame. And, well compensated for the troubles he has caused.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
I knew Phil when... commented:

He was fond of provoking others with the adage, "failure is not an option." But, it was Phil who failed to deliver. He substituted style for substance, ego for common sense, and a short-sighted attitude for quick witted intelligence. He certainly was aware of the past transgressions of Circuit City before he got there. He painted a Schoonover portrait of what could be. But, in the end he failed to deliver on his rhetoric and platitudes. And, for that he is entirely to blame. And, well compensated for the troubles he has caused.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
I knew Phil when... commented:







He was fond of provoking others with the adage, "failure is not an
option." But, it was Phil who failed to deliver. He substituted
style for substance, ego for common sense, and a short-sighted
attitude for quick witted intelligence. He certainly was aware of
the past transgressions of Circuit City before he got there. He
painted a Schoonover portrait of what could be. But, in the end he
failed to deliver on his rhetoric and platitudes. And, for that he
is entirely to blame. And, well compensated for the troubles he has
caused.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
I knew Phil when... commented:







He was fond of provoking others with the adage, "failure is not an
option." But, it was Phil who failed to deliver. He substituted
style for substance, ego for common sense, and a short-sighted
attitude for quick witted intelligence. He certainly was aware of
the past transgressions of Circuit City before he got there. He
painted a Schoonover portrait of what could be. But, in the end he
failed to deliver on his rhetoric and platitudes. And, for that he
is entirely to blame. And, well compensated for the troubles he has
caused.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Not a fan commented:







He should go to jail for robbery: Former Circuit City CEO will
receive a severance package of $1.8 million after stepping down
this week, the Richmond Times reported Thursday, citing Securities
and Exchange Commission documents. Schoonover will also continue to
receive health benefits for two more years, as well as $50,000 in
“outplacement services.” Meanwhile, the company’s
stock dropped to $1.44 Thursday, its lowest level in 22 years.
Circuit City will report earnings for the quarter on Monday.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Not a fan commented:

He should go to jail for robbery: Former Circuit City CEO will receive a severance package of $1.8 million after stepping down this week, the Richmond Times reported Thursday, citing Securities and Exchange Commission documents. Schoonover will also continue to receive health benefits for two more years, as well as $50,000 in “outplacement services.” Meanwhile, the company’s stock dropped to $1.44 Thursday, its lowest level in 22 years. Circuit City will report earnings for the quarter on Monday.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Not a fan commented:







He should go to jail for robbery: Former Circuit City CEO will
receive a severance package of $1.8 million after stepping down
this week, the Richmond Times reported Thursday, citing Securities
and Exchange Commission documents. Schoonover will also continue to
receive health benefits for two more years, as well as $50,000 in
“outplacement services.” Meanwhile, the company’s
stock dropped to $1.44 Thursday, its lowest level in 22 years.
Circuit City will report earnings for the quarter on Monday.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Martin Gerard commented:







Schoonover got what he deserved and the money too!!!.......Read
on:Former Circuit City executive to get $1.8 millionThe former top
executive at Circuit City Stores Inc. will receive $1.8 million in
a severance deal, according to documents filed late this afternoon
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Philip J. Schoonover
will receive his annual base salary and a target bonus for the
current fiscal year, each worth $900,000, the filing shows.
Schoonover resigned Monday as chairman, president and chief
executive officer of the Henrico County-based consumer electronics
chain. The 48-year-old Schoonover also will receive health and
welfare benefit plan participation for two years, up to $50,000 in
outplacement services and the acceleration of the vesting of his
stock options and restricted stock awards that would have vested
before Oct. 4.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Martin Gerard commented:

Schoonover got what he deserved and the money too!!!.......Read on:Former Circuit City executive to get $1.8 millionThe former top executive at Circuit City Stores Inc. will receive $1.8 million in a severance deal, according to documents filed late this afternoon with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Philip J. Schoonover will receive his annual base salary and a target bonus for the current fiscal year, each worth $900,000, the filing shows. Schoonover resigned Monday as chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Henrico County-based consumer electronics chain. The 48-year-old Schoonover also will receive health and welfare benefit plan participation for two years, up to $50,000 in outplacement services and the acceleration of the vesting of his stock options and restricted stock awards that would have vested before Oct. 4.


September 26, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Martin Gerard commented:







Schoonover got what he deserved and the money too!!!.......Read
on:Former Circuit City executive to get $1.8 millionThe former top
executive at Circuit City Stores Inc. will receive $1.8 million in
a severance deal, according to documents filed late this afternoon
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Philip J. Schoonover
will receive his annual base salary and a target bonus for the
current fiscal year, each worth $900,000, the filing shows.
Schoonover resigned Monday as chairman, president and chief
executive officer of the Henrico County-based consumer electronics
chain. The 48-year-old Schoonover also will receive health and
welfare benefit plan participation for two years, up to $50,000 in
outplacement services and the acceleration of the vesting of his
stock options and restricted stock awards that would have vested
before Oct. 4.


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Rob Robinson commented:

Agreed, he shouldn't have to shoulder all of the blame; however, he must bear most of it as what may be the most critical damage of all was done during his reign and it could spell doom for a once proud and thriving CE chain. Our industry doesn't need yet another specialty retailer joining past failures such as Pacific Stereo, Tech HiFi, Team Electronics, Playback, Rogersound Labs, etc. Pretty soon there will be no one left but Best Buy and the mass merchant discount chains.


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Rob Robinson commented:







Agreed, he shouldn't have to shoulder all of the blame; however, he
must bear most of it as what may be the most critical damage of all
was done during his reign and it could spell doom for a once proud
and thriving CE chain. Our industry doesn't need yet another
specialty retailer joining past failures such as Pacific Stereo,
Tech HiFi, Team Electronics, Playback, Rogersound Labs, etc. Pretty
soon there will be no one left but Best Buy and the mass merchant
discount chains.


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Rob Robinson commented:







Agreed, he shouldn't have to shoulder all of the blame; however, he
must bear most of it as what may be the most critical damage of all
was done during his reign and it could spell doom for a once proud
and thriving CE chain. Our industry doesn't need yet another
specialty retailer joining past failures such as Pacific Stereo,
Tech HiFi, Team Electronics, Playback, Rogersound Labs, etc. Pretty
soon there will be no one left but Best Buy and the mass merchant
discount chains.


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Martin Gerard commented:

Mr. Schoonover's ego is soooo BIG , he has a hard time fitting through any doors. He managed to help in the sinking of TOPS appliance in New Jersey, the work he did for Best Buy never amounted to anything and the work he was to do for Circuit City, never materialized.Again, his ego drove him to failure!.....Interesting enough, he walked away with a pile of money!


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Martin Gerard commented:







Mr. Schoonover's ego is soooo BIG , he has a hard time fitting
through any doors. He managed to help in the sinking of TOPS
appliance in New Jersey, the work he did for Best Buy never
amounted to anything and the work he was to do for Circuit City,
never materialized.Again, his ego drove him to
failure!.....Interesting enough, he walked away with a pile of
money!


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Martin Gerard commented:







Mr. Schoonover's ego is soooo BIG , he has a hard time fitting
through any doors. He managed to help in the sinking of TOPS
appliance in New Jersey, the work he did for Best Buy never
amounted to anything and the work he was to do for Circuit City,
never materialized.Again, his ego drove him to
failure!.....Interesting enough, he walked away with a pile of
money!


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Bob from Canada commented:

Phil's soldiers that he sent to Canada to run the Source by Circuit City( former Radioshack) chain have almost destroyed one of the best CE chains in Canada. The same mistakes were made here as inthe USA. The guidance from Richmond did not work here either. Shame on CC....


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Bob from Canada commented:







Phil's soldiers that he sent to Canada to run the Source by Circuit
City( former Radioshack) chain have almost destroyed one of the
best CE chains in Canada. The same mistakes were made here as inthe
USA. The guidance from Richmond did not work here either. Shame on
CC....


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Bob from Canada commented:







Phil's soldiers that he sent to Canada to run the Source by Circuit
City( former Radioshack) chain have almost destroyed one of the
best CE chains in Canada. The same mistakes were made here as inthe
USA. The guidance from Richmond did not work here either. Shame on
CC....


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
C0mdrData commented:

The problem was that Schoonover and his predecessor (Alan McColloch ) were two sides of the same coin. They believed in short time gain over long term prospects. Rick Sharp left a thriving business model which they squandered.


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
C0mdrData commented:







The problem was that Schoonover and his predecessor (Alan McColloch
) were two sides of the same coin. They believed in short time gain
over long term prospects. Rick Sharp left a thriving business model
which they squandered.


September 25, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
C0mdrData commented:







The problem was that Schoonover and his predecessor (Alan McColloch
) were two sides of the same coin. They believed in short time gain
over long term prospects. Rick Sharp left a thriving business model
which they squandered.


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
from the sidelines commented:

All would agree with you Steve that there were plenty of mistakes made before Phil's promotion to CEO. That was why he was put into the position to begin with. But he started with almost $1.0 billion in cash which has been squandered by not executing effectively in the stores or finding a communicatable and defensible position to the consumer. Maybe he did walk into an environment where "


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
from the sidelines commented:

All would agree with you Steve that there were plenty of mistakes made before Phil's promotion to CEO. That was why he was put into the position to begin with. But he started with almost $1.0 billion in cash which has been squandered by not executing effectively in the stores or finding a communicatable and defensible position to the consumer. Maybe he did walk into an environment where "


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
from the sidelines commented:







All would agree with you Steve that there were plenty of mistakes
made before Phil's promotion to CEO. That was why he was put into
the position to begin with. But he started with almost $1.0 billion
in cash which has been squandered by not executing effectively in
the stores or finding a communicatable and defensible position to
the consumer. Maybe he did walk into an environment where "


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
from the sidelines commented:







All would agree with you Steve that there were plenty of mistakes
made before Phil's promotion to CEO. That was why he was put into
the position to begin with. But he started with almost $1.0 billion
in cash which has been squandered by not executing effectively in
the stores or finding a communicatable and defensible position to
the consumer. Maybe he did walk into an environment where "


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
from the sidelines commented:







All would agree with you Steve that there were plenty of mistakes
made before Phil's promotion to CEO. That was why he was put into
the position to begin with. But he started with almost $1.0 billion
in cash which has been squandered by not executing effectively in
the stores or finding a communicatable and defensible position to
the consumer. Maybe he did walk into an environment where "


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
from the sidelines commented:







All would agree with you Steve that there were plenty of mistakes
made before Phil's promotion to CEO. That was why he was put into
the position to begin with. But he started with almost $1.0 billion
in cash which has been squandered by not executing effectively in
the stores or finding a communicatable and defensible position to
the consumer. Maybe he did walk into an environment where "


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Not a fan commented:







He accepted the compensation and was the CEO, therefore he deserves
the blame. It is not like shareholders of Circuit City get a refund
for their multi-million dollar investment in their former CEO and
all of the executive decisions that he made that we unsuccessful.


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Not a fan commented:







He accepted the compensation and was the CEO, therefore he deserves
the blame. It is not like shareholders of Circuit City get a refund
for their multi-million dollar investment in their former CEO and
all of the executive decisions that he made that we unsuccessful.


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
Not a fan commented:

He accepted the compensation and was the CEO, therefore he deserves the blame. It is not like shareholders of Circuit City get a refund for their multi-million dollar investment in their former CEO and all of the executive decisions that he made that we unsuccessful.


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
digitalcynic commented:

Agree with you, Steve. It's not like CC was doing a bang-up job before he got there. There needs to be a fall guy and the CEO is always the usual suspect, but years of inexplicable decisions and poor execution preceded this mess.


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
digitalcynic commented:







Agree with you, Steve. It's not like CC was doing a bang-up job
before he got there. There needs to be a fall guy and the CEO is
always the usual suspect, but years of inexplicable decisions and
poor execution preceded this mess.


September 24, 2008
In response to: Schoonover Shouldn’t Get All The Blame
digitalcynic commented:







Agree with you, Steve. It's not like CC was doing a bang-up job
before he got there. There needs to be a fall guy and the CEO is
always the usual suspect, but years of inexplicable decisions and
poor execution preceded this mess.

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