The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Circuit City is planning to close at least 150 stores and cut thousands of jobs as an alternative to filing for bankruptcy.

The buzz surrounding this news (like this story from The Business Journal) includes the thought that Circuit City is trying to hold off bankruptcy proceedings until after the holidays. One might surmise that a really good holiday sales season could stave off full bankruptcy, or it's just a ploy on the part of the company to keep people from losing confidence in the company and, especially, its extended service plans, altogether.

Would I buy something from Circuit City? As long as it didn't depend on my local store or the entire company being around, sure. Would I purchase an extended warranty from them? Not a chance. But that's just me. Buyer beware and all that.

Click the Read link below to visit the Wall Street Journal's web site for more on the issue.