13 ms·

Well, "trouble" is the wrong word. Fry's is more like "dead man walking". The last time I went to Fry's was maybe 1 year ago. If you walk around, all of the el

Well, "trouble" is the wrong word. Fry's is more like "dead man walking". The last time I went to Fry's was maybe 1 year ago. If you walk around, all of the electronics are older models, the game shelves are filled with games that are all several years old, even things like hard drives, etc are all old and expensive. There were no salespeople to help except in places like the TV area. The car stereo area, which is what I was interested in, was empty and no one showed up. The car stereos themselves were older models. Nothing worked. Why on earth would I ever return? The entire shopping experience at Fry's is worse than clicking through on Amazon. Fry's is dead. Chalk one up for Amazon and automation a-la Andrew Yang. 30% of retail stores will close in 5-10 years and it's because of online stores like Amazon, that suck money out of local stores and diverts all the money to Seattle, except for the local warehouses where minimum wage workers are being worked like robots. This only gets worse unless we figure out how to rejig the economy with 21st century solutions like UBI.

greedo 7y ago
Microcenter's success would seem to indicate that perhaps Fry's issues aren't macro, but more management?
- ping_pong 7y ago
  What exactly are you considering a "success" and which part of the country do you live in? At least in CA, at the turn of the century Fry's was the most reliable vendor for computer equipment. EVERYONE went there. On Black Friday, the lines were crazy. 20 years later, it's a graveyard of old knockoffs.
  - greedo 7y ago
    I used to live in California when Fry's was the popular destination. They started to go downhill around the time I moved to the Midwest (1995). Questionable return policies etc. Microcenter in contrast is still a huge success. Everytime I visit one, I'm amazed at how well stocked they are, and how busy.
- DrScump 7y ago
  Fry's lost millions to an executive with a gambling problem: https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Fry-s-exec-dropped-millions-on-gambling-3256806.php https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Fry-s-exec-dropped-mill...
jcranmer 7y ago
> Fry's is dead. Chalk one up for Amazon and automation a-la Andrew Yang. It's easy to say that, but then the retort is why isn't Micro Center suffering the same issues? The two should be facing exactly the same pressure from Amazon, so the reasons for Fry's failures has to be more nuanced than "internet retailers are sucking everyone dry." For my part, I'm much more willing to buy computer parts in person because a) I get to walk out with it and set it up that day and b) I'd rather carry >$1000 worth of equipment on my person than hope no one steals it between its delivery time and my getting off of work.
- katbyte 7y ago
  Or even best buy (at least in canada)
  - ping_pong 7y ago
    Canada has nothing that compares to what Fry's was. Best Buy is about as good as you can get in Canada for computer equipment or electronics, and Amazon.ca is too expensive for Canadians, compared to the prices for Amazon.com for Americans.
    - wenc 7y ago
      When I was living there, I remember shopping at newegg.ca, ncix.ca, tigerdirect.ca and Canada Computers used to have b&m stores with surly service but generally low prices.
- ping_pong 7y ago
  I've been to a Micro center once in my life, in Sunnyvale, in Mercado. The prices were worse than Staples for computer equipment so I never went back. I don't even know if it's still there anymore. I have no idea which part of the country you live in, but I would be shocked if in the Bay Area, Micro Center would be considered a "success". I can see how some stores, depending on their business agreements, might be able to stay alive through support, etc. But for example, last year I ordered a graphics card on Amazon and it arrived on a Friday. I tried installing it on Saturday, and discovered it was broken, so I ordered a new one on Saturday afternoon. It arrived on a Sunday, before 9am. It was the most amazing experience.
adventured 7y ago
> that suck money out of local stores and diverts all the money to Seattle, except for the local warehouses where minimum wage workers are being worked like robots Fry's is not paying better than Amazon and Amazon's workers do not earn the minimum wage. Show me where Fry's has a national $15 minimum wage policy (they don't), ie nearly 100% higher than the Federal minimum wage.
- spookthesunset 7y ago
  Plus almost everybody on the floor at Fry's was paid commission, including the cashiers. Woe be the cashier to checks out a $3000 order only to have the customer come back a month later and get a refund... bye bye commission.
tyingq 7y ago
I don't know if this policy is chain wide, but I was very unhappy with the weird shakedown when you leave. There's a person there that stops you and matches your receipt to your purchased items. No attempt to be friendly about it either.
- nilram 7y ago
  Which is not legal in many states, unless they have 'probable cause' or you pay a membership and agree to it beforehand (c.f. Costco).
  - Rapzid 7y ago
    In Texas, back in the day at least(you know, when one would actually visit Frys) you could just ignore them.
  - penagwin 7y ago
    West Michigan here - bestbuy does this on your way out, but it's never felt like they were being intimidating, just a friendly smile while they glance at your receipt and your things and a "have a nice day". I think meijers might do it too?
    - tyingq 7y ago
      This was different. Itemized inventory with a frown.
  - takeda 7y ago
    Are you sure this is illegal? I saw other stores to do it as well, for example Home Depot in California. It's not like they are paying your down, just look at the receipt and your cart.
    - packetslave 7y ago
      It's not illegal for them to ask to see your receipt at the exit. It IS illegal for them to try to stop you from leaving if you decline, unless they are detaining you for suspected shoplifting (which they must specifically inform you of). And if they actually go so far as to physically prevent you from leaving? Congratulations, you just won the lawsuit lottery.
bradstewart 7y ago
Fry's is a very strange store. The store here caries both expensive, ancient products as well as reasonably-priced, current gear. It's also the only place I know of to get certain parts and electronics components. The customer service is definitely atrocious though. It took 40 minutes to find someone who could unlock the RAM I needed from a cage (and this was after I had to get a printed PO from someone on the "sales" floor).
- dawnerd 7y ago
  Kinda funny how they treat years old ram like its gold. I feel bad for the employee(s) that get locked in cages all day. They're spending a ton of labor for things that don't matter (like keeping a cafe open). No wonder they dont have money to keep their shelves stocked with anything other than as seen on tv junk.
  - spookthesunset 7y ago
    Have you ever tried ordering from those cafe things? It is almost comical watching the poor cashier try to punch in the "order" on their POS. Like they had a binder of SKU's they scan for "coffee" or "latte", and then it would spit out the same mile-long receipt you'd get for ordering a $3000 laptop. It was super bizarre.
    - dawnerd 7y ago
      Yeah, tried to buy just a simple bottle of coke once and it was a... process.
sct202 7y ago
That sounds like how CompUSA and Circuit City felt like before they closed.
stygiansonic 7y ago
This was my experience as well, going into the Sunnyvale store even 2-3 years ago. Their lineup of laptops were all the previous generation from what was currently available, and nothing was priced that well. I doubt that's changed. Contrast to going into a local computer store, they had full stock of all the latest parts/components and competitive prices. Would be interesting to know what's going on within the leadership of this company. They must know what the situation is, but how do they turn things around?
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

greedo 7y ago

Microcenter's success would seem to indicate that perhaps Fry's issues aren't macro, but more management?

ping_pong 7y ago
What exactly are you considering a "success" and which part of the country do you live in? At least in CA, at the turn of the century Fry's was the most reliable vendor for computer equipment. EVERYONE went there. On Black Friday, the lines were crazy. 20 years later, it's a graveyard of old knockoffs.
- greedo 7y ago
  I used to live in California when Fry's was the popular destination. They started to go downhill around the time I moved to the Midwest (1995). Questionable return policies etc. Microcenter in contrast is still a huge success. Everytime I visit one, I'm amazed at how well stocked they are, and how busy.
DrScump 7y ago
Fry's lost millions to an executive with a gambling problem: https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Fry-s-exec-dropped-millions-on-gambling-3256806.php https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Fry-s-exec-dropped-mill...

jcranmer 7y ago

> Fry's is dead. Chalk one up for Amazon and automation a-la Andrew Yang. It's easy to say that, but then the retort is why isn't Micro Center suffering the same issues? The two should be facing exactly the same pressure from Amazon, so the reasons for Fry's failures has to be more nuanced than "internet retailers are sucking everyone dry." For my part, I'm much more willing to buy computer parts in person because a) I get to walk out with it and set it up that day and b) I'd rather carry >$1000 worth of equipment on my person than hope no one steals it between its delivery time and my getting off of work.

katbyte 7y ago
Or even best buy (at least in canada)
- ping_pong 7y ago
  Canada has nothing that compares to what Fry's was. Best Buy is about as good as you can get in Canada for computer equipment or electronics, and Amazon.ca is too expensive for Canadians, compared to the prices for Amazon.com for Americans.
  - wenc 7y ago
    When I was living there, I remember shopping at newegg.ca, ncix.ca, tigerdirect.ca and Canada Computers used to have b&m stores with surly service but generally low prices.
ping_pong 7y ago
I've been to a Micro center once in my life, in Sunnyvale, in Mercado. The prices were worse than Staples for computer equipment so I never went back. I don't even know if it's still there anymore. I have no idea which part of the country you live in, but I would be shocked if in the Bay Area, Micro Center would be considered a "success". I can see how some stores, depending on their business agreements, might be able to stay alive through support, etc. But for example, last year I ordered a graphics card on Amazon and it arrived on a Friday. I tried installing it on Saturday, and discovered it was broken, so I ordered a new one on Saturday afternoon. It arrived on a Sunday, before 9am. It was the most amazing experience.

adventured 7y ago

> that suck money out of local stores and diverts all the money to Seattle, except for the local warehouses where minimum wage workers are being worked like robots Fry's is not paying better than Amazon and Amazon's workers do not earn the minimum wage. Show me where Fry's has a national $15 minimum wage policy (they don't), ie nearly 100% higher than the Federal minimum wage.

spookthesunset 7y ago
Plus almost everybody on the floor at Fry's was paid commission, including the cashiers. Woe be the cashier to checks out a $3000 order only to have the customer come back a month later and get a refund... bye bye commission.

tyingq 7y ago

I don't know if this policy is chain wide, but I was very unhappy with the weird shakedown when you leave. There's a person there that stops you and matches your receipt to your purchased items. No attempt to be friendly about it either.

nilram 7y ago
Which is not legal in many states, unless they have 'probable cause' or you pay a membership and agree to it beforehand (c.f. Costco).
- Rapzid 7y ago
  In Texas, back in the day at least(you know, when one would actually visit Frys) you could just ignore them.
- penagwin 7y ago
  West Michigan here - bestbuy does this on your way out, but it's never felt like they were being intimidating, just a friendly smile while they glance at your receipt and your things and a "have a nice day". I think meijers might do it too?
  - tyingq 7y ago
    This was different. Itemized inventory with a frown.
- takeda 7y ago
  Are you sure this is illegal? I saw other stores to do it as well, for example Home Depot in California. It's not like they are paying your down, just look at the receipt and your cart.
  - packetslave 7y ago
    It's not illegal for them to ask to see your receipt at the exit. It IS illegal for them to try to stop you from leaving if you decline, unless they are detaining you for suspected shoplifting (which they must specifically inform you of). And if they actually go so far as to physically prevent you from leaving? Congratulations, you just won the lawsuit lottery.

bradstewart 7y ago

Fry's is a very strange store. The store here caries both expensive, ancient products as well as reasonably-priced, current gear. It's also the only place I know of to get certain parts and electronics components. The customer service is definitely atrocious though. It took 40 minutes to find someone who could unlock the RAM I needed from a cage (and this was after I had to get a printed PO from someone on the "sales" floor).

dawnerd 7y ago
Kinda funny how they treat years old ram like its gold. I feel bad for the employee(s) that get locked in cages all day. They're spending a ton of labor for things that don't matter (like keeping a cafe open). No wonder they dont have money to keep their shelves stocked with anything other than as seen on tv junk.
- spookthesunset 7y ago
  Have you ever tried ordering from those cafe things? It is almost comical watching the poor cashier try to punch in the "order" on their POS. Like they had a binder of SKU's they scan for "coffee" or "latte", and then it would spit out the same mile-long receipt you'd get for ordering a $3000 laptop. It was super bizarre.
  - dawnerd 7y ago
    Yeah, tried to buy just a simple bottle of coke once and it was a... process.

sct202 7y ago

That sounds like how CompUSA and Circuit City felt like before they closed.

stygiansonic 7y ago

This was my experience as well, going into the Sunnyvale store even 2-3 years ago. Their lineup of laptops were all the previous generation from what was currently available, and nothing was priced that well. I doubt that's changed. Contrast to going into a local computer store, they had full stock of all the latest parts/components and competitive prices. Would be interesting to know what's going on within the leadership of this company. They must know what the situation is, but how do they turn things around?

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]