3 ms·

I don't want to see retail outlets go away. There is sometime important about being able to physically check out things like keyboards, gaming mice and headphon

I don't want to see retail outlets go away. There is sometime important about being able to physically check out things like keyboards, gaming mice and headphones. I'll pay the extra premium at a BestBuy just because I can actually paid each bluetooth headphone with my device and try it out and actually hear the sound-stage and quality. I remember when MediaPlay and Circuit City went away. So are we just down to BestBuy and MicroCenters if you want to actually look at things before buying them? How long until all we have are YouTube videos by Markus/Dave2D/Linus to judge products by?

beatgammit 7y ago
I feel the same way. I don't have Fry's/Microcenter near me, so my choices are BestBuy (overpriced, poor selection) or the internet. I try to buy from Newegg instead of Amazon because I don't want Amazon to essentially have a monopoly (not to mention that Newegg seems to package things better). I'll buy from BestBuy only in an absolute emergency, though I used to shop at Fry's and RadioShack quite a bit when both were good. I hope Microcenter can reinvigorate the enthusiast electronics retail market and expand since apparently Fry's isn't going to do it.
- craftinator 7y ago
  From a nostalgic point of view, I agree. Browsing, interacting, and being critical of suppliers are all important things to take into account. But, from an economic point of view, I disagree. The market has chosen the better course. I can browse online, without wandering isles; I already know what I'm looking for. I can read other customers questions and reviews; can't do that in stores. I can see how other customers have reviewed the seller; Fry's has never offered that. They don't make, nor sell, buggy whips anymore. Fry's is just another iteration of that effect. It has not followed market optimization, so it has failed.

beatgammit 7y ago

I feel the same way. I don't have Fry's/Microcenter near me, so my choices are BestBuy (overpriced, poor selection) or the internet. I try to buy from Newegg instead of Amazon because I don't want Amazon to essentially have a monopoly (not to mention that Newegg seems to package things better). I'll buy from BestBuy only in an absolute emergency, though I used to shop at Fry's and RadioShack quite a bit when both were good. I hope Microcenter can reinvigorate the enthusiast electronics retail market and expand since apparently Fry's isn't going to do it.

craftinator 7y ago
From a nostalgic point of view, I agree. Browsing, interacting, and being critical of suppliers are all important things to take into account. But, from an economic point of view, I disagree. The market has chosen the better course. I can browse online, without wandering isles; I already know what I'm looking for. I can read other customers questions and reviews; can't do that in stores. I can see how other customers have reviewed the seller; Fry's has never offered that. They don't make, nor sell, buggy whips anymore. Fry's is just another iteration of that effect. It has not followed market optimization, so it has failed.