This is pretty much my reasoning as well. If it is something really niche and I'm impatient then I'll stop by but almost everything there I can find for at least 20% cheaper online.
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The slow, agonizing death of Fry's Electronics
- Thread starter Marty Chinn
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This is pretty much my reasoning as well. If it is something really niche and I'm impatient then I'll stop by but almost everything there I can find for at least 20% cheaper online.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
There's no reason to go there because Amazon exists
They are relatively new to the Seattle area (a decade or so.)
I enjoy stopping by Fry's but it's not a major source of purchases for me; I go maybe twice a year and just browse random crap. Buy a lot of on-sale cables, power supplies, maybe a gaming mouse or keyboard that sort of thing from them. And on-sale BluRays.
I enjoy stopping by Fry's but it's not a major source of purchases for me; I go maybe twice a year and just browse random crap. Buy a lot of on-sale cables, power supplies, maybe a gaming mouse or keyboard that sort of thing from them. And on-sale BluRays.
djplaeskool
Member
Their promo code deals get me in the store every now and then, but it's not the paragon of savings it used to be.
I'm mostly there to price match.
Same with Microcenter, but they have more competitive prices more often, and I can use my Dell Preferred Credit on big purchases
I'm mostly there to price match.
Same with Microcenter, but they have more competitive prices more often, and I can use my Dell Preferred Credit on big purchases
rootbeerafloat
Member
Always wanted to check out a Fry's. I've heard nothing but good things and the theme idea seems really cool. Unfortunately there's not one here in CO.
I did go into the Micro Center here for the first time a couple of days ago. They seemed pretty busy, and it was shocking how competitive the prices were with Amazon and Newegg. I was impressed. Sad to hear Fry's isn't doing as well.
I did go into the Micro Center here for the first time a couple of days ago. They seemed pretty busy, and it was shocking how competitive the prices were with Amazon and Newegg. I was impressed. Sad to hear Fry's isn't doing as well.
canoli2006
Member
Sad. I live in AZ and near the Tempe and Phoenix locations. Camped out there for the PS2 launch.
Yup. They have amazing home audio sales in general.
Microcenter opened a few more locations in NYC and I really like going there.
dragonflys545
Member
No Fry's anywhere near me. Best Buy however definitely aren't doing too well around my area in NYC. Been to almost all of them and it's usually always empty. I definitely don't want them to close down though. I need my GCU discounts.
Been to Fry's in SoCal but there aren't any where I live. We have Microcenter and I'll die if they ever close. As much as online shopping is great, when my PC fails, I want parts asap. I love Microcenter so much that I'll go out of my way to purchase all my hardware there, regardless of price.
Marty Chinn
Member
What? I made this post as a result of just coming back from the Sunnyvale Fry's and going to the Brokaw one just a couple weeks ago. It's pretty relevant since I consider the Bay Area the home of Fry's Electronics and they look like they will be gone in less than two years now.
pinsomniac
Member
Then one of their execs got caught embezzling tens of millions long enough that Micro Center had to exit the Bay Area, leaving us with a dearth of combos.They used to offer really great cpu/mobo deals, second only to Microcenter's.
Hey, remember Microcenter? They closed the ones near me.
secretanchitman
Member
I've been to a few when I visited CA but they opened one near my house in IL. I used to go there a lot many years ago but haven't been in a while due to Amazon, Newegg, and even Micro Center.
I still do visit once in a while and while they still have a lot of product and a few in-store deals, I rarely see it packed apart from Black Friday and the holidays.
I still do visit once in a while and while they still have a lot of product and a few in-store deals, I rarely see it packed apart from Black Friday and the holidays.
mr stroke
Member
Direct opposite for me, Best Buy near me in California is dead, FRYS is always somewhat busy. FRYS is awesome and has replaced Radio Shack for last minute cables, fuses, etc. Its the only place I can walk into and buy a $2 Display Port cable or i76700k or an OLED TV and leave with in 10 mins.
If I had to bet FRYS will out last BestBuy. BestBuy's pricing sucks, their customer service sucks, and they don't sell as many items as FRYS does.
If I had to bet FRYS will out last BestBuy. BestBuy's pricing sucks, their customer service sucks, and they don't sell as many items as FRYS does.
CraigerGamer
Member
I still like going into Fry's though I use it mainly to check out a product before I buy it online. A few month I ago when my 390 didn't fit into my new case I returned it to Amazon and popped into Fry's for a replacement. They didn't have a single 390, only one 390X, and no 980s either. In fact, the GPU selection in general was picked over or their stock wasn't well replenished. Ended up getting an ASUS Strix 970 instead simply because of their lack of stock on the shelf.
Arrogant Bastard
Banned
Yep, I go to the exact same store. The place is massive but their stock is so exceptionally minimal. The big thing that I don't get, they have a a mega ton of employees on duty every time I go.
Septimus Prime
Member
I still go to Fry's and Best Buy for work-related purchases, when we need some item right away.
I remember, maybe ten years ago, their return policy was way too good, where most of the things they sold were used in one way or another. I hated that.
I remember, maybe ten years ago, their return policy was way too good, where most of the things they sold were used in one way or another. I hated that.
so those fry's employees will not only lose their jobs but then be tortured after? have some sympathy for them losdaddie.
Yeah, every time I go there like less than half of the employees are actually doing something. Don't really blame them because it's not like they can really do anything, it's so empty in there.
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Fry's doesn't price match online stores. They take the online price and then add the cost of express shipping.
Best Buy's video game section is especially sad. Their PS4 game section is only eight feet wide, short, and only about one third stocked at all times except Black Friday.
Best Buy's video game section is especially sad. Their PS4 game section is only eight feet wide, short, and only about one third stocked at all times except Black Friday.
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
It's packed because it's tiny. The checkout area at the one I go to now is about as big as the entire Manhattan Beach store.
jediyoshi
Member
I only started going there a while ago. I cannot fathom a time in which all their checkout lines would all be needed.
Fortunately the Best Buy by me price matches them a few cities out.
Version 3.0
Member
In the PS2 era, I bought all my games at Fry's, and everything else, too: console accessories, PC parts, cables and adapters, etc. My biggest motivation for doing so was that they often had day 1 games on sale for $5-$10 off...meaning $40 or $45 for a $50 game.
Last gen, same thing, but those sales were usually a zero dollar discount, meaning they'd have a "sale" sign on new games and the "sale" price was $60. Still, I went out of habit and still bought most things there.
But their selection dwindled. These days, I still stop in regularly (it's on my way home), but I often don't find what I want, or I don't like their price. And now I can quickly check prices online on my phone. So even when I'm in the store, I may end up ordering online.
Last gen, same thing, but those sales were usually a zero dollar discount, meaning they'd have a "sale" sign on new games and the "sale" price was $60. Still, I went out of habit and still bought most things there.
But their selection dwindled. These days, I still stop in regularly (it's on my way home), but I often don't find what I want, or I don't like their price. And now I can quickly check prices online on my phone. So even when I'm in the store, I may end up ordering online.
ghostofsparta
Member
I walk into Fry's feeling like I walked into a store from the 80s. It looks outdated as hell.
Fenderputty
Banned
The only reason I would shop at a BB is because I want zero interest on a larger purchase for 12-18 months. That's it.
I don't remember the last time I went into a Fry's.
hyp
Member
it has become a window shop for online retailers.
Septimus Prime
Member
Fry's not getting many customers is actually pretty good for game hardware, since they tend to order a lot of inventory. My local Fry's has a TES+ stick just sitting there. Looks like it's been there for a while, too.
NecroGiggles
Member
I only ever go to fry's if i need a PC part and can't wait on new egg or Amazon. Really I can't remaber the last time I went to a brick in mortar store for anything other then clothing and food.
Damn, I haven't been in a Fry's in over a year. We bought our last tv from them, but they are just too far for us to casually go. I remember my wife getting mad when I would tell her we're going on a surprise trip on Saturday and we would end up in Fry's. I might plan to go now this weekend to show some support, but Amazon has really filled that need for electronic things I need cheap.
Qwell
Member
Funny I just went to Fry's in Wilsonville, OR last night and saw some of the changes you had mentioned like being empty and the lowered ailes and reduced number of registers. Last time I was there it was still as I used to remember it with tall shelving and a metric ton of registers, but that was probably a month or more ago.
I just don't go as often due to amazon, they just beat them in price most all of the time and Fry's is a bit of a drive now so unless its something that is really beat in price or shipping time its just not worth it. I used to go for the cheap blu-rays but I watch most of my movies on Vudu now so even a $4 or less blu-ray just isn't tempting.
The battery backup I bought last night however would have taken 4-5 business days even with amazon prime and was about $10 more expensive on amazon so I lucked out there
I just don't go as often due to amazon, they just beat them in price most all of the time and Fry's is a bit of a drive now so unless its something that is really beat in price or shipping time its just not worth it. I used to go for the cheap blu-rays but I watch most of my movies on Vudu now so even a $4 or less blu-ray just isn't tempting.
The battery backup I bought last night however would have taken 4-5 business days even with amazon prime and was about $10 more expensive on amazon so I lucked out there
See, I'd say the opposite. (Well, not specifically about the SF situation, just in general.)
Wife and I were just at a local Fry's recently and got a Dyson vacuum (great open box price). I remember falling in love with the store when I first moved to SoCal, and I still like them, but... my trips to the stores are almost always to browse, not buy. Like someone else said, it isn't anything wrong with the stores themselves, just that I tend to get stuff in other ways.
I think the last time I was a really heavy Fry's shopper was in the late era of the DS. At that point, man, they had some incredible deals on good/niche games at great prices as they tried to make way for newer games. Got a nice chunk of my collection there. (I utterly regret buying Dark Spire new for $8 from my local shop and then deciding to return it.)
It's hard having fun wasting time with your loved one browsing TVs in person or walking around other isles on Amazon. I've helped to kill brick and mortar, and only recently have I fully understood what I helped cause.
The one in Renton isn't that bad, but it's not as great as it once was.
Where else can you go buy a big 1440p monitor, solar panel, CPU cooler, Beetlejuice Blu-Ray and off-brand cookies all at the same place without having to order online? Displays and stuff I like to buy in-person in case I get a stuck pixel.
Where else can you go buy a big 1440p monitor, solar panel, CPU cooler, Beetlejuice Blu-Ray and off-brand cookies all at the same place without having to order online? Displays and stuff I like to buy in-person in case I get a stuck pixel.
Mutanthands
Member
Fry's and Newegg have both fallen to the wayside for me because of Amazon. Used to love going to Fry's every couple weeks, but now I only go when I specifically need something computer related quick.
I was just at that one last fall, and it seemed exactly the same as the previous time I was there, which was about ~10 years ago. They also had an insane number of employees working near closing hours. It was moderately busy given the time, and like others have said, the selection and prices were all pretty solid.
It was fun being able to shop in-store for computer parts like CPUs and stuff you can't find at places like Best Buy. But I can't imagine I'll be there again until maybe I build another computer, which isn't often.
Ricerocket
Member
They definitely dwindled on deals (Frys used to have crazy deals that would always be on slickdeals). Now it's the same items on rotation every week.
It's still the only place I go and certainly better than BB for computer parts when you price match and don't want to wait on delivery or worry of having to RMA DoA parts.
It's still the only place I go and certainly better than BB for computer parts when you price match and don't want to wait on delivery or worry of having to RMA DoA parts.
We never had a fry's but we had a compusa like 10 years ago, ever since that place shut down there isn't any local stores to get misc. Pc parts. It sucks needing a sata cable and having to wait 2-3 days to get it. Best buy might have one, but I'm not going to pay a 600% premium to get it that day.
element
Member
All these stores (Best Buy, Radio Shack [RIP], etc) are going through transitions. I go to Fry's here and there for random deals and I want to get out of the house. Typically average price is cheaper on Amazon for anything that I would buy, but there is something about getting something "NOW" or in an emergency.
Random things like iPhone cables, USB drives are things that I'd get. I do pay attention to their ads, because there can be some crazy deals. I got my QNAP 412 for half off during one of their promo code deals.
I used to buy computer parts at Frys, but the mixture of Amazon pricing and losing interest in buying even more computer stuff stopped that.
Black Friday they typically have some good deals (but so does everyone).
I always thought that MicroCenter had better day to day deals, especially on computer parts.
Random things like iPhone cables, USB drives are things that I'd get. I do pay attention to their ads, because there can be some crazy deals. I got my QNAP 412 for half off during one of their promo code deals.
I used to buy computer parts at Frys, but the mixture of Amazon pricing and losing interest in buying even more computer stuff stopped that.
Black Friday they typically have some good deals (but so does everyone).
I always thought that MicroCenter had better day to day deals, especially on computer parts.
ryutaro's mama
Member
Fry's sucks now. Even in their prime the sales team was sleazy and constantly passing off-brand garbage to replace ad specials that had "sold out" to unsuspecting and uneducated customers. Now its understaffed and the checkout lines are frustrating when only 2 of literally 100 checkstands are open.
Eyeron
Member
Seriously. This followed a 3+ hour visit to Ikea with the wife. Fuck that town.
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