Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble? • Hacker News Board

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#331

Post by Marsymars » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:03 AM UTC

logfromblammo wrote: post #178

idiot900 wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re in their store. If you don’t want to follow their rules, don’t enter their store.

Ownership changes at the point of sale. At the time they do the check, they no longer have any legal basis for preventing the customer from leaving. Costco and Sam's Club can only get away with it because they can revoke membership for non-compliance. At Fry's, stopping someone for a search risks civil suit for kidnapping. Aside from that, it's a security theater tactic to discourage shoplifting, which also happens t…

> Costco and Sam's Club can only get away with it because they can revoke membership for non-compliance.

Other stores don't have the processes for it, but legally they could bar you from return visits to their properties.

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#332

Post by williesleg » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:04 AM UTC

MICROCENTER is THE PLACE!

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#333

Post by mlyle » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:04 AM UTC

jmspring wrote: post #247

linguae wrote: post #107

I usually purchase my computer components from Newegg. However, whenever I was impatient or pressed for time, I used to go to Fry’s. I remember one time in 2011 driving from Santa Cruz to Campbell to pick up a hard drive to replace one that suddenly failed; having to wait days for shipping would have been more inconvenient. Fry’s is a great convenience in these cases. It’s unfortunate to see Fry’s in the zombified st…

I recall a point where I was had to go to Frys because places like Quement Electronics, etc. closed down. Frys was always a "hold your nose" and "be careful/picky" sort of place. Often they restocked bad returns, I had problems with them giving out bad ram at times, etc. Generally, the employees weren't particularly knowledgable either. It's sad to see it go, especially Palo Alto. It felt like they expanded incredibl…

> I recall a point where I was had to go to Frys because places like Quement Electronics, etc. closed down. Frys was always a "hold your nose" and "be careful/picky" sort of place. Often they restocked bad returns, I had problems with them giving out bad ram at times, etc. Generally, the employees weren't particularly knowledgable either.

Yup. I remember a whole lot of scammy behavior on the part of reps, too. After I picked up a box running after me to try and get me to let them write it up for commission. Lies from sales reps. RAM inventory being 80%+ bad, taking 3 trips to try and get a working set and realize that I had been being sold the same DIMM I had just returned (I finally put a dot on it with a sharpie).

There's fewer choices than ever for electronic components and misc fixings in the Silicon Valley. Fry's is gone, Radio Shack is gone, Halted is gone, Weird Stuff is gone, a lot of the computer shops are gone (and the ones that remain are dodgier than ever), Triangle Machinery is gone, etc. We've got Alltronics and Jameco and Excess Solutions now...

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#334

Post by ghaff » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:10 AM UTC

elfexec wrote: post #318

duxup wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminds me of the late stages of Circuit City where the stores were just there ... but empty shelves, strange patterns in inventory, employees who just have given up on work .. look like they gave up on life. I was always amazed how long Circuit City stuck around like that.

I'm surprised that kmart is still around. And staples too, but to a lesser degree.

Staples isn't doing great but there's certainly a market for a local office supplies and services company. Neither Walmart nor Amazon is really a replacement.

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#335

Post by reaperducer » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:29 AM UTC

linguae wrote: post #107

I usually purchase my computer components from Newegg. However, whenever I was impatient or pressed for time, I used to go to Fry’s. I remember one time in 2011 driving from Santa Cruz to Campbell to pick up a hard drive to replace one that suddenly failed; having to wait days for shipping would have been more inconvenient. Fry’s is a great convenience in these cases. It’s unfortunate to see Fry’s in the zombified st…

I usually purchase my computer components from Newegg.

It’s unfortunate to see Fry’s in the zombified state that it’s in.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but what did you think was going to happen?

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#336

Post by reaperducer » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:33 AM UTC

dreamcompiler wrote: post #190

linguae wrote: post #107

I usually purchase my computer components from Newegg. However, whenever I was impatient or pressed for time, I used to go to Fry’s. I remember one time in 2011 driving from Santa Cruz to Campbell to pick up a hard drive to replace one that suddenly failed; having to wait days for shipping would have been more inconvenient. Fry’s is a great convenience in these cases. It’s unfortunate to see Fry’s in the zombified st…

I just visited Yodobashi in Akihabara and was impressed with the energy and selection, but the prices were awful: At least 50% higher than US prices for many things. Some of this might be due to the yen/dollar exchange rate but I didn't notice particularly high prices on other products in Japan--just stuff at Yodobashi.

But unlike Best Buy, at Yodobashi and BIC Camera you can buy a personal radiation monitor!

Still, you're right — you're paying for convenience and selection when you go to the big electronics stores in Japan.

I try to be conscious of where the things I buy are manufactured. Sadly, the last two items I bought at Yodobashi (a radio and a voice recorder) were made in China. When I asked the salespeople if they had any made in Japan, they seemed very sad (ashamed?) to deliver the answer.

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#337

Post by reaperducer » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:36 AM UTC

bytematic wrote: post #278

linguae wrote: post #107

I usually purchase my computer components from Newegg. However, whenever I was impatient or pressed for time, I used to go to Fry’s. I remember one time in 2011 driving from Santa Cruz to Campbell to pick up a hard drive to replace one that suddenly failed; having to wait days for shipping would have been more inconvenient. Fry’s is a great convenience in these cases. It’s unfortunate to see Fry’s in the zombified st…

I've stayed away from newegg since they got bought by a chinese company and allowed third party vendors. The prices are rarely the best anymore

And selection seems terrible.

The last time I bought something from Newegg was maybe five years ago. Since then, I've never been able to find what I want in stock on their web site.

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#338

Post by duelingjello » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:43 AM UTC

I remember Fry’s original, non-tech retail store at Camden & Kooser in San Jose before they opened the first Fry’s Electronics in Sunnyvale.

Also, in high school, I worked at Egghead Software which was killed off by CompUSA, NCA Peripherals, MicroCenter and other large retailers, most of which have been since killed off by online retailers.

For the past 15+ years, I’ve used pricewatch.com to shop for computer parts because they tend to scrape more sites than Google Shopping does.

Fry’s Electronics anecdote from 1996:

So Fry’s Electronics used to buy full-page ads in the San Jose Mercury News where they would advertise their sales and loss-leaders. In red, 192 point font, Fry’s advertised the launch of OS/2 4 “WRAP [sic]” on three (3) separate lines. Ooof IBM.

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#339

Post by ocdtrekkie » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:45 AM UTC

volkl48 wrote: post #323

tombert wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Second thumbs up for Micro Center. I like that they have a combination of consumer-level electronics, mid-level stuff like Raspberry Pis, and low-level stuff like resistors and whatnot. It's a bit of a pain for me to get to MicroCenter (about an hour one the train), but it has always been useful for me when I'm in a pinch. When I visit my parents in Orlando, there's a smaller place called "Skycraft" which has a lot o…

Tinkersphere Electronics, 152 Allen St (Manhattan) - as the name indicates, hobbyist focused. Allstate Electronics - Jamaica Queens - Old school distributor, has basically every electronic component under the sun. If you head out to NJ, there's a couple big shops as well (Wayne Electronics, Green Brook Electronics) but they're not transit-accessible or closer to the city.

Used to be an Allstate Electronics in the Chicago suburbs. Fond memories of that store.

Re: Is Fry’s Electronics in trouble?

#340

Post by techslave » Sat, Jan 04, 2020, 2:45 AM UTC

Fry’s was in a tough position. Expand, or risk leaving not just money on the table, but being swamped by expansion of others. In the short term it was a good move for them, but they became Best Buy (the failing version).

They are at a crossroads. Give. Best Buy’s apparent comeback (I am surprised that I like shopping there now, after detesting it for so long) signals that Fry’s could do it. But Fry’s themselves seems to be denying it. They need to aggressive make signs of life. Close half the stores for chrissake.

I’ve actually had 2 “once removed“ encounters with Randy Fry.

1. almost bought the house next door to his in Los Gatos.

2. DMV guy asked if I knew him. I don’t remember why exactly ... it was either that i’d bought the same car or he recognized my address as being near to his house. apparently Randy had just been in the DMV (I guess he doesn’t have people) and the DMV guy remembered him due to his local prominence. Turns out, as the DMV clerk told me, his real name is not Randy. For privacy reasons I guess I’ll not share it.