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Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

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Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#61

Post by nickthegreek »

peteforde wrote: post #58
brandon272 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everything needs to be completely efficient, experienced through a computer or mobile phone screen, nor does it need to be "researched extensively". Some people prefer the option of a tactile, in-person, sometimes social experience of browsing physical objects.

If you're buying art, then yeah - go to a gallery. If you're buying a shrink-wrapped GPU, then I think you're romanticizing what a big box store adds to that transaction.

If you want to build a full pc, they will walk you through every component. They will optimize a build around your budget as well. i’ve had employees hand me replacements in my carts that were both better and cheaper that I overlooked. There is a bunch of overlooked value from businesses like MicroCenter that the younger generation has never even experienced.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#62

Post by esalman »

peteforde wrote: post #26

Can someone offer an explanation of why this is popular? I don't mean this in a crass way, I'm actually genuinely baffled to see geeks lining up for a Costco-like experience to get stuff that you can easily get online without needing to get into a car. For me, big box stores just mean markups + staff that know less than most tech reviewers on YouTube. All in an introvert's nightmare. What's the upside?

There's more to life than pressing a few buttons and stuff appearing at your door.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#63

Post by NoPicklez »

mastazi wrote: post #32
peteforde wrote: post #26

Can someone offer an explanation of why this is popular? I don't mean this in a crass way, I'm actually genuinely baffled to see geeks lining up for a Costco-like experience to get stuff that you can easily get online without needing to get into a car. For me, big box stores just mean markups + staff that know less than most tech reviewers on YouTube. All in an introvert's nightmare. What's the upside?

Ironically the reason why it's popular is that it's got many items that otherwise you can only get online, which is also the reason why you find it useless since you prefer the online experience. Speaking as an Australian, to me it would be a dream to be able to drive to a place like that and getting those things in store as opposed to ordering online then waiting days or sometimes weeks for delivery. There is also t…

100% agree, Aussie here too. I've spent most of my life only buying PC parts online because everywhere else has such limited stock of anything.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#64

Post by NoPicklez »

peteforde wrote: post #46
OkayPhysicist wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microcenter has a pretty good reputation for having knowledgeable enough staff. Plus, discovery tends to be a lot better in a curated brick and mortar than online. And sometimes you just want to see and buy cool stuff that you didn't know you wanted.

That's a very reasonably reply. Except (?) that it's not like you can do more than look at shrink-wrapped boxes. Even record stores generally let you play albums on a private turntable before you buy them. It's just so weird to me that someone looking to buy a significant component for their desktop machine or whatever wouldn't do loads of research first. Buying a GPU, for example, during window shopping seems almost…

Not a great comparison, record stores sell exactly that, just records and each record uses the same player to play. They're not going to let you unwrap a $2000 graphics card, but they might let you touch a mouse you're looking to buy. There are clear differences here where not everything at these stores is just their shrink wrapped boxes, but are often on display, its all all black and white.

There's nothing stopping people from doing all of their Youtube research then walking into their Microcenter and buying it in person.

Its not like PC gamers who often use online stores have just forgotten to do any prior research when buying in store as opposed to online. So yeah I would do loads of research, then I'd go instore and buy it and look at what else they have on offer.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#65

Post by etrautmann »

ericmay wrote: post #31
redwall_hp wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yodobashi Camera is on my list of places I'd have to visit on a future Japan trip. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yodobashi_Camera

I’ve been to the one in Hiroshima. The volume and variety of products is jaw-dropping and fun. Though I was disappointed, although admittedly wasn’t looking to hard, to see the prices were comparable to American prices for the same products - at least for new lenses. It was also great that it was basically attached to the rail line. Such a better development pattern for business and moving people than airlines and ai…

Yep, I was in Tokyo last year and scoured the earth looking for decent deals on used film cameras. If anything they were selling at a significant premium to US prices. It was quite disappointing.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#66

Post by NoPicklez »

peteforde wrote: post #26

Can someone offer an explanation of why this is popular? I don't mean this in a crass way, I'm actually genuinely baffled to see geeks lining up for a Costco-like experience to get stuff that you can easily get online without needing to get into a car. For me, big box stores just mean markups + staff that know less than most tech reviewers on YouTube. All in an introvert's nightmare. What's the upside?

The difference is what while you're waiting to get your tracking number, I've already driven down the road and come back with the item I could've bought online, that I also purchased based on reviews and Youtube videos I watched the night before.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#67

Post by archagon »

peteforde wrote: post #26

Can someone offer an explanation of why this is popular? I don't mean this in a crass way, I'm actually genuinely baffled to see geeks lining up for a Costco-like experience to get stuff that you can easily get online without needing to get into a car. For me, big box stores just mean markups + staff that know less than most tech reviewers on YouTube. All in an introvert's nightmare. What's the upside?

Interestingly, the items I was looking for (NAS boxes) were actually cheaper at MicroCenter than anywhere else. And I could get them same day with a generous return policy.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#68

Post by cbull »

peteforde wrote: post #50
mastazi wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically the reason why it's popular is that it's got many items that otherwise you can only get online, which is also the reason why you find it useless since you prefer the online experience. Speaking as an Australian, to me it would be a dream to be able to drive to a place like that and getting those things in store as opposed to ordering online then waiting days or sometimes weeks for delivery. There is also t…

If only you could actually hold things in your hands, though. To me, bringing a shrink-wrapped box to a checkout is like buying food at a grocery store to drive to a food bank, when you could just give them cash. At least record stores let you listen to an album on headphones before you buy it. Still, I appreciate your perspective. Different strokes for different folks.

There's loads of things at Microcenter you CAN hold in your hand though, plenty of keyboards, mice, game controllers out on display you can handle and see what you think. Their 3d printer section usually has all the printers running and printing something so you can see the speed and judge how noisy it is. Same with their computer cases, out on display so you get a feel for how big it is or how easy it is to get to the drive cages for example.

There's a lot of products there you can inspect in a way that online just doesn't do.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#69

Post by fragmede »

peteforde wrote: post #26

Can someone offer an explanation of why this is popular? I don't mean this in a crass way, I'm actually genuinely baffled to see geeks lining up for a Costco-like experience to get stuff that you can easily get online without needing to get into a car. For me, big box stores just mean markups + staff that know less than most tech reviewers on YouTube. All in an introvert's nightmare. What's the upside?

But I want it nowwwwwww.

But seriously, online shipping takes longer than driving over to the store and picking the thing up. It's not just being impatient, but sometimes eg your headphones break but you have an important meeting coming up soon.

The other one is, Amazon, especially, the pictures lie about the object's size after shipping. Especially for. a TVs. Sure you can use a measuring tape, but some people really do just want to see it in person to get a proper feel for how big something is.

Then there's laptops to try out how the keyboard does.

Re: Photos: New Phoenix Microcenter is a 'tech-heaven' for geeks

#70

Post by scubbo »

scubbo wrote: post #43
bluedays wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s okay for you to not get everything. This one is simple, it’s just not for you. You don’t get it because it wasn’t built for you.

> Can someone offer an explanation...? I don't mean this in a crass way [...] What's the upside? They weren't saying that it wasn't OK - they were just asking for an explanation from someone for whom it _was_ built

I wouldn't usually have responded, but "treating a question as an attack or criticism" is a particular bugbear of mine. We can't grow, learn, or understand one another if questions are by-default treated with hostility or defensiveness.
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