Julie's Journal

I bought a new laptop at Fry's in August with the help of Ted and this is what he wrote to me in an email. I just am floored that he finds so much "stuff" to write about Fry's. Does anybody out there know anything good about Fry's?
Mom

Subject: Fry's
Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2005 15:41:40 -0400


I tried to do some research on your notebook to see if they are
reliable or have tons of problems. GoodQuality computers are only sold by Fry's. I
found this funny web site and we could see a lot of it while we there.

DISCLAIMER - This site is not operated by, sponsored by, or affiliated
with Fry's Electronics in any way. The official Fry's Electronics site
is www.frys.com All the opinions expressed are my own or in the case of
third party links of their respective authors.

Fry's Electronics is a chain of electronics 'superstores' like no other. Unlike Best Buys or Circuit City, Fry's targets a much more tech savvy group. Fry's carries a wide range of appliances, audio/video equipment, computers, CDs, DVD's and just about everything that a Best Buy would have. In addition they carry more specialized computer and electronic parts such as punchdown blocks, test equipment, and network equipment that one would normally only find on the web.

But a visit to Fry's shows a reveals a gap between the intended audience and the people who shop there. Fry's has an undeserved reputation for low prices. While it is true that some of their advertised specials are incredible deals, the day in and day out prices are nothing special. Many shoppers also incorrectly assume that since Fry's carries so much computer equipment, both systems and components, that it is a good place to get advice. In fact the opposite is true. While a sales person at Best Buy may shrug his or her shoulders at a technical question, or
provide an answer like "let me read the box" a Fry's Associate is more likely to make something up or intentionally lie. That is assuming you can find one.

Fry's also has a very unique approach to customer service - they don't have any. In fact I think it would be fair to say they go out of their way to provide customer dis-service. And for me, that is what makes a visit to Fry's not just a trip to the store but rather like a great Olympic event. There are times that I experience the thrill of victory
(being able to purchase an advertised special without it being out of stock, not yet in stock, white labeled or returned stock, a 1+ hour checkout experience etc) or the agony of defeat.

My advice to friends and clients is not to go. But if you must, I hope the following rules of shopping at Fry's will help you win more often then you lose.

Danny's Rules for Shopping at Fry's (this is not any of our Danny's)
1) They run great sales items in the LA Times on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. The Wednesday prices are only good on that one day. the FrSaSu prices are good until the following Tuesday.

2) Not every item in the ad is a good price. And MOST prices in the store range from nothing special to high.

3) Each week they cycle through a part of a computer at an incredible price, like a motherboard and CPU for $59 but they will not have any good memory prices - you save $30 on the motherboard but then spend $40 too much if you buy the memory at the same time. If you want a great price, only buy what is on sale that day and wait to buy the other pieces.

4) Many great prices require mailing in a rebate. The rebates almost always have very short time limits and require a special register tape, the rebate form, and a part of the product package. If you buy something with a rebate be sure to send it in promptly and fill out everything EXACTLY as requested. Many rebates are limit one per household so be sure to use different households for multiples of the same item.

5) NEVER ask a Fry's employee a technical question. If they do happen to speak the same language as you, they will probably make something up or just lie for the fun of it.

6) Always bring the newspaper ad with you or write down the item number from the ad. For example, Fry's sells half a dozen different DVD Burners. Each week (usually) a different one is on sale for $39 or $49, a great price. But on the shelf they are all marked $59 - $99. You need to match the exact item number to find the one on sale. A very common ploy is to advertise an item for a very low price and when you get to the store there are boxes and boxes of the very same item by the same manufacturer - BEWARE if the number is not exactly the same you will end up at the register expecting to pay $9 and being charged $29. I have seen this happen where the ad is for the same item in different packaging.

7) Fry's likes to hide stuff often in plain site. For example, they often sell 50 CDRs for $6 which is a really good price. But if you go to the CDR section you may not find them. Try looking in the most illogical place - like next to the printers.

8) If the ad says limited quantities and you want one then go as soon as possible. If not, and they are out of stock when you go then ask for a rain check. As soon as they are "off ad" lots of stock will magically appear.

9) Many sales items are limit one. If you want two you can sometimes get the checkout person to ring it up on a separate tape. But beware - do not use the same credit card or the Fry;s system will flag it and require a manager to OK the transaction. This one approval can take up to 45 minutes and almost certainly will cost you more in time and aggravation than the savings. It's best to pay with CASH for a second item on limit one.

10) For large limit one items, like the GQ Computer bring a friend to check it out for you.

11) NEVER TRY TO USE A CHECK AT FRY'S. See the horror links below for stories from customers who dared to use a check

12) Do not rely on signs or posted prices above products. A display bin filled with no-name surge suppressors for $7.99 may have a sign above it for a brand name surge suppressor for $5.99. Their strategy is that by the time you get to the checkout you won't go back for the 2 bucks.

13) Items that are $ 0 cost after rebate often have more then one of the above tricks - an item that is advertised as $14.99 less $15 rebate = FREE will be marked $19.99 while the same item by a different manufacturer will be labeled $14.99 but have no rebate. Always assume that the better the deal the more incentive Fry's has to placing obstacles in your way. Always bring the item number from the ad and check it against the product label.

14) Don't ask a Fry's ascoiate in the computer department a question about memory. Memory must be purchased in the components department. You should also never rely on memory advice from most but not all of the associates in the compenents department. Always know exactly what kind of memory ( not brand but specification ) you need. I recomend visiting http://www.crucial.com for looking up memory. Laptop memory is much
more finicky than desktop.

Think of shopping at Fry's like a competition. There can only be one winner of a Fry's visit, you or them. Like any sport you need to be in both good physical and mental condition. If you would like to add some of your own rules to this list please email them to me here.

New Rules

Since I first wrote these rules, Fry's has not stood still. They have continued to hone their techniques and so must you. Always keep your eyes on your shopping cart. It can be very tempting to park your cart at the end of an isle - Fry's is usually very crowded and a cart can really slow you down. But beware of the Fry's Cart Theft manouver. In the real world you would need to hold onto your cart after leaving a store - not at Fry's. Here they want you to pack your cart with all the hard to find specials and just when you leave your cart to grab that final 99' ream of copy paper before checkout you return to find your cart is gone. I don't know if this is being done by a lazy Fry's shopper letting me do all the heavy lifting or by Fry's black ops personel under the direction of store survailence but either way it can be devastating.

Time permitting I will arrange a stakeout of a cart filled with specials and report on the results.

If you have read this entire text, you must have a lot of free time! Regardless of the above, I really like my new GQ laptop. I've applied for the rebate on the printer and am waiting for the check!
Julie (Mom)