With the constant 20% off coupons, and bare shelves, Fry's has to be circling the drain. The number of computer and monitors has been decreased so much, that one can only wonder why. Their creditors must not be extending them credit. Maybe all of their sales now are purely a cash grab.
I really wish I was wrong about this, but the writing has to be on the walls.
The internet is taking over in the modern world . We understand . It’s much easier to shop online . Yes let’s make “Jeff Bezos “ richer . Why is everyone so surprised that stores are closing??? Including frys ? What if the ceo has something better in mind ? And not to mention robots will be replacing human workers everywhere !!!! Wake up . It’s not just frys it might be your business too. So start planning for the future .
Back in the 90s and early 2000s, Fry's was the place to buy stuff. It was overwhelming with options, but it was a nerd's paradise. In my opinion, their largest mistake they could have possibly have made was to match online pricing. While there is a limit as to how much more they can charge over online prices, there is no way to truly compete. If they want to be a relevant retailer, they need to follow go with a new strategy. First, hire employees that understand the products they sell. One of the best ways to do this is to offer incentives to hobbyists to work there, by offering good employee discounts on the products they sell. When I say good discounts, I mean not making ANY profit on employee purchases. Offering this to even short-hour part-time salespeople would really increase the service that they offer to their customers. I would also provide a mechanism for employees and customers to provide feedback as to what they are looking for in products. You also want to incentivize customers to provide feedback as to the level of service they received from the salesperson. For example, say I was purchasing components to build a new PC. A salesperson walks me through chosing a CPU, a motherboard and a few accessories. They're employee ID is tagged to my receipt. I am then told I can get 10% off my next purchase of $100 or more by filling out a survey, reviewing what I thought of my shopping experience and the salesperson that helped me. This allows the company to evaluate good salespersons and what customers want. Yes, it is going to mean that prices of items will go up, but I would gladly pay a little more to have a good experience and walk out of the store with exactly what I wanted. Sure, I could just buy what I want on Amazon, but then I have to deal with shipping (which is improving on some items to be same day or next day) but I don't have the chance of seeing it until it arrives. When I am working on a project, whether it is a home improvement project, an automotive/RV project or an electronics project, there are many times where I realize I need something immediately and all work ceases until I have the right item or tool. This is where Amazon cannot compete. I've worked on building projects where I've been to Home Depot or Lowes three or more times in one day. I've also had times where this has happened for electronics projects. Sadly, I've tried to do this over the past 3-4 years, going to Fry's and have found their options have gone from many, to few, to ZERO for basic need items.
Fry's also needs to realize who their competitors are. Am I going to go to Fry's for a new washer and dryer? No. Am I going to go there to buy a vacuum cleaner? No. Coffee maker? No. A popcorn maker?!? Why the heck would I go there for that?!?! It is an ELECTRONICS store. This is where I would go for components and electronics items. This is where I would go for a new hard drive. A new computer monitor. I would go there to buy the newest and coolest audio and video components; stuff that goes beyond simple stuff you can buy at Walmart, Target and Best Buy. With Radio Shack going out of business, there is no other chain store I am aware of that is a competitor to Fry's. THAT is what Fry's needs to acknowledge. Their competitor is NOT Walmart, Target, or even Best Buy. Their competitor is NOT Amazon or NewEgg. True, they sell many things that Amazon or NewEgg sells, but they are a local store that offers a wide variety of items with salespeople that can help you make decisions. Fry's is shooting themselves in the foot, or possibly their head by trying to compete against these other businesses. They need to realize their market and take advantage of it.
I visited the Concord, CA store on Saturday afternoon 10/12/19. I can tell you that they are in bad shape. I saw 4 employees as I walked the entire store. The cafe was closed and empty shelves everywhere. For example, in the motherboard dept, there was not a single product on the shelves. I took many pictures and one employee told me this was not allowed. I shrugged and said nothing. I just kept on taking pictures. I worked in the Palo Alto, CA store in 1990 and it was the hub of computer retail in the area. Now it is just a shell of its former state. So sad.
I went to the one in Indianapolis IN. I go there just go buy electronic supplies, heat shrink tubing. The place looked like a ghost town. Really sad. Back in the 1990's it started out as an Incredible Universe. That only lasted a couple years, then Fry's bought it. Beautiful facility. I've bought many appliances, TVs, Computers, Printers there. Asked one of their workers how much longer they were going to be around. He said they were restructuring how they purchase products, from bulk buys to a consignment model. We'll see if they can pull out of this...
Went to the Fry's on Marketplace in Irving, TX today. Was even more bare than a month ago when I asked them if they were closing. Back then they said, "No, just moving stuff around and waiting on shipments." I asked again today, and the gal said the same exact thing. Bye Fry's. Hello Amazon.
I'll miss 'em....
The Wilsonville, Oregon store hasn't had stock for over 6 months. Even longer for desktops and laptops. Last month I visited and there were whole aisles empty. ENTIRE AISLES. This is no "remodel" or "change in inventory system". They're on their last legs.
I heard a rumor that the owners had sunk their money recently into building a resort in the Bahamas, and it was wiped out by the hurricane. The only supplier that had been extending credit to Frys was Samsung, but I think even they are no longer willing to let the debt slide because even Samsung's are being restocked.
Sad.
Was at the Phoenix (thunderbird & 31st ave) location yesterday. Parking lot had maybe twenty cars (noon on a Saturday). Probably about 30 customers and and as many employees. Complete aisles that are empty. I am not a smart man but I can see a store closing when it is this obvious. Thought maybe this was just this location but from all of the other posts, it appears the whole chain will be gone in a few weeks...
Was in the Austin store this weekend. Sad, sad, sad. I'm really going to miss Fry's.O
n the plus side, I got a 130 dollar pair of Infinity Reference Series speakers for 27.88 plus tax.
Stopped in at the Renton, WA Fry's on Thursday (10/10/2019), and it was a barren wasteland compared to its former glory. I wanted to get a gaming keyboard, and there was one weird brand to choose from. I asked the employee if Fry's was going out of business, and he told me, they were "re-modeling". Doesn't look like any "re-model" I've ever seen before. Guess that store is done. Sad too as I really like Fry's.
I was at Fry's opening day at the Roseville, CA location. I think I picked up some computer speakers. It was such a glorious day. There was a CompUSA across the street which shuttered right before Fry's opened because they knew they couldn't compete.
To "deltasac", I was in the Palo Alto store yesterday (10/11), it is still nominally open, but has the same problem everyone else has been describing, severe lack of inventory, few employees left on the sales floor, empty parking lot, a bare handful of customers, the guy at the door not interested in checking receipts. That store is closing by January because the lease is up and the City of Palo Alto plans to redevelop the land it's on into a mixed-use neighborhood, so not a huge surprise that it's lacking in inventory. But I spoke with a couple of the remaining employees, and they each said the same thing about getting a new supplier and restocking in time for the holiday season. Maybe, maybe not. (I sorta doubt it myself.) But when I asked about whether the Sunnyvale store (about 10 miles away and a much newer and larger store) had better inventory, one of them whispered that he'd heard from other associates and customers that it was even more depressing there.
I've been shopping at Fry's since the first store opened in Sunnyvale in 1984, and it was a spinoff of a supermarket chain. (The joke back then was that the sales clerks had been working in fruits and vegetables two weeks earlier.) But Fry's has never been a really well managed operation, and having worked in retail when I was younger, I've seen this pattern before and it doesn't end happily for anyone except the liquidators. A word of advice: don't buy anything that you can't afford not to be able to return, and if you buy something that's defective or unwanted, return it fast.
I visited the Downers Grove, IL store last week for a wireless mouse/keyboard. It was a ghost town. Other than a vendor was doing inventory (another bad sign), only a couple of store employee's were present. It looked like a liquidation...but where is the sale? Nothing is on sale!
The employees I spoke with (when I could find them) said that Fry's is just changing inventory systems and will restock in a week or so, echoing what the corporate sales office told media outlets in September. As of this week, they seem to be radio silent, not responding to questions from the major news outlets.
In Oct 2018, they were reporting 2.4B in revenue with 14,000 employee's (https://www.forbes.com/companies/frys-electronics/#7221af95578c). Some other sources may indication there are fewer than 4,000 employees at the moment.
The cat isn't out of the bag, but we can all see the bag and we know there is a cat in there. Its an unusual way to go out of business.
The cost for empty floor space is tremendous...in taxes alone. This is a strange way to liquidate.
Kristin,
IT PRO
Was at their Flagship Sacramento store Oct. 11th Thur. and last week. Both times when arriving their
parking lot looked Empty except for a dozen or so cars.
Upon entering vast open areas with polished floors, and no floor staff around, and many empty shelving displays. My purpose of going was to Pick up two online orders ready for pick-up and confirmed. Both orders had NO or partial Inventory and could not be completed. To make an on
line order for store pickup their Database checks inventory before processing and confirming ready for pickup. Went to the SDHC & micro memory section and to my shock the shelf was Bare with only 4 low memory cards on the floor below the rack.
I finally found an associate at the conponents printer/computers and the store inventoy indicated most all memory was moved and sent back to San Jose Main warehouse, and over half the floor associates have been let go, and said that the Palo Alto Store Closed Wednesday October 10th Yesterday.
Being just at Holiday season shopping it sure looks and Sounds like Fry's is on their way out and will be closing all leased stores shortly, & will fail by the end of the year even if they partner or go on some other major online outlet.
They are a casualty of the likes of 'Amazon' 'Ebay' 'Woot' 'walMart' 'Target' and many others which have better S&H, Customer service, and equal or better Pricing, and Return, and Refund Policies than Fry's.
Gary,
A experienced electronics and IT Professional
The Las Vegas store is huge. So when they are barely five employees on the floor and and two cashiers, you know something is up (or down). The gaming section is empty, so is computer hardware. The cafe is closed.
Just 18 months ago, this place was employing a lot of people. All 20 cashiers had staff. People lined up up to the candy section. All the aisles had bins of bargain items.
Brings me to tears seeing the sad state of the store. Even the Halloween decors are sad.
Same in Plano TX. Shelves are almost empty and employees were packing up some of the display units.
I went to my local Fry's in Webster, TX on Sunday to try to pickup an external hard drive and some flash drives. It was shocking. 90% or more of the shelf space was empty, and only a handful of customers (or employees) in the store. And the employees mostly didn't seem to have much to do. I was told by one that they are not closing, but they have to renegotiate contracts with all their vendors because they can't get any new shipments. Tariffs on Chinese imports, I'm guessing. They said that for some reason they were still getting deliveries from Samsung... except even though they're a South Korean company I know they make a lot of their stuff in China now.
The last time I was at Fry's (a couple weeks ago) an employee apologized to me about the terrible selection they had. She said that she hasn't heard of any news about the store closing but asked me to "Please keep shopping here!".
In my head I was thinking "I'd love to! But there's nothing to buy anymore!"
The company I work with has an open account with Fry's, so I could buy all my equipement there. These days, I never go since they don't even have the basic equipment...
Went to the fry's in Fountain valley, ca today. Was told by one in employee, "they are re-negotiating with their vendors and by next month, the shelves will stocked full agailn".
Another employee refused to answer.
My wife and myself were the 3rd and 4th customers through their doors.
Very sad.
Went to the Renton, Washington “superstore” this afternoon for the first time in months. Shocking – maybe five cars in the huge lot. Went to find external hard drives, and the computer accessory shelves were 95% empty, with only a handful old items nobody wants. It was almost like one of those “abandoned malls” videos on YouTube.
I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. Fry’s has been slowly going downhill for years. It’s probably predictable when so much of their initial business model involved income from sales of DVDs, CDs, video games, and computer software – all of which have been replaced by streaming or digital delivery. Still, it was shocking to see how quickly the final collapse has happened. Sad, because it was always my go-to place for computer parts and supplies, and I remember coming away with baskets full of DVDs and Blu-Rays during their holiday shopping season “special events.” Not this year, I guess.
The Arlington Texas store is the same way. My wife and I went to the store on Sunday and found the same problem! Bare shelves! They are not replacing or replenishing the stock. Ask the clerk if they were closing. They replied, we were told that we are not closing. However, the people working were new hires because they didn't have a clue about the store. So you could get no help in finding what you needed. SO SAD!
Just stopped by the Tempe AZ store today and questioned a employee and yes it is true that Fry's Electorincis will going out of business by December 2019.
RIP. End of an era, really. I used to build my gaming rigs solely from Frys-purchased components. TV, Blu-ray player, soldering iron, etc... even bought a mattress there 2 years ago. I had noticed lately they weren't carrying serious high fps monitors...thought that odd.
Walking around the frys in san diego this morning was sad. Felt like I was in the epicenter of a new recession...hope not!
Fry's Northgate Sacramento isn't even restocking candy!
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Asc0D7odKCUnhI1Yh79epq7N44KDlg
What's next, Pepsi?
Yup, was in Roseville Fry's tonight to return a few things and it was like a funeral parlor in there. The shelves not only have no merchandise, they are already taking the shelves apart. Maybe 5 employees and they all look like they lost a relative.
Reminds me of BabuBot, "Where are the people, do you see people, NO!, THERE ARE NO PEOPLE!"
Visited the Wilsonville, Oregon store today. It has been a number of months since I've been there (I live over an hour from this store so only stop in sporadically) and it was a Saturday afternoon. I was a little surprised at the lack of cars in the parking lot, but didn't think much of it. I then went inside and noticed a few things missing. Up front there was no employee watching the store entrance. I then noticed large areas of nothing. It wasn't until I was approached by an employee who asked if I was finding everything OK. I asked where to find blue-tooth mobile ear pieces. He told me they only had two brands and they were sold out. Yikes... how can you be sold out of blue tooth ear pieces. It was then I looked towards the TV section and noticed a lack of TVs and lots of floor space. I looked around at the rest of the store... large sections of empty shelves; no product, etc. That was when I figured something was up. Sad, as this was always a go-to store for me. Not anymore... Bummer.
First of all . Why are you shocked that everything’s assembled in China ? Who goes to frys to buy batteries ?
Visited Fry's in Oxnard, CA. I needed batteries.
Unbelievable. No D cells, No C cells. Only a handful of AAAs and lots of empty shelves. No dip switches. No DPDT toggles. CAT5 connectors running out. No FRS Radios. The list goes on and on....
I was told this was all due to tariffs. I don't believe this, certain Staples (like batteries) you keep in stock if you want to keep your customers.
Fry's at Downers Grove IL is a major shocker. The store looks like an abandoned asylum. 80% shelves are empty, I asked an employee, if the store is closing, he told me I cannot say much as i dont even get my salary now.
Went to the Webster/Clear Lake, Texas area store yesterday to see shockingly bare shelves, maybe 4 employees in the entire store, and they looked absolutely miserable. Pretty sad to see, feel bad for the people working there as I really used to love going to Frys and checking out the cool stuff.
Admittedly I have not been to the Renton, WA store for over a year. I had Frys do my last PC build and the techs did a great job with an older case I was using. The issue at least in the Seattle area is that Amazon has a lot of tech inventory on one day delivery. That really takes the incentive out of driving down I-405 traffic to get something now. A decade ago they would be packed during the holidays. It's obviously much different now.
It's official....the virus has reached the 'only' Fry's in Las Vegas. Stopped by there yesterday (10/2/19) and mostly-bare shelves were the rule. The only cars in the parking lot were employees. I was lonesome. It was sad.
I was in the Phoenix AZ store yesterday. I’ve been a commercial reseller customer for years, but I’ve been layed up for the whole summer with medical c-ap. I finally started working again this week and needed something I knew I could grab at Fry’s, so I made the drive.
I almost didn’t even go in the store, it appeared to be closed; the parking lot looked like a ghost town. I saw an employee come out the exit door for a smoke break, so I parked and ventured inside. The store is in a very sad state. I wasn’t expecting the shelves to be literally empty. Not a single network switch, router, or any Cat 3/5/6 cabling more (or less!) than 3ft. Other sections were just as bad. No motherboards, power supplies, PC cases, the list goes on and on and on. Very much reminiscent of RadioShack in their final days. One can only assume they’re going out of business.
Was in the Indianapolis store today. Ghosttown. Bare shelves throughout the store. Sad.
if they close fry's Before Nov. 12th maybe on that day (Nov. 12th) I go to Walmart to buy the Final Set I have like 4 1/2 seasons Recently
I was still getting the promo deals, so I went to frys burbank and found 1 nightowl security dvr. Couldn't get it going so brought it back the next day. Unlike the past, there was nobody in line and they took it back and the refund occurred the same day to my CC.
I'm glad I returned it so quickly, otherwise I don't think I would have been successful. The store was empty with no more than 10-15 total employees, and that was on a Saturday. Nobody checking your receipt on the way out any longer.
I've given up on them. I no longer get the promo deals. I don't trust them to stay in business for the 30 day returns.
I was shocked. Haven't been to a Fry's for a long time. Drove up, thought the store was closed because the parking lot was empty. Luckily they had the item I needed (last one). I have been around long enough to know they are in the dumper.
Employees are clueless, they told me they are looking for new vendors and they just signed a new 5 year lease. I suspect that is the corporate line. It was like entering a tomb.
They will be gone before Christmas 2019. You can't enter the holiday season with empty shelves.
It is a sign of the times...
Went to Fry's Austin TX. They didn't even have a single mouse pad. So sad.
Also stopped by San Marcos CA store and was stunned at the lack of merchandise. I asked an employee if they were closing and he was not happy about that. NO! Was his comment as he walked away from me. Why wont they just say it? First of all, they don’t have anything to buy, the employees are obviously not happy and if you do find something to purchase, good luck with any returns.... Very sad. It was a great store.
Not surprised they are closing. Two months ago, we left a computer at the Palo Alto store for an estimate on repairs and told them to do nothing without our approval. They charged for the estimate up front and then "fixed" it anyway and charged us $250, saying they wouldn't release it unless we paid. We had to have another independent expert fix the computer. They sold my husband an external hard drive that does not work and was just replaced by Apple. Get a Geek Squad contract with Best Buy for your computer, take your Apple to Apple experts. Fry's was once great. They're not just circling the drain....they've flushed.
Was in the Renton, WA store on Saturday / it was a tomb. A parking lot that, at that time of the day, should have been packed, had only a few cars in it. Was in there just to get a 4 or 5 port network hub / there weren't any. Best Buy ha lots of them. I don't thing Fry's is long for this world.
Was just in the Fry’s southwest Houston store. Bare shelves. One whole display row had nothing but Gatorade bottles on it. Really really sad to see. Spoke with a manager and he said they were looking for new vendors. I’m figuring That they ran out of credit.
I was in Frys Campbell today - I was going to buy a couple things but there was only one cashier working and she was taking FOREVER with some other customer so I just put my items down and left.