Fry's Electronics: Will They Be Gone Soon? (NOW PERMANENTLY CLOSED) | Retail Archaeology

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  • Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
  • In this episode we take a look at another Fry's Electronics store and find things are much worse.
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Комментарии • 2,9 тыс.

  • @R32R38
    @R32R38 3 года назад +95

    While no doubt the company's spokespeople will be squeakin' and squawkin' about how it had to shut down because of the virus, keep in mind that this video is from 2019.

    • @tomr3422
      @tomr3422 3 года назад +6

      it was the worst place I have ever been - good riddance

  • @deltaray3
    @deltaray3 4 года назад +94

    The theme of the Indianapolis store is "big store with unhelpful employees", they have recently changed their theme to "abandoned building with leaky roof".

    • @JettBlast
      @JettBlast 4 года назад +2

      I have similar experiences with "CompUSA" so glad they went under!

    • @GenX-Memories
      @GenX-Memories 4 года назад +4

      I went in there maybe six months ago and their Ethernet cable section was absolutely stacked. Huge amount of stock. Tons of PC components too. I'm wondering if I should check it out again after watching this video.

    • @computerwiz4
      @computerwiz4 4 года назад +4

      Seriously, the last time I went into the Indy Fry's, I was actually wondering if they were closing or not. Quite a few of the shelves were barren and the place looked empty. It was a weird experience to say the least.

    • @Bassndrumboy20
      @Bassndrumboy20 4 года назад +1

      My Wife and I went there around April 2019 to look at DSLR Cameras. There was only 4 cameras in stock. We also stopped to look at the blu rays and they were down to 2 aisles. No pornos though. They did have a lot of grills in stock.

    • @tomr3422
      @tomr3422 3 года назад +4

      that theme was in every store (4) that I have been to. I had to laugh at "it must be miserable to work here with no customers to help" That is not what they do

  • @brockbaby
    @brockbaby 4 года назад +236

    Fry's was amazing in it's day. So sad to see them withering away.

    • @0Raik
      @0Raik 4 года назад +3

      Thanks Amazon!!
      No but really. Dedicated stores are so darn far away from each other and not in all cities. Online shops are just one click away.

    • @vanstry
      @vanstry 4 года назад +17

      @@0Raik It has nothing to do with Amazon and everything to do with the way Fry's does business. I've shopped at Fry's since they opened their first store in the Bay. Times have changed and they didn't change with them, that's really all there is to it.

    • @0Raik
      @0Raik 4 года назад +4

      @@vanstry So...what needs to change? I'm curious.
      Because I think there's no winning vs Amazon and Chinese e-commerce

    • @vanstry
      @vanstry 4 года назад +9

      @@0Raik They over expanded and they did it too quickly. Fry's is a niche store, that's all they've ever been. When they were in areas with a large population of workers in the tech fields, they did fine. When they started putting stores everywhere, well there was only going to be so long until the novelty wore off, and the market saturated. Yes, people love to blame Amazon, but tech people went to frys instead, almost always, because faster turn around, convenience, etc. Pricing was never an issue (vs Amazon). New Egg was Fry's online competitor, never Amazon. And China? Nothing to do with it.

    • @0Raik
      @0Raik 4 года назад +1

      @Labyrinth9000 Agree. They really need to execute some managers.

  • @JonnyRicter
    @JonnyRicter 4 года назад +52

    I went to Frys on Black Friday 2019 and when I pulled into the parking lot, I counted 6 cars. It's really a shame that this great store is on its last leg.

    • @RobimusPrime
      @RobimusPrime 4 года назад +4

      It’s time to raise the white flag. A new Central Computers just open around the corner. They know what going on.

    • @JonnyRicter
      @JonnyRicter 4 года назад +1

      racingrb what's Central Computer?

    • @RobimusPrime
      @RobimusPrime 4 года назад

      www.centralcomputer.com/
      They are smaller micro center

    • @phillipnunya6793
      @phillipnunya6793 4 года назад +2

      Honestly the store isn't great anymore. That's why nobody is there. Seems like they found a business model that worked thirty years ago and refused to change. Notice pretty much all the big business still around from back then adapted.

    • @Rhaspun
      @Rhaspun 4 года назад

      @@RobimusPrime I remember Central Computer. When computers shows used to existed, they would be there. I bought a few things from them.

  • @britishchick09
    @britishchick09 3 года назад +10

    I was at this location on Friday and it was so sad! (especially since someone told me not to film the store) I'll always remember going to the magazine section with my mo, being dragged through the electronics section with my dad and finding great dolls. RIP Fry's. (luckily it's not the grocery store!) ♥

  • @diggadirt393
    @diggadirt393 5 лет назад +18

    Frys in Oxnard CA is dead. Lots of empty floorspace/shelf space, lots of empty parking space...and its a generic store as far as I remember, no theme. Its been about a year since I was there.

    • @RetailArchaeology
      @RetailArchaeology  5 лет назад +7

      According to Fry's website it's supposed to have a theme. Some stores are more elaborate than others from what I understand. I copied this from the website:
      The Oxnard Store theme celebrates the rich agricultural and commercial history of this coastal community is featured in historical wall murals.

  • @SKELLYCRUNCH
    @SKELLYCRUNCH 5 лет назад +16

    It'll be so sad to see it go, growing up Fry's Electronics was the coolest store to me - it still is, and it'll be missed!

  • @MrMackievelli
    @MrMackievelli 4 года назад +34

    Man such a change to when they had every register open and you still waited an hour to check out to now. Kind of sad but predictable.

    • @seanhartnett79
      @seanhartnett79 3 года назад

      When corporate fucks the people. The employees stop caring.

    • @seanhartnett79
      @seanhartnett79 3 года назад

      It usually starts with hours cuts, then people quit, then they decide not to replace them to save labor and money; then they decide to understaff there remaining employees. I work at a successful company. But this is happening here.
      When the store isn’t doing well. It gets worse

  • @awesomeblossom2417
    @awesomeblossom2417 4 года назад +9

    They’re not liquidating their inventory - they’ve been repoed, and now they’re trying to get supplier on consignments. The only suppliers willing to do that are the ones with little leverage - the “as seen on TV” crap.

    • @moek
      @moek 4 года назад

      Jesse Awesome 100% correct!
      They owe most vendors money and they are not paying unless you do consignment

  • @TrentCantrell
    @TrentCantrell 4 года назад +29

    Sad. Fry's was a wonderland a decade ago.

    • @mhks68
      @mhks68 4 года назад +2

      Trent Cantrell uhh more like two decades ago!!!

  • @jamzales
    @jamzales 4 года назад +12

    The Renton Washington Fry's had no gpu's on shelf last visit a few week ago. Oh and no visibly displayed motherboards. The cafe wasn't even open. Didn't look like had been open in a long time.

  • @DesertEagle093
    @DesertEagle093 4 года назад +15

    I literally just went to this exact store. Its even worse now.

  • @alexanderdawili
    @alexanderdawili 4 года назад +13

    I and my wife have gone to Fry's Electronics in I-45 Houston tx Saturday Jan 4th 2020, a similar sights as the video shows is happening here.

    • @jasonbradley13
      @jasonbradley13 4 года назад +3

      same. At both 45 locations and 59 south. Went around August 2019. The electronics components and other hardware are just over priced or are most likely not even stocked. They also have a horrible credit pay system. Nothing online. Over the phone only and like its stuck in the 90s. It's their own fault for not progressing, EVER apparently. It's sad really.

    • @PamelaCurry
      @PamelaCurry 4 года назад

      I've seen the same in Plano Texas and Garland Texas

    • @NickRios
      @NickRios 4 года назад +1

      The one in League City is bad too. My Dad and I used to love to go to the one off West Rd. Sad...

  • @motogp001
    @motogp001 4 года назад +1

    The Fry’s in Woodland Hills, CA looks the same. The place is almost completely empty and no customers. When I asked the employees if they were going out of business they say “No , we’re just getting new venders”. I went back in just before Christmas and it was worse. The only few things they had was stuff left that nobody wants. I asked again if they were going out of business and was told again, “No, we’re changing venders”. Haven’t been back since.

    • @mrjohnnyk
      @mrjohnnyk 4 года назад

      What does that even mean? I mean how could "changing vendors" be an excuse for not having any shipments for months on end and nothing besides old inventory that has been sitting on shelves forever?

    • @NightfallGemini
      @NightfallGemini 4 года назад

      @@mrjohnnyk It's the lie corporate told them to say.

  • @XxGyromancerXx
    @XxGyromancerXx 5 лет назад +13

    I'm not all that surprised Fry's Electronics is going down the proverbial shitter. I think it's been a long time coming.
    I, too, shopped in the Tempe store during the 00's. The final straw with me was the time I bought an Nvidia card. After getting home, I found the box had been repackaged and the wrong fucking card was inside it. I went back and they had the audacity to try to get me to pay a 30% restocking fee. I refused to pay for it, raised some hell, and eventually got all my money back.

  • @tomstestkitchen
    @tomstestkitchen 4 года назад +5

    Here in Austin, same thing. Early to mid 2000's I must have spent a small fortune at Fry's. Our's has a music theme, the exterior has a giant grand piano.

    • @richardm1062
      @richardm1062 4 года назад

      Aside from maybe "bankruptcy" does the Austin store even have a theme? My wife and I have been in there a few times but didn't really notice any theme.

  • @TEDdotcom
    @TEDdotcom 4 года назад

    I worked at the Fremont California branch from 2007-2010. When I visited that same store around October last year, it was close to empty. My acquaintances that still worked there said suppliers haven’t been delivering stuff for close to a year now, except for some TVs and refrigerators. It’s sad that the once busy Fry’s is now a mere shadow of what it used to be.

  • @arbutuswatcher
    @arbutuswatcher 5 лет назад +6

    This also has the feel of the last days of Radio Shack. Mostly empty stores with employees milling around, with nothing to do. I wonder if Bain & Company has a hand in the dismantling of Fry's, like they did with the likes of Sears/Kmart & Toys-R-Us? Looks like I'm adding the Downers Grove, IL. location to my to-do list of places to visit, before the end of the year.

    • @BernardS4
      @BernardS4 5 лет назад

      frys grew tremendously when they took over Radio Shack's super stores, Increditable Universe.

  • @sergioelisondo
    @sergioelisondo 3 года назад

    You know, it is a bit sad to slowly see these stores die... I used to love going to these! There were several in California's "Bay Area". Thanks for the shout out by the way - very kind of you. ;)

  • @notwcrazydude
    @notwcrazydude 5 лет назад +4

    This makes me so sad. This was one of my favorite stores to go to growing up. I would spend hours browsing the aisles. Sad to see them go.

  • @Thohean
    @Thohean 4 года назад

    I worked at Fry's store #34 in Houston(technically Webster)from 2006 to 2009. I'd say the main problem Fry's had during that time was that all the sales associated worked on a commission system, but only made commission from sales of items in their own department. The idea was that If you wanted a TV and a computer, you'd find a sales guy from the TV section, get the TV picked out and the sales guy would make a "quote" for the items from the TV section. Then they would walk you over to the computers section and hand you off to a computers sales guy, where he would add the computer items to the same "quote". You'd see on there the name for each sales person who helped you along with all the other normal stuff you'd see on an invoice style payment system.
    In theory, it makes sense. The TV guy might not know much about computers and certainly not know the weekly specials for the computer department and vice versa.
    In practice, what would happen is the TV guy would sell you the TV stuff, then point generally in the computers section and basically say "it's over there, go figure it out for yourself". Having to walk you over to the computers department, find a free computers sales guy and hand you over to them and then walk back to the TV department, which may be interrupted by other customers asking about items not in your section, since you're not in your section anymore, was all a waste of time. Wasted time is time not being used to make more commissions on TV items.
    It wasn't that bad when I started there in 2006 (pretty much right when the store opened) and it was my first real job at the age of 19, but as time went on and more young, untrained people moved up the management pipe, there was less focus on overall customer satisfaction and more about how much crap can we sell from our own departments and screw the other departments, because we don't make any money from them, anyway.
    I worked in the service department, where the pay was based on overall sales for the quarter and not on individual services sold, so we didn't have these kinds on issues with the other departments, except for the computers department. The warranty Fry's sold would include a free loaner computer and the way they handled loaner computers is they'd use the retail stock inventory. The service department wasn't allowed to get the computers; we had to get a sales guy from computers get one and bring it up to us. You can see why this would make the computers sales people upset. Eventually, I'd just go back to the computers department and flag a sales guy down for him to go grab one for me from the stock. We handled all the paperwork anyway, so I was just saving them the walk to and from the service department. Most of them really liked me for doing that.

  • @notthegoatseguy
    @notthegoatseguy 5 лет назад +45

    You were able to just walk out? I remember the heyday of Fry's in Indianapolis/Fishers you had to get your receipt checked and they were REALLY STRICT about it.

    • @jonathanreyes-tt7ws
      @jonathanreyes-tt7ws 5 лет назад +2

      Indy Cyclist he didn’t buy anything

    • @progressiveguy9959
      @progressiveguy9959 5 лет назад +10

      Didn't look as if there was anything to buy.

    • @WickedWonder1979
      @WickedWonder1979 5 лет назад +4

      They still are, even when you're picking up a product in the front and don't even go through the rest of the store. Like, you just saw me come in!

    • @mitchbayersdorfer9381
      @mitchbayersdorfer9381 5 лет назад +1

      Indy Cyclist they have stopped checking receipts in Wilsonville (near Portland) about 3 months ago.

    • @Damaniel3
      @Damaniel3 5 лет назад +2

      @@mitchbayersdorfer9381 Yep - I went there about a month ago and noticed there wasn't a receipt checker there. Guess you don't need one when nobody's buying anything.

  • @r.patrickcraig7659
    @r.patrickcraig7659 4 года назад +1

    I was in the DULUTH GA (NEAR ATLANTA) and it was the same way, sad to see, they used to be a bustling busy store with a great selection.

  • @Rhoneman
    @Rhoneman 4 года назад +6

    Same thing at our Fry's in San Diego, Mission Valley. So sad.

    • @fixxxer525
      @fixxxer525 4 года назад

      I was there back in November to pick up a phone case for a Note 10+. Since Fry's carried everything and walked in, it was like a ghost town. Nothing were on the shelves. I remember when that place was Incredible Universe and how crazy busy they were back in the early 2000's and thru 2013??

  • @LolItsADaniel
    @LolItsADaniel 5 лет назад +9

    On the Trolls toys: Surprisingly those are still being sold and stocked in WalMarts and Targets.

    • @OrbitZombie
      @OrbitZombie 5 лет назад +1

      I was about to comment the same thing. The Walmart I work for has Trolls merch, kids love that stuff.

    • @5roundsrapid263
      @5roundsrapid263 5 лет назад

      Trolls 2 is coming out later this year.

    • @jc1979af
      @jc1979af 5 лет назад

      To be fair, I still see a lot of Frozen merch and that movie came out forever ago.

  • @travisjohnson6676
    @travisjohnson6676 4 года назад +1

    I went to the location at Industry, CA and the shelves are nearly empty but also the 20' racks in the back where pallets of product are stored are COMPLETELY EMPTY.
    They are on life support

  • @TwistedTB
    @TwistedTB 5 лет назад +8

    You would think the employees looking for stuff to do could go around and pick up the empty beverage containers at least

    • @SoSeelye
      @SoSeelye 5 лет назад

      Except that there is no employees left to clean up. Most departments have 1 person to open and 1 person to close. That is all for the entire day.

    • @TwistedTB
      @TwistedTB 5 лет назад +1

      @@SoSeelyeOh ok, that explains it.

  • @darktetsuya
    @darktetsuya 5 лет назад +20

    yeah sounds like fry's might be next.... for a second I thought their 18+ section was cleaned out -- its not but you can't really show us the actual stock, lol

  • @jeffumbach
    @jeffumbach 4 года назад +1

    I went into my local Fry's (Downers Grove, IL) on 12/23 just to buy some replacement computer speakers and was wondering what the hell was going on. No "going out of business" sign or anything, just entire empty aisles. It was so depressing as that was the only place around to get Raspberry Pi stuff and other electronic gear. Now pretty much everything will have to be ordered online so no seeing it before you buy or quick exchanges if you don't like something.

  • @timhill9039
    @timhill9039 4 года назад +1

    I must have been in the various Bay Area stores several hundred times from 1985 (when the stores were tiny but packed) onwards. They were always odd stores; packed with tech and anything someone in Silicon Valley could want, but the customer service was ghastly, they didn't trust employees OR customers, and pricing was random (the best way to get a bargain was to find a mis-labeled item; I once got a CPU that was labeled as cheese). They were successful because they simply stocked everything under one roof. So sad to see something gone that has some fond memories for me, but I'm amazed they lasted this long really.

  • @vidguy007
    @vidguy007 4 года назад +1

    I did a project for a business economics class about 20 years ago on what it took in sales to keep the doors of the local Fry's open. I won't quote a number because I don't want to frighten anyone.

  • @soggynode
    @soggynode 4 года назад

    It's been about a year since I was in the Fry's in Wilsonville OR. It was originally an Incredible Universe when we first moved up here in the early 90's. Last year, we went in to buy a tv and the older employee that helped me load it had been working there since it was an Incredible Universe. That's some serious dedication to retail electronics.

    • @PacificAirwave144
      @PacificAirwave144 4 года назад

      It'd been several years since I stopped in at this (Wilsonville) store but was there just before Christmas and it was scary. Maybe a couple dozen employees but they outnumbered the customers. Empty shelves, no computers, no graphics cards, no CPUs/memory/motherboards... A huge building--maybe they're hoping to sell it to Amazon as another order-fulfillment center? :-/

  • @mrzack888
    @mrzack888 5 лет назад +16

    circuit city and HH Gregg also bankrupt. Only Best Buy and Microcenter are going strong as national chains.

    • @BoulevardFan28
      @BoulevardFan28 5 лет назад +4

      I love Micro Center! They have everything I've ever needed!

    • @davidpyper1688
      @davidpyper1688 5 лет назад +1

      Microcenter is great for something on the fly when building a new PC. But with Amazon delivering the next day, I am tempted to save my gas and wait a few hours to get the part for the same price or cheaper. My only complaint is that the Microcenter near me is in a wealthy township and if your don't have a Bluetooth earpiece in and are not wearing loafers they tend to not help you out.

  • @ZWeinstein15
    @ZWeinstein15 5 лет назад +7

    Ironically the day you posted both of your videos on Frys electronics I went earlier those days. Much like I mentioned in the last video it does seem like Frys is in rough shape and it would not surprise me to see both Phoenix locations consolidated into one (probably Tempe) or even close. They are still my go to as far as electronics and hard to find parts and pieces because they still have some really good deals fairly often. I know I am in the minority as I dont really use Amazon and if I do I piggyback off my sister's Amazon Prime, I would rather buy something and have it that day at that moment.
    It is sad to see because growing up I would always look forward to Frys as there was so much to see and do and now its a shell of its former self but I guess that is a sign of the times with the ease of Amazon and other online avenues.

    • @MiniMotoAlliance
      @MiniMotoAlliance 5 лет назад

      3fan4eva I like picking up items in person too but brick and mortar stores have stopped stocking a wide range of items. The industry has changed. It’s hard to spend gas money to drive down to a store and buy something when I know I can get it cheaper online with free shipping and I don’t have to waste gas.

  • @jerlv9
    @jerlv9 4 года назад +5

    Fry’s. If Best Buy had a kid with a swap meet and gave birth to a retail store, you would have Fry’s.

  • @SirNickyT
    @SirNickyT 4 года назад

    What's crazy to me is Microcenter is basically the same store and every time I go to microcenter it's really busy. During the month of the Ryzen 3000 launch I went 5 times and each time I could hardly find parking.

  • @gotfiddle
    @gotfiddle 4 года назад +1

    The Fry's in my area is a barren wasteland. They actually have signs posted at the checkout line saying "No, the store isn't closing"

  • @beerborn
    @beerborn 4 года назад

    Here in southern California the Fry's are pretty much the same thing. Micro center in Tustin, Ca. pretty much the place to go for electronics including building your own PC with large variety of motherboards that Fry's once had.

  • @marcrivera5775
    @marcrivera5775 4 года назад

    Wow, end of an era. I'm a computer tech and have to admit that I buy almost everything related to my business online now. But last week I was in a pinch for a P5 Micro Screw Driver/ kit for a MacBook I was trying to work on and thought I'd just walk into my local (Roseville, CA) Fry's and get what I needed. Nope, I walked up and down every aisle thinking that what I needed was just misplaced. I was shocked that the store was just as you documented, empty shelves, sparse associates, and ridiculously few consumers.

  • @JH-jo6os
    @JH-jo6os 4 года назад +2

    Some time in the future. Your local gas station will have 3D printers that will make Purity much anything and bigger store like Walmart will have 3D printers that would make bigger things

  • @kemop06
    @kemop06 4 года назад

    Yea my buddy was at the Sacramento, CA Store few weeks ago and it's shelves were barren as well such a shame I don't know if they grew too big too quick I've been shopping with them since the late 90's many fond memories.

  • @trevoreb
    @trevoreb 4 года назад

    I was in the Concord CA store summer 2019 and though it was not empty, it was definitly heading towards ghost town. I was returning an item and thankfully no one else was. As some have mentioned, the returns department is still using XTree Gold which is a Dos program from 1993. Yep, the sales clerk said, if it aint broke, don’t fix it. Everything in the Blu-ray 4K section was selling at list price. Amazon and everyone else completely crushing them on price. At least at Best Buy the prices match or you can pay abit more for a steelbook. It’s a darn shame but the end is near. Hopefully maybe they can keep the few stores that are still working along with theme stores like the 1950’s scifi store in LA. Crashed saucer, army jeeps sliced in half, whole inside like being inside a ship. Best one I’ve seen. They use to run awesome sales ads in the San Jose Mercury News. Some fool told them the ad was good enough for the internet and that is all they did. Had they made the jump like Egghead did, they may have survived but it to late now. And with a shrug, Amazon glanced over at best buy.

  • @lildude6906
    @lildude6906 4 года назад

    I just wish it went to a smaller platform similar to Micro Center. When the store started stocking nonsense like “Only on TV” crap, that’s when I knew that Fry’s would die out eventually. I loved going there and shopping for their PC components. However, their pricing got ridiculous, less deals and much less availability of PC components.

  • @strider6425
    @strider6425 4 года назад

    Sadly the Fry's Electronics in Anaheim, California closed down recently. I will miss that place. It was a candy store for all things electronics

  • @autumnsorchard7435
    @autumnsorchard7435 5 лет назад +4

    Hey I work next to a frys electronics in Las Vegass. Shout out 702!!

    • @autumnsorchard7435
      @autumnsorchard7435 5 лет назад

      @Peter Nadreau yeah bro, it's always dead when I go in.

  • @scottfranco1962
    @scottfranco1962 4 года назад

    In silicon valley itself, I have also noticed this. I went to pick up a new Razer headphone, they had a huge display for it, but nothing stocked. I think it is doubly sad, because Fry's and Digikey put all of the local electronics parts stores out of business. If Fry's goes it will come down to online only.

  • @RichardsWorld
    @RichardsWorld 4 года назад

    The internet killed places like this. Best Buy seems to be doing well though. The last time I was in Frys was in Roseville, California and it is slowly becoming more and more empty.

    • @msimcox2
      @msimcox2 4 года назад

      Richard's World Traveler the internet killed Fry's because they didn't adapt, they initially thought it was a fad and didn't have an online shopping presence for about 5 years longer than they should have.

  • @macymorse80
    @macymorse80 4 года назад +7

    I remember shopping there back in the mid to late 2000’s and loved it. They had everything and I could spend hours on top of HOURS there ha ha ha. Now i visit one and its so sad to see it.
    I was standing next to an employee and he was telling a customer that it’s cheaper for them to leave the store open than to close it because they’d have to cancel contracts, hire people to tear down the store and the contracts they have with utility companies, parking lot rental and location rental contracts, it would cost them too much money to cancel cause of penalties. So it was cheaper to leave it open till the contracts all run out.

    • @mrjohnnyk
      @mrjohnnyk 4 года назад

      Sounds like a ruined business being run into the ground by incompetent management that couldn't care less

    • @Bristecom
      @Bristecom 4 года назад +1

      @@mrjohnnyk I worked there in the mid-2000's and some of the business practices by management were indeed awful. I'm actually surprised they made it this long. I'm not saying I dislike the company but as you say, poor management gradually drove it to the grave.

  • @bizbot1655
    @bizbot1655 4 года назад

    My father and I visited the Fry's in Anaheim a month ago (It has a space shuttle/ NASA theme). Same deal, mostly empty shelves. I asked an associate on what's going on and he said that they were "changing suppliers". My dad said when we were leaving "They're going to close". I'm sure he's right.

  • @dionkraft6782
    @dionkraft6782 4 года назад

    Frys in Manhattan Beach, CA does not have a eating section. The Fry's in Burbank has an eatery with some old cars turned into diner tables using car bench seats. Car roofs chopped off of course! But as far as the shelves being empty....there is no way Fry's can compete with online sales for many components.
    Oh..Burbank Frys theme is a Flying Saucer with one at the front entrance and one inside. Awesome! Manhattan Beach is Tahitian theme.

  • @dvk578
    @dvk578 4 года назад

    I noticed the same thing at the Las Vegas Fry's. I visited for the first time in like 10 years and I saw the same thing with the empty shelves. In the cell phone screen protector section there was a protector for a Galaxy Note 2 (8 versions ago!) which was completely shattered and yet, was still on the rack. I couldn't believe it. There were very few computers on display and the car audio booths, capable of holding like 10 or 15 audio setups, only held a max of two. I was also very surprised by the perfume section. The television section looked ok as well as the electronic component section. However, overall, I had the impression that they were slowly closing down. I pretty much committed to the idea that I would never go to Fry's again. In contrast, the Best Buy on the other side of town was bustling with activity and merchandise.

  • @nuvimoontear6201
    @nuvimoontear6201 4 года назад

    I talked to an employee in the Austin location and they said that once those tarrifs were put on place for a lot of over seas goods, they could not afford to get product anymore, they were looking for suppliers but just can't lock down any deals. Since they are smaller change then like best buy, they couldn't make the same kinda deals as some of the bigger larger branded big box stores, since there is like what 20 Frys arocess the US or something like that. I don't know if that's all true or not. That's just what they told me, and I find it hard they still haven't found anyone to supply them with anything. I think they just going under, who knows. Don't know how any store can stay open with no product.

  • @awesomeblossom2417
    @awesomeblossom2417 4 года назад

    So sad just walked into my local Frys in Dallas days before Christmas, and nothing was stocked. I hear they are only doing consignment which means they aren’t paying their suppliers and they’ve been dropped. That’s why we see “as seen on tv” products, because these are the only products willing to do consignments.

  • @adolfhilter
    @adolfhilter 4 года назад +1

    I remember those 25 cent hot dog days in the late 90s at Frys

  • @Keziapurrs
    @Keziapurrs 4 года назад

    The Fry's near me (Southwest Houston) has shelves about 80% empty and the employees are telling customers that their "getting a shipment next month". Not likely. I'm sure "a shipment" doesn't account for 80%of the store. Hasta la vista, Fry's. :-(

  • @robj7481
    @robj7481 4 года назад

    What I heard is that Fry’s has defaulted on its debt to its suppliers and they won’t ship new product because Fry’s owes them MILLIONS.
    Their stores are starting to look like stores in North Korea... empty shelves.

  • @DarthEvilicus
    @DarthEvilicus 4 года назад +2

    I’ve been told because of the Chinese tariffs they aren’t buying things from China. I know the tariffs are tough but they have to adapt or they will go out of business permanently. The shelf’s are completely empty and they need to find a solution soon. I love brick and mortar electronics stores, I always try to buy there first, but you have to have product on shelves

    • @sergeantseven4240
      @sergeantseven4240 4 года назад

      If only that were true. Most of the stuff they do sell isn't directly imported though.

  • @Fightback2023
    @Fightback2023 4 года назад +1

    I remember back in the days... we had to wait an hour just to check out. Those were the good old days.

  • @khailils446
    @khailils446 4 года назад

    I went to that exact location maybe 6 months ago to look for a cord for my router, but all they had were 100 ft lol. I knew they were screwed too.

  • @zipper978
    @zipper978 4 года назад

    It’s sad to see electronics stores dying. They used to be my favorite to visit. I remember computer stores and movie stores and music stores. Now there’s almost nothing around anymore.

  • @JR-zu9hl
    @JR-zu9hl 4 года назад

    Was just at Burbank location and shocked to see the shelves mostly bare and only a few employees. One employee told me they were waiting on a delivery?

  • @xygomorphic44
    @xygomorphic44 4 года назад

    I went to Frys about a decade ago. They had an amazing looking catalog with great deals on TVs, and they were doing a promotional "We will match the internet price on an item!" deal. Went to the store and found that the price listed on the catalog only actually applied to the first 20 TV sold. Then when I tried to have them match an internet listing (it was on Amazon) the manager told me how that price somehow wasn't eligible for the offer. You would think whoever was in charge of sales and marketing in that company would avoid doing the same bait and switch that as their competitor circuit city which had been liquidated just two years earlier.
    I never stopped shopping at a place so fast. So when I see the state of the store today, I am not surprised.

  • @jadz684z
    @jadz684z 4 года назад

    I worked at the Tempe store for a while but what they do is if you dont sell stuff (it's a sale based job) you get let go. So if they dont have stuff to sell the employees are in trouble. But iam also guessing there isn't alot of employees so prices for the company is just a float till it crashes and closes

  • @robertmitchell2142
    @robertmitchell2142 4 года назад +1

    My to go place is Best Buy and beat Amazon some how. I read about it. They even match Amazon prices as I just did it with a Netgear Night Hawk USB Wifi dangle.

  • @trashoperator9278
    @trashoperator9278 4 года назад

    Was just in at the Tempe location just before Christmas and it's mostly empty. I've overheard another shopper ask about CPUs and the associate said they only had two CPUs total. It was super sad.

  • @JohnDoe-yq8ox
    @JohnDoe-yq8ox 4 года назад

    The one in Orange CA is space themed. Used to go there once a month and it was always packed. Did not go for three years and went 2 months ago and it was empty with empty shelves similar to this video. I remember TVs were lined up edge to edge, now there is only a dozen or so. I went to get a DVD writer and there was only 2 choices and ten or so total. They used to have dozens of choices across a whole lane.

  • @StarlancerAstro
    @StarlancerAstro 4 года назад

    I will miss the components section, after radio shack closed it is the only place to go for a quick fix. That being said I’d rather have proper radio shacks back, not the phone store they turned into before closing.

  • @Rich77UK
    @Rich77UK 4 года назад

    I spent a lot of time in San José 10-12 years ago. Frys was an almost daily trip for me. Fantastic store.

  • @Laceykat66
    @Laceykat66 4 года назад

    Fry's was my go-to store every Friday. The big newspaper ad would come out with the great sales and I would rush on down. During the holidays I could always find stocking stuffers for my father & boyfriends. Office supplies and computer programs were easy to find not to mention DVDs. Rebates were plentiful and Fry's would go to bat for you if a company tried to renege on its deal (Coughch Microsoft Cough Cough).

  • @KE0RGP
    @KE0RGP 4 года назад +4

    I went to the Fry's outside of Seattle, and it looked the same as this one.

    • @GrandpasPlace
      @GrandpasPlace 4 года назад +1

      The one in Arlington, Tx and Irving, Tx look the same as pictured. empty shelves and very few employees.

    • @rdbull5890
      @rdbull5890 4 года назад +1

      I went there in December. At first I thought "Damn, they must have had a hell of a Black Friday! All their shelves are empty!" Then it dawned on me what was really going on.

  • @henrytep8884
    @henrytep8884 4 года назад

    Fry's electronics in Anaheim Ca is closing down March 2nd. That was one of the biggest Fry's around socal, and probably the best kept store. Seems like the dominos are falling into place for Fry's and Gamestop.

  • @TheRosswise
    @TheRosswise 4 года назад

    Can't say I'm surprised. You can regularly find what they sell for half or less if you look around online.

  • @captmack007
    @captmack007 4 года назад +19

    Fry's takes returned faulty merch and puts it right back on the shelf. Fact.

    • @Miata822
      @Miata822 4 года назад +2

      That worked so well for Radio Shack that Fry's decided to give it a try, with the same result.

    • @msimcox2
      @msimcox2 4 года назад +1

      Been doing that since the early 2000's

    • @thedevilsadvocate5210
      @thedevilsadvocate5210 4 года назад

      Just because the last guy didn't know how to use the stuff properly doesn't mean you won't figure it out.

    • @captmack007
      @captmack007 4 года назад

      @@thedevilsadvocate5210
      Just because you nibbled lead paint as a child doesn't mean you will not find a job.

  • @manuelangeles68
    @manuelangeles68 4 года назад

    Just got confirmation my local Frys in Palo Alto, CA cannot renew their lease. This location is the cool western theme. Shame to see it close.

  • @fckgooglegooglefck9124
    @fckgooglegooglefck9124 4 года назад +1

    DC area has a replacement for Fry's called MICROCENTER. Local techies call it MEKKA

  • @jeremiahlyleseditor437
    @jeremiahlyleseditor437 4 года назад

    Burbank, Ca as well.
    The Burbank store has a space Invasion theme

  • @ryantoomey611
    @ryantoomey611 4 года назад

    I was wondering what was going on. The last time I stopped at the store closest to me about 6 months ago nearly all the shelves were empty and they hardly had any inventory. It is a shame because it was a nice store. It is a bummer they are going the way of Circuit City. Probably due to Newegg and Amazon.

  • @dionkraft6782
    @dionkraft6782 4 года назад

    A 20-year employee of Fry’s Electronics was found guilty of embezzling $65.6 million over a four-year period from the electronic store to pay off his debt and fuel his lavish lifestyle. According to the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), Omar Siddiqui created back-room deals with five supplier companies for Fry’s Electronics. The company overpaid for merchandise that was later sold at a reduced price resulting in a significant financial loss for the company. The leftover money was deposited into a shell company account, PC International, controlled by Siddiqui.
    The IRS filed a criminal complaint against Siddiqui in 2011. After filling the complaint, the IRS further examined Siddiqui’s bank records. He had racked up $167 million in gambling losses over 10 years and had taken out loans totaling approximately $10.4 million. In addition, the IRS had a $18.5 million lien on his property for unpaid taxes.

  • @raypena1516
    @raypena1516 4 года назад

    It is sad that they are closing. I used to shop at this location.

  • @ZonbiZonbi89
    @ZonbiZonbi89 4 года назад

    My local Fry's in Anaheim is gone. We still have micro center but it's not the same as peak Frys

  • @corazonmacadangdang8118
    @corazonmacadangdang8118 4 года назад +1

    See the cookies crumble. I shop now at Bestbuy and Amazon.

  • @TalenGryphon
    @TalenGryphon 4 года назад

    The Renton WA Frys has looked like it was just raided dry for a Black Friday or liquidation sale... For the last 2 years. So. Many. Empty hooks and shelves

  • @RyanTreks
    @RyanTreks 4 года назад

    Well, the Atlanta location has an electronic retail store theme. I NEVER knew Fry's had any theme. I used to go there but it's 1 hour and 20 minutes from my house. Unfortunately, like so many others, I buy things online these days. And I haven't build a computer in years....only because mine is still working great and is more than what I need. I mostly use laptops these days, though I used to hate them so much.

  • @GeekTherapyRadio
    @GeekTherapyRadio 4 года назад

    I loved Fry's, but I don't think it's exclusively that brick-and-mortar is suffering. That IS true, but retailers like Micro Center and Target are thriving.
    Micro Center is my new Heaven. I practically live there. Imagine the best part of Fry's's's's prime condensed into a smaller retail space. That's Micro Center. Amazing selection of what you came there for without massive physical media sections and entire sections of cheap Chinese impulse buys.

  • @hamzahassan7730
    @hamzahassan7730 4 года назад

    So sad to see the last well known electronics store going down hill. RadioShack is gone. There was a place I was unfamiliar with called Circuit City. I never went there. I would buy electric components from frys and make stuff with arduino uno. I looked for a electronics store just in case the roomer that they are restocking is untrue, and found a small store with a old looking exterior. It’s either them or amazon which I have to wait a week to do what I want to do.

  • @j0nparks
    @j0nparks 4 года назад

    I shopped them online . I went to the Houston Store a few years ago and it was amazing. I think tablets and phones with internet killed retail stores

  • @Acill
    @Acill 4 года назад

    The one here in Oxnard California is in the same state as this one. Empty all over. I also asked about closing and have been told its just that they are renegotiating with vendors. I think its all BS and they just dont want to admit they are closing down.

  • @SexyLenTime
    @SexyLenTime 5 лет назад +4

    Please try to document the Burbank, CA Fry’s! It’s alien invasion themed!

    • @preciadoalex123
      @preciadoalex123 5 лет назад

      Lori O hopefully he checks out the 3 SoCal locations here

  • @lorenzoboyd6889
    @lorenzoboyd6889 4 года назад +122

    Soon to be repurposed as a Halloween store / Gov't offices / Gym.

    • @KevinSmith-qi5yn
      @KevinSmith-qi5yn 4 года назад +4

      I think that would make a great Government office.

    • @bacawaka2813
      @bacawaka2813 4 года назад +1

      A maga gym would be nice! It would probably put most of the gyms in my area out of business The Fry's next to me is extremely large and would be able to house at least 10 Olympic sized pools. Too bad they are going under, I like microcenter but it is an hour drive, and the Fry's is about 10 minutes from me.

    • @msimcox2
      @msimcox2 4 года назад +3

      By government offices, you really mean ICE detention center don't you.

    • @SuperBoomshack
      @SuperBoomshack 4 года назад

      Thats what they did in the old toys r us stores in florida

  • @arrowhead5217
    @arrowhead5217 5 лет назад +746

    I recently stopped working at this location about 2 months ago. things are BAD. They didn't tell us anything directly, but all the full timers got put to part time or were laid off. It isn't looking good for Fry's Electronics. Also, that Deadpool 2 trailer has been playing in that room for over a year now.

    • @TheSergio1021
      @TheSergio1021 5 лет назад +59

      I got out of there over a year ago. That place went downhill fast since then.

    • @arrowhead5217
      @arrowhead5217 5 лет назад +23

      H N no idea, on one of my last days there I actually helped clear it out and send most of it to “another store.”

    • @arrowhead5217
      @arrowhead5217 5 лет назад +45

      uwu グーチ owo don’t be! that place sucked ass. Everyone was sad and the management was awful. I’m working at a much better place now for more money lol

    • @ccateni28
      @ccateni28 5 лет назад +10

      Serious?
      What the hell Fry's?

    • @WorksOnMyComputer
      @WorksOnMyComputer 5 лет назад +3

      @Hideika Says the guy into Japanese anime girls on his channel.

  • @anthonyrausch5708
    @anthonyrausch5708 5 лет назад +251

    6:47 = You know something is SERIOUSLY wrong when an Electronics store is carrying beauty products!!!

    • @SWIFTO_SCYTHE
      @SWIFTO_SCYTHE 5 лет назад +11

      MINE sells LUGGAGE. And GARDENING EQUIPMENT.

    • @Ranteros
      @Ranteros 5 лет назад +7

      That particular Fry's Electronics also sells pornography. The small section is adjacent to the cafe, and the DVDs.

    • @justindawn3428
      @justindawn3428 5 лет назад +8

      They have for years. I ran the software department. The perfume and as seen on TV have huge margins. They definetly burned bridges with vendors. Was happening when I worked there. One of the regional managers was fired for using money that was supposed to be used to pay one vendor to pay other late payments on other vendors.

    • @aliceakosota797
      @aliceakosota797 5 лет назад

      @@Ranteros hentai time

    • @MakerMark
      @MakerMark 5 лет назад +6

      It's the same fate that RadioShack suffered an identity crisis of epic proportions. I mean Fry's carries refrigerators rice cookers TVs audio computers games I mean it's like the Walmart of everything where's your identity where's the electronics in the hair accessories section,?

  • @MEXICANMOOSE1976
    @MEXICANMOOSE1976 5 лет назад +525

    Whatever the case..that store is beautifully designed...and it would be a shame if it closed down!!

    • @watershed44
      @watershed44 5 лет назад +61

      @MEXICANMOOSE1976
      The lack of stock at this store is disturbing, and sad. Folks sneer at brick and mortar stores, but there's no substitute for actually being able to see, touch, feel, and use products when you walk in. When they are gone you're going to be really unhappy in the future.

    • @thedungeondelver
      @thedungeondelver 5 лет назад +13

      @@watershed44 Right? There's times when I just want a given widget. Used to be two big computer stores here (well, multiple ones, really), but the two big ones were Computer City and CompUSA. Now all gone, of course. I mean I could go to BestBuy, but that 33% mark-up. Oof. EDIT: also, best buy has a "fragrance aisle".

    • @gordontaylor2815
      @gordontaylor2815 5 лет назад +4

      Would it be wishful thinking to hope for a rescue of the chain by Best Buy?

    • @watershed44
      @watershed44 5 лет назад +6

      @Gordon Taylor
      Maybe so, these stores were also geek oriented stores too, so maybe just maybe they would find worth in keeping some of them operating.
      I think it would be a good fit, they could close down a few BB stores near by and keep the Frys as the go to with the extra geekiness factor for those that want it, like ourselves. There just isn't really a reliable place to get small discrete electronic components or PC parts in most local areas today. RS is long gone now, and it's increasingly hard to find mom and pop stores like this either now.

    • @bravotronalpha3787
      @bravotronalpha3787 5 лет назад +6

      @@gordontaylor2815 I wouldn't bet on it. Even if it did happen, Best Buy pared down their own stores many years ago when it came to tech; I remember being able to purchase lots of computer hardware at Best Buy as a kid. Video cards, sound cards, hard drives, you name it... now they only carry TVs and media, and even physical media is in a bit of a rough spot these days, with everything going digital.

  • @eova
    @eova 4 года назад +85

    The adult movie section does look kind of naked...

  • @JacksonHalm
    @JacksonHalm 5 лет назад +190

    In 20 years to my kids: There used to be these things called stores where we went in and bought items.

    • @TheElictrik
      @TheElictrik 4 года назад +4

      Amazon’s is the future lol

    • @asvpgordo
      @asvpgordo 4 года назад +7

      @@TheElictrik yes Amazon will still be around but the prices for shipping are gonna go up

    • @techman2553
      @techman2553 4 года назад +3

      @@asvpgordo - Just wait until full autonomous delivery vehicles are up and running. I can imagine a day where there is an autonomous delivery fleet that constantly circulates through the cities and cross country, 24-7, like a giant vehicular conveyor belt, moving goods from anywhere to anywhere for almost nothing. The last few steps to drop a package at someone's doorstep is the issue. Although once millions of cheap AI processing boards are mass produced for all autonomous vehicles, those same boards and software can be used to finally get bi-pedal androids into the mainstream. Maybe FedEx will one day have the same delivery androids that were shown in iRobot.

    • @NeverForget1776
      @NeverForget1776 4 года назад +6

      @@asvpgordo as soon as Amazon is able to force out most retailers and they complete the building of their own courier infrastructure ( amazon already is able to bully FedEx and ups because of how much of their business comes from amazon ) the prices are going to go up until where your paying more now then you ever were. Amazons l9ng term plan is to sell at a loss slowly buying out or forcing out all competition until what's left is so small their not really competition. Amazon will use that as the way around monopoly laws. By leaving a small number of insignificant competitors whom i wouldn't be surprised if Amazon was bribing to stay open and not be competitive price wise. Amazon is not the customers friend and bc of the internet and drone tech amazon may be the first retailer to achieve true global dominance far more so then Walmart.

    • @dougg1075
      @dougg1075 4 года назад

      That’s a fact man.

  • @cosmophonic12
    @cosmophonic12 5 лет назад +92

    Been years since I stepped into that Thunderbird location. 20 years ago this place was packed with shoppers and inventory. Once saw Louis Gonzalez right after they won the World Series

    • @Krazie-Ivan
      @Krazie-Ivan 5 лет назад +1

      he was a regular. also a few other celebs, like Cedric Ceballos of the Suns.

    • @XxGyromancerXx
      @XxGyromancerXx 5 лет назад +1

      Gonzo is the man!

  • @SirIkeMedia
    @SirIkeMedia 4 года назад +29

    I was just there yesterday. Super dead. Sad.

  • @SatansYardsale
    @SatansYardsale 5 лет назад +48

    I absolutely love this store and this breaks my heart. This whole place is just awesome and they sell EVERYTHING. I used to just go wander around and look at crap because it was just so incredible. Part of the reason is that area was hit hard by the recession and not only has it not recovered but it's gotten a bit rough in terms of the people. It used to be a fairly nice area then just dropped off. The PHX-Metro area in general has gone way downhill.

  • @luisgonzalez1637
    @luisgonzalez1637 4 года назад +76

    I miss the days when you could buy red hat Linux at fry’s

    • @raylopez99
      @raylopez99 4 года назад +2

      Those were the days you could buy Apple stock for like 1/500th the price it is now...

  • @megacide84
    @megacide84 5 лет назад +53

    I am really surprised FRY's has lasted this long.
    I thought by now they'd have disappeared like Border's or Tigerdirect, but...
    The Retail Apocalypse marches on.

  • @darkwing11
    @darkwing11 3 года назад +43

    As of 2/24/2021, Fry's Electronics has closed forever.