Comments for 24 January 1996

Seems that everyone has a bone to pick with Fry's. With no further introductions ...

Date: Monday, 29-Jan-96 09:35 AM
From: Chris Petrell
Subject: FRY's

I think you will find that there are THOUSANDS of people that will agree
with you on your fry's article. I know here at Lam Research there are
hundreds that I personally know!!! If CompUSA only had things like loose
motherboards and chips I think they would get alot more business.. (even
though there people dont know much also..)

C.

It was gratifying to receive proof positive that I'm not the only one that feels jacked around by the service at Fry's. What follows are just a few tales of horror and suspense arising from the Fry's crypt ...

Date: Tuesday, 20-Feb-96 11:56 PM
From: jmans@earthlink.net
Subject: Fry's

I just happened upon your Fry's page and wanted to let you know I really
enjoyed reading it... hilarious!

I was at the Fremont Fry's once (waiting in a, you won't believe this, huge
checkout line) when it was time for the shift change... of course, what this
meant at Fry's was that all but three of the checkout counters were closed
down for about 15 minutes ... people in line were yelling and when someone
made it to the counter everyone in line would applaud...

What a place!

Scott's page describes a rather interesting series of events depicting the usual runaround at Fry's. Check it out:

Date: Wednesday, 21-Feb-96 07:20 PM
From: Scott Kline

Subject: I like your page!!

Hi, I had to tell you I enjoyed reading your page on fry's. Check out my home
page at http://www.empirenet.com/~skline. I thought I was the only one to have
this problem until I saw your page. I didn't get quite as elaborate as you did
but I'll bet I can get pictures of the one down here. I didn't know they had
them up in northern California. Let me tell you, They suck down here too. Thank
you for the laughter. I was rolling on the floor reading your page. Good luck.

					Scott Kline
					skline@empirenet.com

Of course, while Fry's is easily the leader of the pack, other electronics stores are in the running ...

Date: Saturday, 24-Feb-96 07:37 AM
From: Winston Smith
Subject: FRYS Electronics Rant

Jim Nelson:

Thanks For the article on the dis-service at Frys. I can't stand the
place, but every once in a while get sucked back into the stinkin'
scummyvale store, with it's giant Farad sized capacitors, 1 MegaWatt
resistors, coffin length ICs and the same quality of service found at a
discount gravel pit. 

One of my least favorite stores is "Where service is State of the Fart",
Circuit City of course. The sales help always goes for the customers
looking at the more expensive stuff. I once tried to get help to buy a
13" TV. HA! The creep that was showing me their stock, quickly abandoned
me for a family looking for a 27" stereo model. I complained tho the
manager before I left (without the TV of course). I bet that did a lot
of good. I swore never to go back, but....

I was in the crowded SC store looking for ink jet cartriges when one of
the sales "persons" started howling like a wild dog! (Yes, as if he was
baying at the moon with the scent of fresh blood in his flaring nostrils)
The other half dozen or so staff joined right in howling and moving in for
their kills. True, no BS.

I don't have any point or nice ending to this, but I thought you'd understand.

-- 
Regards,

Winston Smith

Editor-in-Chief
American Planet Galactic News 
editor@americanplanet.com
http://www.americanplanet.com
American Planet Press, PO Box 5674, Santa Clara, CA, 95056

And while Mike Morrow is complaining about the usual gang of idiots delaying him in the store, methinks he's stumbled across the best scam yet:

Date: Wednesday, 21-Feb-96 02:51 PM
From: Mike Morrow
Subject: Paying by check

You left out one big waste of time.

I only have American Express and have to pay by check in Fry's.

They actually make me wait while the clerk finds someone who is able to
use the phone (would not want them using the phone for personal calls)  behind
the counter to call my bank an verify I have enough money to cover the check.

Of course I do.

But there is nothing stopping me from going immediately to that bank and
drawing out all of the money so that the 'verified' check is no good when
it comes time to cash it.

So what was the 15 minute wait for ?  I have yet to figure that one out  yet!
Except that it makes me upset!  At least there is some effect!  But  this
'verification' is not any proof or anything, best I can tell.  The  bank is
not going to hold the funds just because someone called and said they had a
check for that amount.

I really do not shop at Fry's any more.  Actually, I shop there, check
prices and features, then mail order the exact part number I got from the
Fry's shelf.  Notice, no buying involved (from Fry's).  Saves a lot of time
and confusion on the phone.

Great article.  And OHHHHH SOOOOOO TRUE!!!!

Thanks,
Mike

I received a few emails from people stating that they don't buy at Fry's anymore, only use it as a walk-through catalog, a virtual home-shopping network so to speak, and once the item's found, go somewhere else to actually buy it.

Of all the crummy bullshit happenings I've heard about and experienced at Fry's, this one takes the gold medal:

Date: Wednesday, 21-Feb-96 06:08 PM
From: Wayne Toigo
Subject: Breakfast at Fry's

Love it!!!

I too have my own "Delights at Fry's" stories, including one incident
where a Fry's employee actually stole 3 copies of Lotus 1-2-3 right from
my basket.  I was buying a lot of stuff and this sales guy "helped" me
all the way.  After I paid for the lot, he took my cart and "escorted" it
through security.  When I got to my car, all 3 copies of 1-2-3 were
missing; net loss about $1,500!  I was never able to prove the salesguy
took the stuff.

                     Wayne Toigo
                Systems Administrator
                 Remedy Corporation

This has got to be the first time I've ever heard of a store employee doing the five-finger discount on a customer. Where does Fry's get these people?

But this next letter makes me wonder if everyone is just looking at the pretty photographs and not actually reading:

Date: Sunday, 18-Feb-96 12:54 AM
From: S. Ganesh
Subject: breakfast at fry's

wonderful article!  btw, do they do mail order?

(Switch to scene of McCauley Caulkin slapping both his hands to his face, a la Home Alone): "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"