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 store in Wlsonville was always very, very good! Friendly, knowledgeable staff and as geeks tend to do would go into the longest explanation of which was the best item for what I needed.
SO LONG OLD FRIEND, YOU WILL BE MISSED!
Wow, i had no idea this was going on at other stores in different states. I go to the Phoenix, AZ store about once a month.. Since February i noticed the shelves getting more and more bare.. Asked several associates if they were going out of business, but like others on this thread was told, "we are renegotiating with suppliers.. will be getting more stock soon.." I wanted to believe that badly..
But sadly, I suspect this is the company smokescreen line.. because i went in again tonight – and the parking is so empty.. barely any employees to be found.. absolutely no product.. what stuff they do have looks like old junk – like the stuff from 10 years ago that no one wanted – like one would find at a garage sale or liquidation store.. it is awful the way they have tried to spread out products that no one would go to Fry's Electronics to buy in the first place – to try and fill up shelf space..
No computers, no pc components, no cameras, no video game systems, no tv's, no appliances, no audio – just rows and rows of emptiness.. but they did have rows of bottled water along the wall that DIY computer components used to be on.. so sad..
an old guy salesman i managed to find told me, "they told us we're not closing down.. but – i don't think they'd tell us anyway – everyone would leave tomorrow".. Sadly, i expect to see a lock on the doors and a Out of Business sign any day now.. :-(
So, today I went to the Indianapolis, IN store, which I discovered not too long ago!
Last time I went to a store (when I lived in California, Sunnyvale mostly) was in 2005. Back then, these stores were full, busy, crowded, and had like 4 million registers open AND a line :P
Well.... MAN, this was a shock. Completely empty store. Many employees running around, but none had anything to do, really. My driver (I'm in a wheelchair) was very quiet, and asked me if this was how it was supposed to be.
Of course, asked several of the employees, and most had no clue. One stated that they were going to sell all inventory, remodel, and then re-stock. Which I believed until I came home, Googled, and saw this thread.........
So... will go back next week, when we have more time, and then look for any good deals.
Snif.
End of an era, folks !
Just went to Burbank location. They are completely out of internal hard drives. Lots of empty plastic shells where the drives used to be. The clerk said that they were out right now.
Lots of empty shelves. I was looking for a “Everything Must Go” sign. Fry’s has always seemed a little weird to me. They treat their employees like dirt. I never could find what I was looking for and good luck in finding some help. Not a big loss, if they close.
They just look like a store that is liquidating. They look like Toys R Us did a month before they closed.
I went to the Concord, CA store today. Not much on the shelves and very few employees. Fry’s has always been a poorly run business, with mostly cheap Chinese merchandise. I am really not sorry to see them close.
So I was reading about Frys this weekend... just past data online.
They are a privately owned company, so they DO NOT have to tell anyone what they are doing, overall.
Sure... they have to answer to creditors (if they have any) for specific info.
Anyways... the brothers that started this company back in the mid-1980's, must all be getting up there in age.
And online it says they were always managing about 2 billion in "revenue" per year... how much of that was "profit" is unknown, and how much they took at salaries and bonuses, etc... also unknown.
It is a PRIVATE company. They can do what they want. They are the shareholders.
At this point... IF they have some plan to continue operating this company... THAT will be interesting to see... how they turn large empty-ing stores into something else.
I worked at Store 19 in Arlington TX and was soooooo lucky to be fired back in 2011. Even back then, the shelves were going empty and nothing was being stocked. We had an internal program where we would transfer stock between stores every day to restock any locally that sold out, but none of the other stores would send us our resupplies when we sold out, because they would be losing stock without earning.
When they fired me it was the happiest day of my life. The ASM told me that they were putting me on a "5 day suspension"(every employee knew that meant that was a termination notice) and I just laughed at tossed him my badge. I went on to go 4-Wheeling over the weekend and got a higher paying job at a freight company the following week. If you're seeing this Jay Moore, go f— yourself!
Advertising in newspapers has stopped. No cash flow. Frys is dead. Used to be on back page of sports page in Dallas. Now no ads at all
I was at Fry's in Burbank today. I was shocked to see how bare and dead it was there. I asked the one sales person in the computer area if they were closing. Her response: "I don't know." Then I found another guy behind the customer service area and ask him the same question. His response: "We're not allowed to talk about it." I found an item I needed and went to pay for it. One cashier was opened out of the 60 cashier lanes. I asked her when they were closing... she looked at me like I was an alien, and said, "We're not closing. One store is closing, but we are not."
So not sure what their game is there, but it sure as sh– looks like they are done for.
Went to the Renton WA store today after not visiting for maybe a year. The empty shelves made me search for when the store was closing (thought it would be too sad to ask someone working there) and I found this thread. Bought a couple of small items (afraid to buy anything big ticket) and one ended up being $10 less than the price shown on the shelf. It was correctly scanned ... so not sure what was going on. The woman at the checkout counter didn't want my Fry's ID and when I asked when the store was closing, said "we're not closing." :')
Hope the good workers (your mileage may vary) land(ed) on their feet.
Went to Fry’s today (Anaheim) to pick up a advertised Micro SD 128gb, odd parking lot was empty was able to park in sweet spot in shade. Well the SD card advertised wasn’t available but I was sold a Samsung 128gb $30.00. Bestbuy had same price. Odd hardly any staff around, few laptops on display and the aisles were clear, not the over abundance I’m used to seeing. Obvious shelves weren’t restocked, and the check out was cordoned off halfway with only 2 cashiers. I asked if store was closing, she replied “they” haven’t told us only saying we should get new shipment in soon. 35 employees have left, and this started about 2 months ago. Sad to see a big company go under. They were always so busy, you could always get a good deal at Fry’s.
I went to the Sacramento store and just empty shelves. And I was approved for a frys credit card a few months ago. Why use it now if they don't have anything I want? I started to notice the downturn when they stopped caring blank CD's and DVD's!!
I went into the Campbell CA Fry's and it was a sad shell of what it used to be. Very little inventory, very few people. Even the old escalator is gone, covered now with red rocks. I was looking for a short USB cable. They had none. So I walked outside and ordered one from Amazon...
Went to San Jose, Campbell and Sunnyvale stores in the last two weeks and all of them are empty of staff, customers and products. I think the Fry’s family are just tired of the retail game and ready to retire. Local computer stores are still thriving. Big box like Best Buy and Micro Center seem to be doing well enough. Bought a lot of stuff from Fry’s over the years, it was a good ride. RIP Charle Chip.
Campbell, CA - https://youtu.be/xKVAPuVnhCg
Plano, TX 09/07/2019... Frys is pretty bare.
Yeah... this is what it looks like when you are selling all your inventory.
I was wondering why they didn't just close it, but I guess there is probably property and building titles and leases to deal with. And the cost of pulling all the inventory back to California probably isn't worth it.
Same here in Woodland Hills CA. , empty shelves for a couple months. A family member of a friend of . mine is a purchasing Mgr. for Frys, they're in-between changing distributors for a majority of their components, they'll have stock soon enough and probably have more brands when it comes to PC components.
Fry’s sad last day’s
Shelves are empty due to Trump's tariffs. He will bankrupt the country .
Went to Frys Manhattan Beach CA last weekend and asked the employee there why the shelves are empty, he told me the lease with the mall is ending and they may move their stock elsewhere. Surprised I went to Anaheim CA Frys today to pick up my online order and found the shelves are empty too. Looked here and now I realize Frys is closing all stores for good, it won't even last until Thanksgiving 2019. Sad memories I used to line out in the cold many years during Thanksgiving sales, now no more. I've always thought these stores that pay costly CA real estate are no match to online retailers who pay cheap real estate for a warehouse in the CA desert. And it's not only Frys IMHO, it will be all retailers who pay expensive real estate, losing out to online sales. Building owners will soon realize no one will be left, and the days of overpriced leases are about to end.
https://youtu.be/VyS99Uf4SeU
Frys here in southern California all pretty decrepit. They seem to charge as much as possible for the few remaining items on the shelves, next to entire empty sections. What a shame. But it's struck me for years few of these places know how to sell anything anymore. They'll stock 100 different brands of the same item, but not one item that's different and what you actually need. To me, Frys was famous for this. Say I needed a USB-C to HDMI connector- Frys would have 20 different brands of USB-C cables, 15 brands of the same USB-C to Display Port, Display Port to HDMI, etc etc... but not one of the cable I actually needed. I swear, some of the redundant stuff I saw in there 8 years ago is still on the threadbare shelves now. I still think a retail electronics store could work- I'll pay more in a pinch for what I need rather than wait days for online sometimes- but you gotta actually HAVE what I need...
Went to Sacramento store today couldn't believe my eyes empty very sad been shopping their weekly for years spent a ton of money shame goodby frys it's been fun
On the comment about a Yuma Arizona Fry's store stocked with groceries: Fry's is a grocery store owned by Kroger.
Its a shame. I love this store. Went to Las Vegas store today 9/6/19 and most of the shelves empty. Hardly any employees and hardly any shoppers. Approx. 30 registers up front and only one cashier. Lucky there was no line. Asked several employees and all in the dark and don't know whats up. How can you buy anything at this point because who can you return faulty items to not to mention warranties. Did notice that they did not have any prices reduced from the remaining stock. They will be missed.
I just went to the Frys in Wilsonville Oregon and I was totally shocked BARE SHELVES NO MOTHERBOARDS SAD SAD Day There is no one to replace them in the state Thanks to the DicX Head who embezzeled millions we all get to feel the pain.
I miss the Fridays when I'd look at their big sale ads in the newspaper. In fact it was the only reason why I would buy the sad and pathetic LA Times. I'd circle the items I want to buy and head to Fry's after work. When I get there, the PC components would have a long line of people trying to buy stuff. When I get to the checkout line, the line would be so long that the end is where the melted Jeep is in the Burbank store. On the busiest days the line would reach all the way to where the alien carrying the fainted woman. When I get to the cashier, there would be 10 of them ringing the mass of shoppers.
It's so sad what's become of Fry's.
Was in the Tempe AZ store yesterday, no greeter upfront, no staff at the returns line, counted about 10 employee's overall and almost every section had several if not all empty shelves. Walked over to the entrance of their backroom warehouse and every shelf was bare as well. Spoke with 2 employees who each said they were waiting for stock, they're delirious or walking a tight company line. The entire motherboard section was empty, all hard drives or storage gone. In the soundbar section, all I found were off-brand Chinese companies and Bose. The Sony display in the TV area should be pulled out by Sony because it's no longer advertising, it's empty and embarrassing. Finally checkout, 1 older Indian gentleman who asked me if I found everything OK, I said no, can't find anything the store is empty and it looks like you're days from closing. He smiled and said, I should just stop asking that question... so right indeed. Finally the ticket checker at the exit .. oh who am I kidding they don't have one there anymore either.
https://clearforce.com/omar-siddiqui-long-time-employee-frys-electronics/
May 10, 2018 | Case Study
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.
As the former Vice President of Merchandising and Operations for Fry’s, Siddiqui supervised a staff of 120 individuals responsible for buying all merchandise sold at the 34 Fry’s locations in the United States. It is alleged that Siddiqui convinced executives at Fry’s Electronics that despite his staff of 120 he should be solely responsible for the purchasing from suppliers, instead of independent contractors, resulting in the vast amount embezzled from the electronic chain.
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.
ClearForce could have identified Siddiqui’s unusual financial behavior in real time, thus allowing his employer to investigate and make ongoing decisions regarding his control of purchasing power for Fry’s Electronics stores. ClearForce could have notified leadership early regarding significant and unusual increase in personal financial debt, reduced Siddiqui’s access to financial information, and restricted ability to “sign off” on vendor contracts without review.
Fountain Valley, CA store has 5 or 6 people in the entire store! On the other hand, Yuma, AZ has a Frys store that’s stocked with groceries. Go figure!
Here now @ the Austin *Borth MoPac) store & the bare shelves are NOT confidence inspiring.
Only 2 or MAYBE 3 of each item, some with no products on the shelves @ all, sections with complete sections s of shelves completely removed from the floor.
Last week I went to the Burbank store to take pictures and say my goodbyes. I used to go there every Sunday and just walk around and look for things I wanted to buy. It was part of my life.
This is so sad.........
I was at Burbank CA and woodland hills CA in the last month and last vegas about 2 weeks ago and it been empty. I remember trying to buy some ryzen mother boards recently and they only seem to have MSI boards and yes when I spoke to the staff they all kept acting like they would get a new shipment soon. I have been going to Fry's since I was 8 or so with my dad. This time last year there stock seemed fine now I am pretty sure this is the end
50K views LOL
I was just at Sunnyvale and Brokaw-San Jose stores. Employees there seemed confident they would have ongoing jobs, which is amazing given the shelves at both stores are almost totally bare. It seems something is happening. They said “new stock is coming” which I pushed back on as absurd given how empty the stores are, but they didn't seem swayed. Their responses also pushed back on someone buying Frys. Maybe Frys is going back to groceries, which is where they started. That would explain the empty stores and why remaining employees seem confident of long term jobs. Or maybe repositioning into something other than groceries.
Fry's has been going down the drain for a long time, just like many other brick-and-mortar stores. Most people shop on Amazon now. The Fry's stores in Silicon Valley have been ghost towns for several years. The shelf height in the stores was cut in half awhile back, and are now increasingly bare. It looks like they are just selling existing inventory and not restocking. Most of the employees appear to be long gone and only a skeleton crew left. It is not hard to see where all this is heading. I would not expect the chain to be open more than another year, two years tops.
Both frys in northern California (Sacramento and Roseville) are nearing empty.. very depressing. This was my goto place every week. Two months ago I saw a shelf full of latest modems and gaming routers. Now all empty as if they resold them back. Sacramento had only a handful of cat 6 cables. Roseville only a few cat 7 at $30 each. Fortunately i built my 9900k system with 2880ti in April when they had stock and everything I needed using all 20% off coupons
Wilsonville Oregon location is depressing. My brother took me as i'm building my first computer and we were severely let down. He was shocked by how bad it was. They didn't evem have ANY graphics cards