[Swordmaker]

What's wrong with Fry's?

http://www.geocities.com/tarahertz/frys-sucks.html

Let's see... unsubstantiated rants from 2001.

http://www.doofus.org/frys/

Last updated May 24, 2000

http://billzhouse.com/rants/frys.html

Last updated 1999 includes a rant about a laptop from a supplier, not Fry's that was un-configured... in 1985.

http://www.accesscom.com/~dave6592/frys.html

Last story was from 1996... some comments from up to 2002.

Do you have anything that is current??? Looks to me as if your Fry's data is about as outdated as your Apple data.

They steal by repackaging used and/or defective merchandise and reselling it in the hopes that someone will eventually just give up and eat the cost.

They often reseal an opened package... but then they discount it and state that it is resealed. You have the choice of buying a new package for more $ or trying the resealed package. I have often purchased the reseals at a substantial discount and have most often gotten a brand new item. Those times when the item was defective, I had no trouble returning it. Once they replaced the resealed with a brand new sealed one.

Used, returned merchandise is heavily discounted and offered on tables up near the front door. They had a 50" Plasma the last time I was there... returned, cosmetic damage by the original buyer... price was $750. They had a new one of the same model in the back for $1750. If I had a place for it I would have bought it.

How is any of this theft?

Can I find an external drive (why wouldn't I get USB 2 instead of Firewire?) for $97? I don't know. I do know that if I spend more for it at a reputable retailer I'll be doing the universe a favor.

The $97 320GB drive was both Firewire II and USB II and came with cables for both. That was pretty neat because I had a Firewire 2 cable ($19.95) in my shopping cart to purchase. I put it back after the clerk insisted on opening one of the drives to find out what was included. I was willing to take the box she just opened but she insisted I take an unopened box instead.

[Filo]

Do you have anything that is current???

Sorry that was from a quick and dirty web search.

http://reviews.cnet.com/5416-10921_7-0.html?assetID=6658638&orderBy=creationDate+desc - complaints up through 2007.

http://consumerist.com/consumer/fry.s/1300-unopened-rebate-applications-found-in-dumpster-297016.php - another from 2007.

You're welcome to do your own research. I'm quite convinced that Fry's sucks and I simply won't shop there.

You can, of course, do whatever you want.

They often reseal an opened package... but then they discount it and state that it is resealed.

While I have no proof that they still do this, I know that they used to "forget" to indicate re-seals and discount them appropriately. They got into legal trouble for this. They've either stopped the practice (doubtful) or gotten better at hiding it (far more likely.)

Still waiting for that less expensive workstation listing ... cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap... that’s the sound of economical crickets in the night...

Keep waiting. I'm not sure I have the time and I'm quite sure it's not worth my effort.

How about this: You win. Macs rule. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread. In fact, with the right version of OSX they will slice your bread for you! They run on air and produce 2 pounds of solid 24 karat gold for each week of normal use.

I hope that makes you feel better.

Hmm. A Mac user who shops at Fry's. You do know this is a Conservative board, right? :-)