Thread regarding Fry's Electronics layoffs

We went to the Plano, TX store today during the lunch hour. It used to be packed at that time. We walked in and were shocked. There were empty shelves throughout the store. We were there back in December, and I noticed there were no name-brand monitors that I wanted to look at for my new Mac Mini. About half way through the store, I turned to my husband and said, I bet you they will be gone in a month. There was nothing in the store. The regular employees that were there for years were gone, just all young people. Since we switched to Macs, our trips there were cut way back. We loved this store, and it is very sad to see it die.

I figured Fry's in Arlington, TX would have the battery I needed. Nope. Parking lot was nearly empty at 5:30 today. The battery isle was mostly empty with just a few rechargeable ones remaining. I asked an employee about it and he just shrugged his shoulders. I am looking for a new dishwasher and unfortunately will not even consider Fry's now. Very sad.

Fry's Las Vegas 07/11/2019 looks like its been looted. Most of the shelves were empty and whole aisles of shelves were disassembled and stacked on pallets. Lots of open floor space where there used to have shelves. Cafe is closed. No worthwhile electronic items or appliances left, but they do still have BBQ grills and a lot of gardening supplies. Only like 10 cars in the customer parking lot at noon on a weekday.

I was in the Renton, WA store a couple days ago. Was floored. Empty shelves, sections with one or two items. The camera section was mostly devoid of cameras, the computer section (where they sell laptops and tablets) was dead and seemed to have fewer items than it should. No DVD section that I could see (maybe they moved it to another part of the store?). They used to have bins of charging cubes, USB drives, etc. for sale in the front of the store -- the same area was bare concrete. I managed to get a couple flash drives (decent price) and wandered about depressed. The entire atmosphere was depressing. I hadn't been to the store in about a year, as I haven't had the need to buy any electronics stuff for a while. It's like night and day. I give them a year at best -- if that -- just going by the appearance of all the empty shelves inside the store, as well as the relative dearth of customers. When I asked the checkout person about the empty shelves, they said they were re-gearing for local delivery of stuff ordered via their websites, and they pointed to a section where there were bins of ordered stuff for UPS delivery or something. I walked out of the store depressed. Even during the recession they were the place to go to buy stuff, because of their stock, and their prices. It was always an uplifting experience to shop there -- even when economic conditions were marginal, it was a hopping place. Now it looks like the recession landed inside the store. For those who work there, I hope the company can make a turnaround. I really do. I know what it's like to lose one's job. It's not fun.

The austin store is completely bare to what it used to have, I have been 4 times in the last 6 months and it feels like a ghost town. But the last visit at least they had some motherboards in stock and I was able to snag one, but no i9 9900k.. instead I put it back on the shelf and ordered it all on amazon and it arrived the next day.

I will miss you frys.

Just left the Fry's in Renton Washington and it was pitiful! I have not seen shelves that empty in any store that did not sh-- it's door's. I asked multiple employees if the store was closing due to the minimal on hand inventory as well as not having any of the 8 items that I was hoping to grab. The same general response was provided We are getting our restock at the end of the month. I have a feeling that is not the case however I hope that I am wrong but don't count on it.

Was at frys in campbell, CA 30 min ago. Gosh it went so bad..

I still remember going there to line up for black friday in 2012 or 13. Had to wait for parking spot and the checkout line is long long long.

Now walking into the store, the shelves are literally 1/3 empty, Aisles that used to be filled with near hundred kinds of keyboard and mouse have maybe 10 different item left. Even if you are not looking for gadgets, but for the electric component, there are much smaller selections. Heck I can't find any shrink tubing in campbell store.

It's still amazing that even with maybe less than a dozen customer in store on a monday night, they still have 3 counter open, and a good number of employee floating around. I wonder how long could they survive like this..

Went to the Plano TX store tonight and it was bad. I hadnt been there in awhile and I had not heard any of the stuff in this thread but as I was walking around looking at all the bare racks and shelves my thought was they must be going out of business. There were very few employees and few customers. There were 2 checkout registers but they could’ve gotten by with 1. If Frys does go under, it will be sad since they are the only local place to get certain things. But I guess I was part of the problem since I didn’t shop there all that much these days. Pretty sad deal.

I’ve watched the Fry’s here in Houston lose 1/4 or more of its shelving area in the last 3-4 years. The checkout area has 50 registers and even on holidays they have maybe 2 open. Everyone seems depressed. Half the store is now as-seen-on-tv c-ap or overpriced geeky collectible stuff. The computer parts area is a ghost town. I don’t even go near the new pc area because the salespeople latch on in pure desperation.

They had zero Raspberry Pi boards in stock of any kind last week. I couldn’t believe it. They had tons the last time I had to go—which was a couple years ago.

Fortunately we have a Micro Center here for all the parts stuff without the c-ap. The store is a lot smaller and cramped. But they have it all. I ended up getting the Raspberry Pi I needed. And I was able to look around the computers without salespeople doing anything other than asking if I needed help. But it’s not the same half-day of fun that Fry’s was 15-20 years ago.

I remember only 2011 2012 going there to buy a CPU on Saturday had to wait 20 minutes got a great deal on a motherboard/CPU deal people were lined up. I think they could still bring in the business, but they would need to offer what online can't which is customer service. One of the ideas I had have people come in and build their computers in the store builder assist lot of people don't know how to build computers. Nothing more frustrating then dealing with online retail return polices. You can buy from amazon prime but those prices are not lowest in fact if you add in the $120 a year prime membership Amazon doesn't look so good. Newegg return policy s---s. If these stores want to compete they need to figure out ways to do it other then price.

Was just in Downers Grove IL store. Definitely a big change since the last time I was there. Cafeteria closed, associate said they didn’t have anyone licensed to run it. Feel bad for the employees but, never a better time to find something and GET OUT!

Front end area was a ghost town. Such a shame. This place was the elite of all electronics stores. And now all we have is Best Buy,,, shame

I was at Fry's City of Industry, CA last night. I usually purchase $200 to $300 worth of electronics and misc on my once in a while visits. Last night, $85 is all I can find on empty shelves.

I miss the good ole' days when they started at Manhattan Beach in the early 90's shopping for a Cyrix CPU and a 16mb parity memory for $500 when the "world wide wait" was like a news-paper and surfing was charged per hour.

7/6/2019 Just went to the City if Industry CA store I am really sad it was a great store I could not find anything to buy. Went to by a refurbished GPS unit that is in today's ad. They had no GPS unit of any kind and about 25% if the stick they use to have. Really could not find anything to buy. I really want to buy something but it was not possible. I hope they get a chance to survive I did shop there a lot as I do not like to buy in line.

Visited one of the Phoenix locations during the 4th of July not even two days ago. Immediately noticed the area with all the CDs / DVDs were gone and replaced by miscellaneous pallets of random stuff. Found the DVDs in carts at the end of the aisles nearby. The vibe felt weird. Wandered around and saw changes like the build-your-computer table was gone and replaced by pallets of random stuff. Not too many people shopping and many of the aisles were empty of product.

Found a Wacom Cintiq that I asked a price check for and they wanted to give me an extra 5% if I bought it right then and there. Asked about what's going on in the store and said that the 4th of July is the slowest day for sales. Still doesn't explain all the odd things or the vibe that I get. Was tempted to get but it was still too pricey and put it back.

Even the vending machines near the cash register is gone (I usually grab a drink, even if I don't buy any other product). I visited this location months ago and it was doing a lot better. At least most of the aisles had product, there were more people shopping and the store had all product in the expected locations.

Not sure how the other location is doing but I might as well hop over one of these days and check it out.

I visited Fry's in Burbank CA today and they have actually cut the shelving units in areas to half, you can see the metal shavings from the shelving standards. They literally cut the top half of the shelving standards off in areas. The computer area looks "looted" I have not seen a line in the checkout area like there used to be in years. I think Amazon has done them in, it's kind of sad, no more stored to buy parts anymore other than online. They had their run, I think it's nearing the end.

In the last few weeks the Austin, TX store has just about turned into a 'ghost town'.

No computers to speak of and the battery aisle was devoid of everything except small packages of name brand batteries.

I asked an employee if the were closing and he said 'we'll see how Christmas goes and then decide'.

Don't know how you can have a profitable Christmas season with no product to sell.

I'm shifting to Amazon Prime and, maybe, Best Buy.

I'll miss Fry's.

There business model has been anti customer from the beginning (hoops & hops) and they have had some shady, shady characters and practices.

Like most retailers, they had management promoted to a level of incompetence resulting in no one at the exec level knowing what they are doing.

HR was a joke and companies who are so morally bankrupt that they fire employees who complain about harassment and the managers who stand up for them are really not going to be successful at anything.

I've noticed over the last 8 months a steady decline in inventory at the Las Vegas store. You can even see it on the online portal where the store is "out of stock." Things don't appear to be getting restocked either as the shelves get more and more bare. It's also telling that a lot of new product models aren't coming to the store it seems.

Sad to see it go, as I fell in love with Fry's when I was younger and living in San Jose. Was always the best the place to go and get components. Unfortunately, Fry's didn't see the elephant approaching like Best Buy did. They (BB) shifted to being more focused on services, and subleasing (they lease portions of the store for "display" so brands can have a demo room). They took the showrooming that was going on and literally turned it into a product.

I'm sure it won't be long now.

What about the FRY's Golf Course in Morgan Hill, CA

How much money was siphoned out of the stores to build a PGA quality Golf Course?

I've been noticing the drop in merchandise at the N Phoenix location for years. The last 5 times I've gone there for an item, I'm unable to find a suitable product on the shelves. I'm making it a point to ask the cashier or door guard "Have they announced a store closing date yet?" I always get answers like "the manager said we're not closing". But the dead look in their eyes tells me they get that question a lot.

I work at a Fry's myself. Not going to disclose which one, but we have isles empty. Often, when a company is out of stock on an item, it'll come in again within a week or so. Months have we been missing things. How am I supposed to sell as my job if there is nothing to sell. It's no longer up selling, it's trying to find something in general that we actually have to sell. It really does s---.

My co-worker just got put down to part time today after the manager sat him down. I haven't been in the store since Sunday because of my days off, so for all I know, this is going to maybe happen to me too.

The thing that s---s the most is that it's such a cool store for so many reasons. I really am going to miss it. Not just as a job, but as a place to buy things.

Went to Fry's in Fremont CA. I was just there a couple of months ago. I couldn't believe how far downhill it's gone. Hardly anything on the shelves. I went there for a simple linear power supply and there was hardly anything. Although I was somewhat mollified when I found a farming game for windows 7 for just $1.35. And I also noticed some new product lines. Garden hoses and pruning shears! Also an assortment of machetes, K bar knives (the kind designed specifically for k--ling people), and even some throwing knives! On the way out I asked the cashier why the low stock. She shook her head, frowned and crinkled her nose and said "I don't know what's going on with the company". I'm personally expecting to see a new business model. The store will have a grand opening as Fry's Gardening and Ninja Supply :-)

Good riddance, they never had what I was looking for, and yet I still went there. At least with them gone I won't be wasting any more time there.

A Class action complaint should be filed for: Breach of Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, Negligence, Discrimination and Unlawful Practices.

The hand selected employees were forcefully asked to sign the change from full-time to part-time and loss of potential benefits believing it was company wide, which it was not. I personally signed under duress.

All employees are probably protected under A.R.S. 41-1463, where it is unlawful, ” to limit, segregate or classified employees or applicants for employment in anyway which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual or employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the individual status as an employee because of the individuals of race, color, religion, s-x, age, or national origin, or in the nature of disability.”

My bf works at the Milton, GA store. Managers demoted to “specialists”, full time to part time hour cuts for everyone, 75% decrease in commission on every item, min wage for everyone, barely any new inventory coming in... It’s bad. No one working there cares anymore, and why would they? There’s just no way they aren’t closing soon. Plus Randy Fry (Thanos himself) is coming down soon to lay off more people. Terrible.

Managers and supervisors got demoted to specialists. Sale associates on the floor are getting paid minimum wage plus a few cents of commission. Full time employees are being notified that they are going to be downgraded to part time position. Fry's doesn't want to pay for their extra benefits as a full time employees. Empty shelves throughout the store. No customers. Everyone is quitting left and right. Hiring freeze. Whatever associate they have left, most of them have to take on extra responsibilities and duty for less pay and less hours. You can only go so far to cut corners before the store collapsed and going out of business soon. Right now they're not even in a surviving mode. It's more like a 911 emergency mode. Taking their last breath before going belly up. RIP Fry's.

they will close soon.....sad..i loved going there,,,but not enough people did....it was nice to have computer items on hand, and i did not mind spending a bit more..so i could have a store..now everything will be bought on internet..will not get to look at it....sad

Was Just in the Austin store. Its been this way for a while (wasted looking). However, every time I go looking for something, like an SSD or MB/processor/memory or cables or even an antenna for TV but especially electronics (processor, MB, GPU, monitors, car stereos - just today), they have seemed to have one or two of what I'm looking for. Returns and price matching easy. I can exchange an item in a day (vs a week at best online at Amazon or anywhere). I don't want Fry's to fail. They are still good. I've always gotten good service at Fry's. always. in Austin

I can make a comment about Indianapolis Fry's. basically like others are saying how about other locations. Bare shelves. few employees. Tonight at check out I asked employee about circumstances, and she confirmed inventory not being replenished, employees being laid off. it sounds like the entire business is getting ready to close down, or substantially restructure and downsize. Too bad... it was a big deal when it came to Indy, and we have appreciated having it here.

Was at the Las Vegas store; shelves are really looking bare, lots of big empty floor space throughout. Bought a camera, opted not to get the 2 year warranty because when we asked the salesman if the store was closing he “jokingly” said “I wish they’d just get it over with!”...Not reassuring at all.

Was at the Fry's in SW Houston a few days ago. It appears they're opening up space (removing some aisles and putting down carpet) and consolidating things so the store doesn't appear low on stock.

Fry's prices aren't the deals they were ten years ago. MicroCenter's prices on identical Windows PCs are usually $100 less than Fry's, even if you have a "promo code." Even Office Depot beats Fry's on many identical notebook PCs and monitors. About the only thing I go to Fry's for any more are Radio Shack-type items like cables, power supplies, etc.

My guess is Fry's will last a few years longer, mainly because they own (not lease) most of their buildings. They'll also likely survive longer in states like Texas where the minimum wage hasn't been jacked up to $15/hour.

5/25 the Las Vegas store looks like a ghost town. Shelves are bare, employees are few. they took entire isles of shelves and loaded them with pepsi, gatorade, water, etc to fill in the gaps. it doesn't look good

5/25/19 Went to Fry's to pick up an item that was supposed to be at the Wilsonville, Oregon store and it wasn't there. There were empty shelves all over the store, and their computer section had very few computers. Also very few employees. I asked an employee why there were so many empty shelves, and he said maybe it was for taking inventory, which seemed odd since I think inventory is taken in January, not May. Will be very sad to see this store go, as we don't have any other electronic stores around. They had signs announcing their 34th anniversary, but I doubt there will be a 35th.

i was in phoneix store last saturday,,,i was shocked...hardly any merchandise.....sad, i loved frys electronis, and bought there just so they would stay open..not enough like me i quess..u will never see a computer store again like frys was

The company clearly has issued a partly line and the employees are left only to tow that line. In Austin that seems to be that they are simply re-negotiating contracts with vendors. Clearly they are struggling in a BIG way and struggling to pay bills. Any day now I expect big closeout sales at Fry's.

Roseville CA maybe had 25 employees in the entire store! They use to have tall shelves, now short bare shelves.

Their Mac area was one MacBook. This is horrifying to see. You could see where huge displays use to be on the carpet, now it’s just full of dirty stains..

I went 11am on a Wednesday and there was a handful of people inside the store..

The store in Arlington Texas has had bare shelves for some time now. I asked an employee why the shelves were empty. He said the company was changing vendors, and they should be up and stocked by June. I doubt it.....they are probably feeling the pinch of the Chinese trade war, can't get the cheap merchandise anymore. Also, a lot of sites I have visited have said they are not paying the vendors, so they may be cut off from any new merchandise. This store is run down and looks horrible. The computer department is in the back of the store, next to the back stock area where you can clearly see it all. It used to be stocked full of everything, and employees scurrying around working. Now it's nearly bare....SAD!

I was at the Dallas, TX store a few months ago. The shelves looked very bare (they didn't even have a displayport to displayport cable) and when I asked the cashier if they were closing he said "I don't know, but it looks like a possibility." Sad, Fry's has (or, had) everything we ever needed in technology.

Was in the Renton, WA store over the weekend (5/5/19) and virtually bare. Shelves have been looking more and more sparse over the last 6 months but between 2 weeks ago and this past weekend it looked worse than a typical OOB store. I bet total inventory on the sales floor was less than 10% of what it was a year ago.

Yet you ask anyone and they get seriously offended at the thought. I had one employee who has been there a while try and tell me that the shelves were fully stocked and didn't understand why I thought otherwise.

Sad. There is nothing else left in the Seattle area for picking up computer components. Fry's ran all the mom and pop computer stores out years ago when they opened. Literally no where to go for a new power supply or motherboard.

Was just at the Austin store 5/5/19, and was thinking they must be going out of business. Bare shelves everywhere, not restocking. I asked the checkout guy and he said they passed some new law in CA. I don't know what that's about but he didn't know about the store closing.