On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:09:01 -0700, Blinky the Shark
<no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>> For a laptop try Newegg or even a "business store" like CDW. I found
>> the same laptop (Lenovo) had a much better warranty for about the same
>> price as at Newegg. Who knew?
>
>Note that my comments, above, are about their huge electronics (from
>transistors and capacitors and printed circuit boards you etch
>yourself through computers) aren't about big-ticket items; except for one
>laptop that I bought at Fry's, I build my own. So I'm addressing anything
>from large components like drives and power supplies on down to the LEDs
>and resistors I picked up there yesterday. Cameras? Less good. They
>don't even carry the Nikon brand. But they do carry lots of cameras by
>stereo makers like Sony and Panasonic.
I've had local (Bay Area) friends complain to me about the poor
quality of the sales "help" at Frys when they needed to buy a camera.
I told them they might pay a bit more at Keeble and Shuchat, but at
least the guy behind the counter might just have a clue and even
brought it with him to work that day.
As for computer components, and I also build all my non-laptop PCs, I
usually get the same/better price from newegg.com and since I live in
CA, I'm still paying the sales tax. But the return "policies" at Frys
are as bad/worse than the quality of their sales people.
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:09:01 -0700, Blinky the Shark
> <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>>> For a laptop try Newegg or even a "business store" like CDW. I found
>>> the same laptop (Lenovo) had a much better warranty for about the same
>>> price as at Newegg. Who knew?
>>
>>Note that my comments, above, are about their huge electronics (from
>>transistors and capacitors and printed circuit boards you etch
>>yourself through computers) aren't about big-ticket items; except for one
>>laptop that I bought at Fry's, I build my own. So I'm addressing anything
>>from large components like drives and power supplies on down to the LEDs
>>and resistors I picked up there yesterday. Cameras? Less good. They
>>don't even carry the Nikon brand. But they do carry lots of cameras by
>>stereo makers like Sony and Panasonic.
>
> I've had local (Bay Area) friends complain to me about the poor
> quality of the sales "help" at Frys when they needed to buy a camera.
It's practically nonexistent with respect to *any* of their products.
> I told them they might pay a bit more at Keeble and Shuchat, but at
> least the guy behind the counter might just have a clue and even
> brought it with him to work that day.
>
> As for computer components, and I also build all my non-laptop PCs, I
> usually get the same/better price from newegg.com and since I live in
> CA, I'm still paying the sales tax. But the return "policies" at Frys
> are as bad/worse than the quality of their sales people.
I've taken plenty of stuff back at Fry's. Never a single problem.
In article <pan.2008.07.17.00.01.44.686910@thurston.blinkynet .net>, Blinky the Shark <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>Father Kodak wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:09:01 -0700, Blinky the Shark
>> <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>> For a laptop try Newegg or even a "business store" like CDW. I found
>>>> the same laptop (Lenovo) had a much better warranty for about the same
>>>> price as at Newegg. Who knew?
>>>
>>>Note that my comments, above, are about their huge electronics (from
>>>transistors and capacitors and printed circuit boards you etch
>>>yourself through computers) aren't about big-ticket items; except for one
>>>laptop that I bought at Fry's, I build my own. So I'm addressing anything
>>>from large components like drives and power supplies on down to the LEDs
>>>and resistors I picked up there yesterday. Cameras? Less good. They
>>>don't even carry the Nikon brand. But they do carry lots of cameras by
>>>stereo makers like Sony and Panasonic.
>>
>> I've had local (Bay Area) friends complain to me about the poor
>> quality of the sales "help" at Frys when they needed to buy a camera.
>
>It's practically nonexistent with respect to *any* of their products.
>
>> I told them they might pay a bit more at Keeble and Shuchat, but at
>> least the guy behind the counter might just have a clue and even
>> brought it with him to work that day.
>>
>> As for computer components, and I also build all my non-laptop PCs, I
>> usually get the same/better price from newegg.com and since I live in
>> CA, I'm still paying the sales tax. But the return "policies" at Frys
>> are as bad/worse than the quality of their sales people.
>
>I've taken plenty of stuff back at Fry's. Never a single problem.
>
>
If you have had to take back plenty of stuff to Fry's, then there must be a
problem.
> In article <pan.2008.07.17.00.01.44.686910@thurston.blinkynet .net>,
> Blinky the Shark <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>>Father Kodak wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:09:01 -0700, Blinky the Shark
>>> <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>> For a laptop try Newegg or even a "business store" like CDW. I
>>>>> found the same laptop (Lenovo) had a much better warranty for about
>>>>> the same price as at Newegg. Who knew?
>>>>
>>>>Note that my comments, above, are about their huge electronics (from
>>>>transistors and capacitors and printed circuit boards you etch
>>>>yourself through computers) aren't about big-ticket items; except for
>>>>one laptop that I bought at Fry's, I build my own. So I'm addressing
>>>>anything from large components like drives and power supplies on down
>>>>to the LEDs and resistors I picked up there yesterday. Cameras? Less
>>>>good. They don't even carry the Nikon brand. But they do carry lots
>>>>of cameras by stereo makers like Sony and Panasonic.
>>>
>>> I've had local (Bay Area) friends complain to me about the poor
>>> quality of the sales "help" at Frys when they needed to buy a camera.
>>
>>It's practically nonexistent with respect to *any* of their products.
>>
>>> I told them they might pay a bit more at Keeble and Shuchat, but at
>>> least the guy behind the counter might just have a clue and even
>>> brought it with him to work that day.
>>>
>>> As for computer components, and I also build all my non-laptop PCs, I
>>> usually get the same/better price from newegg.com and since I live in
>>> CA, I'm still paying the sales tax. But the return "policies" at Frys
>>> are as bad/worse than the quality of their sales people.
>>
>>I've taken plenty of stuff back at Fry's. Never a single problem.
>>
>>
> If you have had to take back plenty of stuff to Fry's, then there must
> be a problem.
Sure. My misdiagnosis of a problem that could have multiple causes (e.g.,
motherboard or PSU issues?). Performance or compatability issues that
became evident on trying the hardware (recently, an external HD that
Windows would not recognize). None of those things are Fry's fault (nice
try); and the returns have been totally unproblematic (as stated).
On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:01:46 -0700, Blinky the Shark
<no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>> I've had local (Bay Area) friends complain to me about the poor
>> quality of the sales "help" at Frys when they needed to buy a camera.
>
>It's practically nonexistent with respect to *any* of their products.
Worse, if you are reduced to desperation and do ask a question, as
often as not the answer is just wrong. Those bozos can't even tell
you the right aisle to find a particular product.
>
>> As for computer components, and I also build all my non-laptop PCs, I
>> usually get the same/better price from newegg.com and since I live in
>> CA, I'm still paying the sales tax. But the return "policies" at Frys
>> are as bad/worse than the quality of their sales people.
>
>I've taken plenty of stuff back at Fry's. Never a single problem.
Well, as they say, your mileage may vary. I've had to take things
back because I found parts missing, because if you bring something
back, they just re-wrap and stick on a lower price, because they are
hoping the next guy will not be so careful to notice.
I've had them question me beyond belief about returns, I've had to
wait on line for 20 + minutes for a return. Finally I decided that I
would rather wait 2-3 days for an order from newegg than deal with my
neighborhood store. And I can almost walk to Keeble and Shuchat, so
you know about how close I am to the Frys in Palo Alto.
Father Kodak wrote:
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:09:01 -0700, Blinky the Shark
> <no.spam@box.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>>> For a laptop try Newegg or even a "business store" like CDW. I found
>>> the same laptop (Lenovo) had a much better warranty for about the same
>>> price as at Newegg. Who knew?
>> Note that my comments, above, are about their huge electronics (from
>> transistors and capacitors and printed circuit boards you etch
>> yourself through computers) aren't about big-ticket items; except for one
>> laptop that I bought at Fry's, I build my own. So I'm addressing anything
>>from large components like drives and power supplies on down to the LEDs
>> and resistors I picked up there yesterday. Cameras? Less good. They
>> don't even carry the Nikon brand. But they do carry lots of cameras by
>> stereo makers like Sony and Panasonic.
>
> I've had local (Bay Area) friends complain to me about the poor
> quality of the sales "help" at Frys when they needed to buy a camera.
> I told them they might pay a bit more at Keeble and Shuchat, but at
> least the guy behind the counter might just have a clue and even
> brought it with him to work that day.
>
> As for computer components, and I also build all my non-laptop PCs, I
> usually get the same/better price from newegg.com and since I live in
> CA, I'm still paying the sales tax. But the return "policies" at Frys
> are as bad/worse than the quality of their sales people.
>
> Father Kodak
My experience in the Austin Fry's has been just the opposite. I have
found it to be the best place in town for getting help. On the rare
occasion (twice) that I've returned merchandise I've been completely
satisfied. Both of those instances were because after I got home I found
that I didn't need the stuff. And one of those times was because the
salesperson told that I should try some rather arcane steps to do what I
thought I needed some new hardware for. I must say that practically all
of my experiences there have been in the electronics and computer areas,
and Austin is overrun with experts in those areas. Further, I will put
in another good word for Newegg--huge range, great prices, excellent
tracking of orders.
Allen
>In article <g5283f$39a$1@achot.icm.edu.pl>, "bj" <spillout99@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>
>> Found the URLs, thx!
>> BTW, would you perhaps know of similar good price stores for laptops in the
>> same cities?
>
>The same stores you are looking at for digital cameras offer a good
>selection of laptops.
Uh, not Keeble and Shuchat in Palo Alto. But places that do have a
good laptop selection, e.g. Frys (ugh, double-ugh) don't have a good
camera selection, because you will get abso-xxx-ing-lutely no ho help
from the sales "impediment" staff.
Re: affordable digital cameras in LA/SF? 
Linear Mode
