Fry's Electronics to announce closure today

[rfuerst911sc]

Just read online all Fry's employees were let go yesterday and an official closure announcement coming out today . All 30 stores to close . Covid and online purchases were thought to be the main contributors to the closure.

[masraum]

Wow. I didn't go often, but when I did, they usually had an enormous building that was like an aircraft hanger that had LOTS of inventory sitting on shelves and not THAT many people wandering around the stores. We had at least 2 in Houston.

If you go to the website, this is what greets you.

After nearly 36 years in business as the one-stop-shop and online resource for high-tech professionals across nine states and 31 stores, Fry’s Electronics, Inc. (“Fry’s” or “Company”), has made the difficult decision to shut down its operations and close its business permanently as a result of changes in the retail industry and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Company will implement the shut down through an orderly wind down process that it believes will be in the best interests of the Company, its creditors, and other stakeholders.


The Company ceased regular operations and began the wind-down process on February 24, 2021. It is hoped that undertaking the wind-down through this orderly process will reduce costs, avoid additional liabilities, minimize the impact on our customers, vendors, landlords and associates, and maximize the value of the Company’s assets for its creditors and other stakeholders.


The Company is in the process of reaching out to its customers with repairs and consignment vendors to help them understand what this will mean for them and the proposed next steps.


If you have questions, please contact us using the following email addresses:


For customers who have equipment currently being repaired, please email customerservice@frys.com, to arrange for return of your equipment.

For customers with items needing repair under a Performance Service Contract, please call (800) 811-1745.

For consignment vendors needing to pick up their consignment inventory at Fry’s locations, please email omnichannel@frys.com.


Please understand if we are a bit slow to respond given the large volume of questions. The Company appreciates your patience and support through this process.


Sincerely,


Fry’s Electronics

[LWJ]

Hmmm. We had one. Seemed a very strange model if you want to make money. Too bad though. One less retail location for the "radio shack" type purchases.

[fintstone]

Progress? It is one step closer to reopening businesses and schools. Can't reopen until all competitors to Amazon or Walmart close.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by fintstone

Progress? It is one step closer to reopening businesses and schools. Can't reopen until all competitors to Amazon or Walmart close.

So this is a thing? Covid isolation and closings are all a conspiracy between Amazon, Walmart and the govt?

[ckelly78z]

Seems to be working all over; another 30 regional stores !

https://wsbt.com/news/local/stock-and-field-farm-and-outdoor-store-closing-all-locations

[Nostril Cheese]

I only remember the UFO crashed into the Burbank location

[herr_oberst]

At least it didn't take 'em 10 years to pull off the bandaid like it did Radio Shack.

[biosurfer1]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

At least it didn't take 'em 10 years to pull off the bandaid like it did Radio Shack.

Not to mention the slow, painful, depressing death of Sears. Those stores are akin to a morgue if they are still open at all

[David]

They looked pretty dead the last few times I've been in there.

Radio Shack and Frys are the only national chain electronics parts stores I know of. May be a win for the little stores.

[john70t]

I like to shop in brick-n-mortar and actually see the product first.

Best Buy doesn't carry, in-stock, small gadgets like dongles and converter widgets someone would need immediately.
(Or they are are at very inflated prices..like huh..put back on the shelf..huh)
Walmart and Meijers and Staples do.

Unfortunately my only other local electronic store is MicroCenter, which is a 1.5hr drive each way.
-The manager hints of a bit of SJW. Several times in the past I've been handed 'obviously-incorrect' products by unwashed sales staff who were emphatic "this is what you need!". A PC monitor cable with one end being micro-HDMI for instance.
-Their website has in-store sales only and is sometimes ambiguous as a product being in stock.
-I don't want to drive three hours and wait in a covid line outside in the cold for something that was sold out.
-They even don't have a phone number to talk to anyone.

[stomachmonkey]

Yeah officially done.

Used to be an awesome place to get stuff.

Really the only "local" option for oddball bits and bobs after RadioHut went bye bye.

Last year or more it was just awful.

Went there to pick up a couple grand of phones as QA / test mules for an app we were developing.

If they actually had what you wanted you'd practically have to put a gun to someones head to get them to help you.

Was pretty sad.

MicroCenter is the only one left.

I really like them but the nearest one is 3x's as far away as Frys was so that sucks.

[Ronbo]

Fry’s has been on the decline for a long time. I was last there probably about five years ago and the store was messy and had a lot of empty space on the shelves. Absolutely nobody to help you. I think their using COVID is just a convenient excuse to close a poorly run business.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[stevej37]

I don't ever remember them being in this area.
Radio Shack is still around...independent dealers only.
Best Buy is thriving.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I don't ever remember them being in this area.
Radio Shack is still around...independent dealers only.
Best Buy is thriving.

Best Buy is like the Montgomery Ward of the last 20 years.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

Fry’s has been on the decline for a long time. I was last there probably about five years ago and the store was messy and had a lot of empty space on the shelves. Absolutely nobody to help you. I think their using COVID is just a convenient excuse to close a poorly run business.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm sure Fry's was hoping to be the Big Box store (HD, Walmart, etc...) of electronics stores.

[astrochex]

When I lived near Fry's, they were my go to store.

Sux to see them go.

[Rick Lee]

I don't know how they held out as long as they did. For the last year or more the place was a ghost town, bare shelves, few employees and no customers. I sure wish I could get in there for the going out of business sale, if there's anything left.

[jyl]

I went to a Fry's about 2 years ago - it was looking sad then.

Amazon delivers practically anything in 0-2 days, at low cost with maximum convenience. Physical retail stores have to provide something other than just goods stacked on shelves. There might be room for one such store, for the old fogies, but no more.

[GG Allin]

Stepped foot in one, not a once.