Pretty funny that this video popped up in my Google news feed. I have worked at Fry's for over 10 years. We have seen the writing on the wall for years, but it got really bad out of nowhere this year. Our store hasn't had a delivery truck in or out for over a month. According to the store manager Fry's is shopping vendors for better deals, then we will get stock again. According to ex-management(as everyone not a store manager got a demotion) we are having a going out of business sale, except nothing is on sale and nobody knows we are going out of business.

As long as Microcenter doesn’t close, I’m good.

I hope the whole chain doesn’t go tits up. They really alienated shoppers when they started requiring a code for the ad prices so one has to subscribe to their email list.

All the Fry's in America look like that. The home cinema display rooms are gutted, TV's hardly in stock, a mess in all sections

Went to Fry's in city of Industry today and could not believe how few customers, employees and products on shelves. Last time I went was six months ago and it was full of products and lots of shoppers and clerks. Hard to believe in six months how different it is now.

Everything on the floor was brought out from the warehouse to make it appear fuller on the floor.

A video of the Fry's in Phoenix, AZ shows the store is pretty empty and very few customers. See it on the Retail Archeology Channel

The problem with buying online is the inconvenience if something doesn't work the way you want or defective..you have to go through the hassle to return and wait..with Fry's you can return and buy another one right away.

Fry's is a godsend for IT guys. Best buy will on;y carry high profit items and without Fry's, we would have to wait for items to be shipped. Oh well. One thing, their customer service sucked, they treated all returns as though you were trying to steal from them.

Sad to see Frys shut down, this was the only store which I spent so much money buying parts and I built all my computers for the last 20 years. I hate Best Buy over price shit, Best Buy is 5 minutes from me and I drive to Frys over 25 minutes away for my electronic shopping. I will miss so much. For the last few years, I noticed Fry's promo was going downhill, nothing worth person to head there for.

I live just outside of San Francisco and since the mid-80's used to drive to the Fry's in Palo Alto, Sunnyvale or San Jose at least once every two months just to snoop around and see what was there. Even 10 years ago I was starting to notice fewer customers and less stock. I haven't been to any of them in at least three or four years.

Frys in Fountain Valley inventory is very low

What's even more sad is their website has literaly never been updated you can still foind remnants of the old frys site outpost . com

For components, Tanners Electronics is still around and has a lot of the electronics components. Microcenter is the best computer components place left in DFW. I worked at this store, it wasn't that great even 10 years ago, I'm not surprised.

I was recently in the Wilsonville store, and nearly all of the shelves were empty. There were no USB drives, graphic cards, monitors, etc.

Incredible Universe failed when Tandy expanded too quickly. Fry's came in and bought the IU locations out of liquidation. I worked for Frys at a former IU location from 01-05. I left when they restructured commission rates in fall 2004.

They lagged behind everyone forever with their website design.

Hey, I remember helping you out back when I worked there! The writing's been on the wall for over 4 years which is when most of the good employees (at the time, myself included) abandoned ship.

I can confirm that the one in San Marcos Ca is worse then this one. Almost zero stock, few employees, and dirty. you even have the flooring that is laminate popping up off the floor. I almost tripped and fell from it. You can see the employees attitudes that they know what's going on. I even had a employee that was putting returns away almost hit me with the shopping cart. All the signs are there.

Online shopping is not to blame for the piss poor management of these stores. What was stopping Frys from competing online? They have these warehouse sized stores they can use as fulfilment centers. They either need to become a full fledged online retailer or bring back the Incredible Universe concept. Going to a big warehouse to shop is dead.

One caveat about the in store experience that probably won't stop , but also won't make anyone feel good is that you can always shop in person at Walmart!

I am a car guy, an electronics nerd, and I used to work at that Fry's you're at! And for those reasons I am subscribing

This was the case when I went to Sacramento store 3 weeks ago. I was there again yesterday and it was really bear and empty!! Doubt they'll make it to black Friday. Also their warehouse and rack stacks were all empty. I had exact same feelings as you're describing walking around the store yesterday.

Probably very late to the party here, but I worked briefly at the Irving TX Fry's in the early 2000s. It was a company that seemed to have a philosophy of "pile it high pile it deep and sell it for cheap". Working there was absolute hell on the employees, and one day they simply pushed me too far and I walked. It's no wonder to me that they will allegedly close after Thanksgiving, as their business practices were unsustainable in my opinion.

Webster Fry’s looking the same, was surprised that they had x570 mobo I was looking for.

Fuck man, I love Fry's. I spent so much time there at all the Bay Area stores as a kid with my parents and I used to go there all the time up until recently with my friends just to hang out and look through all the aisles, and buy random stuff. They always came through with variety and had anything you could ever need. I bought so many pc parts, ic's and components there, and all other kinds of stuff there. I spent tons of black friday's waiting in their lines. There isn't another place that could really compare. The sheer size of the place and the cafe's and cool themes of the stores made it really like a Disneyland for techies. Gonna miss this place if it goes.

Fry's was like a candy store for us nerds - always spent hours exploring what's new. Now Amazon, EBay, and KZfaq are my goto.

I used to stay in that store for hours, just hanging around. Can't believe it going out of business. E-commerce and Amazon is the dominating.

I live in Arlington, was at this store yesterday. It looks exactly like this and I had no idea. When I walked in I was in shock. 5 or 10 years ago this was the place to go, they were always well stocked and always packed. My first hint of something wrong was when I entered the parking lot, there were only about a dozen cars and I thought the place was closed. Sad to see this happening to Fry's

perhaps Fry's purchasing agent bought too much water and perfume.....

is this the one in Arlington Texas? it is, I live in Burleson and that was my store till I almost got screwed with Logitech alert camera. I purchase an additional one for my system and I decided to open the box in the parking lot because this location was bad repacking old stuff. the they sold me an old model; the box was seal with the white strap. I went back and spoke to the manager and he didn’t believe me, they eventually took it back. That was the last time I went there 4 years ago. This location was shady. I didn't know Fry's was going out of business!

Used to work for fry's.. Was moving up quick and was gonna stay there to try and be a buyer but future wife said No get out now and go to school..... Got out.. glad I did

The Webster TX store is the same way. Empty shelves everywhere. Ray Charles can see that they're going to close soon.

im curious of any updates about this store and what happened since this video got uploaded. its now 2/18/21

Crazy! Worked at Frys Arlington for years in components! Actually met you at that store while you were looking for battery holders for proton packs. Definitely a bummer to see that store so barren, I used to walk those aisles every day for years and to see them so empty is just depressing.

The building is too big for Fry's. Since Fry's is a private company, their finances are kept private. I had an Incredible Universe, but not Fry's. That building sits vacant today. The only surviving electronics store doing well is Best Buy

This is basically a silent liquidation. They are going out of business, but the company doesn't want to go public with it for whatever reason. As their remaining stores are not accepting new shipments. They are trying to offload their remaining merchandise. If and when they finally get rid of their current stock. They'll just quietly shut the lights, lock the doors and put the Out of Business sign.

I was in the Arlington store a few weeks ago and notice the empty parking lot (you used to have to hunt for a spot), and dwindling inventory. It really made me sad. I think you covered my feelings about it. Cool light.

I'm glad they're shutting down. They have shady practice. I've always look on they're sale add on Friday on the paper. Everytime I go look for an item that was on sale in the ad they never have it. But when they do the model that was on sale is way in the back of where its hanging. The different model is in the front thus they look similar but different model and more expensive. You wont know unless u look at the receipt. And they're price match is a joke.

Amazon and ebay are ok but i like buying physically

Funny, I went to Fry's in Renton WA yesterday and I was blown away by how barren the shelves were. The writing is on the wall.

We have 2 here in Arizona and their customer service is really bad if you have a question or need help with something you gotta chase them down.

Have you been to the one in Carrollton? I was there last year and picked up a nice pro camera bag and the store was well stocked then but not many customers.

I use to go to the store in Arlington and it's sad to see it like this. I remember going there and it was hard to find parking half the time. Store was always busy.

My last purchase there was a powerline Adapter & 4tb external hdd in 2018. Very very sad to see them close. RIP Fry’s Arlington TX. 😔😔😔

The San Jose and Campbell locations are hurting already.

The Campbell California store has become a ghost town. Very few cars in the parking lot. But the employees tell you it’s not closing of course. It’s really sad.

Microcenter is still in business.

I work in the Dallas store and half of the ac units don’t work

I'm in DFW as well. The one on Northwest Hwy. in Dallas is a ghost town. Shit, I didn't know Altex left...

The one in Fishers, IN is almost totally bare, hardly any employees in the place either. Sad to see them go as I really enjoy being able to handle and see some types of items in person to decide what I want.

I used to work at two different Fry’s location both in Northern California, from 1998-2001 I remembered how busy the stores world get, even during the weekdays, after I quit working at Fry’s and I became a customer I still saw a lot of customers, I stopped shopping at Fry’s in the late 2015, and when I recently went back to shop at three different Fry’s stores last summer (2018) the parking lot was empty during the weekdays

I agree with you! I was at frys in Santa Clara ca. The damn store was empty , the shelves were empty.I asked what the hell happen too frys! Now I see your video, damn !

The biggest downfall of Fry's and Radio Shack is the lack of knowledge and customer service. Employees didn't want to make an effort to help customers, too lazy to make any effort whatsoever and not knowing the difference between a capacitor and a resistor. Not really surprised.

I still work at Fry’s as a second job. I’ve been working at a CA location since 2011. I can confirm us employees literally haven’t been told ANYTHING. We all speculate and hear rumors but at the end of the day we know as much as the customers. I honestly don’t know where Fry’s is headed but I would assume like most it’s in its final days.

They used to have lines at checkout, now 90% empty parking lot, depressing

A change I've seen in the retail landscape over the past 10 years: Prior to the advent of the smartphones, most retailers had posted signs saying "No cameras allowed!" Here, were are seeing Videobob Moseley having free reign to use his camera inside a retailer's premises.

The ones in California are all low stock on a lot of things I go to the Woodland Hills one and it’s always low in stock on a lot of items

I have been to every Fry;s in California. Fry’s will be missed. Live the visceral feel of shopping in the store. Love your Wagon.

Thanks for doing this video. Appreciate your insight. I live in Phoenix and have noticed the exact same thing and makes me a little sad. Im always surprised they are still open when i go. But man, Frys was sure the place to go back in the day.

It's odd that Fry's is still publicly stating they're "not closing" but when I visited their stores, they're about 80% empty. I asked one employee if they're closing and he said they were due to online competition. I asked another and she said "we're not closing, we haven't been told anything". The shelves are VERY empty.

I always go to the Fountain Valley, CA location to check pricing on things I need. They are typically 7-10% higher priced across the board. This location is low inventory. Except perfume.

They're not selling at a discount because they don't own the stock. The suppliers do, then Fry's stiffs them for the bill on what they do sell. Fall Fry's! Fall!

I feel your pain Bob. Here in Chicago land, northwest Indiana. I cant walk into any store to buy electronics supplies. It drives me nuts. I cant even find a supplier that wharehouses locally, so i can buy in bulk. I hate buying off the int

I feel the same way, I was in the Plano store this weekend and not much is left. About 5 years ago they swapped out their tall shelving with shorter shelves, and the selection was reduced in some areas, like printers. I was actually able to buy parts to build a new computer last December, but I don't think I could the way it is now. Best Buy will be the only electronics store left in the area that I'm aware of, but unfortunately they don't have the same selection Fry's did. Who knows, maybe they will pull a Sears and keep a few stores open.

agree my Frys is nothing i cant even get can air so i get it on line its sad but whats nest best buy

As a current employee I can tell you... Yes very soon

Altex still has their Carrollton location, drive past it all the time. The Frys in Garland should have died off years ago as should have Frys/Plano and let Harbor Freight take that building instead of them building a new one. The channel Retail Archaeology just did a video on Frys expressing the same demise.

So sad to see them go. I build 2-3 gaming pc’s from scratch there and bought many upgrades for those pc’s there too. Spent hours looking at mechanical keyboards, cases, gpu’s, etc. they even price matched Newegg and amazon! There is nothing like going to a “candy” store and looking around... ugh how could we let this happen...

I used to go to the one in Irving,TX in the 2000s a lot, I bought my Wii, my first plasma TV, my first Blu-ray player, my first 3D tv, I built my first PC from parts bought from there. I recently went looking to buy some Blu-ray movies and unsurprisingly the aisle labeled "Blu-ray movies" was filled with school supplies. It saddens me seeing it die out like this. Guess it be will nothing but memories now.

Sad to see that, Arlington is my home town store, gonna miss it!

Was in the Arlington store yesterday and was able to walk right up to the single register they had opened. The store looked for the most part bare inside, no where near the stock they use to carry. I'd say the writing is on the wall and it says closing soon.

Fry's is closing all of their stores tonight 2/23.

Aww, sad to hear this. Going to miss the Frys in South Arlington. I knew it was the Arlington Frys just from the picture on this video. Been there soooo many times over the years. Just so sad 😔Thank you for this video though.

The Burbank, California store has very little inventory, looks like a Ghost store!.

Frys always had issues 4/5 products I've bought from them I had to return do to missing parts or not working. Glad micro center is just 20 minutes away

Woodland Hills, CA and Burbank, CA looking like sad puppies. Fry's was a great place for components. One evening, I decided to snap bigger memory sticks into my desktop PC. Where'd I go? Fry's. Plenty of stock and lowest price. Win-win.

Amazon is going to take over those warehouses for sure those are big warehouses

Their buildings are way too big for the margins they got. Even if they price matched with online, they couldn't make up for it due to heavy payroll and high rent.

The one in Arlington is now worse then it was in August. Such a heartbreak. I loved shopping there

Goodness me ....sad, sad vid. What you say is bang on. Also thank you for putting this vid out/uploading it. You're documenting history.

The signs in the back say that they price match competitors. I don't see what the problem is, I only buy things that can be sold on Amazon.

Back in the day, the lines at Fry's were a hundred deep. But who knew that all those people were purchasing a way to buy from places other than Fry's. Rather ironic.

Retail will survive IF the companies give a shit about their customers. Fry's never did.

The Fremont, CA location is the same way. I went in there to buy a PC case, and they only had slim pickings of maybe 15 different ones. There used to be an aisle of 100 of them two years ago. All of the aisles look as sparse as yours.

Yep.. Here in Phx they were not back filling inventory over 10mo. ago.

Reasons why Fry's should go out of business. Cleaned out their DVD section and replaced it with "As seen on TV" and perfume. They advertised items - first day of sale they would tell me they were sold out. Really? I live five minutes from the store and would be there at store opening - with like one other person. I attempted to order sale items on line. Every store out of stock. Why advertise it if you don't have it. Then they stopped sending out ads. Then I forgot they exist. Better run down to my local (Phoenix, AZ) store and see what it looks like...

I haven't been in the back room, but we are now 3 weeks after Christmas and their Chicago store is always busy. I will visit their store in Chicago this weekend and let you know.

Last time I was in store a few months ago I could tell the difference in inventory compared to the year before.

The torch is cool... Sorry to hear about Frys. Very hard situation for the employees.

I worked at the one in Phoenix and their power bill alone was about 54k a month. I hated working for frys after my 2nd year. Lasted 6 years.

We went to the Austin, Texas one yesterday. Seeing the same thing there. The workers are told they are remaining open, but nothing is being restocked. :( Very sad as we always loved shopping there for computer parts. Went there to look at their printer/scanner/copier and the only one we could see was one just one upgrade to the one we had already. Just really sad. :(

I went into arlington yesterday .. just needed a cpl sticks of Ram. Employee said he hadn't heard anything about closing... but said that they hadn't gotten a shipment delivered in Months.. but had no clue.. sad but not a surprise.. All items seemed to be reconditioned and the staff never had anything but the basic knowledge of what they were in charge of. No sales.. just an empty store.. At least we have a microcenter in DFW.. an hour away but a great computer store.

I've shopped a lot at both the Arlington store you visited and the Irving store. Irving is similar. I went there to shop for a new phone recently. They used to have a great aisle with all the current models o display. All they had were a few security sealed boxes on a peg rack. I ended up going a few doors over to Best Buy, where I was able to look at and buy the model I was interested in. I'm going to be in California next week. Just out on of morbid curiosity, I may go by the San Marcos Fry's to see if it's in the same state.

I remember when this store was an Incredible Universe. They were the only one I could find who sold TG-16 and Turbo Duo games when they were no longer available everywhere. The movie rooms were cool too. If you can still go over to the old entrance (on the inside) and look up, you can see remnants of the old light television rigging and huge ass speaker stacks.

I've been visiting the Plano location for many years, and I will admit I've seen slightly less amounts of people in the store. I'm really hoping they'll pull through.

I hadn’t been to Fry’s in awhile, but I went to the one in San Diego last Saturday to look for micro SDs. It was 8pm and the parking lot was practically empty; they’re open until 9pm. I walked in and it was a bit surreal. There were more employees in the store than customers and there were only a handful of them. MANY of the shelves were empty or nearly empty and there weren’t any computers out on the tables or shelves like there used to be. They were completely out of micro SD cards and the salesperson said he didn’t know when they’d get more in. I felt kind of bad asking him after I got home and started finding videos and articles about the situation. Pretty sad.

A lot of the water and stuff was added and taken down in the last week. That's nuts. Me and my dad stopped in that store last weekend. We were wondering what was up. The sales guy gave me some line about being low on stock at the moment due to changing up the store.

The Fremont, CA store is emptying out. It has very few staff and very few customers. I remember the place was jam packed on weekends in the mid 1990s. I will be sad to see it go.

The store almost looks like the last Circuit City I went into!