> Why do you suggest that Fry's is "effectively stealing from the
general
> public."
Fry's has several "policies" in place (or used to, I haven't been in
that crap-hole for years) that fall under that category.
They have shrink-wrap machines at every location and often re-wrap
returns to re-sell as new - even those reported as defective by the
customer returning them! (Hearsay from an ex-employee followed up by
observing stacks of items that, to me anyway, were obviously re-wrapped)
They deliberately make returns difficult so that people who buy recycled
junk often won't bother to try getting their money back. If they do,
the item's usually just head back to the shelves anyway. (Again, told
to me by an ex-employee who I consider reliable)
I remember purchasing RAM for an old P-III there once. The first SIMMS
were bad so I brought them back. They tossed them on a tester at the
returns desk (which took 45 minutes to get to) and told me "Yup, they're
bad." Not one, not two, not even three, but ALL FOUR that I purchased
were defective. The returns clerk put them in a large parts bin already
full of similar items and, I'm fairly certain, eventually put that bin
back in the stock area. I asked if I could do an exchange and test the
replacements before I left and was told that store policy prohibited
that. . . !!!
I consider those things to be theft.
The fact that I haven't met a Fry's employee who wasn't a drooling idiot
(my friend was obviously too bright for the place! :) and the fact that
the store always seemed to be out of the single thing you came in for
always bothered me as well.
One fun thing to try, by the way: When the Fry's bonehead at the guarded
exit tries to search your bag, just walk on by. As it turns out they
can't legally search your property (which the bag is the moment you pay
for it) unless they have some reasonable belief that you are stealing.
If they don't have this and detain you it is the equivalent of false
arrest.
I'm not alone, by the way:
http://www.nonmundane.org/~dspisak/frys/frys.html
http://www.accesscom.com/~dave6592/
http://billzhouse.com/rants/frys.html
http://www.doofus.org/frys/ ("What Fry's won't tell you is that you do
not have to let them inspect your bags. In fact, it is illegal for Fry's
to detain you to search your property without first charging you with
shoplifting.")
http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/05/cov_21feature2.html ("And
the horror stories are not just anecdotal. Most of Fry's Silicon Valley
stores have "unsatisfactory" records with the Santa Clara Better
Business Bureau for not responding to complaints -- although they do
appear to resolve complaints reported to the Santa Clara County district
attorney.")
The list goes on, I just wish Fry's wouldn't.
Erik Klein
www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum
The Vintage Computer Forum
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Mail List
Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 9:40 PM
To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: goin to CA soon, to be a CC tychoon
Erik,
Why do you suggest that Fry's is "effectively stealing from the general
public."
At 03:42 PM 6/7/03 -0700, you wrote:
>The CHM just opened this past Monday and now conducts tours of "visible
>storage" on Wednesday afternoons and every other Saturday (First and
>Third, I think). I've got some pictures from the grand opening up on
>Vintage-computer at http://www.vintage-computer.com/chmopenhouse.shtml.
>
>Fry's is to be avoided as is any organization that makes it's living
>effectively stealing from the general public. :)
>
>The Weird Stuff Warehouse is always fun, especially the "as-is" area
out
>back.
>
>The Tech museum in San Jose and the Metreon in San Francisco are worth
a
>visit.
>
>Enjoy your trip!
>
> Erik Klein
> www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum
> The Vintage Computer Forum
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-admin_at_classiccmp.org]
>On Behalf Of Eric Chomko
>Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 7:56 AM
>To: cctalk_at_classiccmp.org
>Subject: goin to CA soon, to be a CC tychoon
>
>Seriously folks, I am going on a two week trip to sunny California
later
>this month and trying to find a couple of interesting stops that might
>have something to do with classic computers. I'll be starting in San
>Francisco and ending up in Los Angeles.
>
>I plan a trip through Silicon Valley with a stop at NASA Ames. Anyone
>have their schedule for the classic computer museum? Any other "must
>see" places along the way? Does CHAC have a museum? Damn, just went to
>the CHAC web site. Last updated in 11-12-1997?!? Now THAT is classic!!
I
>just gave um an earful
>(politely).
>
>Anyway, any suggestions that would bore my wife and daughter but make
me
>happy is welcome (hey, they get DisneyLand and Hollywood!)
Received on Sun Jun 08 2003 - 00:41:00 BST