D
David L. Jones
Guest
For those interested in what "DSE type" electronics mega stores are
like in the US...
I just got back from the US and snapped a few photos on my camera
phone of one the famous Fry's Electronics stores. This is the new
Fry's store at San Marcos in Southern California, and it has an
Atlantis like underwater theme.
See photos here:
http://www.alternatezone.com/stuff/frys/
The store itself is absolutely gigantic, and is one really big open
warehouse. Would have to be maybe 100 times the floor area of a
typical DSE mega store. Very similar to DSE in terms of stuff for
sale, but on a much bigger scale. Everything from hobby and
professional electronics bits, to computers (fully custom built on
site to order), and all the usual consumer goods like TV's, DVD's,
CD's, books, and even a full range of white goods. The comsumer/white
goods took up most of the store of course.
They had a few home entertainment demonstration rooms as well.
There is a huge cafe/restaurant in the middle surrounded with giant
fish tanks for walls, very impressive.
As far as components goes, they use the old fashioned Tandy type
blister pack system. So you can buy your two resistors or one
capacitor in a pack for a dollar. Full range of professional/hobby
test gear on offer through to $10000 high end scopes.
One of the funniest things was the checkout, you are forced down a
maybe 50m long corridor complete with the obligatory tempting
"checkout goods" (candy, electronics gizmos etc). Then you wait in
turn for one of the 30 or so available checkouts!
Prices weren't particularly cheap on most stuff.
The Fry's in Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley is not as well themed as the
new San Marcos store, but still just as big.
A very interesting visit indeed!
Dave.
like in the US...
I just got back from the US and snapped a few photos on my camera
phone of one the famous Fry's Electronics stores. This is the new
Fry's store at San Marcos in Southern California, and it has an
Atlantis like underwater theme.
See photos here:
http://www.alternatezone.com/stuff/frys/
The store itself is absolutely gigantic, and is one really big open
warehouse. Would have to be maybe 100 times the floor area of a
typical DSE mega store. Very similar to DSE in terms of stuff for
sale, but on a much bigger scale. Everything from hobby and
professional electronics bits, to computers (fully custom built on
site to order), and all the usual consumer goods like TV's, DVD's,
CD's, books, and even a full range of white goods. The comsumer/white
goods took up most of the store of course.
They had a few home entertainment demonstration rooms as well.
There is a huge cafe/restaurant in the middle surrounded with giant
fish tanks for walls, very impressive.
As far as components goes, they use the old fashioned Tandy type
blister pack system. So you can buy your two resistors or one
capacitor in a pack for a dollar. Full range of professional/hobby
test gear on offer through to $10000 high end scopes.
One of the funniest things was the checkout, you are forced down a
maybe 50m long corridor complete with the obligatory tempting
"checkout goods" (candy, electronics gizmos etc). Then you wait in
turn for one of the 30 or so available checkouts!
Prices weren't particularly cheap on most stuff.
The Fry's in Sunnyvale in Silicon Valley is not as well themed as the
new San Marcos store, but still just as big.
A very interesting visit indeed!
Dave.