[dogline]

I would drive hours to get to the nearest Fry's to me, to pick up some new gear. Being able to browse everything and look around was great. For me, online ordering of parts probably hurt Fry's, but the real reason was after a while, you were never sure if the video card you were buying was new, or actually a return item, and after a couple times having to drive all the way back for something that was missing parts, the whole thing just seemed way too risky. Amazon and Newegg nailed that door shut.

[fallinghawks]

I remember when the place started to go. It had been Mecca for all the components and switches and tools, and fun to visit. Then shelves were no longer full and as time went on, sported increasingly wide gaps. Toward the end, far more shelf than product. And the packages, as you said - there were always a few that were obviously previously opened, retaped sloppily, sometimes having a returned-item sticker. I don't recall if the returns were a lower price. It was depressing and I stopped going. I think I went to a closing sale but there was nothing I wanted.