bertbell
09-05-2001, 03:08 PM
Scott:
I did the same thing last week. I saw their ad for 1GHz OEM + Tyan MB for $129, so I paid a visit to the store. Nearly fell over when I saw what they wanted for a 1.4 GHz (266 OEM).
There was a San Jose Mercury News article about Fry's several years ago. The family owned a chain of grocery stores in Northern California and several other western states (started by current Fry's brothers father). Sold out to Kroger. The brothers got into computer hardware retailing in Sunnyvale, CA using grocery store marketing tactics. They sell end aisle locations to manufacturers, charge near suggested retail price on most items, and get you in the store with advertised loss leaders. The article also pointed out that they made more money per unit when you buy the cheaper no-name "insert computer add-on here" than when you buy a 'brand name'.
I did the same thing last week. I saw their ad for 1GHz OEM + Tyan MB for $129, so I paid a visit to the store. Nearly fell over when I saw what they wanted for a 1.4 GHz (266 OEM).
There was a San Jose Mercury News article about Fry's several years ago. The family owned a chain of grocery stores in Northern California and several other western states (started by current Fry's brothers father). Sold out to Kroger. The brothers got into computer hardware retailing in Sunnyvale, CA using grocery store marketing tactics. They sell end aisle locations to manufacturers, charge near suggested retail price on most items, and get you in the store with advertised loss leaders. The article also pointed out that they made more money per unit when you buy the cheaper no-name "insert computer add-on here" than when you buy a 'brand name'.