would you like Fry's with that?
I live within striking distance (10..15 mi?) of four Fry's stores, and regularly visit three of them.
They do generate a bit of pressure on local prices, and help keep costs down.
I don't love nor hate any of the chains.
I buy mostly when I need something, and then I search for a deal on it.
Sometimes that'll be Fry's. Sometimes it won't.
I only buy Fry's or Staples (?) house-brand DVDs, when they are down around a nickel each (and I've gotten hundreds at those prices).
Local computer fairs (swap meets) often have better prices on blank DVDs and ink cartridges.
I pay around $25 per 100 for white/silver ProDisc printable. They are my preferred brand.
People have a thing for certain brands, and they're all at good prices, too.
For ink, the more common laser toner cartridges go for $25 and a full set of 5 inks for Epson go for about $20.
Most of the retail stores make a lot of profit on ink and toner, and are not willing to give up that margin.
Last Saturday @ Pomona show, I got two new 500gb SATA II WD drives with 16mb cache, for $85ea.
That would match a super-deal at Fry's. But they don't come along that often.
On the other hand, some of the CPU+board prices at Fry's , are below what you can get the chip for elsewhere!
One other retail store no one has mentioned is: MicroCenter.
If you have one nearby, give it a look.
A deal is a deal, even if some of their other prices are a bit high.
(Syntax 542i 42" LCD hi def TV last year this time, for $800 after $200 rebate)
For on-line shopping comparison, you can't go wrong with NewEgg and MonoPrice (cables, etc) .
