[ale] Field trip report: Fry's - CB version

[Christopher Bergeron]

Hey guys - I actually made my first trip to Fry's today.  Following on 
this thread's theme - I figured I'd post my observations, etc.

It was pretty hefty trek from Canton, but well worth the time.  My first 
impression of the place "wow, this place is big".  As I found the 
electronics stuff (my favorite section) I had a childlike giddyness.  
It's a great store.

I was kind of bummed that they didn't carry a very commonly used IC (a 
max232) and that all the low level electronic components they carry are 
cross-referenced NTE parts (that you have to look up in a catalog); but 
aside from that I had a great time.

I spent over 2 hours looking around the place.  I found many bargains 
($1.00 for a pack of X-Acto blades), but I also found a few price 
discrepancies.  I bought 2 iPod Dock/Firewire/USB cables.  The 
discrepancy was that some of them were labeled $9.90 and some were 
$19.95.  Obviously, I bought 2 of the $9.90 ones because I figured I was 
getting a deal.

Overall, it was a fun time, and it lived up to the hype.  I just wish 
traffic wasn't so bad in that area.

My recommendation for first time visitors: 
a) Get a shopping cart at the door - it will save you from having to 
find one when your arms are full.
b) If you're coming up 85, stay in the outside (rightmost) lane and take 
your first right (or any of the mall entrances).  I was so concerned 
with the traffic that I missed the first right turn (that Mapquest) 
recommended.  It comes up quickly.  As I made a U-Turn and realized that 
I couldn't turn left on the street I was trying to get to, I was forced 
to sit in I-85-meets-exit-ramp-traffic again, and had to make another 
U-Turn.  It wasn't until I got to Fry's that I realized that I could've 
just taken any of mall entrances and followed them around Ring Street 
over to Frys.

Long story short, Ring Street circles the Mall, so if you miss the 
street that Mapquest, etc. recommend, just pull into the mall entrance 
and you'' get there.

Cheers,
-CB