I’m addicted to looking at electronics stores I’ve shopped all the majors and stop in any of the minors that I run across. I’m a regular fixture in Best Buy, Circuit City and Fry’s; not to mention CompUSA, Office Max and Staples. Even Costco electronics department gets a once over from me every couple of weeks. So, why is it I love Fry’s but dislike my local Fry’s ever-so-much.

There seems to be a major difference in which Fry’s you visit. In San Diego California I’ve visited a couple that are pristine works of art. The building is immaculate, the aisle makes sense, and there is great customer service.

The one down the street from my house in Wilsonville, OR is converted from a now defunct electronics warehouse. If it weren’t for the name outside you’d never guess it was at all related to the rest of the Fry’s brand. It is plain. Ordinary. I dare say messy looking. The rhyme and reason to the merchandising is non-existent. (An observation from a long time shopper at this store. Anyone not a regular customer must be at a tremendous disadvantage.) Entire product lines are removed from their home to fill endcap-displays. And if you ask one of the myriad salespeople (who always appear to busy to be bothered with any mere mortal) they haven’t a clue where the product has been moved.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of Fry’s. They have the most potential as an electronics brand to make good on their promises to consumers shopping for electronics. Best Buy never will. Circuit City doesn’t even try. And so on. However, this eyesore in the company must not be a lone mistake in their chain. So why do they tolerate such a ridiculous abstraction of their company model?

Fry’s is one of the few electronic stores where you can actually find nearly every type of electronics and gadget known. (Okay, not quite but their selection is superior to anything you’ll find in any of the other giants of the industry.) If only they could see how close, they are to becoming the ideal for consumer electronics shoppers. A touch of greatness you’ll see if you visit a couple of the stores I’ve seen in California. If those were, the rule rather than the exception there would be no real competition left for this retail mega-chain.