Silicon Valley finally has a big electronics retailer again: Micro Center opens

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Return of a big-box electronics store to Silicon Valley

  • Many are surprised it took years after Fry’s closed for Silicon Valley to get another large electronics retailer.
  • The new Micro Center is seen as a “middle ground” between Best Buy and small shops like Central Computer.
  • Some note Fry’s had effectively declined long before closure: fewer parts/tools, more generic gadgets, inventory issues, and a failed consignment model.

Who actually needs local hardware?

  • One thread questions whether cloud-centric startups and laptop-heavy workplaces justify such a store.
  • Responses mention: home gaming rigs, local LLM experimentation, Linux boxes, and hobbyists as key customers.
  • Some argue cloud and game streaming are cheaper than owning powerful rigs; others accept higher cost for control and ownership.

Enthusiast and maker appeal

  • Micro Center is praised for:
    • PC components and small-business machines.
    • Large 3D printing section, custom water-cooling aisle, and maker boards (Arduino, ESP8266, Adafruit/SparkFun).
    • A modest but valued aisle of components, tools, soldering gear, and test equipment.
  • Critics say it’s mostly “plug-and-play” consumer hardware, not a true electronics-parts destination like surplus/parts stores (Anchor, Sayal, etc.).

Comparisons: Fry’s, Radio Shack, Newegg, Amazon, others

  • Many reminisce about Fry’s, WeirdStuff, Haltek, and other surplus stores; note the cultural void they left.
  • Micro Center is framed as what Radio Shack “should have become.”
  • Newegg is widely seen as having deteriorated into a messy marketplace; Amazon is convenient but distrusted for counterfeits, mixed inventory, and “new” open-box parts.
  • B&H and other specialty retailers are mentioned as online alternatives, with mixed views on ethics and service.

Service, pricing, and retail economics

  • Micro Center staff are described as numerous, knowledgeable, and commission-driven; some report genuine money-saving advice, others are annoyed by aggressive warranties and scripted interactions.
  • The chain price-matches Amazon, which surprises some given brick-and-mortar overhead; others point out they recoup margin on other items and that few customers actually request matches.
  • Several comments dig into thin retail net margins vs higher gross margins, sales tax arbitrage, and why large, inventory-heavy PC stores remain rare.

Geography and scarcity

  • People in Seattle, LA proper, New England, and elsewhere lament the lack of nearby stores, while longtime customers in Ohio, Virginia, Chicago, and Massachusetts share decades of positive experiences.
  • There’s speculation that high real estate costs and niche demand limit broader expansion, even in tech hubs.