Things moving too slowly for you in Cyberland? Thinking about upgrading? Not sure where to start? We give a rundown of the available options and offer advice that will help you select equipment that will suit your needs. We also give you ratings of area stores for quality and price.

Read our article and findings (available exclusively to CHECKBOOK subscribers)

Back to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.

Sample Subscriber Comments/Reviews About Computer Stores

CHECKBOOK provides subscriber comments on their experiences with the firms they use. Please remember that individual subscriber comments are informal. Subscriber comments may give you insight into the types of features and problems that exist in a service field, but are not the best basis for selecting or rejecting a specific firm. To assess the quality of a firm's performance, we recommend that you give more weight to the percentages of favorable ratings. Those percentages are generally based on much larger numbers of consumers' ratings (the number of consumer ratings is noted above).

As You Can See Below, Some Computer Stores Get High Praise from Their Customers. Some Others Don't. So Choose Carefully.
Here Are a Few Samples of the Thousands of Comments CHECKBOOK Has Collected on Hundreds of Different Computer Stores.

• Subscriber from SANTA CRUZ, CA wrote Another Store: I'd love to find a well-stocked Apple store that was not a noisy mob scene..........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Outstanding return policy (2 years with receipt). Very helpful, very knowledgeable........
• Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote Another Store: Their "Geek Squad" computer service (they come to your home to install hardware) is not..........
• Subscriber from SANTA CLARA, CA wrote Another Store: No one should ever expect Fry's to be more than a convenient location for many..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: Several times we have submitted rebates and they were not honored - they actually lied..........
• Subscriber from PLEASANT HILL, CA wrote Another Store: very professional and helpful. In contrast to Apple Corp., they provide free telephone support over..........
• Subscriber from SAN RAFAEL, CA wrote Another Store: Apple's policies and practices for instructing users in using Apple products could use some improvement........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: A good place to shop if you know exactly what you want. Their prices are..........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Prices of sale items are very good. Non-sale prices are high........
• Subscriber from SAN RAFAEL, CA wrote Another Store: Best computer store in San Francisco Bay Area........
• Subscriber from EL CERRITO, CA wrote Another Store: The biggest secret of Apple's stellar service is their Genius Bar at every store. What..........
• Subscriber from CASTRO VALLEY, CA wrote Another Store: Love Apple products. Problem with this store is that it is always very crowded. It..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: Very helpful in providing information so that I could make a decision to purchase a..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: I only go to Fry's under sedation........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: DO NOT go to Fry's looking for experts on the sales items. They are most..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Best to buy stuff when it's on sale. (Hint: get the Sunday paper on Saturday.)..........
• Subscriber from SANTA CLARA, CA wrote Another Store: You need to know what you want before going to Fry's. Research your products (HW..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: Most wonderful! Very Very knowledgeable. Will bend over backwards to support customers and purchases. We..........
• Subscriber from EL GRANADA, CA wrote Another Store: The service is superior to any other I have experienced........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: geek squad is just O K.......
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: These folks are okay. But it's not their goal to be complete, and you never..........
• Subscriber from SAN BRUNO, CA wrote Another Store: Some prices superior, espcially on "specials". Almost always "Free after rebate" major barnd Antivirus and..........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Where else will you find such a choice of products. Sales prices are very good........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: the lack of a simple cash register makes every visit an adventure in checkout..........
• Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote Another Store: This is a Window's only store but you might find some Unix or Mac items..........
• Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote Another Store: I like them because they are an independent (as opposed to chain) store. The staff..........
• Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote Another Store: There's a surprising amount of stuff for overclockers and tweakers in there. You'd probably get..........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: Poor customer service is a Fry's trademark.......
• Subscriber from CAMPBELL, CA wrote Another Store: uninformed clerks - inadequate training -.......
• Subscriber from MENLO PARK, CA wrote Another Store: This flagship apple store is a great place to look at new apple products. It..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: I have Procare which allows me to have coaching sessions and help with downloading, upgrades,..........
• Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote Another Store: Because they specialize in used computers, there is a lot of variety in equipment there........
• Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote Another Store: Don't shop here unless you have an idea what you want. Generally, asking a salesperson..........
• Subscriber from MILLBRAE, CA wrote Another Store: "Superior" is what you expect and receive with a Mac.......
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: Genius bar is very helpful. Helped fix HW and SW problems quickly........
• Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote Another Store: Fry's is a store that if you want to just buy the merchadise they are..........
• Subscriber from HERCULES, CA wrote Another Store: TYPICAL BIG BOX STORE IN EVERY RESPECT; IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT THEY PROBABLY..........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: I like Apple products (I'm writing this review on one right now), but I can't..........
• Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote Another Store: If only Aapples were less expensive.......
• Subscriber from NOVATO, CA wrote Another Store: Great neighborhood Mac shop. Very helpful........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Genious bar offers good service but can be a hassle to have to make an..........
• Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote Another Store: Big store with lots of variety, but I try to shop elsewhere........
• Subscriber from CUPERTINO, CA wrote Another Store: another bunch of clowns.......
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Can't rate #6 On-line purchase........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: I get an annual tune-up on my computer here........
• Subscriber from WALNUT CREEK, CA wrote Another Store: Fry's is the best store of its kind--and has saved me hundreds of dollars by..........
• Subscriber from SAN MATEO,, CA wrote Another Store: Highly recommend........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Nice mall store, with friendly staff. It took a little while to have them get..........
• Subscriber from SAN CARLOS, CA wrote Another Store: It is a pleasure to go into the store........
• Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote Another Store: Far better than their SF branch........