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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Who Rates Best (& Worst) in the San Francisco Bay Area? Now You'll Know.

Computer Stores

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.

From Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Magazine

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

Back to Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK Table of Contents.



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Name Number of ratings Checkbook's top rating () What percent of customers rated firm "superior" on our survey for "overall quality" Firm's price index score
for quality for price
1. Aim Computers
1819 Willow Pass Rd
Concord, CA
925-687-2822
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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2. Alameda Business Machines
2309 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA
510-522-4921
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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3. Apple Store
All locations combined

514 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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4. Apple Store
925 Blossom Hill Rd #1541
San Jose, CA
408-362-4930
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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5. Apple Store
23 N Santa Cruz Ave
Los Gatos, CA
408-399-3880
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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6. Apple Store
Valley Fair Mall
Santa Clara, CA
408-551-2150
101 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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7. Apple Store
3251 20th Ave
San Francisco, CA
415-242-7890
11 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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8. Apple Store
1 Stockton St
San Francisco, CA
415-392-0202
30 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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9. Apple Store
1516 Redwood Hwy
Corte Madera, CA
415-927-5820
19 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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10. Apple Store
5664 Bay St
Emryville, CA
510-658-8700
71 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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11. Apple Store
180 El Camino Real #F183
Palo Alto, CA
650-330-2430
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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12. Apple Store
1301 Burlingame Ave
San Mateo, CA
650-340-1167
25 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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13. Apple Store
451 University Ave
Palo Alto, CA
650-617-9000
130 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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14. Apple Store
1072 Santa Rosa Plz
Santa Rosa, CA
707-521-3100
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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15. Apple Store
1129 S Main St
Walnut Creek, CA
925-210-2020
41 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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16. Apple Store
1352 Stoneridge Mall Rd
Pleasanton, CA
925-227-2790
12 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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17. Art Mulitmedia Systems
56 S Abel St
Milpitas, CA
408-946-7852
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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18. Best Buy
All locations combined

498 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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19. Best Buy
3090 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA
408-241-6040
10 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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20. Best Buy
760 E El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA
408-738-8680
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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21. Best Buy
63 Ranch Ave
Milpitas, CA
408-942-0201
38 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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22. Best Buy
5065 Almaden Expy
San Jose, CA
408-979-1591
28 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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23. Best Buy
700 Du Bois St
San Rafael, CA
415-256-1398
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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24. Best Buy
180 Donahue St
Sausalito, CA
415-332-6529
29 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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25. Best Buy
2675 Geary Blvd #300
San Francisco, CA
415-409-4960
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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26. Best Buy
1717 Harrison St
San Francisco, CA
415-626-9682
20 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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27. Best Buy
3700 Mandela Pkwy
Emeryville, CA
510-420-0323
18 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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28. Best Buy
31350 Courthouse Dr
Union City, CA
510-441-2130
26 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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29. Best Buy
1490 Fitzgerald Dr
Pinole, CA
510-758-0112
29 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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30. Best Buy
1751 E Bayshore Rd
Palo Alto, CA
650-321-1918
11 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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31. Best Buy
1127 Industrial Rd
San Carlos, CA
650-622-0050
69 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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32. Best Buy
200 Colma Blvd
Colma, CA
650-756-8711
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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33. Best Buy
1547 Gateway Blvd
Fairfield, CA
707-432-1330
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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34. Best Buy
1950 Santa Rosa Ave
Santa Rosa, CA
707-545-1078
16 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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35. Best Buy
1182 Admiral Callaghan Ln
Vallejo, CA
707-648-3788
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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36. Best Buy
4405 Century Blvd
Pittsburg, CA
925-778-1986
22 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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37. Best Buy
4820 Dublin Blvd
Dublin, CA
925-829-7041
58 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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38. Best Buy
3260 Buskirk Ave
Pleasant Hill, CA
925-988-0256
74 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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39. Central Computer Systems
3777 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA
408-248-5888
66 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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40. Central Computer Systems
837 Howard St
San Francisco, CA
415-495-5888
22 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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41. Central Computer Systems
5990 Mowry Ave
Newark, CA
510-793-5555
23 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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42. Clickaway
457 E McGlincey Ln
Campbell, CA
408-626-9400
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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43. CompUSA
All locations combined

740 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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44. Costco Wholesale
300 Vintage Way
Novato, CA
415-899-1330
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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45. Costco Wholesale
1000 N Rengstorff Ave
Mountain View, CA
650-988-9449
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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46. D J Computers
926 San Pablo Ave
Albany, CA
510-527-7697
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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47. Dell


800-474-3355
151 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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48. Fry's Electronics
All locations combined

1377 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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49. Fry's Electronics
600 E Hamilton Ave
Campbell, CA
408-364-3700
242 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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50. Fry's Electronics
550 E Brokaw Rd
San Jose, CA
408-487-1000
116 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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51. Fry's Electronics
1077 E Arques Ave
Sunnyvale, CA
408-617-1300
288 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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52. Fry's Electronics
43800 Osgood Rd
Fremont, CA
510-252-5300
229 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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53. Fry's Electronics
340 Portage Ave
Palo Alto, CA
650-496-6000
331 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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54. Fry's Electronics
1695 Willow Pass Rd
Concord, CA
925-852-0300
66 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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55. Gateway


888-888-2075
79 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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56. General Computer Systems
3226 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA
510-208-1937
11 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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57. Mac Computer
2010 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA
510-644-0500
54 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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58. Mac Repair
7075 Redwood Blvd
Novato, CA
415-892-0888
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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59. Marin Mac Shop
1031 C St
San Rafael, CA
415-459-9380
10 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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60. Meridian Computer Systems
1584 Meridian Ave
San Jose, CA
408-979-9084
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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61. Micro Center
3255 Mission College Bldg 1
Santa Clara, CA
408-919-5400
102 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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62. Ncal Computer Source
4825 Hopyard Rd #F-18
Pleasanton, CA
925-460-0580
11 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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63. Office Depot
All locations combined

91 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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64. Office Depot
121 E El Camino Real
Sunnyvale, CA
408-746-2040
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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65. Office Depot
4360 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA
408-985-4060
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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66. Office Depot
1025 Gilman St
Berkeley, CA
510-525-0176
10 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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67. Office Depot
1933 Davis St #105
San Leandro, CA
510-633-2582
10 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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68. Office Depot
959 El Camino Real
Millbrae, CA
650-652-6700
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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69. Office Depot
910 El Monte Ave
Mountain View, CA
650-964-8249
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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70. Office Depot
1631 Challenge Dr
Concord, CA
925-689-2582
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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71. Office Depot
6440 Dublin Ct
Dublin, CA
925-803-1860
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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72. Office Max
3700 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA
415-831-1080
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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73. Pixel USA Computer
3229 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA
408-293-8333
20 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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74. R-Computer
30 Golf Club Rd #B
Pleasant Hill, CA
925-798-4884
29 ratings Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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75. Staples
1700 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA
415-771-7030
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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76. Staples
55 Rowland Way
Novato, CA
415-897-0544
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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77. Staples
4498 Treat Blvd
Concord, CA
925-609-1014
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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78. Totally Computer
4302 Redwood Hwy #300
San Rafael, CA
415-479-9980
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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79. Used Computer Store
2440 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA
510-548-8686
Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK has ratings of 48 local computer stores.
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San Francisco Bay computer stores by neighborhood
CA
Computer Stores in Alameda, CA Computer Stores in Albany, CA Computer Stores in Berkeley, CA
Computer Stores in Burlingame, CA Computer Stores in Campbell, CA Computer Stores in Colma, CA
Computer Stores in Concord, CA Computer Stores in Corte Madera, CA Computer Stores in Dublin, CA
Computer Stores in Emeryville, CA Computer Stores in Emryville, CA Computer Stores in Fairfield, CA
Computer Stores in Fremont, CA Computer Stores in Los Gatos, CA Computer Stores in Millbrae, CA
Computer Stores in Milpitas, CA Computer Stores in Mountain View, CA Computer Stores in Newark, CA
Computer Stores in Novato, CA Computer Stores in Oakland, CA Computer Stores in Palo Alto, CA
Computer Stores in Pinole, CA Computer Stores in Pittsburg, CA Computer Stores in Pleasant Hill, CA
Computer Stores in Pleasanton, CA Computer Stores in San Carlos, CA Computer Stores in San Francisco, CA
Computer Stores in San Jose, CA Computer Stores in San Leandro, CA Computer Stores in San Mateo, CA
Computer Stores in San Rafael, CA Computer Stores in Santa Clara, CA Computer Stores in Santa Rosa, CA
Computer Stores in Sausalito, CA Computer Stores in Sunnyvale, CA Computer Stores in Union City, CA
Computer Stores in Vallejo, CA Computer Stores in Walnut Creek, CA

Subscriber Comments/Reviews
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).


Subscriber from RICHMOND, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, Corte Madera, CA on 11/19/09
this is a very busy store and while prices have dropped for products, there are..........
Subscriber from OAKLAND, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, Emryville, CA on 11/15/09
Outstanding return policy (2 years with receipt). Very helpful, very knowledgeable........
Subscriber from SARATOGA, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Campbell, CA on 11/12/09
Large, busy, staff hard to find, always preoccupied, but unfortunately, the best selection of products..........
Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, San Jose, CA on 11/10/09
Fry's is a store that if you want to just buy the merchadise they are..........
Subscriber from SAN RAFAEL, CA wrote about CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, Santa Clara, CA on 10/13/09
Best computer store in San Francisco Bay Area........
Subscriber from SAN FRANCISCO, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, San Francisco, CA on 10/12/09
While Apple products are more expensive, I finally took the plunge and splurged on a..........
Subscriber from BERKELEY, CA wrote about MAC COMPUTER, Berkeley, CA on 10/03/09
Unlike any other store I tried, this one's staff knew enough to correct my misunderstanding..........
Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, Palo Alto, CA on 09/29/09
Genius bar is very helpful. Helped fix HW and SW problems quickly........
Subscriber from SAN JOSE, CA wrote about BEST BUY, San Jose, CA on 09/22/09
Tried to talk us into buying software we didn't need........
Subscriber from MENLO PARK, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, Palo Alto, CA on 09/15/09
This flagship apple store is a great place to look at new apple products. It..........
Subscriber from MENLO PARK, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Palo Alto, CA on 09/15/09
This is truly a mega store. Can sometimes find great buys. Finding knowledgeable help can..........
Subscriber from BENICIA, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Concord, CA on 09/12/09
Not forthcoming with rebate on a Cannon printer I bought. Rebate seemed to be co-sponsored..........
Subscriber from ALAMEDA, CA wrote about CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, Newark, CA on 09/09/09
Knowledgeable and helpful staff, good quality merchandise, good to great prices........
Subscriber from CONCORD, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, San Francisco, CA on 09/08/09
They were helpful, knowledgeable and courteous. I'll buy their products at this location again........
Subscriber from PALO ALTO, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, Palo Alto, CA on 08/26/09
If only Aapples were less expensive.......
Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote about MICRO CENTER, Santa Clara, CA on 08/20/09
There's a surprising amount of stuff for overclockers and tweakers in there. You'd probably get..........
Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Fremont, CA on 08/20/09
Sometimes there are sales with super low prices and that's what make Fry's worth going..........
Subscriber from MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA wrote about CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, Santa Clara, CA on 08/19/09
I'm a computer professional and build computers as a hobby. This chain (I usually use..........
Subscriber from MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Sunnyvale, CA on 08/19/09
Fry's has improved over the last 20 years, but still is notorious for uninformed sales..........
Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote about CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, Newark, CA on 08/05/09
Mom and Pop store feel with web pricing........
Subscriber from MILLBRAE, CA wrote about BEST BUY, San Carlos, CA on 08/05/09
Poorly trained, inadequately motivated staff.......
Subscriber from FREMONT, CA wrote about FRY'S ELECTRONICS, Fremont, CA on 08/05/09
Big store with lots of variety, but I try to shop elsewhere........
Subscriber from MILLBRAE, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, San Mateo, CA on 08/05/09
"Superior" is what you expect and receive with a Mac.......
Subscriber from SAN BRUNO, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, San Mateo, CA on 08/05/09
Spent three hours bringing my four year old computer back into service, no charge........
Subscriber from CASTRO VALLEY, CA wrote about APPLE STORE, Pleasanton, CA on 08/05/09
Love Apple products. Problem with this store is that it is always very crowded. It..........
See more comments at Bay Area Consumers' CHECKBOOK.







 
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