Seeking arcane components in the Bat Cave of Aero Drive. Rated ★★☆☆☆
Okay, fine, I’m an addict. I come here all the time. I love the place. But this review is for this visit only.
My latest quest demanded that I seek out some arcane obsolete technology — circuit board header pins, and other misc techie stuff. My courage steeled, I entered, weaving through the disgruntled return line (why is this the first place you walk through?). I made my way past the optical drives, batteries, software, light bulbs, measuring devices, hard drive enclosures, took a left through the hard drive and motherboard mess, and into the lost cavern of “electronic components.”
The lighting in this store comes from what appear to be parking lot lights, very high above on the ceiling. Not sure if they’ve never changed the bulbs, or they’ve got them turned down — but despite the fact that there appear to be enough up there to light a baseball stadium, the whole place is half-dim. And once you get to the aisles — that have “toppers” with overstock merchandise above blocking out any remaining light — it occurred to me that the missing theme of this Fry’s must be “the bat cave.”
My advice: the minute you walk in the door, grope your way to the flashlight section. Load up on the ones you can turn on through the tamper-proof packages. Maybe strap a few to your cart. Now as you gather your items you’ll at least have some vague idea what it is you’re buying. You may also encounter children and foreigners whose eyes have evolved like moles in the dim twilight.
In the end I obtained the non-precious objects I required, and fought orcs, gnomes, trolls, and guys in white short-sleeved business shirts through the minotaur maze of the checkout line. I easily won the minigame of spot the open cashier before the spotter does.
“Did-you-find-everything-you-needed?” the checker monotoned.
NO. I couldn’t see a freaking thing because the lights are too dark. Can you tell a manager?
“Uh, yeah, it is dark. (shrug).”
Somehow I don’t think the message is going to get back to the manager.