BEST COMPUTER STORE

CompUSA ("com-pu-sa" as my kids called it) never found it's way and went out of business, as did Circuit City, and Fry's Electronics is just crazy, so by default Micro Center takes the award for Best Computer Store in and around Tustin.

Yes, Fry's may have lower prices, but never estimate the value of your own time. Micro Center employees are incentivized to help you, and as a result you can find a courteous, usually knowledgeable salesperson with no effort. As a bonus, you won't run into the cattle-call check-out that is ever present at Fry's.

I have performed a personal survey, and if I have more than three items at check-out at Fry's, there is ALWAYS a problem. On one occasion the checker scanned an item, which came up at the correct price, but the description printed on the receipt (which I did not review) was wrong. I walked toward the door naively believing that I had finally checked out of Fry's with no problem, only to be accosted by the guy at the door because I had an item in my bags that was not reflected on the receipt. I was told that I would need to go back to the register to clear up the mess. After I explained that was not going to happen, it then took forever for a manager to come to the door to give his blessings to my departure.

Avoid all of this and head to Micro Center. While there, be sure to check the returns section where you can sometimes grab a great bargain. That might off-set the higher price you pay for your other items. If you are buying a computer or other higher ticket item, then it makes sense to compare the prices on-line and compare Micro Center's prices to Fry's and Best Buy. I'm not so offended by crowds that I'll pay hundreds more, but my last two computers came from Micro Center after I found that the prices were actually lower. And Micro Center's in-house PowerSpec series can be a much better value that the usual HP, Compaq, Acer. etc. (don't ever buy a Dell).