Free Software at Fry's Electronics

My mom and I just got  back from Fry's Electronics in Oxnard, CA, and guess what? It wasn't crowded! It wasn't a mob scene. It did not look like a hurricane had passed through it with merchandise strewn about and sifted through, even at 5:00 p.m.! I hate crowds like most people, but my mom really wanted to check out the Black Friday deals on the LED LCD big screen TVs, so I went with her after she came home from work.  


I was shocked, to say the least, because I was expecting to see a huge, manic crowd.  I was expecting to have elbows pushing me out of the way and carts running me over in each aisle.  Lines? What lines? We didn't have to wait at all! Did everyone just go shopping at the crack of dawn or what?


I was trying to be good and not go too crazy buying things that we didn't need.  I kept my blinders on (that's what I say when I try to stay focused, shop "like a man" and get straight to business, in and out of the store, lickety split, like my husband!). 


Just when we were ready to leave, I had to make a pit stop at the restroom. And there, low and behold, in the back corner of the store was a section with a big red sign over it that said, "FREE."  I went over just to see what could possibly be free on Black Friday. My eyes quickly scanned all the software programs they had displayed. I ended up getting a typing tutorial software program for kids for $14.99 with a $15 rebate, and a Microsoft Office 2007 tutorial for $29.99 with a $30 rebate. I figured I could use a little brush up tutorial on Excel, Publishing, Outlook and Powerpoint, and it was free, so why not? The typing tutorial was made for kids, so it teaches typing through games.  My son loves computers already, and I had been looking for a typing program for him, so he could learn how to type properly on the keyboard. Now was the perfect time to pick up that software!


I know a lot of people are not big fans of rebates (and I used to get turned off by them too), but they do work and they are worth the effort.  Just make sure you always make a copy of the rebate form and the receipt for your own records. 


This was my lucky Black Friday indeed! With a little innocent window shopping, I got some surprising treats...free (well, almost free). I scored some great computer software and all I had to do was pay for the tax, essentially (oh, and a stamp to mail in the rebate). But still, that's a great deal! That's the thing about Fry's, they always seem to be giving away some kind of software free--just look for it!


Fry's is great for all your electronic needs:
http://frys.com/


Oh! I almost forgot the biggest bonus of all when you shop at Fry's: 
You get 30 days to try out whatever you buy and if you aren't satisfied or if the product is defective in any way, you can return it!* Talk about an amazing return policy! 


*This excludes DVDs, software and video games though. For those items, Fry's will only allow an exchange for the same item:


Software, Games, & DVDs
Computer software, video games, video gaming systems, audio CDs, VHS videos, and DVD videos are returnable only if unopened. Defective items will be exchanged for the exact same item only.


For Complete details regarding Fry's return policy, please follow this link:
http://www.frys.com/template/help/index/FE30/Service3/Assistance/Left_Topics/A6ReturningPurchases/#05