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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                 FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

         This FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT entered into as of
May 14, 1999, between ROBERDS, INC., an Ohio corporation with its principal
executive offices at 1100 East Central Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45449-1888 (the
"BORROWER") and BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC., a Delaware corporation with an
address of 40 Broad Street, Boston 02109 (the "AGENT") as agent for the ratable
benefit of "LENDERS", who are, at present, those financial institutions
identified on the signature pages of this First Amendment to Loan and Security
Agreement ("Agreement") and who in the future are those Persons (if any) who
become "Lenders" in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.21 of that
certain Loan and Security Agreement by and between the Lenders and the Borrower
dated as of March 3, 1999 (the "Loan Agreement").

WHEREAS, the Lenders established a revolving line of credit pursuant to the Loan
Agreement for Borrower respecting which Lenders agreed to lend to Borrower upon
Borrower' request, but subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Loan
Agreement, up to Thirty Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($30,000,000.00).

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested the Lenders to amend the Borrowing Base to
permit advances against credit card receivables as set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms, and conditions in this Agreement, the Lenders are
willing to modify the terms of the Loan Agreement as set forth herein. NOW
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the Lenders and the Borrower mutually agree as
follows:

1. DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms used herein shall have the same
meaning as set forth in the Loan Agreement, unless otherwise defined herein.

2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent
of an original executed copy of this Agreement signed by the Borrower and
Lenders and a fully executed Notice and Account Settlement Agreement with GE
Capital Consumer Card Co. in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its
sole discretion.

3. MODIFICATIONS TO LOAN AGREEMENT.

                    (a)  The definition of "ACCEPTABLE FEDERAL TAX REFUND" shall
                         be deleted from Article 1 of the Loan Agreement.

                    (b)  The definition of "FEDERAL TAX REFUND" shall be deleted
                         from Article 1 of the Loan Agreement.

                    (c)  The definition of "IRS" shall be deleted from Article 1
                         of the Loan Agreement.

                    (d)  The definition of "REFUND ADVANCE RATE" shall be
                         deleted from Article 1 of the Loan Agreement.

                    (e)  The definition of "TRIPARTY AGREEMENT" shall be deleted
                         from Article 1 of the Loan Agreement.

                    (f)  Section 2.1(e) of the Loan Agreement shall be deleted.

                    (g)  The words "and the Federal Tax Refund" shall be deleted
                         from the end of the first sentence in Section 4.24(c)
                         of the Loan Agreement.

                    (h)  The following definitions shall be inserted in Article
                         I of the Loan Agreement: "ACCEPTABLE CREDIT CARD
                         ACCOUNTS": Such of the Borrower's Accounts which are
                         receivables from credit card processors that are
                         outstanding no more than five (5) days from the date of
                         purchase by the retail consumer, as Lender in its sole
                         discretion from time to time determines to be
                         acceptable for borrowing, as to which Accounts, the
                         Agent has a perfected security interest which is prior
                         to and superior to all security interests, claims and
                         all Encumbrances." "CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS ADVANCE RATE":
                         Seventy five Percent (75%).

                    (i)  The text of Section 2.1(b)(ii)(B) of the Loan Agreement
                         shall be deleted and re-



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          placed with the following:

             "(B)      is the result of the following:

                  (I)   The Inventory Advance Rate of the Cost of Acceptable
                        Inventory (net of Inventory Reserves).

                  Plus

                  (II)  The Credit Card Accounts Advance Rate of the Acceptable
                        Credit Card Accounts up to a maximum of Two Million Two
                        Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,200,000.00).

                  Minus

                  (III) The then aggregate of the Availability Reserves."

     (j)  A new Section 5.5 shall be inserted into the Loan Agreement which
          reads as follows:
          "5.5 Accounts Receivable Aging Reports. As Agent may request from time
          to time, Borrower shall provide the Agent with original counterparts
          of an Accounts Receivable Aging certified as to the accuracy thereof
          by any one of the following persons: President, Treasurer, Chief
          Financial Officer, or Controller of Borrower."

     (k)  The text of Section 6.5 of the Loan Agreement shall be deleted and
          replaced with the following: "6.5 NOTIFICATION TO ACCOUNT DEBTORS AND
          OTHER ACCOUNTS COVENANTS.
          (a) The Borrower shall notify the Agent promptly of any event or
          circumstance which, to the Borrower's knowledge would cause the Agent
          to consider any then existing Accounts as no longer constituting
          Acceptable Credit Card Accounts.
          (b) The Agent shall have the right at any time or times, in the
          Agent's name or in the name of a nominee of the Agent, to verify the
          validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Account or other
          Collateral, by mail, telephone, facsimile transmission or otherwise.
          (c) The Agent may, at any times that a Suspension Event exists or has
          occurred and is continuing, take whatever action the Agent may deem
          necessary or desirable for the protection of its interests.

4.   AMENDMENT TO BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE. Exhibit 5-4 to the Loan Agreement
     shall be deleted and replaced with the form of Borrowing Base Certificate
     attached hereto as EXHIBIT 5-4.

5.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants
     to the Lenders as follows:

     (a)  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES: NO EVENT OF DEFAULT. The
          representations and warranties herein, in the Loan Agreement and in
          each other Loan Document and certificate or other writing delivered to
          Agent pursuant to the Loan Agreement on or prior to the Effective Date
          of this Agreement shall be correct and accurate as to the Borrower on
          and as of the Effective Date of this Agreement as though made on and
          as of such date; and no Default or Event of Default shall have
          occurred and be continuing as of the Effective Date of this Agreement
          or would result from this Agreement becoming effective in accordance
          with its terms.

     (b)  ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING, ETC. The Borrower (i) is a corporation,
          duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
          of its state of organization, (ii) has all requisite power and
          authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and to
          perform the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and (iii) is duly
          qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
          in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in
          which the transaction of its business makes such qualification
          necessary.

     (c)  AUTHORIZATION, ETC. The execution, delivery and performance by the
          Borrower of this Agreement, and the performance by the Borrower of the
          Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, (i) have been duly authorized by
          all necessary action, (ii) do not



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               and will not contravene the Borrower's charter or by-laws, any
               applicable law or any contractual restriction binding on or
               otherwise affecting it or any of its properties, (iii) do not and
               will not result in or require the creation of any lien or other
               encumbrance (other than pursuant to any Loan Documents) upon or
               with respect to any of its properties, and (iv) do not and will
               not result in any suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture
               or nonrenewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval
               applicable to its operations or any of its properties.

          (d)  GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS. No authorization or approval of other
               action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental
               authority or agency or other regulatory body is required in
               connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by
               the Borrower of this Agreement, or for the performance of the
               Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

          (e)  ENFORCEABILITY OF LOAN DOCUMENTS. This Agreement, the Loan
               Agreement, as amended hereby, and each other Loan Document to
               which the Borrower is a party is a legal, valid and binding
               obligation of Borrower, enforceable against Borrower in
               accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be
               limited by or subject to any bankruptcy, insolvency,
               reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
               creditors' rights generally.

6.   MISCELLANEOUS.

          (a)  CONTINUED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS. Except as
               otherwise expressly provided herein, the Loan Agreement and the
               other Loan Documents are, and shall continue to be, in full force
               and effect and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects,
               except that on and after the date hereof (i) all references in
               the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement", "hereto", "hereof",
               "hereunder" or words of like import referring to the Loan
               Agreement shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended by this
               Agreement and (ii) all references in the other Loan Documents to
               the "Loan Agreement", "thereto", "thereof", "thereunder" or words
               of like import referring to the Loan Agreement shall mean the
               Loan Agreement as amended by this Agreement. Except as expressly
               provided herein, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of
               this Agreement shall not operate as an amendment of any right,
               power or remedy of the Lenders under the Loan Agreement or any
               other Loan Document, nor constitute an amendment of any provision
               of the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Documents.

          (b)  COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
               counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate
               counterparts (including, without limitation, by telecopy), each
               of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
               taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

          (c)  HEADINGS. Section headings herein are included for convenience of
               reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement
               for any other purpose.

          (d)  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed
               in accordance with, the law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

          (e)  COSTS AND EXPENSES. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all
               fees, costs and expenses of the Lenders (including, without
               limitation, the reasonable fees, costs and other client charges
               of legal counsel to the Lenders) in connection with the
               preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
               other related agreements, instruments and documents.

          (f)  FIRST AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT AS LOAN DOCUMENT.
               The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that this First
               Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement constitutes a "Loan
               Document" under the Loan Agreement. Accordingly, it shall be an
               Event of Default under the Loan Agreement if (i) any
               representation or warranty made by the Borrower under or in
               connection with this Agreement shall have been untrue, false or
               misleading in any material respect when made, or (ii) the
               Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or
               agreement contained in this Agreement.

          (g)  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BORROWER AND LENDERS EACH HEREBY
               IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,



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               PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR
               OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
               ACTIONS OF THE LENDERS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION,
               PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.







                                                      INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK


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         Executed under seal as of the date written above.

                           ROBERDS, INC. ("BORROWER")
                           /s/ Robert M. Wilson
                           -----------------------------------
                           By: Robert M. Wilson
                           Title: President

                           NATIONAL CITY COMMERCIAL FINANCE, INC.
                           ("LENDER")
                           /s/ Kathryn C. Ellero
                           ------------------------------------
                           By:  Kathryn C. Ellero
                           Title: Assistant Vice President

                           BANKBOSTON RETAIL FINANCE INC.
                           ("AGENT" and "LENDER")
                           /s/ Mary E. Abbott
                           ------------------------------------
                           By:  Mary E. Abbott
                           Title: Assistant Vice President

                            GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT

         For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned guarantor hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally acknowledges and confirms to the Lenders that its guaranty of
the liabilities pursuant to the Unlimited Guaranty dated as of March 3, 1999 of
the Borrower continues in full force and effect and is a valid and binding
obligation of the undersigned guarantor in accordance with its terms, and that
no defenses, offsets, claims, counterclaims exist with respect to such guaranty.

         Executed under seal as of the date written above.

                                      Guarantor:

                                      ROBERD INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
                                      /s/ Robert M. Wilson
                                      -----------------------------------
                                      Robert M. Wilson, Executive Vice President



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