RadioShack Sucks! (Warning: Gripe Inside)

[Paul Marossy]

I know, most of us know this. I was really disappointed today, though - you can't even get a frickin' 1uF polarized electrolytic cap there anymore.  :x  :roll:

OK, I've vented.

[Connoisseur of Distortion]

polarized? as in, an ordinary electro??

[Paul Marossy]

polarized? as in, an ordinary electro??

Yes.

[vanhansen]

Weird, I just bought a punch of electro's there a few weeks ago, I think a few are 1uF but they do have the 1uF greenie chicklets.

They're my emergency stop if I need one or two parts although I get their perf board quite often.

[aron]

They have caps, but they are $1.59.

Well, one of the local stores sold me an orange drop for $4!!!!!!! :evil:

[Paul Marossy]

I'm tired of ratshack. I don't think I'm ever going back to one again.

Holy mackerel, $4.00 for an Orange Drop?! I'm surprised that they even had such a thing in the store!

[ibanezts808]

I think radio shack is slowly getting away from electronic components of our sort.  With the internet available, they are making less and less from these parts.  People don't want to pay these outrageous prices even though it is the only way they'll really see a profit due to the low movement of these kinds of items.  I don't see caps and resistors flying off the shelves at any radio shacks near me.

[vanhansen]

They have caps, but they are $1.59.

Well, one of the local stores sold me an orange drop for $4!!!!!!! :evil:

$4  :shock: HOLY CR*P!!  For a freakin cap?  That's nuts.

I'll admit, I purchased everything for the beginner project from Radio Shack with the exception of the switch and enclosure.  It got my feet wet and it worked....I'm addicted.  I'll be ordering some caps and stuff from Steve when he reopens next week.  For resistors I've been going to Fry's Electronics - strip of 100 for $1.99.  Can't beat that.  Of course they sometimes don't have the values I need but I keep checking.

[Hal]

For resistors I've been going to Fry's Electronics - strip of 100 for $1.99.  Can't beat that.  Of course they sometimes don't have the values I need but I keep checking.

um....$3 for 1000 at webtronics

[dadude]

Even the stuff they carry is mostly crap. I'm lucky to have a Fry's warehouse just a hop, skip and a jump away. They have quality parts and cheap. Not as cheap as Mouser or others online but if you’re building something on the weekend and you need it fast it's there. Even if you don't have the exact value you can always double it up in series or parallel.


:roll:

[wampcat1]

For resistors I've been going to Fry's Electronics - strip of 100 for $1.99.  Can't beat that.  Of course they sometimes don't have the values I need but I keep checking.

um....$3 for 1000 at webtronics

MAN!! I've gotta check that out -- do you have a part number handy I can reference?

Thanks,
Brian

[Paul Marossy]

My local Fry's sucks just as bad. Well... it's probably actually better than RadioShack is now.  Sometimes you can get some good deals, there- and they actually have Hammond 1590Bs and BBs there. :shock:

[vanhansen]

For resistors I've been going to Fry's Electronics - strip of 100 for $1.99.  Can't beat that.  Of course they sometimes don't have the values I need but I keep checking.

um....$3 for 1000 at webtronics

MAN!! I've gotta check that out -- do you have a part number handy I can reference?

Thanks,
Brian

Wow, that is sweet.  I don't really need 1000 resistors right now though.  I've barely used the strips I have so I'm good for a while.  Just need a few more values.

[aron]

Fry's has 1590BB for a good price last I checked (good for local).

[guitar_199]

Wayyyy back in the late 70's..... in the era of CB radio.......

I went walking into a Radio Shack to buy one of the old 4136 quad op amps.... they actually carried them.

When I walked in the store....and older gentleman behind the counter asked if he could help me find anything.  I thought.....what the heck.... saave me a minute's time.....so I asked "where are your linear IC's?".

He actually scowled.....I mean.....he put an unhappy face on..... leered at me...and said... " WE don't sell linears here!!!!   They are ILLEGAL! "

That stopped me in my tracks.

[Hal]

http://www.web-tronics.com/carfilres14w1.html

[dadude]

"My local Fry's sucks just as bad. Well... it's probably actually better than RadioShack is now.  Sometimes you can get some good deals, there- and they actually have Hammond 1590Bs and BBs there. "


Man I'm sorry for you Paul. Mine's not the greatest but it's in a semi-upscale part of town where no one builds their own stuff, they just buy it built. So it's like the whole section is all to myself. The only thing is they never reorder. Months ago I bought up their last copper board and asked when they would have more in stock. The guy said "oh this Friday they should be in", I think I get the same guy every time because the boards are still due to be in Friday!

:lol:

[catnine]

Going into radio shack for anything these days is like walking into a paint store to get electronic parts , they have almost nothing and what they do have is so old the boxes are faded yellow or open . Some of those caps are probably well past their 10 year shelf life and then some .
I don't even go in these places anylonger , it's depressing .
Try and  stand at the counter with one small item like a 12 volt fan to cool an amp , by the time the cell phone fanatics have cleared out you could have fashioned a fan from handcarved stainless steel and an old dull saltwater rust caked file .
They have knobs but go back two weeks later and you will never find a nother like the ones you just got , they change this stuff it seems monthly .

[MartyMart]

The "UK" version is Maplins .... !
Well the "Kingston" branch is OK, one guy there builds stuff and see's
me as his "number 0ne" customer  !! I even pointed him to the forum to
build a pre-amp ....
I get boxes/pots/DPDT's and the cap/resistor prices are OK for an
emergency !
They carry a fair amount of stock but never have "stereo jack sockets"..
........   EVER  !!
Last time I was in there, the guy was wanting to leave, so he didn't
charge me for : a box, two spdt switches and 10 9v clips !!!!

I get all my sockets from smallbear now, they are switchcraft, cheap and
the last order got to me in 4 days  !! ( thanks steve )

Marty.

[col]

Maplins is Ok in an emergency but they have recently discontinued some items that are quite useful. I agree on the staff, some are worse than useless 'oh no! not components', 'I'm not bagging everything individually for you' etc. while one or two can't do enough to help and know exactly what you want. I usually use internet suppliers now who know what you want and supply it quickly and cheaply. I still use my local Modern Radio who are excellent but are not re-stocking a lot of items as they run out.