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Post by JohnJ on Feb 24, 2015 11:50:55 GMT -8
As most of you probably know, Radio Shack is going through some massive financial difficulties and is closing a lot of its stores. I popped by my local store, which is set to close later this week. It was pretty much cleaned out, but the electronics parts bin still had a lot left at 80% discount. Chances are you have a closing store near you.
Anyway, just a tip - if you're looking for resistors, LEDs, capacitors, switches, etc. there are some good deals out there. I've standardized on Radio Shack toggle switches for my control panel, and I was able to pick up a bunch of these for pennies on the dollar.
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Post by bnsf971 on Feb 24, 2015 11:55:49 GMT -8
That's good info. I didn't know things were progressing that quickly on the atore closure front.
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Post by atsfan on Feb 24, 2015 12:22:50 GMT -8
Thousands closing
But many staying open
For now anyway.....
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Post by riogrande on Feb 24, 2015 14:18:27 GMT -8
Many of the ones staying open are turning into Sprint Cell phone shops. The only RS I've been in the past couple years is in a mall nearby and I bought an Xbox Bluetooth headset for my daughter - yeah, she's cool like that! Not sure if they had electronic parts, but it might be worth a look.
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Post by MONSTERRAILROAD on Feb 24, 2015 14:40:22 GMT -8
I do not buy electronics from Radio Shack, prices are way high. The mark-up is outrageous! I do however, purchase mini soldering irons from them. I got two real nice full size soldering kits for only $7 or $14 a piece three weeks ago! I am trying to get as many as I can from these stores closing. I got the kits for more than 50% off. I am in hoarding mode for Mini Soldering irons at $7 or $14 a piece man. I always have three on hand. One at home, one in my portable Monster LED box and one in my car trunk in the event that a soldering iron craps out while I am away or at work. That was a GREAT idea because just last week my traveling mini-soldering iron crapped out but I had the extra one in my trunk so it caused no delay or issues. I now have just one extra soldering iron but I do not want to be in a position where i will have to wait after ordering one online or have to run out to a SCARCE Radio Shack to find one. Sheesh.
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Post by JohnJ on Feb 24, 2015 14:55:22 GMT -8
Monster, Waterbury is probably a haul for you but the Brass Mill Center store had a lot of soldering irons/accessories today. This store is a bit further away from closing and the deals weren't as good. The parts bin was only 50% off vs. 80%. I picked up some wire and some power supplies for the electro-luminescent tape I bought yesterday for 50 cents just to play with. Pretty cool stuff.
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Post by llxlocomotives on Feb 25, 2015 15:16:45 GMT -8
It is not clear if they will survive at all. Closings are up to 2100 stores in the US. Long ago they were a good place to get electronic stuff. I got a bunch of wire for mph first layout. The options were limited in those days. Then they seemed to waver. Bought my share of cable supplies and specialized batteries from them. However it has been several years since I was in a store. I can see that Amazon and Wall Mart are eating their lunch. The question is anyone making any money? It is sad. Change is hard. If you stop, you get run over. Similar in a lot of ways as to what is happening to LHS all over the US.
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Post by calzephyr on Feb 25, 2015 15:34:30 GMT -8
It is not clear if they will survive at all. Closings are up to 2100 stores in the US. Long ago they were a good place to get electronic stuff. I got a bunch of wire for mph first layout. The options were limited in those days. Then they seemed to waver. Bought my share of cable supplies and specialized batteries from them. However it has been several years since I was in a store. I can see that Amazon and Wall Mart are eating their lunch. The question is anyone making any money? It is sad. Change is hard. If you stop, you get run over. Similar in a lot of ways as to what is happening to LHS all over the US. Walmart and a few others seem to be doing OK, but Walmart is being attacked every day by some politician or group that would like to see them go out of business or give the government all of the profits. It is the new type of government trying to run every detail of out lives and that has never worked that well prior to this time. We were going to start a small business in our Northern California town and the cost of requesting a business license is a little over $800 just to apply. If it is accepted, the fees really start so most people just look into it and stay away or do business on the internet. You really have to be serious and invest a lot of money just to start up. I can lease a building for less money than the cost of doing business with the local city, county, state and Federal government. I have wondered recently how anyone can make a living unless they charge a great premium price to the product. Larry |
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Post by valenciajim on Feb 25, 2015 17:36:47 GMT -8
Larry--doing business in the People's Democratic Republic of California is always tough. As for Radio Shack, I don;t see them being around. I agree that their prices are high, but I like their barrier strips and the jumper strips. The time I save using them more than offsets any price differential.
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Post by Spikre on Feb 25, 2015 18:01:17 GMT -8
 the store here was rather empty a few days ago. not sure what the closing date is,but wont miss them as diodes are hated here. used to have to check shipments in,and the counts were always low,and each supplier had different rings on them,so was never sure just what value they were, or were trying to fool use into accepting the wrong trash as what we ordered. got to just putting 500 short on each shipment,manager complained,but suggested she count them,or let the board crew count them.after one more blow up over them,Quit that place and never looked back. Spikre 
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Post by atsfan on Feb 25, 2015 18:13:11 GMT -8
It is not clear if they will survive at all. Closings are up to 2100 stores in the US. Long ago they were a good place to get electronic stuff. I got a bunch of wire for mph first layout. The options were limited in those days. Then they seemed to waver. Bought my share of cable supplies and specialized batteries from them. However it has been several years since I was in a store. I can see that Amazon and Wall Mart are eating their lunch. The question is anyone making any money? It is sad. Change is hard. If you stop, you get run over. Similar in a lot of ways as to what is happening to LHS all over the US. Amazon and Wal Mart make lots of money Radio Shack is doomed. Has been for 5 years. |
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Post by valenciajim on Feb 28, 2015 16:19:57 GMT -8
Actually, it is amazing that they are still in business.
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Post by calzephyr on Mar 3, 2015 8:04:56 GMT -8
Larry--doing business in the People's Democratic Republic of California is always tough. As for Radio Shack, I don;t see them being around. I agree that their prices are high, but I like their barrier strips and the jumper strips. The time I save using them more than offsets any price differential. Jim Great thought about the People's Democratic Republic of California being tough on business, unless you pay the man!! Our wonderful leaders are trying to make it impossible to do business unless you pay dearly. I was going to check on Radio Shack to see if they had any scanners on sale while going out of business. Larry |
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Post by oldmuley on Mar 4, 2015 6:12:35 GMT -8
Radio Shack- "You're got questions, we've got blank stares"
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