Dick Smith/Tandy why Bother ?

[Richard Freeman]

Last night I received Junk Mail from Tandy and Junk Mail from Dick Smith.
Now although I am hardly a rabid environmentalist ( I actually peruse some
Junk mail - Although I never open Spam!) it did seem a waste especially when
at least 80% of the products and Prices were exactly the same in both
Flyers.
I know DSE and Tandy are now owned by the same Company but there does seem
to be something rathe ironic and wasteful about the whole exercise.

Rearguards
Richard Freeman

 

[David L. Jones]

Last night I received Junk Mail from Tandy and Junk Mail from Dick Smith.
Now although I am hardly a rabid environmentalist ( I actually peruse some
Junk mail - Although I never open Spam!) it did seem a waste especially when
at least 80% of the products and Prices were exactly the same in both
Flyers.
I know DSE and Tandy are now owned by the same Company but there does seem
to be something rathe ironic and wasteful about the whole exercise.

Rearguards
Richard Freeman

It is a waste, why not tell them so?
Not that they'd probably care, I'm sure each "company" has its own
agenda, managers, marketing, profit/loss accountability etc.

Dave

 

[Heywood Jablome]

Some people don't know that they are owned by the same company, including
those that shop there regularly. The double advertising serves a purpose for
those that are shopping around for a "good" deal. If they see two
(apparently rival) stores offering the same price, they will assume that the
price quoted is competitive.

-H

 

[Dingo]

When I buy electronics I used to look to the Dick Smith website, then I
started realising Dick Smith seems to have very little stock of electronics
these days.

It is almost like they keep a shrine cabinet full of 1/4W Resistors to pay
hommage to the previous owner of the chain (Dick himself) in the midst of a
Harvey Norman or Retravision store. I mean my local DSE has more TVs and
crappy RC cars and Computer games than anything else. Why did Woolies bother
buying an electronics store chain? Just to fill it with consumer products?

Personally I'm not in any great rush usually and so I order my stuff in from
Thailand. Dirt cheap and decent stuff. Does take a week because I'm cheap on
postage too

 

[Chas]

When I buy electronics I used to look to the Dick Smith website, then I
started realising Dick Smith seems to have very little stock of electronics
these days.

It is almost like they keep a shrine cabinet full of 1/4W Resistors to pay
hommage to the previous owner of the chain (Dick himself) in the midst of a
Harvey Norman or Retravision store. I mean my local DSE has more TVs and
crappy RC cars and Computer games than anything else. Why did Woolies bother
buying an electronics store chain? Just to fill it with consumer products?

Personally I'm not in any great rush usually and so I order my stuff in from
Thailand. Dirt cheap and decent stuff. Does take a week because I'm cheap on
postage too

The local DS "Powerhouse" store has recently removed electronic components
from its' inventory because according to the store manager, "they are no
longer profitable & are taking up valuable space". He was unsure if the
smaller DS stores would follow suit.

Among my collegues, Dick Smith stores are referred to as "The Electric Toy
Shops". While Jaycar, Alltronics & Farnell are in buisness, who needs them?

 

[Richard Freeman]

Some people don't know that they are owned by the same company, including
those that shop there regularly. The double advertising serves a purpose for
those that are shopping around for a "good" deal. If they see two
(apparently rival) stores offering the same price, they will assume that the
price quoted is competitive.

Yes of Course that is a point I had not considered however the duplication
of Items in both Flyers would probably counter that effect as even
relatively uncynical folk are sure to raise an eyebrow at the number of
Brands/Models etc that are the same and exactly the same price.

 

[Dingo]

Since DSE is the only "electronics" shop near me it would be nice to have
but I'm resigned to the fact if I want a part I order it from Thailand (via
the Australian company www.futurlec.com.au) and getting much cheaper albeit
slower.

I don't mind Jaycar, Alltronics & Farnell but they almost as expensive as
DSE on components that DSE does stock. I've also found Jaycar doesn't have
the range I thought it would.

BTW for anyone that wants it I have made a list (still growing) of
Australian electronics parts suppliers here at
http://www.users.on.net/~symes/links.htm

 

[Richard Waters]

| Richard Freeman wrote:
|
| It is a waste, why not tell them so?
| Not that they'd probably care, I'm sure each "company" has its own
| agenda, managers, marketing, profit/loss accountability etc.
|
| Dave
|

Well, if you want to tell them its wasteful - contact Woolworths, they have
owned Dickies for ages, since about '84 if I remember... ...not that they
liked to brag about it when I was a manager for Dickes about 6yrs ago!

;-)

Richard

 

[Brian Goldsmith]

The local DS "Powerhouse" store has recently removed electronic components
from its' inventory because according to the store manager, "they are no
longer profitable & are taking up valuable space". He was unsure if the
smaller DS stores would follow suit.




---***** Which makes the distribution today of the new Dick Smith catalogue
seem rather strange.The electronics section is still there and shows the
great majority of components etc. that are on offer are available in
Powerhouse stores.

Brian Goldsmith.

 

[Chas]

The local DS "Powerhouse" store has recently removed electronic components
from its' inventory because according to the store manager, "they are no
longer profitable & are taking up valuable space". He was unsure if the
smaller DS stores would follow suit.




---***** Which makes the distribution today of the new Dick Smith catalogue
seem rather strange.The electronics section is still there and shows the
great majority of components etc. that are on offer are available in
Powerhouse stores.

Brian Goldsmith.

Perhaps Left Hand & Right Hand are not on speaking terms in the DS
organisation. My information came from the DS Powerhouse at "The Junction",
Northmead NSW. I went there for some common components & left empty handed.
Perhaps not all Powerhouse stores are affected.

 

[Charles L]

Last night I received Junk Mail from Tandy and Junk Mail from Dick Smith.
Now although I am hardly a rabid environmentalist ( I actually peruse some
Junk mail - Although I never open Spam!) it did seem a waste especially when
at least 80% of the products and Prices were exactly the same in both
Flyers.

To give you the illusion of choice and competition.

I know DSE and Tandy are now owned by the same Company but there does seem
to be something rathe ironic and wasteful about the whole exercise.

I didn't know that they were owned by the same company. What's the bet it's
not Australian?

Charles L

 

[Andy Wood]

news:[email protected]...

.. . .

The local DS "Powerhouse" store has recently removed electronic components
from its' inventory because according to the store manager, "they are no
longer profitable & are taking up valuable space". He was unsure if the
smaller DS stores would follow suit.

Among my collegues, Dick Smith stores are referred to as "The Electric Toy
Shops". While Jaycar, Alltronics & Farnell are in buisness, who needs them?
--

According to the Woolworths annual reports, they also own David Reid
Electronics, which is not a DSE / Tandy clone.



Andy Wood
[email protected]

 

[KLR]

To give you the illusion of choice and competition.


I didn't know that they were owned by the same company. What's the bet it's
not Australian?

Woolworths. (the grocery people) Some years back they promoted
themselves as "proudly australian" but whether they are australian
owned or not these days is another matter. Does anyone here know ?

 

[KLR]

. . .

According to the Woolworths annual reports, they also own David Reid
Electronics, which is not a DSE / Tandy clone.

I find life to be strange at times, the way things turn out

back in dick smith electronics heyday of the 1970's/early 80's who
ever would have thought that a grocery company would end up owning DSE
and other electronics retailers, and dick smith himself would end up
not in the electronics business and instead making grocery products ?
.

 

[Peter Parker]

Woolworths. (the grocery people) Some years back they promoted
themselves as "proudly australian" but whether they are australian
owned or not these days is another matter. Does anyone here know ?

http://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/aboutus/ourcompany/index.asp

All very confusing as there's Safeway and Woolworths in the UK (and I think
South Africa also).

Add Target and (maybe) K-mart in the US.

All seem to pick the same names, even though they're seperate companies.

Peter

 

[Mark Little]

From what I have seen, they are merging the stores in our area. Tandy stores
are being replaced by new DSE stores.

 

[D MARSHALL]

i have got components from DSE before woolies
took over, now dont have much what i want
anymore.
once upon a time i could get valves from there.
now i just goto ebay or wes components even
the electonic valve & tube compony.
"i hope jaycar never gets taken by woolies"

 

[John de Stigter]

Perhaps Left Hand & Right Hand are not on speaking terms in the DS
organisation. My information came from the DS Powerhouse at "The Junction",
Northmead NSW. I went there for some common components & left empty handed.
Perhaps not all Powerhouse stores are affected.
--

My local powerhouse at Brookvale has done the same thing. The kit section
has been replaced by hairdryers and sandwich toasters.

Regards,
John.

 

[thegoons]

| Richard Freeman wrote:
|
| It is a waste, why not tell them so?
| Not that they'd probably care, I'm sure each "company" has its own
| agenda, managers, marketing, profit/loss accountability etc.
|
| Dave
|

Well, if you want to tell them its wasteful - contact Woolworths, they have
owned Dickies for ages, since about '84

Was after that.

if I remember... ...not that they