Dick Smith?

[Ian Macmillan]

Because it was handy, I wandered into Dick Smith today to get some 0.5A
glass fuses. The fellow looked me up and down, and said "We don't sell fuses
any more".

So what do they sell that would not be better bought at Harvey Norman etc?
Closure imminent.

All the best
Ian Macmillan

 

[Sylvia Else]

Because it was handy, I wandered into Dick Smith today to get some 0.5A
glass fuses. The fellow looked me up and down, and said "We don't sell fuses
any more".

So what do they sell that would not be better bought at Harvey Norman etc?
Closure imminent.

Or bought online. Hardly Normal's pricing is not the keenest.

Sylvia.

 

[atec77]

It seems to vary from store to store almost as if they are running an
experiment in natural selection. The main website OTOH offers specials
for components where one component is left in stock at one store only:
CMOS 555 being an example. I'm betting they have a hotshot MBA running
the show who figures the technical stuff just isn't profitable enough. Got it in one

Other electronics retailers are inching their prices up already, Jaycar
want $3.45 for a LM7555 which I can buy in Australia from Futurlec for
$0.52

 

[Mr.T]

Because it was handy, I wandered into Dick Smith today to get some 0.5A
glass fuses. The fellow looked me up and down, and said "We don't sell fuses
any more".

So what do they sell that would not be better bought at Harvey Norman etc?
Closure imminent.

Nope, HN don't have fuses either, and HN is just as bad as DSE, but they
still seem to keep on making a profit.

MrT.

 

[keithr]

It seems to vary from store to store almost as if they are running an
experiment in natural selection. The main website OTOH offers specials
for components where one component is left in stock at one store only:
CMOS 555 being an example. I'm betting they have a hotshot MBA running
the show who figures the technical stuff just isn't profitable enough.

Other electronics retailers are inching their prices up already, Jaycar
want $3.45 for a LM7555 which I can buy in Australia from Futurlec for
$0.52

A couple of months ago I bought some stuff on sale at our local DSE. I
asked the guy if they were going out of the component/tool business, he
reckoned that such items were not going to be stocked locally any more
but would be available online.

Just as well that Jaycar have opened up locally.

 

[David L. Jones]

What's the gripe here FFS. All businesses need to evolve, and DSE was
around as a component source for a good number of years. There's no
shortage of alternatives around.

Couldn't agree more.
Nothing new here at all, people have been making the exact same post for
more than decade now, get over it.
Dick Smith as a component supplier died a long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away.

Dave.

 

[Grant]

A couple of months ago I bought some stuff on sale at our local DSE. I
asked the guy if they were going out of the component/tool business, he
reckoned that such items were not going to be stocked locally any more
but would be available online.

It was official last summer, they're getting out of the component business,
what's left is just clearing the decks, more money selling the toys, no
interest is electronics -- slowly been happening since BigW bought them.

I made the mistake of trying to buy some resistors off them (online), some
values not available, some they cannot supply as advertised (5% remarked as
1%), and it took several attempts to try completing the order, the have
an odd way of telling one to leave them alone. Thanks, but no thanks.

All the decent specials are gone, and they wont order between stores

Just as well that Jaycar have opened up locally.

Jaycar selling a lot of crap too, but it must be expensive to hold stock
of all those components.

Grant.

 

[Grant]

Couldn't agree more.
Nothing new here at all, people have been making the exact same post for
more than decade now, get over it.
Dick Smith as a component supplier died a long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away.

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Grant.

 

[Don McKenzie]

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Grant.

If you remember McGraths, then you may remember the surplus electronic gear shop right opposite also.

Anyone remember the name of the man that ran the surplus shop, and what happened to him?

Cheers Don...

=====================


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[L.A.T.]

Snip>

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Grant.

So do I.
My wife used to cal it "the fruit-loaf-tin place".

 

[Mr.T]

Couldn't agree more.

I do, there IS now a shortage of local component suppliers, especially if
you can't wait days for the post.

Nothing new here at all, people have been making the exact same post for
more than decade now, get over it.
Dick Smith as a component supplier died a long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away.

Nor argument, but just because the reduction in people who know how to use a
soldering iron has lead to that situation, doesn't mean we have to like it.
And one things for sure, there is *FAR* LESS of a shortage of household
electrical box movers!

MrT.

 

[Mr.T]

I miss McGraths in Little Lonsdale Back when I lived in Melbourne.

Too right, and the staff actually knew what they were selling!
It was a bygone age though, doesn't seem the kids learn how to use a
soldering iron any more.

MrT.

 

[keithr]

It was official last summer, they're getting out of the component business,
what's left is just clearing the decks, more money selling the toys, no
interest is electronics -- slowly been happening since BigW bought them.

I made the mistake of trying to buy some resistors off them (online), some
values not available, some they cannot supply as advertised (5% remarked as
1%), and it took several attempts to try completing the order, the have
an odd way of telling one to leave them alone. Thanks, but no thanks.

All the decent specials are gone, and they wont order between stores

Jaycar selling a lot of crap too, but it must be expensive to hold stock
of all those components.

Grant.

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

 

[Mr.T]

Radio Parts up on Spencer St was also a 'must visit' when in town,
back in the 70's. Kitsets Aust. was another common haunt.

Lot's of good disposals stores then that don't exist any more either.

At least I now have Jaycar, Altronics and Rockby within 20mins of
where I live.

Lucky you, Springvale seems to be well catered for, not so many other areas.
Radio Parts in Carnegie was a LONG drive for me, but at least they had many
items. Now that has gone too unfortunately.

MrT.

 

[Jasen Betts]

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

You may find an Altronics dealer is closer.

 

[Mr.T]

You may find an Altronics dealer is closer.

Or more likely, NOT.

MrT.

 

[keithr]

You may find an Altronics dealer is closer.

The nearest Altronics dealer is approximately 3 hours drive away. I
would prefer to deal with them rather than Jaycar, but I can't justify
spending a whole day and 50 litres of petrol just to pick up the odd
chip and a few resistors. So Jaycar it is unless Altronics comes to town.

 

[Grant]

If you remember McGraths, then you may remember the surplus electronic gear shop right opposite also.

Opposite, or was there another one further down the street, or both?

And there was another shop around the area with a little mechanical
man banging on the window with a toy hammer, to get one's attention.

Anyone remember the name of the man that ran the surplus shop, and what happened to him?

Can't remember the name, I bought some copper plated carbon rods from
there (I imagine carbon arc lamp electrodes) when I was 16 or so, so
much stuff in those little shops

Grant.

 

[Grant]

I don't really care if farting ashtrays as long as the continue to sell
the stuff that I want. The problem with living outside the city is the
lack of choice if you want something right away. For me even Jaycar is a
45 km drive away and that adds considerably to the cost if you are only
buying a couple of cheap components.

I'm in Bendigo, we got a Jaycar agency that has moved to larger premises
at Dick Smith left the technical are -- they're quite busy too. Them there's
a couple TV repair places used to sell some parts, the rest for me is web
order. Pretty good.

I left Melbourne in '93 so no idea what it's like down there now.

Can remember buying Mini Scope Iron plus 3.3V transformer for $12.21 from
McGraths, and, if you said 2N3055s were for a guitar amp they were 15%
tax instead of 27.5% tax Quite odd, if one didn't have a VS number,
one could change tax rate on some items by stating intended use.

Grant.

 

[Don McKenzie]

Opposite, or was there another one further down the street, or both?

And there was another shop around the area with a little mechanical
man banging on the window with a toy hammer, to get one's attention.


Can't remember the name, I bought some copper plated carbon rods from
there (I imagine carbon arc lamp electrodes) when I was 16 or so, so
much stuff in those little shops

Grant.

It was Jock Ellis.
He had a whole heap of Army surplus radio and other similar gear, typical of WWII era, and later.

In later years, he then moved into Lonsale St, and became Ellistronics. Had a big warehouse in Springvale Rd, and even
started up a branch in NZ.

He was a lot older than me, so I dare say he has gone to heaven by now. His shop is now Tecs PCs I believe.

I haven't been in the city for 10+ years, so I have lost track of all of them.

Cheers Don...

=============



--
Don McKenzie

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