Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

de WA2AFD

"Howard" wrote in message
om...
Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

de WA2AFD

No body ever said they had to be the "right" answers! Half the sales people
don't know what they're selling anyway. G.W.

Try Digi-Key or Mouser Electronics on the Internet. You can't get much
more convenient than that. A few "clicks" on the their web site and
3-4 days later the parts are setting on your door step. It beats
driving all over town.

Try Digi-Key or Mouser Electronics on the Internet. You can't get much
more convenient than that. A few "clicks" on the their web site and
3-4 days later the parts are setting on your door step. It beats
driving all over town.

Howard wrote:

Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

I wonder what their answer will be when the cell phone market is
saturated. (which is starting now) I really doubt that the Shack will
survive, since they've pinned so much on cell phones.

- Mike KB3EIA -

Mike Coslo wrote in message . net...
Howard wrote:

Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

I wonder what their answer will be when the cell phone market is
saturated. (which is starting now) I really doubt that the Shack will
survive, since they've pinned so much on cell phones.

- Mike KB3EIA -

The last time I went to rat shack the two salesmen staffing the store
descended on me like a pair of hungry vultures...when they found out I
wasnt there to buy a phone or oher electronic appliance they left me
alone. Its odd how rat shack has confined all parts to the parts bin
thing yet they sell new soldering irons and those junk tools.......
This store does seem to keep an adequete supply of their ferric
chloride in stock hough, that and he odd connector are all I buy
there.

The electronics supply house we had here, radio electric, left town
many years ago....we do have another elecronic place in a nearby town
but it sells mostly computer and telecommunications related
stuff....Th ics they do carry are all nte at nte prices.....and the
selection of passives is poor...like rat shack kind of 5 resistors for
a dollar something........

I honestly hate having to use a place like mouser or allied but what
else can you do ???

cornytheclown wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote in message . net...

Howard wrote:


Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

I wonder what their answer will be when the cell phone market is
saturated. (which is starting now) I really doubt that the Shack will
survive, since they've pinned so much on cell phones.

- Mike KB3EIA -


The last time I went to rat shack the two salesmen staffing the store
descended on me like a pair of hungry vultures...when they found out I
wasnt there to buy a phone or oher electronic appliance they left me
alone. Its odd how rat shack has confined all parts to the parts bin
thing yet they sell new soldering irons and those junk tools.......
This store does seem to keep an adequete supply of their ferric
chloride in stock hough, that and he odd connector are all I buy
there.

The electronics supply house we had here, radio electric, left town
many years ago....we do have another elecronic place in a nearby town
but it sells mostly computer and telecommunications related
stuff....Th ics they do carry are all nte at nte prices.....and the
selection of passives is poor...like rat shack kind of 5 resistors for
a dollar something........

I honestly hate having to use a place like mouser or allied but what
else can you do ???
Some local "ham radio" outlets also carry parts. There are one or two
in Fort Lauderdale and Miami that do. (PLUG... "Mike's Electronics",
and he is a discount Kenwood and Icom dealer too. Great guy.)

cornytheclown wrote:
Mike Coslo wrote in message . net...

Howard wrote:


Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

I wonder what their answer will be when the cell phone market is
saturated. (which is starting now) I really doubt that the Shack will
survive, since they've pinned so much on cell phones.

- Mike KB3EIA -


The last time I went to rat shack the two salesmen staffing the store
descended on me like a pair of hungry vultures...when they found out I
wasnt there to buy a phone or oher electronic appliance they left me
alone. Its odd how rat shack has confined all parts to the parts bin
thing yet they sell new soldering irons and those junk tools.......
This store does seem to keep an adequete supply of their ferric
chloride in stock hough, that and he odd connector are all I buy
there.

The electronics supply house we had here, radio electric, left town
many years ago....we do have another elecronic place in a nearby town
but it sells mostly computer and telecommunications related
stuff....Th ics they do carry are all nte at nte prices.....and the
selection of passives is poor...like rat shack kind of 5 resistors for
a dollar something........

I honestly hate having to use a place like mouser or allied but what
else can you do ???
Some local "ham radio" outlets also carry parts. There are one or two
in Fort Lauderdale and Miami that do. (PLUG... "Mike's Electronics",
and he is a discount Kenwood and Icom dealer too. Great guy.)

Mike Coslo wrote in message . net...
Howard wrote:

Recent visits to my local Radio Shack for even the most simple
components has left me disappointed. Recently I had the need for 5
10uf electrolytics at any voltage really, and could not find them at 3
local stores.

There used to be a selection of 25 or so IC's that were widely used
and popular...no more tho.

Even a simple LM386 could not be found around here.

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

One manager mentioned that components are no longer a real concern of
management and that he is under the impression that "parts" are on the
way out soon.

Wouldn't that just be the way...the old local electronics places are
out of business, and the Shack eliminates their parts. They sure do
have answers, don't they?

I wonder what their answer will be when the cell phone market is
saturated. (which is starting now) I really doubt that the Shack will
survive, since they've pinned so much on cell phones.

- Mike KB3EIA -

The last time I went to rat shack the two salesmen staffing the store
descended on me like a pair of hungry vultures...when they found out I
wasnt there to buy a phone or oher electronic appliance they left me
alone. Its odd how rat shack has confined all parts to the parts bin
thing yet they sell new soldering irons and those junk tools.......
This store does seem to keep an adequete supply of their ferric
chloride in stock hough, that and he odd connector are all I buy
there.

The electronics supply house we had here, radio electric, left town
many years ago....we do have another elecronic place in a nearby town
but it sells mostly computer and telecommunications related
stuff....Th ics they do carry are all nte at nte prices.....and the
selection of passives is poor...like rat shack kind of 5 resistors for
a dollar something........

I honestly hate having to use a place like mouser or allied but what
else can you do ???

Howard wrote:

Also, the parts are now being jammed into these ugly parts bins as if
to hide them from view.

Is this the same situation where you live?

de WA2AFD

Yes, the few stores around here have stuffed the few parts into those
cabinets. I don't think they are that bad, I'd like a couple dozen for
my shop here at home for bigger parts. I have 25, 50 drawer parts
cabinets already full of parts, but the drawers are too small for rotary
switches and large connectors. Maybe they will pitch them out if they
drop their remaining parts. There are six stores within an hours drive.


--
I say, the boy is so stupid that he tried to make a back up copy of his
hard drive on the Xerox machine!

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida