08-13-2015, 06:45 AM
When you buy at Radio Shack, you pay top dollar for parts. Here in the Phoenix area there are several "surplus" stores where you can buy at a fraction of new. Just that some of the stuff offered may not be standard since it's old stock bought up from manufacturers that no longer have use for the stuff. Sometimes you can buy a panel or an assembly that has switches, lights and other parts you can take off and use. You can also buy surplus from several other mail order or Internet stores, such as All Electronics.
We also have Circuit Specialists here, a walk-in store that sells new parts, everything from switches, connectors and LED's to custom computers and test equipment. They will sell you quantity one, or thousands, and their prices reflect quantity breaks. They also sell by phone and their web site and their prices are as good as, and sometimes better than, Mouser Electronics.
The only thing good about Radio Shack is convenience. They have a store just a few miles from our house that hasn't closed yet, and if they have what you need, you have it now, not a few days later when UPS delivers it or driving across town to pick it up.
We also have Circuit Specialists here, a walk-in store that sells new parts, everything from switches, connectors and LED's to custom computers and test equipment. They will sell you quantity one, or thousands, and their prices reflect quantity breaks. They also sell by phone and their web site and their prices are as good as, and sometimes better than, Mouser Electronics.
The only thing good about Radio Shack is convenience. They have a store just a few miles from our house that hasn't closed yet, and if they have what you need, you have it now, not a few days later when UPS delivers it or driving across town to pick it up.
Don (ezdays) Day
Board administrator and
founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD
Board administrator and
founder of the CANYON STATE RAILROAD