There's just something so satisfying about going to a local store, browsing their selections, and walking out with product in hand. I've been searching the southern California (as close as possible to the San Fernando Valley) area for shops to acquire electronics parts. So far, I've not found a whole lot, so I was wondering if anyone else had any suggestions.
All Electronics Corp out in Van Nuys looks good, but I haven't gotten the chance to make the drive out there, yet. Any other places I should check out?
Thanks!
-Kevin
p.s. Fry's also seems to carry some basic parts, but I find the lack of organization and any staff who actually know what a resistor is to be far too frustrating to attempt to shop there.
We seem to have a simliar problem here in Australia, the main electronics stores are fast becoming toy stores with a few trays of resistors down the back and the rest of the store full of 40" plasma TVs, Xboxs and laptops. And try to find a staff member that knows a resistor from a resoto, good luck.
That's unfortunate for beginners because they can't ask questions of staff members, but now we have forums like this that can fill that function I guess.
Better get used to it I think, and surf to Mouser/Farnell/RS et al.
Happily, I have "You Do It Electronics" only about 30 minutes away if I really feel the need. They've been around a long while and get more than a little business from the MIT crowd.
even here, other than YDI, there's little these days. In the shadow of MIT there used to be many....and virtually none today.
p.s. Fry's also seems to carry some basic parts, but I find the lack of organization and any staff who actually know what a resistor is to be far too frustrating to attempt to shop there.
We have a Fry's in Austin. The selection of components is nice, but because they are NTE the prices are not. It is nice for a common component you need on a Saturday, but never cheap enough to buy on pure impulse. I still buy most of my immediate-need basics from RadioShacks.
If you do find a retail shop that is suitable, it is almost always a hobbyist run operation. When I lived in Colorado Springs there was a surplus store, OEM Parts. I found it a month before I moved away. It was like walking through the pages of the All Electronics catalog. Before I left, I bought stuff by the handfuls "just in case."
Yep Dck Smith Electronics is one of the main culprits. Started (in the 70s?) by Dck Smith who was an electronics nut, but bought by Woolworths several years ago. Nuff said