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elektroda.net NewsGroups Forum Index - Electronics AUS - Dick Smith?
Clifford Heath
Guest
Guest
Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:13 pm
Mick DaDik wrote:
Quote:
I thought I was the only bugger left alive that remebered him and his
little shop..
Used to catch the train in just the browse around there..
little shop..
Used to catch the train in just the browse around there..
Same!
I used to spend hours at a time in there as a teenager.
Probably still have some of the parts I bought too.
Clifford Heath.
James
Guest
Guest
Sun Sep 05, 2010 1:44 am
"Grant" <omg_at_grrr.id.au> wrote in message
news:h1s086tlfcekmpmo5hu56all5g3ter5ed6_at_4ax.com...
Quote:
On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:13:58 +1000, keithr <keith_at_nowhere.com.au> wrote:
On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<keith_at_nowhere.com.au> wrote:
Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
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
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.
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.
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.
On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<keith_at_nowhere.com.au> wrote:
Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
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
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.
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.
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.
The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.
James
Grant
Guest
Guest
Sun Sep 05, 2010 5:41 am
On Sun, 5 Sep 2010 10:44:33 +1000, "James" <spamtrap_at_horneautomation.com.au> wrote:
....
Quote:
The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
I think Peter's retired, haven't seen him in the store since it crossed
the road
Brett's there occasionally, and the 'regular' crew are mostly
okay.
Quote:
I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.
Dunno, I don't go there often, know the store well enough to go the
corner where the parts are, and to ask when I can't see them (usually 'cos
I walked right passed them).
Dick Smith I last went to because they had a sale of quality blank CDs
really cheap, plus curiosity. Hard to find sale item, one had to ask,
I guess that was the idea, some people rather pick something more
expensive than ask where sale items were hidden?
Grant.
kreed
Guest
Guest
Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:20 am
On Sep 5, 10:44 am, "James" <spamt...@horneautomation.com.au> wrote:
Quote:
"Grant" <o...@grrr.id.au> wrote in message
news:h1s086tlfcekmpmo5hu56all5g3ter5ed6_at_4ax.com...
On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:13:58 +1000, keithr <ke...@nowhere.com.au> wrote:
On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<ke...@nowhere.com.au> wrote:
Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
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
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.
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.
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.
The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.
James
news:h1s086tlfcekmpmo5hu56all5g3ter5ed6_at_4ax.com...
On Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:13:58 +1000, keithr <ke...@nowhere.com.au> wrote:
On 1/09/2010 5:47 AM, Grant wrote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:57:20 +1000, keithr<ke...@nowhere.com.au> wrote:
Mark Harriss wrote:
Ian Macmillan wrote:
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
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.
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.
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.
The Jaycar outlet in Bendigo is probably a better example than an actual
Jaycar store though. Since opening Peter has always been keen to supply what
people wanted, and that wasn't, and I assume still isn't, limited to Jaycar
products. The other key to their success is that they had a clue, unlike the
mobile phone sales people at DSE. Peter and his son (Brett?) always showed
interest in local bussiness and hobbyists, sharing their knowledge, and
listening to others as well, and in developing those relationships got great
word of mouth exposure.
I notice also that one of the guys that previously worked at DSE is working
for him now. His name escapes my memory now, but like the others, he has a
clue as well. I'm sure they are well aware that electronics knowledge is the
key to catering to the needs of their customers.
James
I can also recommend the Jaycar store at the sunshine coast QLD too.
Very large, well stocked, wide range modern store the guy at the
counter seemed to know his stuff,
and it was an enjoyable experience shopping there.
David L. Jones
Guest
Guest
Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:21 am
Mark Harriss <billy_at_blartco.co.uk> wrote in
news:qq6dnUtlWvTvZ-HRnZ2dnUVZ8qudnZ2d_at_westnet.com.au:
Quote:
David L. Jones wrote:
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.
So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.
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.
So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.
You might be hearing my take on this soon in a documentary on the
Australian electronics industry:
http://www.eevblog.com/2010/07/23/canon-5d-mark-ii-hd-video-documentary-
behind-the-scenes/
http://www.karlvonmoller.com/blog/2010/07/25/state-of-electronics-the-
beginning/
Although my comments were somewhat limited to the questions posed.
There are many notable people involved in this project, including Tricky
Dick himself.
Trailer coming soon.
I will provide details once it's done.
Dave.
www.eevblog.com
terryc
Guest
Guest
Tue Sep 07, 2010 2:32 am
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:50:59 +1000, Mark Harriss wrote:
Quote:
David L. Jones wrote:
So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.
So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.
It will be what it has been for the last few decades; small run and
custom jobs, but continuing to shrink as manufacturers face increases
competition from overseas.
Is there any company in Australia designing or building
telecommunications gear now?
Is all our defence requirements slavishly sourced from the USA military
complex?
Mark Harriss
Guest
Guest
Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:59 am
terryc wrote:
Quote:
On Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:50:59 +1000, Mark Harriss wrote:
David L. Jones wrote:
So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.
It will be what it has been for the last few decades; small run and
custom jobs, but continuing to shrink as manufacturers face increases
competition from overseas.
Is there any company in Australia designing or building
telecommunications gear now?
Is all our defence requirements slavishly sourced from the USA military
complex?
David L. Jones wrote:
So what's your take then Dave, on the big picture, i.e. the future of
electronics in Australia?.
It will be what it has been for the last few decades; small run and
custom jobs, but continuing to shrink as manufacturers face increases
competition from overseas.
Is there any company in Australia designing or building
telecommunications gear now?
Is all our defence requirements slavishly sourced from the USA military
complex?
I heard of a guy making cryptography gear. I think the Gov't response
was to ban him from selling to certain countries and buy American
equipment several magnitudes larger and less portable with built in back
doors.
Most defense electronics I worked on in the late nineties was a mix of
English, American, Australian and a tiny bit of Japanese.
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