Dick Smith Kits

[Bob Parker]

On 5/02/2007 09:19 Geoff wrote:

Does the grinnig Dick have no say anymore ?

geoff

According to the Wikipedia thing at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Smith_Electronics :


Ultimately owned by Woolworths Limited

Key people Alvin Ng (General Manager)
Dick Smith (until 1982)


Which seems to mean that the answer to your question is "Not since
1982". :-(


Bob

 

[David L. Jones]

On Feb 5, 10:00 am, Bob Parker <bobp.deletet...@bluebottle.com> wrote:

On 5/02/2007 09:19 Geoff wrote:

Does the grinnig Dick have no say anymore ?

geoff

According to the Wikipedia thing athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Smith_Electronics:

Ultimately owned by Woolworths Limited

Key people Alvin Ng (General Manager)
Dick Smith (until 1982)

Which seems to mean that the answer to your question is "Not since
1982". :-(

Yes, even after 25 years we STILL get people going on about how DSE
has gone down hill since Dick himself left, as if it were yesterday,
or last week, or last month, or last year, or last decade!
*yawn*

Dave

 

[Bob Parker]

On 5/02/2007 14:30 David L. Jones wrote:

Yes, even after 25 years we STILL get people going on about how DSE
has gone down hill since Dick himself left, as if it were yesterday,
or last week, or last month, or last year, or last decade!
*yawn*

Dave

Some would say that it's been a constant gradual decline for the
last 25 years....

Bob

 

[David L. Jones]

On Feb 5, 3:07 pm, Bob Parker <bobp.deletet...@bluebottle.com> wrote:

On 5/02/2007 14:30 David L. Jones wrote:



Yes, even after 25 years we STILL get people going on about how DSE
has gone down hill since Dick himself left, as if it were yesterday,
or last week, or last month, or last year, or last decade!
*yawn*

Dave

Some would say that it's been a constant gradual decline for the
last 25 years....

It has for at least the last 15 years, and I would not argue with 25
years. Anyone who hasn't noticed that needs a checkup.
There was that brief spurt when the powerhouse stores opened, with
their "massive" range of components, fully stocked data library you
could browse, a work bench you could use, demo and kit building
classes etc but it died in the arse.

I recon we must get at least a couple of people a year complaining
about the "recent" decline of DSE, and another couple a year
complaining about the "decline" of Jaycar into a farting/novelty toy
seller, both of which are absurdly incorrect.
Classic material for an FAQ!

Dave

 

[Peter Parker]

"budgie" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:e92es2dd4arfbfnvej3gjm2jpb8ilmosj8@4ax.com...

He said his store sells
a veritable shiteload and was earmarked as a "will carry kits" store.
Still
wondering if that was the real story

Kits and books have long been the lowest selling product categories (less
than discrete components and way below plugs/sockets/wire) and though there
will be variations, I doubt they'd be major selling items in any DSE store.

 

[budgie]

On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:12:37 +1100, Bob Parker <bobp.deletethis@bluebottle.com>
wrote:

On 2/02/2007 20:52 r@r.r.com wrote:
Is tricky dicky getting out of the kit business?

All kits are half price this month!

- Rob.


A growing number of people are speculating about that....

Taking DJ's lead, I checked up on a kit I had been thinking about for a while.
All stock here in WestOz was a zillion miles away, so I rang the nearest store
and asked if they could rope one in for me. Happily arranged that. I then
asked if this was a sign that DSE were getting out of kits. No way, he said,
just some shinybum over east decided to "rationalise" their range, and to have
kits only carried at certain stores in future as well. He said his store sells
a veritable shiteload and was earmarked as a "will carry kits" store. Still
wondering if that was the real story or just the H/O shite that he was fed.

 

[atec77]

budgie wrote:

On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:12:37 +1100, Bob Parker <bobp.deletethis@bluebottle.com
wrote:

On 2/02/2007 20:52 r@r.r.com wrote:
Is tricky dicky getting out of the kit business?

All kits are half price this month!

- Rob.

A growing number of people are speculating about that....

Taking DJ's lead, I checked up on a kit I had been thinking about for a while.
All stock here in WestOz was a zillion miles away, so I rang the nearest store
and asked if they could rope one in for me. Happily arranged that. I then
asked if this was a sign that DSE were getting out of kits. No way, he said,
just some shinybum over east decided to "rationalise" their range, and to have
kits only carried at certain stores in future as well. He said his store sells
a veritable shiteload and was earmarked as a "will carry kits" store. Still
wondering if that was the real story or just the H/O shite that he was fed.

With some junk box and a faulty multimeter for a case I built this
total cost $1.00


http://ludens.cl/Electron/esr/esr.html

 

[Mike Paull]

Interestingly, the sales lady used to work in the kit department and
said that almost the entire kit department has been shut down and the
employees moved to other roles (no retrenchments apparently), only a
couple of people remain, presumably to mop up, or handle the non-
magazine kits.

Yeap, the one good thing about Woolies is they don't believe in
retrenchments apparently. I found that out when they closed the Victorian
Service Centre down and landed a job in one of the stores.

Bet the WA Service Centre guys are happy about that too, seeing as they
closed it down back in Sept 06.

Mike

 

[Mike Paull]

On Mon, 5 Feb 2007 21:12:54 +1100, "Peter Parker"
<parkerp@alphalink.com.au> wrote:

"budgie" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:e92es2dd4arfbfnvej3gjm2jpb8ilmosj8@4ax.com...

He said his store sells
a veritable shiteload and was earmarked as a "will carry kits" store.
Still
wondering if that was the real story

Kits and books have long been the lowest selling product categories (less
than discrete components and way below plugs/sockets/wire) and though there
will be variations, I doubt they'd be major selling items in any DSE store.

I agree with Peter. Even when DSE had a large range of kits and books you
could see the slow decline in sales of those lines. Coincidently it also
marked a decline in sales of the Yeasu and other ham related lines.

As much as I hate to admit it, those roles are far better filled by small
niche market players like Jaycar and Altronics.

Interesting side note, the number of complaints I hear about one particular
Jaycar store here in Vic are increadible. The feedback is they are
extreemly unhelpful and often out of stock and very uninterested in
providing customer service. This has been happening for at least the last
six months but seems to have worsened in the last two.

mike

 

[Mr.T]

"David L. Jones" <altzone@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1170650510.825462.68370@h3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

I recon we must get at least a couple of people a year complaining
about the "recent" decline of DSE, and another couple a year
complaining about the "decline" of Jaycar into a farting/novelty toy
seller, both of which are absurdly incorrect.

"Absurdly incorrect" ???
Yes it's not recent, that's true, otherwise perfectly correct from the
perspective of anyone actually interested in electronics!

MrT.

 

[David L. Jones]

On Feb 6, 3:38 pm, "Mr.T" <MrT@home> wrote:

"David L. Jones" <altz...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:1170650510.825462.68370@h3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

I recon we must get at least a couple of people a year complaining
about the "recent" decline of DSE, and another couple a year
complaining about the "decline" of Jaycar into a farting/novelty toy
seller, both of which are absurdly incorrect.

"Absurdly incorrect" ???
Yes it's not recent, that's true, otherwise perfectly correct from the
perspective of anyone actually interested in electronics!

Why would anyone care about the demise of DSE as a hobby electronics
outlet?
Jaycar & Altronics (+others) have been happily filling (and improving
on) that niche for the last 20 years.
The only benefit of DSE was that they have more outlets.

Dave

 

[Mike Paull]

On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 21:12:37 +1100, Bob Parker
<bobp.deletethis@bluebottle.com> wrote:

On 2/02/2007 20:52 r@r.r.com wrote:
Is tricky dicky getting out of the kit business?

All kits are half price this month!

- Rob.


A growing number of people are speculating about that....

Bob

If you were interested in a kit, then i'd suggest buying it sooner rather
than later and risk not being able to get it at all.......

As for components, well, they are safe for the time being. Might even be
some new parts soon

mike

 

[Boozo]

"dmm" <dmmilne_REMOVE_@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:jffas2ttorkm6fhu2jtu2o3a7jtrc773tq@4ax.com...

On Sat, 3 Feb 2007 18:00:13 +1100, "Moo Cow" <octdiamond@hotmail.com
wrote:

walked into a dick smith at penrith earlier today, and was looking for
some
resistors and some green caps, 7 members of staff were in eye sight busy
talking amongst themselves and not one came up and asked me if i needed
any
help, when i finally got the shits and asked a guy he had no friggin idea
what a resistor actually was. not one of them would have been over 20 and
they sure dont know much these days, i remember when u walked into a store
and people actually knew what the hell you were talking about, seems like
all they want to do now is sell "gadgets"

Don't go to DSE for electronic components. That's a lesson that everyone
on this ng
should have learnt ages ago. Consequently you're not going to get any
sympathy.

Jaycar's a good alternative for what you wanted.
Penrith
199 High Street 2750
Ph: 02 4721 8337
Fax: 02 4721 8935
Mon-Fri: 9.00 - 5.30, Thu: 9.00 - 8.30, Sat: 9.00 - 4.00, Sun: 10.00 -
4.00

btw does anyone know someone who sells perlos 96 way euroconnectors?
looking
for some for a wire wrapping project.

Rockby may have some wire wrap ones in their surplus inventory. Their
phone number is
03 9562 8559

http://www.rockby.com.au

Well I disagree. Depending on who you get, Jaycar isn't much better.

I had some stupid bitch in the Adelaide city store who was in the middle of
her
monthlies and on a really short fuse.
Seriously, she should've been locked away that day, and to
be in customer service as well !!! I wonder how much business
was lost that week.

On the other hand I've had some excellent service there over the years.

They sell a lot of toys for big prices too considering the cheapo stuff that
most of it is.

Jimbo.

 

[Peter Smerdon]

That Altronics one is only 64 way (rows A&C only).

If it is indeed the DIN 41612 Eurocard connector you're looking for, in
wirewrap, try RS Electronics or Farnell.
Do a search in...
http://www.rsaustralia.com
and
http://au.farnell.com/jsp/home/homepage.jsp


They are always good for that hard-to-find component - but you'll pay
top price for it. It'll be top quality too...

Cheers,

Peter S.


Alan Rutlidge wrote:

"Moo Cow" <octdiamond@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eq1btu$1ktv$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
btw does anyone know someone who sells perlos 96 way euroconnectors?
looking for some for a wire wrapping project.

Is this the type of thing you are looking for? Unfortunately the term
"euroconnector" describes a host of goodies from the 21 pin SCART to these
things. :-(
http://www.altronics.com.au/index.asp?area=item&id=P4896

Cheers,
Alan