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DIY Stompboxes => Building your own stompbox => Topic started by: pinkjimiphoton on September 07, 2013, 12:43:34 PM

Title: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 07, 2013, 12:43:34 PM
radio shack no longer carries or stocks transistors in my local store. all that's left is a few chips and every goddang kinda led you can imagine.
but no more ubiquitous multipacks of 3904's and stuff... :icon_rolleyes:

it's a sad @#$%ing day in america.   :icon_cry:
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: bluebunny on September 07, 2013, 12:53:07 PM
(http://flaginfo.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/us-flag-capitol-half-staff-737281.jpg)
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: duck_arse on September 07, 2013, 01:04:34 PM
you better get in there and ask them what they did with the stock that came off the shelves, you never know.
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: garcho on September 07, 2013, 01:08:56 PM
@Jimi, at least they didn't replace them with SMT just to rub it in your face, ha! Keep the USPS in business and order through the mail. You can get 1000 2N3904s on e(vil)Bay for 30 dollars. 30 bucks gets you what, a couple dozen transistors at RS? Just sayin', no more running out last minute.

@Duck Arse, thank god you changed your avatar, ay caramba!
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: joegagan on September 07, 2013, 01:15:19 PM
i don't know if i can muster the energy to devote any sadness to this. simple supply and demand.
the internet has sucked up 98% of the remaining customers that would buy transistors at RS. the upside of internet availability outweighs the resulting crush of walk-in transistor store transistor business by 1000%.

of course i have used pnps and npns from the RS multipacks over the years, it was fun. but in terms of importance in my life, this ranks down around priority number 4,378.

still, a historic move any way you look at it.
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: armdnrdy on September 07, 2013, 01:29:43 PM
The 15 pack is still sold in all of the Radio Shacks within 5 miles of my location.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062586

Have you considered moving to civilization?  ;D
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: Mark Hammer on September 07, 2013, 01:30:25 PM
Well, Jim, it gets worse.  Our local Active/Future Electronics is not distracted by selling TVs, phones, or mobile devices, and they too are abandoning components.  On the bright side,, I was greeted by an aisle of Arduino, Beaglebone, RSpberry Pi and Spark fun shields and modules when I went in yesterday, so hobby electronics is notQUITE dead.
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: alanp on September 07, 2013, 03:57:35 PM
Dick Smith moved out of the components business years ago, here (no more resistors or other small parts), deciding to focus on computers, cellphones, that kind of thing. I'm absolutely not surprised that they are now having even more trouble than before, trying to compete with Harvey Norman and Noel Leemings.
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pakrat on September 07, 2013, 04:10:49 PM
I thought part of the RS "resurrection" plan was to focus more on DIY again.... I guess that was short lived. I'm with ya Jimi, it truly is a sad day  :'(
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: analogguru on September 07, 2013, 04:49:27 PM
Here is your chance in the world of today:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-pcs-2N3904-MOTOROLA-TO-92-NPN-GENERAL-PURPOSE-TRANSISTORS-FREE-SHIPPING-/121087246590?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c315cc0fe#ht_1318wt_795
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: toneman on September 07, 2013, 05:07:26 PM
Sooo many other places, Jimi.

digikey, mouser, smallbear, arrow, future, Allied.

just have to wait a few days.... :icon_sad:

T
8)
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 07, 2013, 06:23:35 PM
i just found it sad... i often pop in, grab a bag here or there for just general purpose crap.

sometimes it was nice to roll a 1/4 mile down the street to grab some if i needed for a quick last minute fix or something.

i have thousands of 'em already, so no worries, but i just hate to see this happen.

its the end of an era, my brothers..

they said anything they don't sell x number of per month is discontinued. that and fairchild no longer producing thru-holes is gonna make stuff get weird for us in the future.

i know in the grande scheme, big deal.... but it's one more piece of america sliding down the pipes, soon to be gone forever. that really bothers the more conservative side of my brain.
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: garcho on September 07, 2013, 08:36:39 PM
Quoteone more piece of america sliding down the pipes

Seriously, because your hometown RS, which coincidentally was determined by Business Week to be the second worse company to work for, doesn't stock Chinese transistors anymore?

Also, if it's a piece that can "slide down the tubes", do you really want to keep it?
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 07, 2013, 11:18:09 PM
kinda sick of watching america degenerate gary. this is just "another brick in the wall".  :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: J0K3RX on September 07, 2013, 11:30:34 PM
Quote from: pinkjimiphoton on September 07, 2013, 11:18:09 PM
kinda sick of watching america degenerate gary. this is just "another brick in the wall".  :icon_rolleyes:

I agree but transistors are the last on my "things to worry about" list... an old man once said worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair, it keeps you busy but doesn't get you anywhere...

learn to adapt, that will most likely be one of your most useful tools in the near future...
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pakrat on September 07, 2013, 11:38:21 PM
I agree with Gary and Jim in that it's not such a big deal because we get most orders online. But I also agree with Jimi that I don't really like the idea of RS being "gone". It's been around as long as I'm alive, along with Sears and other major chains going out. It's just sad to see it go. R.I.P. RS.... sniffle....
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: garcho on September 07, 2013, 11:48:21 PM
Quotekinda sick of watching america degenerate gary.

Just sayin' RS not selling transistors anymore doesn't mean zombies are coming fer yer brains, that's all. On a positive note, weed was legalized in Washington and Colorado. Yeah, drones are everywhere, habeas corpus has been forgotten, and American students owe over a trillion dollars in student loans, but hey, ups and Jimi, ups and downs!  ;D
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 08, 2013, 01:01:22 AM
lol....dudes... DUDES... i am not like all bummed out or anything, i've kinda expected it... just kinda reporting on it happening.
it's a drag only in that a lot of newbs like me had literally no idea where to get crap to blow things up with, and now it's become a dinosaur.
yes, it's a bummer.... but it's just the way the new world seems to unfold. transistors have gone the way of thermionic tubes. obsoleter than a colecovision. ;)

rock on

:icon_mrgreen:

jest reportin a little history.... peace out
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: J0K3RX on September 08, 2013, 02:02:35 AM
Quote from: pinkjimiphoton on September 08, 2013, 01:01:22 AM
lol....dudes... DUDES... i am not like all bummed out or anything, i've kinda expected it... just kinda reporting on it happening.
it's a drag only in that a lot of newbs like me had literally no idea where to get crap to blow things up with, and now it's become a dinosaur.
yes, it's a bummer.... but it's just the way the new world seems to unfold. transistors have gone the way of thermionic tubes. obsoleter than a colecovision. ;)

rock on

:icon_mrgreen:

jest reportin a little history.... peace out

Stop toying with our emotions...  :P You know, we are unstable enough and you might send one of us over the edge with your shenanigans :icon_twisted:
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 08, 2013, 09:19:19 AM
ha, jim gets me.  :icon_mrgreen:

you guys have an awesome day. i gotta go play a 10 band benefit. sadly i gotta play with 5 of 'em, so hippy is gonna be incommunicado for a few days drinking %^&*tails and trying to learn to walk again. lol...

wish me luck, hoping to raise a couple g for the afflicted today. rock on.

and support your local rat shack. build a fuzz




while you can.   ;)
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: garcho on September 08, 2013, 11:21:33 AM
Quotehoping to raise a couple g for the afflicted today

bravo
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 17, 2013, 06:54:06 PM
Quote from: garcho on September 08, 2013, 11:21:33 AM
Quotehoping to raise a couple g for the afflicted today

bravo

raised 1,723 bux. not fantastic, but not bad. ;)
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: rutabaga bob on September 17, 2013, 07:50:51 PM
Shoot...I'm late in the game (like always), but I miss walking into the drugstore and checking tubes

Congrats on the charitable effort, Jimi!

Larry
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 17, 2013, 10:17:40 PM
 :icon_mrgreen:

hi larry!!
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: petey twofinger on September 19, 2013, 04:09:55 PM
thank you for sharing that bit of "depressing" information jimi ... i agree , that sucks .

your generosity and giving spirit are truely admirable .

weather or not i feel it is a big deal or not , i am going to attempt to start trying to take the high road , while i am online , you certainly do emulate a lot of good will in your cyber adventures , i find that extremely admirable . you stinking filthy hippie .  :icon_lol:
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: pinkjimiphoton on September 19, 2013, 05:44:06 PM
well, it's either that or do a bunch of drugs or something... lol...   :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: tubegeek on September 19, 2013, 07:16:12 PM
Quote from: pinkjimiphoton on September 19, 2013, 05:44:06 PM
well, it's either that or do a bunch of drugs or something... lol...   :icon_mrgreen:

You have to CHOOSE?!
Title: Re: it's a sad day in manchester, ct , indeed....
Post by: haveyouseenhim on September 19, 2013, 08:58:35 PM
Well here in south AL they are getting new parts in every now and then. They are starting to sell smd stuff and still have the glorious 3904   :icon_mrgreen:

And I saw yesterday they had multi packs of logic gate ICs


EDIT*
Oh, and they even had the bi pin lamp for my Harbinger One project :icon_biggrin: