altronics - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 10:55:50 am
content: hi everyone,so i have been to altronics a few times now (i normally go to jaycar) and it is so much better than jaycar.the first time i went there i purchased a 300va 12+12v transformer which i saw was on sale in a silicon chip magazine. unfortunately the sale was long gone by the time i had gotten there but the guy who was working there gave it to me for the sale price (half price!!!). he also spend 10 minutes figuring out something for me when i didn't even ask him to do it for me!the second time there one of the other guys asked me if i would like to work there part time over the school holidays!not only do they stock more parts than jaycar the people who work there actually have a passion for electronics unlike jaycar. it might just be that the best branch in Australia is where i live and that my local jaycar is just crap.what i wanted to know is if anyone here goes to altronics because when i went the seemed pretty empty (although it was a weekday so that might explain why it was empty).also has anyone got any tips for working in an electronics shop? i know that it is a pretty straightforward job but i though i should just ask the experts to be sure before i start my first shift.thanks

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 11:43:49 am
content: Quote from: rickselectricalprojects on December 10, 2015, 10:55:50 am- It's 80% retail, 20% electronics. Prior retail/customer service experience is desirable if not a requirement. People brilliant at electronics can be terrible in business.- Be helpful, give ideas but don't spend too much time on problems. You're not a design engineer and your boss won't appreciate it.- You can't know everything but it's worth knowing about data sources to refer people to (eg Talking Electronics website, the local hackerspace, radio club etc)- Humour the crackpot who wants to build the perpetual motion thing you know won't work. Behave as though there are multiple realities out there.(If they're pig-headed we can have an ethical discussion about how many times to warn them that feeding 240v through bell wire isn't smart)

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 11:56:59 am
content: I prefer Altronics over Jaycar. I find that Altronics is normally a bit more expensive for the same item at Jaycar, but they are normally better quality.I have had quite a few run-ins with the engineers (I don't know if they are actually engineers, but lets say they are) in the workshop at head office over items that don't perform as stated. This has been through work where we have an account with the wholesale side of Jaycar. For example they had a 20 amp continuous linear power supply. It said lab grade with a 25 amp surge and I thought you ripper. I put it on a load test and noticed that running it at 15 amps in free air in the workshop (25 degree day), the thing stopped working after about 10 minutes. Turns out the heatsink was sitting at over 100 degrees. I let it cool down and tried again. The most I could get out of it continuously was 10 amps. They told me I was using it wrong and it is only for intermittent duty. If the thing is marked as 20 amps continuous with no duty cycle markings, it should do 20 amps. They wanted to charge restocking fees and all sorts which we refused.This is just one example of the run-ins I've had with them.My run-ins with the Altronics rep is as follows. I call him, tell him I have X that has failed for Y reason (I have been dealing with him for about 7 years now so he knows I am straight up and down with him), he rocks up the next day or a few days later with a new one, we test the old one, test the new one, exchange paperwork and it is all done. With Jaycar I currently have some warranty parts on my desk waiting for paperwork to come through from head office so I can send them back. 2 weeks and counting, I have been told this time of year it can take upwards of 3 weeks to generate the RMA!!!End of rant.Altronics is better

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 12:40:58 pm
content: We don't have actual altronics stores here in NZ but do have an agent in "globalpc" shops, kinda weird, at least locally they don't know jack about the electronic components (well that's the impression), but have about 25% floor space dedicated to it, often cheaper than jaycar, but your run-of-the-mill computer shop isn't exactly the firstplace most people would think of to buy electronic components. I guess it must do ok though, they could easily use the space for more profitable things otherwise.

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 12:42:47 pm
content: Quote from: vk3yedotcom on December 10, 2015, 11:43:49 amthanks for your advice, i appreciate it.cheers.

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 12:53:37 pm
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on December 10, 2015, 11:56:59 ami feel jaycars components are fine, but there products (there "digitech" range of multimeters, power supplies and other stuff are low quality) and when my clamp meter i got from there broke, they really, really didn't want to replace it. so i could say that i have had a somewhat simulator experience with you.i also purchased a power supply from them to power my cb radio (which was a few watts over the legal limit shhhhhhh dont let the hams know) and it failed. i wasnt overloading it or anything but when i put some load on it for a few hours as a burn in test, one of the switching transistors decided to die. lets just say the rest of the power supply got what it deservedi have only purchased compnents from altronics so i dont know what they are like with returning stuff.

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 12:56:06 pm
content: Quote from: mswhin63 on December 10, 2015, 12:16:33 pmi fell 100% the same way. i think jaycar is slowly turning into yet another shop like dicksmith which is sad.at least we have altronics and RS components.

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 01:26:41 pm
content: Quote from: wilfred on December 10, 2015, 12:21:37 pmthanks for your advice. it was really helpful.and as far as jaycar goes it was never my intention to bad mouth jaycar. all i was doing was just saying that my local altronics branch is better than my local jaycar branch. i would hate to think that people would hold me in lower esteem here becuase of what i said about jaycar since there is even a rant emoticon gif thingy. see:there is also this thread here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/consumer-alert-2nd-no-3rd-pass-through-the-spam-bot-filter/and countless other rant/bad experience threads.i have never had a bad shopping experience with jaycar, and i dont think the store is bad (i think is is actually pretty good) i just think that some of there products are not the highest quality.i am not saying any of that to start a fight or get in trouble with the moderators.thanks

author: GabYoung92
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 01:50:39 pm
content: Ex-manager of a Jaycar store here;When I first joined Jaycar many years ago it was a really nice place to work! Most of my co-workers were electronics geeks and knew how not to install a resistor upside down...We all took time to try and help the customer as much as possible which is why the store I was in won the most awards for customer service / product knowledge etc... Anyways... As time went along it was becoming a very pushy environment for a 99% retail 1% electronics... The staff members with great electronic knowledge left and trying to rehire staff with the technical background was an almost impossible task!I ended up resigning and starting my own electronics store on the Gold Coast QLD with two other guys - Nerds Warehouse (Don't mind being called a nerd)We signed up as the Altronics distributor on the Gold Coast and every single experience with Altronics, especially the rep has been nothing but great. Every phone call, every delivery etc... I would highly recommend Altronics!Just as vk3yedotcom said,Altronics/Jaycar are businesses. At the end of the day they need to make money... therefore retail experience is very importantI loved the staff helping people with projects, but when we had lots of people in the store waiting at the counter it was a bit of a pain... Multitasking/handling lots of customer should become fluent quickly!IMPORTANT! - You may know or be licensed yourself.. but do never give advice on wiring high voltage stuff! I cannot stress this enough! Even if its just something really simple. Don't.You should enjoy every shift!Gab

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 02:30:08 pm
content: I usually visit both Jaycar and Altronics stores in Perth. They are close to each other in the city. I struggle to understand how they survive, as I never see more than a handful of customers inside.If I had to set a preference, Altronics would be my choice, for a slightly more pleasant shopping experience.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 10, 2015, 09:18:30 pm
content: Both companies have extensive wholesale activities - supplying businesses, government departments, universities etc with their items - so the retail is mostly a convenience to keep a public profile.Jaycarwas better in the past (80s - when 'John Carr' was taken over by Gary Johnston - ex DSE), but has veered a bit towards gadgets since the mid 90s - which has diluted its value as an 'electronics' source... but they do still have some worthwhile products & components.Altronics- was originally setup in Perth as a west-coast alternative to Jaycar / DSE by Jack O'Donnell - and succeeded beyond his wildest dreams (with some humorous speed-bumps-- Gary are you lisening?!). The core of their business is in-house R&D and manufacturing (Redback PA etc), and the wholesale unit.Sales accounts between the retail counter and wholesale divisions are completely separate - as are the accounting and pricing structures. You need two separate accounts to get the best of both - convenience, small orders at the counter, and good prices, volume, delivery etc at the wholesale desk.

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2015, 01:52:33 am
content: Quote from: GabYoung92 on December 10, 2015, 01:50:39 pmthanks for your advice, it is really good. it is good to hear stuff coming from someone who owns an electronics shop. speaking of which, if i ever stop by on the gold coast i will check your store out, it looks really good.i have been going to jaycar for about 2 years and i have noticed that they are culling some parts but when i go there there are always people buying replacement parts for broken electronics they are trying to repair so if people keep coming to jaycar to spend money on components, then they will keep on stocking themthanks

author: GabYoung92
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2015, 02:44:10 am
content: Quote from: rickselectricalprojects on December 11, 2015, 01:52:33 amUnfortunately that is what is happening. Majority of SMD components and throuh hole components that were slow movers were being discontinued/culledThe thing I find quite amusing is that Altronics is going strong with all of those parts!ThanksIt is a lot of hard work trying to do everything to get a store running! The amount of hoops that must be met (law wise) is just insane! Plus trying to find quality, reliable suppliers is a pain on its own.Good luck in the job! And remember; Coffee is a good gift to get on the good side of co-workers!

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 11, 2015, 12:16:26 pm
content: Never ever has an Altronics store in SA, only resellers.Problem here is the specials aren't passed on, and the first big reseller (Force Electronics) never had a catalogue for their discounted items. They are long gone.All that is left is Aztronics, which stock most Altronics stuff, heaps of their own parts/kits in addition. Unlike the last mob, they also have specials of their own.Jaycar are also worse and worse value every year, especially for non core electronics.Examples:PC items like drive power/data cables are several times more than in computer stores.MC4 connectors for solar panels, 12 (6 pairs) for $6 on ebay including postage from Queensland, $7.50 each from Jaycar. Same exact part too.Honestly there is a difference between covering shop overheads, and charging 2,250%

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 11, 2015, 11:52:48 pm
content: I've worked behind the counter of retail electronics and can only support what's been said. Too much knowledge can be a bad thing. It can get you into long discussions that waste time with a customer who may only spend $10 if you're lucky. Your job is to sell, not redesign the ISS. My boss made that clear to me.There is also this:Quote from: GabYoung92 on December 10, 2015, 01:50:39 pmAbsolutely! While you may know exactly what you are doing, you have absolutely no idea about the customer's skills, experience or qualifications. You don't want to give them any encouragement to do something they cannot handle.In fact, I once had a customer looking at a basic non-contact voltage pen. He started asking me questions about how to use it. Very soon, I was getting rather nervous with the idea of this guy venturing close to anything electrical. I ended the discussion by saying "If you don't know how to use it, I'm not going to sell it to you." I told my boss and he just accepted my action without criticism - which I didn't expect. I suppose he agreed a $20 sale wasn't worth the risk.

author: rickselectricalprojects
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2015, 10:19:46 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on December 10, 2015, 02:12:32 pmyeah i know the internet is different to the real world (thank god). thanks for your advice