The slow death of Jaycar? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: spsb
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 09:40:09 am
content: Yes this will be a rant, but i just wanted to know if anyone else feels the same way...When did Jaycar become “Junkcar”? I’m sure this didn't happen overnight, but perhaps it happened ever so slowly over the years that i just didn't notice. My earlier memories of this tech-store was that of a much different story than the one it tells today, maybe i should be asking How did it become Junkcar??Over the years i have experienced a decline in the quality of goods offered by this company. Once a place of resource for anyone interested in electronics and electrical equipment, and now a skip bin of low quality crap and novelty trinkets.. Well i guess the trinkets were always there. It was just recently that i started to feel more and more ripped off by what was delivered. Today i decided that it will be no more for me, after returning a “discontinued” but “discounted” product for the second time (two different products) i couldn’t but help feel that this wasn’t a coincidence but rather a plan to clear the shelf of their known “not so good” products.. Now here is the point of difference for me is that their “not so good” has become “complete garbage” and the good “okay-ish”. I don't think i need to go into the details as i am sure there are many with similar experiences to fill in the blanks.What i want to know was when did this company stop giving a toss about what the customer got as a complete product. Yes i know it was never “fantastic” but that's why you paid less right? It wasn’t all the frills but did perfectly well in the areas that mattered. Now it's mediocre and varying degrees of abysmal in the other areas such as build quality, assembly, documentation and product support and sales knowledge. I guess this is part of the “tech-store” becoming the “super-tech-warehouse” story where all those cheap manufacture sourced wonders give rise to “mega-tech-warehouse” of the Jaycar of tomorrow.When i heard of what Jaycar did to Freetronics i thought they couldn't be bastards like that would they? Especially so after coming from small beginnings themselves, but hey the greed for ever increasing profit needs to eat into something right?So now i leave it at this, i’ll forget Junkcar. I have no desire to support a company that behaves like this. And yes I’d rather buy my electronic "junk" from elsewhere - most likely another Chinese supplier of the same low quality goods as Junkcar. It feels like a lose - lose scenario i know, but i just don't want this company stomping out the little guy and also proliferating the marking with it’s effortless but profitable crap with the expectation that the customer is just going to put up with it and keep coming back. So forget Junkcar and mourn the loss of Jaycar i say.

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:04:11 am
content: Having taken the plung to using SMD on cheap but well made PCBs, Jaycar is of minimal use. I now only go there for the occasional 3.5mm line socket.I do keep a catalogue handy, if only so I can check that the bits I want are not available there!I can't even get solder thinner than 0.71mm.... Who uses 0.71mm solder with 0603?(Well I do, but that is because I got it from Jaycar...)

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:09:49 am
content: I think that every country has a couple of these electronics stores, that have become complete junkstores, that sell crap and now also overpriced crap from china, that can anybody order himself.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:15:39 am
content: Adapt or die. What would you have them do. Take DSE, putting aside that they died mostly due to private equity shenanigans , over the years they rode the waves of the latest hot consumer products. From calculators, CB radio, Ham radio, computer games, computers, answering machines and so on and finally it came to a screeching halt in the mainstream consumer commodity space with low profit margins.The internet has changed everything for retailers. Retail is classic survival of the fittest. Customers have changed, they have to change. Hobby electronics has gone the way of sewing your own clothes.Would youreallywant to go back? Everything is so cheap now.I bought an ultrasonic transducer last week but if it wasn't $9 as a long discontinued item I'd have bought it on ebay.I haven't forgotten the Freetronics issue either. But I don't think retailing is effortless. I think it is a really hard way to make a buck.Get an electronics magazine from the mid 80's and see what is gone. Everything but Jaycar and Altronics.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:16:26 am
content: Just slight additions to your comments -I gave up using ANYTHING that I needed to trust MANY years ago - especially -P/Supplies, converters, chargers etc etcOn a few occasions, I submitted electrical safety reports to our electrical authority (paid work), and had the units taken off the shelves .. but in the end, just up.I think they gave up too :-)I only buy odds and ends now, that I can afford to fail :-)

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:18:31 am
content: Quote from: wilfredAnd ONE Radio Parts store, who STILL have nice stuff !

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:37:54 am
content: Quote from: spsb on March 20, 2019, 09:40:09 amWelcome to the forum.This is not new. Maybe 10+ years back Jaycar admitted in their catalog (they have/had an editorial at the front) that mentioned why they had to carry this consumer "junk" like Choke-a-Chicken and the Spank-o-Meter in order to stay in business.I'm stunned that I can still go two minutes down the road and have access to 10's of thousands of electronics parts at a consumer store.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:55:41 am
content: I was hoping to see them pick up their game with the whole 'maker movement' in the last few years, but nope, still selling shitty disco lights, fart toys and low quality drones..There are a few occasional things worth buying, but it would be nice to see them start stocking the more hardcore electronics side of Ali-bay-Extreme than importing novelty farts.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 11:22:09 am
content: IF they have to put up all that crap to keep their doors open, then so be it. Doesn't mean I have to buy any of it - or even look at it. If other people do, then fine.What Idoappreciate is that I can find somewhere that's within reasonable driving distance to pick up a bit of cable, a couple of connectors or some jellybean components.

author: LapTop006
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 12:05:58 pm
content: I'm not sure quality really declined, more it didn't quite keep pace, while at the same time it's now easy for a hobbyist to access top tier bits by way of the online stores of Farnell, Digikey etc.It's also not just the electronics market hurting them, there's now things like local (online only) data cabling stores (4cabling) that are much better in quality, price and breadth.But yes, I've certainly dropped down in how often I go to one, used to be roughly monthly, now it's more like once a year when I have something that can't wait for an online delivery.

author: GlennSprigg
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 01:02:25 pm
content: The whole 'attitude' of the bygone era, was that we could go to such 'stores' and get what we wanted.What has KILLED that, (and to be honest, I'm not complaining!), is that now we can go on the likesof Ebay, and order anything we want from all over the Globe, for next to nothing! Ok, you don't likeChinese copies, so you can still find factory originals somewhere, for less than a 1/4 of the price...It's just a fact of life today...I mean... nearly all real new Book Stores are out of business these days. Look on-line.Find any book you want, from where-ever, 1/4 to 1/2 cost, and no delivery charge, to your doorOr bloody CAR Dealerships!! (don't get me started!!) when you want simple parts !!!!!!We used to go to some 'automotive' parts places, walk straight to an actual 'Counter', and talk to aREAL person, (one of many!), explain the problem or what you wanted, and after knowingly perusingthe massive rows behind them, would be back with what you wanted, in a minute. And cheap as...NOW... They have 'Dealerships' !!! (Wow). Massive buildings, huge infrastructure like some LasVegas fuckin PALACE, where you walk like a nobody 'hobo' through a gauntlet of Armani suited execswith attache cases, looking you up & down like you are dog shit on their shoes....You eventually find yourself at a 'Reception' desk, with some fancy girls (no offense) who can't helpyou, and an hour later after numerous computer look ups, that it will cost say $350, ( Yep, that wasa real quote from 'Hyundai' for a special HeadLight globe!!, as opposed to $50 for TWO on line).Years ago, we relied on 'Dick-Smith' electronics for all the basic chips, transistors resistors etc.Then they changed back to just major hardware like Laptops & Audio systems etc.We had places like Tandy Electronics that we could get all such components... but not any more.These days, it is 'Jaycar' Electronics here, which is the best of both/all worlds today.However, who could possibly survive locally today, with rows/draws of 20c resistors/capacitors etc.Technology catches up too quickly, for affordable 'stocks' to be an option now.Don't tell me 'everyone' doesn't at least 'look' at the likes of Ebay etc...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 05:57:54 pm
content: Quote from: hamster_nz on March 20, 2019, 10:04:11 amMe. And on TQFP and 0402 as well. But you need the good stuff with good flux.

author: John B
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 08:33:35 pm
content: The only things worth looking at there now are the enclosures, especially the die cast ones. I haven't found an online supplier that is competitive in that regards - suggestions welcome!Occasionally you can pick up a good deal. I purchased a low frequency inverter with a big toroidal transformer marked down around $500 from memory. But that also illustrates the crazy mark ups there.For example they will sell you a single MC34063 chip for $8. It strikes me as being aimed at younger people wanting to try out electronics, therefore they takes the parents along who dump a ton of cash to end up with an LED blinking on a breadboard.But for a full sized project, it's going to cost a fortune to buy all the components there. If you consider electronics a long term skill and endeavour, you would be better off making some bulk purchases from something like LCSC.

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 08:40:20 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on March 20, 2019, 05:57:54 pmMust run my iron too hot... the smallest bit of solder wire i can get to melt is usually 2x too much.Maybe you should call me Mr Blobby.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:44:37 pm
content: Too hot isn't good. I usually set the iron to 330 deg. C. This works well for leaded and lead free. But the quality of the tips can make night & day difference. Recently I had to use a JBC iron but I started to miss the excellent tips on my Ersa iron quickly.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 10:58:17 pm
content: I just broke my ereader screen. Now I am looking on Aliexpress for a replacement screen from China for US$18 DELIVERED. FFS that's amazing.The world is so different now.

author: austfox
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2019, 11:27:04 pm
content: I grew up in Sydney during the 80’s and have fond memories of treking into York St (opposite the QVB) in the city every couple of months. Dick Smith, Jaycar, and Rod Irving were all adjacent to each other. There was also a place in Refern that sold surplus components for cheap.I see Jaycar now as a place for the average ‘Joe’ who wants to fix something on his caravan, wire for audio in his car, a fuse for his microwave etc.I find Altronics as my go-to store when I need something at short notice, otherwise Mouser for anything I can wait a few weeks for. Altronics seem to be as close to the electronics stores of yesteryear, but unfortunately they only have one store in Sydney.

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 01:11:08 am
content: Quote from: TERRA Operative on March 20, 2019, 10:55:41 amIf anything I think the 'maker movement' made the problem worse.People expect their electronics bits and bobs to be dirt cheap, and there is an unlimited supply of mailbag videos featuring quantity over quality (100 pieces of cheap tat for $3).Then they pissed off their supplier of Arduino stuff (freetronics), and things went to hell.Problem is Jaycar just don't target their customers needs very well.If I need to replace some crappy capacitors that have done bad, I'll buy ones that will last, not whatever crap brand Jaycar are selling as their *only* part of that values/ESR/temp.Hence 10 minutes on RS's website to find a part with 1 day delivery, rather than a trip to Jaycar.It''s not their high markup, it's their high markup on crap parts, that is the problem.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 01:43:32 am
content: Quote from: station240 on March 21, 2019, 01:11:08 amNot correct. Jaycar has changed their target customer demographic in order to stay viable. It's "evolve or die".This has resulted in your electronics hobbyist of yesteryear not having their needs looked after very well.

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 01:49:40 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on March 21, 2019, 01:43:32 amBrumby has a good pointIt's hard to make a living selling jellybean parts (even with 100% markup) in quantities of one or two...I wonder what the average shelf time of a Jaycar part is - suspect it is months if not years for the components.

author: julianhigginson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 02:12:52 am
content: I'm in a few minds about Jaycar.Most of what they sell is just landfill in waiting. I wouldn't want most of the products in their store if they were free.... but I guess people buy it, or they wouldn't offer it. It's just not for me... fair enough.I'm really unimpressed with their freetronics shenanigans. Like, still pissed off with their behaviour over that.But they do stock useful parts that I can get by zipping up the road rather than placing an order and waiting the 1-7 days it takes to receive (not always exactly what I need, but often they have things that will do the job more or less) so I do use them when I have something I want to prototype quickly.At the end of the day, if Element14 had solid local stock I'd shop a lot less at Jaycar... waiting a day for some parts isn't the end of the world. But E14 has been getting worse lately so Jaycar shopping goes up, otherwise I have to wait 3-5 business days for Digikey or Mouser and that really hurts when I'm trying to so something fast.

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 02:16:20 am
content: Just sayin'....

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 02:36:22 am
content: Yeah - but you can walk out of the store knowingexactlywhat you spent your money on .... and if you have a faulty one, it's a lot easier and quicker to deal with.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 03:01:12 am
content: I'd use Jaycar a lot more if there was one closer in west Auckland, currently as the crow flies New Lynn is closest but way off the beaten track whereas I'm more likely to pass the one in Manukau rather than North Shore or the original JC branch in Newmarket.They do have a lot more crap these days but their core componentry stock is still much the same as it's always been.If we don't give them some of our business we'll loose them.Tricky Dicky Smith opened a branch not far away in Westgate and I rubbed my mitts together in delight but alas it wasn't long before componentry was just in one corner on a single carouseland jack shit selection too !

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 03:16:45 am
content: It was some years ago when I felt the greatest dismay in electronics experiences... I rocked up to the Dick Smith Powerhouse at North Parramatta in my need to procure solder - only to be completely disappointed.I looked around and found myself unable to distinguish it from a Big-W store.Woolworths had taken over Dick Smith well and truly at that time ... and it looked like it.

author: electromotive
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2019, 03:40:26 am
content: Quote from: hamster_nz on March 21, 2019, 01:49:40 amWhen RadioShack (a U.S. rough equivalent to Jaycar) went broke and shut down its stores, I bought some parts bins. While digging through components that were on clearance for liquidation, I managed to find *some* things with the logo they stopped using in 1995, *many* things with the logo they stopped using around 2000, and most things still using the logo they stopped using in 2009. This store relocated to a shopping development that opened in 2007, so that suggests to me that some things simply weren't being sold for... you guessed it... at least a decade.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2019, 10:46:29 pm
content: Jaycar were wiped off the radar as soon as they ripped off Freetronics. I think I only had to visit Jaycar since out of desperation for a single connector. We have Altronics and Rocky in Melbourne anyway - much better suppliers to deal with. If Jaycar went under, who cares.It would be nice if Jaycar provided a substantial ex-gratia payment to the developer of the original Arduino Experimenters Kit.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2019, 11:36:40 pm
content: Quote from: hamster_nz on March 21, 2019, 01:49:40 amAnd sometimes it's "evolve and die anyway". Just ask Radio Shack.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 12:31:18 am
content: What i really dislike about Jaycar is the lack of personal hygiene of the male staff. Mostly they smell really bad. I mean really bad.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 12:57:31 am
content: Quote from: mrpackethead on March 23, 2019, 12:31:18 amThat's a bit rough, and as much as I don't particurly gel with Jaycar/Techbrands for various reasons I would still stand up for the people there. They're just folks making a living. If you email head office directly with a sensible complaint about a particular individual, they will do something about it. I've done this in the past.Overall, I'm still happy the stores are there. The longer bricks-and-mortar electronics are available the better. Kids still need stores like that to check out stuff as we did, and if you need an LM311, a jiffy box, 3m Ethernet cable and some flux on Friday afternoon they've got you covered.At the end of the day - they're all we have now apart from Altronics (who are in a league of awesome) and some individuals like Rockby in Melbourne and a few other randoms.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 08:26:52 am
content: Looking through the posts on this thread I have an incredible feeling of deja vu. Most of the comments could have been made about Tandy/Radio Shack and Maplin Electronics, both of whom are now long gone.As for EBay taking things over, last night I felt a need to build a near-field probe set similar to Dave's project. Total expenditure for the parts (including an assembled RF amplifier) was just over twenty Euro and I get it all delivered to my door. It's hard to compete with convenience like that.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2019, 01:44:12 pm
content: Quote from: johnboxall on March 23, 2019, 12:57:31 amIts very rough. They should not subject their customers to that. Shoudl take a shower!! its simple really. And its both the stores that are nearish to me.. I'm not sure how the non smelly staff put up with the stinky ones.Quoteand aliexpress.

author: hamster_nz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 01:28:31 am
content: I got an email from Jaycar that this year's catalogue is out. Played 'spot the new semiconductor' but was unable to spot any. At least it doesn't seem they have discontinued much.Looks like they have added a few new bits of Pi and Arduino stuff, along with some more STEM robot kits.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 01:59:13 am
content: Yes they aren’t going to stay in business selling a pair of 12pF capacitors,and it’s the consumer hobbyist that will be demanding the Arduinocrap, making even less space for components.

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 04:46:54 am
content: can you hook up an ardunio to a can of deodorant?

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 06:24:16 am
content: As a Perth expat, there use to be Taimac, Willis Electronics, General Accessories and Altronics. A few other small places that came & went. This is 70s/80's.All that's left is Altronics. Not sure if RS is still in Perth. Jaycar, no idea, never visited one.I have to say that living/working in the US for a few decades changed my entire view of component availability and competitive pricing. Digikey/Mouser/Arrow/Avnet and a few others means I have access to an enormous portfolio of state of the art components that can be in my hands next day. Reps that I can get samples from. It's an electronics engineer's nirvana.We have a store (one of the last) in silicon valley (anchor electronics) and for its tiny size their stock is quite decent (including SMT R's & C's and some semis). Cost is higher (probably similar to buying something at altronics) than from a distributor, but when I need something that day, it's a handy resource. I'm amazed it continues to survive and would miss it it was gone, but it wouldn't really impact any of my projects.Most of the walk in electronics places have closed and online distributors have become huge. The ease of parametric searches makes it so easy to find components and the ease of ordering and fast shipping across the country have replaced the need to visit a distributor and talk to a human. Databooks are gone, searching PDF's is so much easier. We've become online customers.So, if a walk in electronics store can barely survive in the US, I'd imagine it would be even harder in oz with the significantly smaller customer base. Sort of like Frys Electronics that has morphed into a white good/tv/gadget store to try and stay in business. The electronics section in a Frys is a joke and usually poorly stocked/arranged. A bunch of antique thru hole components and a few bits of test equipment and some tools.With modern electronics there are hundreds of thousands of components that only a distributor the size of a digikey/mouser/etc can hope to stock. A walk in store has no hope stocking more than a microscopic subset and how does a customer even search their inventory. Hobby purchases won't keep a walk in store in business when buying a little bag of discretes once every few weeks. So, they start selling cell phones, RC toys, white goods, TV's etc., and soon that becomes their business versus components.At least in oz you have access to digikey/mouser, though of course there's shipping time and whatever duty/customs/gst gets added.cheers,george.

author: sean0118
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 06:38:59 am
content: The only reason to visit Jaycar is to buy DeOxit. Cheapest way to get it.

author: sean0118
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 06:40:18 am
content: Quote from: georges80 on March 24, 2019, 06:24:16 amThey are often quicker than 'local' sellers such as element 14 and RS.

author: OwO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2019, 07:56:06 am
content: Quote from: georges80 on March 24, 2019, 06:24:16 amYeah, all that is true unless you are a student and/or budget constrained. If you work a decent job (and thus can afford stuff at distributor prices) then you won't have much time for the hobby, but if you aren't working or are a student then the prices will look too steep to you. I would say if you replace US with China, and replace Digikey/Mouser/Arrow/Avnet with taobao, and add in quick access to prototyping services (PCBA, etc), then it would accurately describe my experience here.Back OT: brick and mortar shops aren't doing well even in Shenzhen. I don't find it surprising or care the least bit because in-store shopping is simply inferior. I can't search for stuff easily, travelling to a store is a waste of time, a store has high overhead costs which means stuff will be more expensive, etc.

author: ozcar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 03:29:09 am
content: Quote from: austfox on March 20, 2019, 11:27:04 pmAs far as I know Rod Irving never had a store in Silicon Alley (York St). David Reid was there for quite a long time, and Avtek around 1983.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 03:53:02 am
content: At it's peak, Sydney's "silicon alley" had Jaycar, Dick Smith, Tandy and David Reid. All were located within a 100m stretch of same block on the same side of York Street, opposite the QVB.Today, only Jaycar remains.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 03:58:16 am
content: Quote from: @rt on March 24, 2019, 01:59:13 amWe have an electronics components/hobby store which i visit often and it gets busy at times with customers buying components, but never ever i have seen anyone buying arduino stuff. It is just taking shelf space there...

author: electromotive
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 04:55:47 am
content: Quote from: soldar on March 22, 2019, 11:36:40 pmRadio Shack killed itself when it became purely commission driven bullshit. Nobody likes getting hounded by 13 associates in a 1,200 sq ft store.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 05:10:49 am
content: And Altronics give out free catalogues , jaycar sell them

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 05:27:33 am
content: Quote from: notsobThey didn'talwaysgive them out free, and for a long time, you got them freeonlyif you bought enough stuff. They have their foibles too -Every one keeps forgetting Radio Parts .. they're STILL ALIVE yanno :-) we not dead yet. Great quality stuff, good range and prices.Only 1 store left in Melbourne, but still big.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 06:20:40 am
content: Quote from: notsob on March 26, 2019, 05:10:49 amNot if you have a trade card.

author: Andrew McNamara
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 06:47:15 am
content: Going back maybe 40 years, I've bought lots of good stuff from Jaycar - quality tools, exciting kits, useful parts, some of which I'm still using - and, yes, plenty of crap. However, I agree with the sentiment of this thread - Jaycar now borders on the irrelevant. I'm happy to ignore the Junk - I get that it keeps the lights on - but I now struggle to findanythingelse. I can't think of a single successful mission to Jaycar for project stuff in the last decade. Their behaviour towards Freetronics suggests the company is already morally bankrupt, and I won't miss what they have become when they finally succumb, sad to say.

author: george80
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 10:20:50 pm
content: Brings back memories thinking about that group of electronics stores down the bottom of York St. Near QVB.Back in the day no trip into the city was ever contemplated with out a visit there. Just looking round those shops was a very satisfying experience within itself.I remember walking into a DS power house down the road when they first opened. It was like wonderland.It was not long after I went in there for some basic component and was told they no longer kept that. I literally laughed at the guy till I realised he was fair dinkum then I must have had my stunned Mullet face on because I couldn't believe that Tricky Dickys didn't have something they were built on. Looking round the place more looked like retra vision or Bing lee than an electronics store. I could buy 7 different toasters and unlimited Kitchen appliances but they didn't have 555 Timers??? WTF??I still have a Multimeter I bought from DS in the '80s. I paid $80 for it which was nearly a weeks wages on what I was getting back then. Having a bit of a multi meter fetish, I buy much better featured one's now online for about $8 but that old one that apart from being dirty doesn't look any different, will always have a special place in the heart. I'll be dead before I can ever have anything as long as I have had that now.I remember going into the DS powerhouse at Bankstown for some computer stuff in desperation and coming across THE most obnoxious, rude, arrogant, belligerent Fkwit of a shop assistant I had ever come across in my life. If not for the fact I had my young son with me, I would have dropped the guy like the POS he was no question and I really don't know how I kept my cool and didn't really hurt him anyway. After I walked away the guy followed me making smart arse remarks. Had I been on my own, he'd have not walked out to go home. Dunno if the guy was on drugs or what but I'll always remember that as few people in the world have ever got me as infuriated as that guy did and certainly never in a shop, Still remember his name, Dirk. Probably says a lot in itself!I came home and wrote a complaint email and sent it to everyone I could look up from the MD down.Must have go someones attention because I had someone from head office get back to me first thing the next morning ( sent it after 6 pm) with apologies profuse and would I like to come down to the store for a personal apology? Errr, no thanks, I may not be able to contain my temper a second time even just looking at the clown. Ah no, guy meant from him, Dirk would not be coming back, ever.I found out it wasn't the first complaint this turd had against him and he was dismissed on my complaint.Most of them there were like Bunnings staff are today, pretty useless especially if they have to fill in in another department.Jaycar is a double edged sword to me. Maybe a quadruple edged one. I don't mind the obvious crap they sell but I do get annoyed when you want something decent and they have 5 Different things all equally Cheap and garbage. I like cheap and nasty but there are times when you just want solid and reliable no matter what the price and when you can't get it... very annoying.Really now jaycar are just an importer and rebrander of the same cheap Chinese crap everyone else has. Like everyone else, Brand name and price as in paying for what you get has no relationship to quality whatsoever no matter if it could be relied upon in the past.I like the company, or at least did, but they are up against it. I have to admit I hardly go there anymore though and previously I went to see what new toys they had and would then come home and see how much cheaper I could get the self same thing on fleabay or banggood or the like.I remember one of the last times I was in there I saw something I wanted for my father. $89 which seemed steep for what it was. Came Home and found the EXACT same thing online for $9 Delivered. I looked for some solar connectors I was out of some weeks back. Buy good ones online for under a $1 ea, jaycar, $14.99..... but they come in a little bag with a cardboard top stapled to them.Must keep the staff enthralled for hours packaging them up.This is a problem I see with them continuing on. I understand that they have massive overheads, rent, staff, power , warehousing, insurance and so it must go on and on. Thing is, for me the customer, it's one thing to pay say $12 in store for something I can get online for $9 but to pay 10x more??? Not going to happen. It's not a one off either. All their stuff has massive markup compared to online and it's a real catch 22 for them and the customer who would like to support them.As for staff, seem to range from brilliant to pathetic. I remember doing a project some years ago that was for a commercial job. they loved what I did and ordered a stack more for a short time frame. I'd priced the job up as a one off and getting stuff from Jaycar so I was back there every day or 2 for a fortnight at least. There were never the same staff there. Like ever. I actually commented to one guy about it and he reckoned he'd been there years but I never saw him before or again. If they were casuals they must have been doing a shift a fortnight or something and the one store had 50 Staff rotating.I have just changed my way of doing things Now. I now think ahead and plan what I am going to do in advance and buy everything online.I have a HUGE pile of stuff in the cupboard behind me and I never order what I want, I always get 4-5 and I can do that because shit is so cheap. I have loads of little boards for different things that I pay a Buck each for and couldn't come near building them myself that cheap. A mate came over a few weeks back telling me about something he wanted and I came in, Pulled out a couple of relevant boards, hooked them to a relay and a circuit breaker, put it all in a box I had a heap of sitting there, wired it and he took it home thinking I was some sort of genius. I wish!He's happy as pushing me $100 Note asking will that cover it. Do a quick calc in my head and Figure if he buys me the lunch special at the pub and a couple of drinks, I'm in front.Could have never afforded to keep what I have on hand now in the old days. It was for most things except the small things like resistors etc buy what you need or a bag of them but I would never have what I keep now and didn't give a 2nd though to. If I was buying it at jaycar I'd have thousands tied up instead of a few hundred if that.This stuff is just so cheap now you can have it sitting round although I have learned to mark stuff because I forget what it is and have to get a magnifier to read the code on the board to look it up. Of course the boards I buy for a buck each online and are often delivered in 7-10 days are $15-20 at Jaycar, IF they have them at all.i really don't know how they can stay in business. Can't say I ever saw the local place busy no matter when I went in. I went into the Gold coast store about a year ago when visiting a mate to get some bits to repair his pool chlorinator. Most of what I wanted they kept but were out of stock of. Really? You can't keep Diodes and bridge rectifiers on the shelf?? Managed to scrape enough together elsewhere ( From mates companys repair dept) to fix the thing but very dissapointing on the part of Jaycar.I son't know how they can/ will survive. The environment of retailing is changing so much and just like my own business where bread and butter markets and several of them have all but dried up, making a quid doing what they are doing is something I can't even get my head around. I don't know if it would even be worth them just doing online as you do that and then you are still competing even more with the chinese/ fleabay sellers that are happy to make 3% markup.The only way is to do something no one else is doing and what the hell could that be in the electronics market?I was researching a few months ago. You can have an idea for something now, take it to these companies and they will do all the R&D, manufacture and market it and you get a royalty. They all say you have 2 years to make your money because by that time it will have been reverse engineered or copied and the market flooded with knockoffs.Be hard to come up with more gadgets than they already have or can buy like everyone else AND find a market at the profit they need.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 10:30:43 pm
content: There's also WES in Sydney, used them years ago but as i'm out of that particular industry I've not used them for some time, anyone have current experience with them

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 10:30:51 pm
content: Jaycar are only the public store for their parent distributor Electus, however Electus now seem to be offering public online supply these days too:https://www.techbrands.com/default.aspx

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2019, 10:32:04 pm
content: Quote from: OwO on March 24, 2019, 07:56:06 amI agree. I noticed the (only) local electronics shop has closed down as well. Like many I only visited it when I really needed something.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2019, 12:18:51 am
content: Quote from: notsob on March 26, 2019, 10:30:43 pmI've used Wagner a couple of times recently. They had what I wanted and at better prices than RS, Digikey and Mouser - if you picked up in person (which I did). Get a small order delivered and the pricing wasn't that much different, but if you are putting together even a half decent order, you could be in front. (Do your homework.)They are now on Parramatta Road Summer Hill, about a kilometre from where they used to be in Ashfield. There is parking under with a lift to the lobby - and the trade counter is open on Saturdays up to 4pm which has been very useful. Haven't used them for mail orders, so I can't speak to that.I'd add them to your list of Aussie suppliers if they aren't already.http://www.wes.com.au/contactus.aspx

author: TheAstro30
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 05:38:17 am
content: Where I agree Jaycar have changed over the years, no I don't agree they're "dying". I remember a time back in the early 2000's, you could still buy 25-0-25 volt AC 160VA toroidal transformers (and other voltages in that range) there. Now, you can't. I think it's mostly to do with "how well is this product selling?" "is it selling anymore? No. Discontinue.". Yes, it's annoying. But, e-commerce online is the way components and hardware are being bought now. Yes, there's a waiting time involved and can be frustrating, but, if they want to go the way of DSE, they'll keep accommodating the niche market (DIY hobbyists, like me) or try something different. DSE's demise was they tried to do what JB-HIFI is doing now.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 06:09:20 am
content: Quote from: TheAstro30 on April 16, 2023, 05:38:17 am... sort of. Management (and lack thereof) didn't help. It might have worked if things were done in a more... sensible manner.Read:https://www.channelnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Dick-Smith-Ruling-Equity-Court.pdfhttps://www.channelnews.com.au/tag/dick-smith/As a company, Jaycar seems to be doing quite well, new stores, new channels, new HQ. Good for them. We all need to move on.

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 08:32:15 am
content: I gave up on Jaycar after buying some simple 2.5 mm DC power jacks and plugs.Went back bought some more, same.The plastic melted like wax candles when I tried to solder them, and I am a well experienced techo with training in soldering to military standards and decades of practice.Went to Altronics, much better.Happened five years ago never going back.But Altronics very much need a few technically competent staff.

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 09:10:42 am
content: In the UK we had Maplins and it had it moments as it sold daft toys and the electronics stuff was at a premium price. But it was open 7 days a week and was handy when you had a thing you needed to check would work with another thing which can only be done with the physical object.Sadly the equity companies got a hold of it. Even though it was making 50% profit on the stuff it was selling it wasn't able to keep up with the debt it kept being lumbered every time it was sold. Firm buys it, take out loan to pay for the purchase in company name, sell company after making some savings aka selling off stuff, rinse and repeat. The same happened to Toy'r Us.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 09:32:35 am
content: I bought a 3d printer last week at Jaycar and I found the staff to be friendly courteous and helpful. And answered some of my questions with surprising candor.The last 3 Jaycar stores I have been in lately have been very neat and tidy showing they are well managed.I tend to buy stuff on sale and clearance so I wouldn't be a great customer for them. Nostalgic old-timers expecting bricks and mortar electronics stores to stay like they were decades ago are not the profitable customers in quantity they once were. If you need a roll of filament now, where do you go?It's time to cut Jaycar some slack it is 7 years since DSE closed down and they are still around. They must be doing something right.

author: redkitedesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 11:52:01 am
content: I lived in Australia the last 3 years, and was quite surprised by the number of Jaycar (and Alltronics) shops, and the range of their offering.There is pretty much nowhere in the Netherlands where you can still find that much.However, if I wanted something not on offer at Jaycar or Alltronics, I had to go to Element 13.9 and friends, and it usually had to be shippped from Singapore or Europe. Average delivery time 2 weeks. Mouser was slightly better, usually a week.If I order something from Mouser for delivery in .NL, I get it in two days. Element14 (Farnell) does overnight.

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 03:06:45 am
content: Pertinent time for a thread revival, I went into Jaycar yesterday for the first time in ages.All I needed was some heavy cable, an anderson 50A connector and some suitable crimps. They had it all but still made it painful.They had a sign up on the cable drums along the lines of "no lengths shorter than 1m" and I asked for 1.5m which didn't compute with them. I had to have either 1m or 2m which is just annoying at the prices they were charging for cable.I then had to convince them that I indeed did have a suitable crimping tool to do the job I was doing. It's like they wanted to pre-qualify me to buy the parts. I get the trying to upsell me on a tool but once I say I've got one they don't need to start an interrogation about what tool it is, do I know how to use it, etc before letting me pay and leave with my stuff. It was just annoying and a tiny bit insulting.I buy a heck of a lot from Altronics. They're not perfect, there's stuff they don't have, but they're good to deal with.Their over-the-counter prices are also incredibly sharp, particularly if you qualify for trade pricing (I'm not sure what tiers they have I might be better off than some...) I was poking around looking for something the other day and they had what I wanted on the shelf for less than I could buy it from China on eBay. Can't knock that!One that I don't see mentioned here very often is Wes, I order a lot from them and generally have it either overnight or within 48 hours.I'll probably go back to Jaycar again in a few years if I need something immediately, but they stopped being my go-to a long time ago.

author: aeberbach
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 03:48:41 am
content: I just noticed a big new Jaycar logo on a bulilding near Bunnings Box Hill, I don't think I am going in though. I would rather Mouser, eBay, or Amazon.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 04:26:57 am
content: Quote from: SmallCog on April 17, 2023, 03:06:45 amSurely that isn't what they were doing. Sounds like a very uncharitable slant to spin. They probably deal with lots of people who may have no idea what specialist tools may be needed and they were trying to forestall common eventualities.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 04:34:52 am
content: Quote from: aeberbach on April 17, 2023, 03:48:41 amGood parking there next to Repco and it isn't a super cramped store like Kew East is. Really good position there with Bunnings, Repco and Officeworks within a short walking distance barely worth moving the car. Great place to capture the other stores customers looking for things needed to complete a project.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 04:42:04 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on April 17, 2023, 04:26:57 amNah, sales. A little desperate salesmanship. If some salespeople can't positively slant a sale, they'll try to negative you into it.Not sure now, but in the past I think salespeople only got their commission if everyone in the store made KPIs. It can mess with your head if you're the lowest on the ladder in the store.I'm shopping for a new car at the moment, and salespeople are back to their usual pre-COVID BS to get you to buy off them.

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 06:25:00 am
content: Rockby is a great place, on line or well worth visiting.Great fun and value to be had by to sorting through their large sifting room, only one left I know of.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 06:46:51 am
content: Quote from: Kerlin on April 17, 2023, 06:25:00 amYep.Last time I was there about a month ago they said they were looking at moving. Didn't say when and I didn't ask. But Rowville was mentioned.

author: freda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 11:04:26 am
content: Quote from: johnboxall on April 16, 2023, 06:09:20 amI recall,according to my brother who worked there, it all went downhill after that WTF purchase of Tandy for a stupid price. Before then, even though Woolies owned them, theywere pretty much arms length, most of the previous managers continued, and DSE was making profit, and it seems Woolies left them to manage their own decisions.After that Tandy purchase though, the Woolies managers started to run things, and the character of DSe changed alot. Internally employment contracts and type of people employed all changed.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2023, 01:00:27 pm
content: Quote from: freda on April 17, 2023, 11:04:26 amYeah. DSE was great when it was operated as a separate kingdom by a Managing Director/Benevolent Dictator - whose job was to send very large cheques to WOW HQ every year and otherwise be left alone. Jeff Grover especially ran a very, very tight ship. Top bloke, RIP. I was responsible for running around metro Sydney installing EFTPOS and a second or third POS for stores, we used second-hand EFT gear from Woolworths and ex-repair or very old stock Commodore-branded PC clones. Good times. I would say DSE peaked in 1998.When the top job was converted to a GM-position, started to go south. And Tandy, yeah, what were they thinking?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 28, 2023, 10:39:02 pm
content: For those who haven't seen it:

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2023, 07:07:53 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on March 20, 2019, 11:22:09 amThat's the great thing about Jaycar, you can get most generic stuff you need from them in no time at all rather than having to wait three weeks for it to arrive from Aliexpress or wherever. Legit suppliers like Element14 and Mouser are quicker, but there's still a noticeable delay when you're halfway through assembling something and suddenly realise you can't go any further without a 50 ohm axial sliding boxcar prawn or something.And while they carry a lot of plastic junk they've also got some surprisingly decent stuff, for example I was pleasantly surprised to find them carrying Meanwell SMPS' rather than the expected generic house-brand white-label stuff.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2023, 07:16:21 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 21, 2019, 03:01:12 amThat requires some fairly local knowledge of Auckland geography to interpret but I ran into the same problem last week, it was a toss-up between going to New Lynn or the North Shore one, both were a helluva round trip for one part. Ended up temporarily bodging it with... well, I won't say because I'll be asked to leave the site if I admit to it.Having said that they have a store in Silverdale which is a pleasant surprise, saves a long trip into the city and the market out there can't be too big.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2023, 07:22:43 am
content: That's interesting as you're showing an Aussie flag 5U4GB.Apparently there is a Jaycar coming to Westgate only some 10 or 15 from us in Taupaki. A new PB Tech coming our way too.Where are you ?BTW, with a handle like that one guesses you are into hollow glass devices and I have a box of them I can't bear to throw out so you're welcome to them.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2023, 09:18:15 am
content: I had a confused upbringing :-).I actually just chose 5U4GB because there was already a 2N3055 and I figured I'd need to go back a bit further to get an unclaimed device name, haven't worked with valves for ages but thanks for the offer.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2023, 09:42:45 am
content: I have gotten to AKL and CHC quicker from SYD than it takes me to drive to the airport.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2023, 02:04:04 pm
content: Jaycar is a toy store, and I have only visited them two or three times in the last 10 years. The only real electronics store left in Melbourne is Rocky Electronics (totally revamped store recently with a nice array of electronic parts at low prices). They also do heaps on online sales. Their search engine is not the best, though. Altronics isn't too bad. But Rockby is the place to be seen and be cool.Other than the infamous Arduino kit piracy scandal, Jaycar are at least complies with Australian consumer law. The worst "electronics" company is Australia is Dick Smith owned by Kogan. Kogan burnt me by violating consumer law, violating a contract, false and misleading advertising, and bad products with no after sales support. I even reported Kogan to the ACCC on one occasion. The worst thing that could happen is if Kogan ever bought out Jaycar... that would be the end of Jaycar.Rockby is the opposite. Very ethical and a genuine family owned and run business. Highly recommended, friendly people. They are the best, at least, in Melbourne.www.rockby.com.au

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2023, 04:17:25 am
content: While I may cringe at some of the "toy" products that you will find at Jaycar, I can only console myself with the fact that the electronics hobbyist of today isn't going to be spending enough for them to stay afloat, so they have these other product lines to help keep cash flowing through the till. To me, it's a survival mechanism.Besides, when I'm in need of a 1N5408NOW, I can ignore all that crap. I will admit that sometimes I do sneak a peek for my amusement - and more often than not, react with a quiet WTF?!

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2023, 04:54:05 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on April 17, 2023, 04:26:57 amNah it was odd and I was being quite diplomatic describing it.I told them I had the crimp tool and they grilled me with questions rather than just take my money.

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2023, 06:42:12 am
content: Jaycar walk in convenience has a quality all of its own.as mail-order can be so..so slow at times.

author: robzy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 03:26:56 am
content: The Jaycar PDF catalogues used to be so useful.They don't seem to have them on their website anymore."I have checked, however after the introduction of the new website, the link to the 2021/2022 engineering and scientific catalogue is no longer there, apologies. We haveno new catalogue out yet, No ETA."

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 03:47:56 am
content: Quote from: robzy on August 21, 2024, 03:26:56 amThey broke a lot, a lot of stuff with the new website. Click and collect died for a while. The project content went missing. They seem busy riding the motorised esky around their new head office.Anyhow, I have pdf catalogues. DM me your email address.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 11:11:43 pm
content: I visited a Jaycar store in a small town in New Zealand a few months ago and I was amazed at the breadth and depth of their products. I live in Silicon Valley and we have nothing that's the equivalent of that Jaycar store despite this area having about 20x the population.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 11:32:50 pm
content: Quote from: johnboxall on August 21, 2024, 03:47:56 amhttps://web.archive.org/web/20210404171432/https://www.jaycar.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/9371026128926/Jaycar-2020-Catalogue-AU.pdfhttps://web.archive.org/web/20221025032537/https://www.jaycar.com.au/latest-catalogueshttps://web.archive.org/web/20221025032537/https://www.jaycar.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/9588302020638/Jaycar-2021-catalogue-AU-Front.pdfhttps://web.archive.org/web/20221025032537/https://www.jaycar.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/9588302118942/Jaycar-2021-catalogue-AU-Back.pdf

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 22, 2024, 12:10:29 am
content: Quote from: Sal Ammoniac on August 21, 2024, 11:11:43 pmIt is that very breadth and depth of their products that has allowed them to survive in smaller population areas and which has caused some to question their future. Motorised eskys and fly guns make a true electronics fan wonder ... but it is this sort of offering that can help put enough money in the till to keep the doors open.I don't mind it, but I tend to walk straight past that stuff to grab that connector or piece of heatshrink I need there and then.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 10:20:52 am
content: Another thing with them is that you know what you're getting. Recently ordered some PG9's from a local distributor and got sent some Chinese crap where the sealing ring was so rigid it was halfway between a PG11 and PG13 with maybe 1mm of movement from least to most tight. So I went to the local Jaycar and paid around 10x the price but got genuine PG9s that worked as they should.

author: MickeeYay
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 01:38:14 pm
content: My local Jaycar plays that annoying NOVA FM on the speakers at the front entrance. If that is a ploy to draw in a younger customer, it ain't working. The shop had a few retired techos in their late 60s wandering the aisles looking annoyed at the loud racket blaring from the speakers.

author: flashover
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 03:31:06 pm
content: I've decided to do something about the electronics/hacking itch I've had since I was young, and now being financially in a position to do so, am investing in a modest but capable electronics workshop again with some semi-decent tools I wished I had when I was younger (is there a place to discuss workbench setups/battle stations here?), so I can be a bit more serious about electronics and hardware hacking.Though what surprised me, presuming that Jaycar was still the 'go-to' when I started my workshop project a week ago, was how hard it was to find semi-decent tools that weren't no-name branded, or tools that were competitively priced. I get the whole markup-profit thing, though I was quite surprised to see Bunnings had a good $30 discount on Weller's WE1010 soldering station compared to Jaycar. Sydney Tools carries things like USB Device Multimeters (Klein brand, which seems to be mid-range), though the best I could find out of Jaycar's website was a simple LCD voltage meter. Sydney Tools also had Klein multimeters generally.Maybe it's just that Jaycar's website sucks?I would've thought that Jaycar had a few more tool options available, such as a few more well-known electronics brands and options including hot air rework stations, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and so on targeting serious enthusiast/semi-professional markets. Seems like a missed opportunity to only stock basic tools from brands that aren't considered beyond basic entry-level hobby tools. It'd be nice to see some tooling from Rigolm Klein, Hakko, and so on sold through Jaycar.Jaycar certainly has a massive advantage over Altronics (I like Altronics' website though) in that Jaycar has hundreds of stores (268 according to their store finder as of writing) spread throughout regional Australia, as well as the cities, which makes a massive difference for someone like me that lives regionally where postage can be slow, if not relatively expensive, at times. Its also nice to get hands-on in store, something I greatly miss over ordering online, despite that online ordering is a huge convenience with an exponentially larger selection.All that said I'm just breaking back into the electronics scene after a two decade hiatus, so maybe I've missed the mark completely...QuoteI'm probably not as young as 'younger customer' now (mid-30s) though I agree it's a poor ploy.That said, if they want to get younger people into Jaycar: lean in hard on the makerspace/hackerspace/enthusiast market, especially electronics and robotics. Sponsor local makerspaces (if there are any nearby), and if they have enough space in store host basic classes on soldering, small electronics, etc. like some games stores do with dungeons and dragons/other card game nights.What got me into electronics initially was Dick Smiths' Funway to Electronics. Do that, and start building a following.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 03:48:19 pm
content: Come to the Test Equipment Anonymous thread to ask and talk about test gear.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/We might seem a bit eccentric, but we welcome anyone with even a passing interest in test equipment.However, be warned, we will absolutely and whole heartedly encourage any and all acquisition of any form of test equipment whatsoever....But, we can steer you right in getting set up properly for a reasonable cost.I also grew up with the Funway projects, I read the books until they literally fell apart.Luckily I had a Jaycar not far away wherever I lived in Australia and was able to experience them before their foray into the novelty farting toys...I've not been there much (maybe once or twice) since the last decade of living in Japan, but family members still use them when they need a part 'right now' and still rate them as worthwhile for getting a project finished 'this weekend', the shenanigans with Freetronics notwithstanding...

author: flashover
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 09:54:29 am
content: QuoteSounds like my kind of people! I'll be over there shortly.I have a somewhat.. err... problematic condition that I acquired through my other (expensive) hobby, photography, called GAS... Gear Acquisition Syndrome.I just hope GAS isn't contagious...

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 10:58:56 am
content: Quote from: flashover on February 08, 2025, 09:54:29 amNo, it's not contagious at all. If you have it, you were born with it. It may not have manifested itself earlier in life, but the fact you've even found the glossary means you've stepped in directions that confirm you are afflicted...Welcome to the rabbit hole!

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 08, 2025, 11:00:36 am
content: Oh, BTW, we have some excellent,world classenablers here!!

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 09, 2025, 06:06:36 am
content: Quote from: flashover on February 08, 2025, 09:54:29 amNah, you just have to hold your nose and hope the GAS passes.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 07:10:45 am
content: Quote from: flashover on February 07, 2025, 03:31:06 pmThe new one does. I've had click-and-collects just vanish into thin air a couple of times. Or something is "available for delivery" until you try to pay. They don't answer emails. *shrug*Quote from: flashover on February 07, 2025, 03:31:06 pmThey tried that with their makerspace concept store in Broadway (Sydney) - right opposite UTS.https://www.retailbiz.com.au/retail-profiles/jaycar-electronics-to-open-first-concept-storeStudents aren't silly, they know how to save money. It gave me flashbacks of our PowerHouse stores in the late 90s at DSE. Good times.They do sponsor odds and ends:https://www.jaycar.com.au/partnershipsThat Jaycar makerspace store is no longer. They have a new or nicely renovated store at 127 York St which gives me PTSD from working at 125 in the 90s. There's 3D printers and spools of PLA, etc., but that's it.For reasons, I spend more time than I should following retail in this area. Both Jaycar and Altronics are still there, but pivoting away from what a lot of people (as electronics enthusiasts) expect of them. Why not? They have to follow the money. If you can't turn a SKU - get rid of it and replace it with something that moves.Altronics are more of a wholesaler, with a few retail stores that are generally very good. Depends on the staff at the time. Our Altronics wholesale rep is excellent. You can email Altronics and get an answer, without any BS. If something isn't right, you can email or call and the issue will be resolved. They also manufacture excellent audio and PA products in Australia.Since the passing of Gary Johnston, you can see the change in Jaycar. Bulky, profitable items are taking over - you can't blame them. I'm often poking around old stores, refurbished stores and had a look at a new store last month (Woolloongabba) a very old store that burned out, so it's now an example of the Jaycar from 2025. So much floor space for car fridges, cables, kids toys, and kits is just down to what's left of the Short Circuits range and a few holdouts. I was very surprised and happy to see the component drawers in the new store.For both companies, you can see the reduction of things of interest to hobbyists. And I don't blame them at all, why compete against aliexpress that can deliver to Australia for $2.50 in under ten days? Yet they continue to a degree.I do see them kick their own goals though. E.g. Jaycar are getting things from Keyestudio in China, and not having it rebranded. So lazy, they have the volume to arrange this. So if you can wait a week, plenty of money to be saved. Don't get me started on their lack of loss prevention. Altronics take the photos from their ali suppliers for new products, you can Google lens search the images and find them in under ten seconds. Madness!To finalise my old man observations - if you want these companies to stick around and offer what you want, they need your support.