NYC Electronics Markets? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: QuantumPhys
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 01:00:23 am
content: I just moved to New York City and I am in desperate need for test equipment and electronic parts (electronics is worse than caffeine addiction). I moved to US a month ago and have no idea where to get old test equipment/electronics components/old warehouses/new scopes/analyzers...EBay is an obvious answer, but is there anywhere in New York that I can actually buy these things in person? If you know any, please tell us the location/address!Thanks! Any help is very much appreciated!

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 01:13:10 am
content: Can't speak of N.Y. City, but I do recall the time in my youth going to San Francisco's Market Street where there were maybe a dozen kind of electronics stores. Some were pure WWII surplus stores, others electronics equipment and some for mostly electronic parts.Sadly those days have passed, brick and mortar stores are mostly a thing of the past, just can't compete and handle the overhead costs. Now it's E-bay and on-line or nothing besides Radio Shacks that are pretty poor for price and selection of basic parts. On the positive side parts selection is so much better now and prices can be very good if researched. And E-bay used test equipment is a market that just didn't exist in my youth.I don't think there has ever been a better time for those interested in electronics as a hobby. No need to buy expensive monthly magazines (but I did enjoy them) to gain information and research stuff, the internet indeed has changed everything.

author: vk3yedotcom
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 11:07:18 am
content: Quote from: QuantumPhys on June 10, 2014, 01:00:23 amCheck out the hamfests (radio flea markets) in your area. You'll be guaranteed to come home with more than you can sensibly carry with vendors almost begging to take stuff off them.http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar

author: QuantumPhys
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 03:01:34 pm
content: Thanks for the great advices! Been buying stuff on EBay these few weeks and really miss the stores in china (I am from China by the way) where I got lots of great test gear at low prices. Will definitely check the hamfests also! Thanks!

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 03:12:52 pm
content: You will never find an electronics market similar to those in China - the cultures are so different.Your best bet is EBay. And for something you need fast, Radioshack - ***very*** limited selection.There is this old electronics / tube store in Brooklyn that NYT profiled within the last couple years. If it is still open, check it out. I don't have the link handy, however.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 06:56:50 pm
content: Also checkout nearest hacker space, there should be few people out there that knows where to buy stuff out off..

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 07:03:18 pm
content: QuoteI found it:http://leedsradio.com/You can also google the nytimes article (and pictures) about it.

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 07:04:12 pm
content: http://www.barryelectronicsnyc.com/amateur/home.htmlAlso, look through the places on yelp.http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Electronic+Stores&find_loc=Manhattan%2C+NY#start=20Too bad Adafruit doesn't (to my knowledge) take walk-in business. Maybe if you email her, she might invite you to visit.And another listing:http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Local_Resources_/_Parts(Did tech school in NYC in the early 80's haven't been there since...)

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2014, 11:36:14 pm
content: Try Canal Street. Many years ago, I used to take my legally blind uncle over from NJ and go in and out of all the little shops so he could buy broken electronics and try to fix them. Then we would go to Chinatown for lunch to a little restaurant where the only english was "house special"-huge platter of food and rice for 2 and a pot of tea. Never did ask what the meat was. Not sure if those shops are still there but probably worth a check out.

author: QuantumPhys
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2014, 11:21:07 am
content: Thanks for all the great suggestion everyone! Definitely going to miss the electronic markets in China where you can just walk in for pcb, test gear, unlimited cheap parts, and reverse engineering services!

author: Tinkerer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2014, 05:08:28 pm
content: Quote from: QuantumPhys on June 28, 2014, 11:21:07 amNow thats interesting.

author: QuantumPhys
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 29, 2014, 01:28:41 am
content: Quote from: Tinkerer on June 28, 2014, 05:08:28 pmYes, there are stores which help you crack MCUs for their source code, stores which help you trace PCB for their schematics, and even stores which help you replicate a product. I have not used them before (obviously), but I believe that they are not expensive actually.