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Comment by spookthesunset | Hacker News Reader

I really wish cities in the US had those kind of sprawling electronics markets. So cool and useful. Like if you just need a single SPDT switch instead of a 20 pack on Amazon… you can’t do that right now.

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Fry's was the closest thing we had, and it was thinly spread at the best of times (particularly outside of California). It didn't really even make it into the pandemic; I remember walking into the Downers Grove, IL store in the Christmas 2019 season and feeling strange at how few cars there were in the parking lot. I walked in, and was shocked at the state of what was an obviously failing store that gave me the willies. I half-expected to run into zombies. Looking back, I'd have to call it a portent of 2020.

Between the implosion of Fry's, and Radio Shack not quite lasting long enough to capitalize on the maker movement, it's pretty well online ordering or nothing.

I visited silicon valley in the mid-nineties from Australia, Fry's was like a magical wonderland compared to the pathetic offerings we had. I went a little nuts and bought enough parts to build a machine just out of their bargain bins.

I've often wondered why those places disappeared but then you remember nobody really builds PCs or other electronic stuff except as a hobby and most people are running laptops that can't be upgraded anyway.

Shipping kills the deal, especially with used stuff that isn't worth much. An old workstation may cost $50 but the shipping is another $50 on top when you buy it on Ebay. At the same time, people are throwing out record amounts of ewaste that is higher-end than the gear I currently have on my desk. Really wish there was a local market here similar to those Asian ones.

We used to have a monthly computer show and sale in the DC area. It was like this but in tents at the fair grounds. It was heaven. What an incredible time to come of age alongside modern technology coming of age. I still have bins of computer bits just in case. Like 3.5”IDE to 2.5”IDE ribbon cable adaptors and shit like that.

Same for SoCal, I have fuzzy memories of flipping through boxes of shareware 3.5"/5" floppies and all sorts of with various hardware pieces.

For me it was the MIT swapfest[0], every 3rd sunday of the month april-october. I don't know what happened to it since the pandemic & also I moved out of the area, but it was amazing for getting fantastic little odds&ends and components. Since it grew out of ham radio, it generally had parts and tools you needed for fixing electronics.

[0] http://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit/

eBay is a far better source for electronic components than Amazon. You can source single switches. The cheapest are direct from China with 1mo shipping times, but there are US sellers as well.

This is what happens when you move all the manufacturing out of the country...

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