So, RS died for me because of less variety of parts for more and more money (compared to Internet vendors). I mean, seriously inefficient use of money! I still don't like the minimum $10 shipping fee for Mouser, but when it's less than 10% of my purchase, I'm not paying for two to ten useless duplicates for every part number, and I get 7% off for sales tax I don't pay, it's quite a bargain compared to RS.

--Emphasis Added--

I hear ya as regards limited variety at 'bricks and mortar' shops... On the other hand I'm happy to pay a 500%+ mark-up to have it NOW! Thus it seems patience is a double virtue in your case

Very best regards
HP

 

Thus it seems patience is a double virtue in your case

Most of my jobs which require mail order parts are antique guitar amplifiers. Their owners know that parts which are pushing 50 years old aren't available in every city. It is their patience which counts. Besides, I make up for it in quality.
I have never shipped a guitar amplifier with a mistake in it.
I put a 2 gang audio pot where a single pot belonged because that was all I had in stock after forgetting to check the tone control before ordering parts, but the customer will never know by the way it sounds.

Now, if I have a car disassembled and it needs to go to work on Monday, I'm in a major hurry.
I sent one home last night with no tail lights.
I couldn't buy a light bulb socket in the local stores.
But, yes, I would have paid $20 or $30 if I could have found one yesterday.

 

I just checked and radioshack.com is still up and running. The bad news is that the discounts are much smaller than the two local stores I have been in.

p.s. I just got some watch batteries for about $1.25 each at a local store. Much better than the abusive $7 each, previously.

 

Yesterday I was in my local Radio Shack. All parts drawer products were only $1 each. This includes the MEMS2 axis accelerometer -- normally $38! This is Radio Shack part number 276-0029 which is Parallax number 28017.

It uses the Mesmic MXD2125. It is only 2 axis and rated +/-3g max but it would be good enough for an electronic level or inclinometer.

Specs for Parallax #28017:
https://www.parallax.com/product/28017
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...sg=AFQjCNFPVStIOrxae88u--TSRFswPJp6iQ&cad=rja

MEMSIC MXD2125 specs:
https://www.parallax.com/sites/default/files/downloads/28017-Memsic-MXD2125-Datasheet.pdf


I also got a small bag of other stuff...

 

http://www.avclub.com/article/radio-shack-just-tweeting-pictures-their-empty-sto-255968

 

http://www.avclub.com/article/radio-shack-just-tweeting-pictures-their-empty-sto-255968

From that article:

​

The striketrhough is mine.

 

From that article:

View attachment 127877​

The striketrhough is mine.

Ultimately they did it to themselves.

 

I needed a RG/BNC adapter the other day and thought first of radio shack. I knew that the closest one to me was closed down already. I checked Google and it said the one on the other side of town was still open, so I drove 20min to get there. I pull up, big "RADIO SHACK" sign up front, walk up to the door, "Radio Shack" sign hanging above the door, open the door, nothing but Sprint cell phones inside. Radio Shack had 100% devolved into a Sprint store. I asked "what happened to Radio Shack?" and the clerk acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. He said "Radio Shack? This is a Sprint store, sir." I was PISSED. They should have taken down the Radio Shack signs. Should have updated the Google listing. Sure, I should have called ahead, but if you think I'm going to admit culpability here, you don't know me.

 

I needed a RG/BNC adapter the other day and thought first of radio shack. I knew that the closest one to me was closed down already. I checked Google and it said the one on the other side of town was still open, so I drove 20min to get there. I pull up, big "RADIO SHACK" sign up front, walk up to the door, "Radio Shack" sign hanging above the door, open the door, nothing but Sprint cell phones inside. Radio Shack had 100% devolved into a Sprint store. I asked "what happened to Radio Shack?" and the clerk acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. He said "Radio Shack? This is a Sprint store, sir." I was PISSED. They should have taken down the Radio Shack signs. Should have updated the Google listing. Sure, I should have called ahead, but if you think I'm going to admit culpability here, you don't know me.

You should file a complaint, that would cost Radio Shack dearly... probably force them into bankruptcy or worse...

 

I can't recall the last time I bought an electronic component from radio shack any more.

The last time I was in one was probably 2 - 3 years ago now and their reming selection was poor and prices for what they had were so high buying online in quantity and waiting a week was a way better option for the money spent.

 

I can't recall the last time I bought an electronic component from radio shack any more.

The last time I was in one was probably 2 - 3 years ago now and their reming selection was poor and prices for what they had were so high buying online in quantity and waiting a week was a way better option for the money spent.

I was in there less than a year ago and it looked like they were trying to diversify and get back into their old bread & butter. They still had the front half of the store dedicated to cell phone chargers, but in the back half they were stocking more components than before, and they had Arduino stuff. A lot of different modules, kits, etc. stuff that they didn't have before. It was more expensive than on Amazon or eBay, but they had it. They were trying to be less stupid, but too little too late.