Ham Radio Forum

KI6HFP · Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 1

As a new ham radio operator on a fixed budget I have noticed that big corporations have been slowly taking over the local electronic surplus stores. It's really starting to annoying me because when I went to Radio Shack the other day to get a crimp on PL2-59 connector. I was shocked that they wanted over $4 for one crimp on PL2-59 That's crazy. Then I went to a electronic surplus store down the street and they

only asked for around 50 cents! Much better the only problem is the fact that there all slowly going out of business. So what's going to happen to this hobby? Are we going to halt to a big stop? are we going to pay for over priced parts? or last are we

going to be stuck with online ordering? None of those are very good solutions. I think because once we get stuck with just the Internet and corporate chains like Rat Shack the prices are probably going to go up even more than what they are now.

We will be at there mercy Because they will know that they are the only ones we can get our parts from! So I Really hope that something is going to happen and these electronic surplus stores will come back and stay in business. What does everybody else think? I am wondering if anyone else views this situation the same as I do.

P.S. Online ordering has its uses so don't get me wrong its good for some stuff but for small stuff the shipping kills you. Like just the other day my dad needed one .75 toroid he could not find what he needed locally and the online stores had a minimum order so instead of putting a .25 cent stamp on an envelope and sending the part. my dad had to spend $20 including $6 on shipping j Mad

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