Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #10837
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: Bruce Robinson Bruce_Robinson@telus.net
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 22:16:28 -0800
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: shack caps
Dennison Bertram wrote:
>
> Actually Archer components are pretty much the same as anyones
> elses. It's takeing it a bit far to say that rat shack products
> are inferior. They are actually quite good products. Especially
> the electronics components. In addition, if your talking about
> consumer electronics, Rat shack will repair everything they sell.
Ya know, Dennison, I have purchase a LOT of faulty electronic components
from "the shack". As in about 25% were non-working. That was 20 years
ago, and it's been the same in the last year (much smaller sample the
last time). And trying to return faulty electronics ... uh, un. "You
must have damaged it when you hooked it up." Switches, wire, connectors,
PCB material, no problem. IC's and LED's are a BIG problem.
However, I've discovered something else. The shack is a franchised
operation, and I have learned over the years that there is a tremendous
variation in the quality of service. So much so, that I don't think the
parent organization spends enough time monitoring what goes on in their
more remote operations.
The (current) local dealer not only finds reasons not to repair faulty
consumer electronics (or replace it), they also don't bother to stock
stuff they don't think is profitable enough. And PLEASE don't
inconvenience them by asking them to order stuff in.
I think the lesson here is, "Approach each store as a separate business
and see for yourself". This seems to be one franchise you can't expect
to be consistent.
Bruce
10838 Thu, 24 Feb 2000 23:12:47 PST [alt-beam] Re: shack caps beam@sgiblab.sgi.com "Timothy Flytch" >Dennison Bertram wrote:
>As in about 25% were non-working. ... uh, un. "You
>must have damaged it when you hooked it up." Switches, wire, connectors,
>PCB material, no problem. IC's and LED's are a BIG problem.
>The (current) local dealer not only finds reasons not to repair faulty
>consumer electronics (or replace it), they also don't bother to stock
>stuff they don't think is profitable enough. And PLEASE don't
>inconvenience them by asking them to order stuff in.
>
>I think the lesson here is, "Approach each store as a separate business
>and see for yourself". This seems to be one franchise you can't expect
So true.... so very true... The local shak is owned by the same guy that
owns two others in this aria... All are not even worth walking through the
door!!! Bad is simply not even close to how you feel after you deal with
them... Their "fix" rate in very low... and usually is equal to duck taping
... Really... I have fixed a lot of friends/family stuff that they "fixed"
first...
My recommendation... shop elsewhere!
I have even found mis-marked % on there repackaged components(10% sold as5%
and worse)... so watch out ...
Timothy...
San Luis Obispo County, California...
______________________________________________________
10839 Fri, 25 Feb 2000 03:15:29 -0800 [alt-beam] Re: shack caps "Dennison Bertram"
>
> Ya know, Dennison, I have purchase a LOT of faulty electronic components
> from "the shack". As in about 25% were non-working. That was 20 years
> ago, and it's been the same in the last year (much smaller sample the
> last time). And trying to return faulty electronics ... uh, un. "You
> must have damaged it when you hooked it up." Switches, wire, connectors,
> PCB material, no problem. IC's and LED's are a BIG problem.
>
> However, I've discovered something else. The shack is a franchised
> operation, and I have learned over the years that there is a tremendous
> variation in the quality of service. So much so, that I don't think the
> parent organization spends enough time monitoring what goes on in their
> more remote operations.
>
> The (current) local dealer not only finds reasons not to repair faulty
> consumer electronics (or replace it), they also don't bother to stock
> stuff they don't think is profitable enough.
That is true, not all Rat Shacks are created equal by any means. Some rat
shacks (IE the one near me, since I'm on a college campus) is Cell Phone
central, and the people behind the counter have never even heard of solder.
I'm rather surprised you had such a high rate of faulty components. I've
found their FLED's for example to be much better than generic FLEDs. One
thing I know you have to watch out for is the age of the components,
seriously, at some radio shacks I see some electronics products from the
80's. An original packet of stuff that just hadn't sold yet. Anyway, overall
I'm still generally pleased.
dennison
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