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From: jbn@glacier.STANFORD.EDU (John B. Nagle)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Radio Shack parts, quality of
Message-ID: <17492@glacier.STANFORD.EDU>
Date: 16 Jun 88 15:59:13 GMT
Organization: Stanford University
Lines: 31


     With the decline of northern Silicon Valley as a R&D area in electronics,
it has become more difficult to buy electronic parts in the area.  Within
the past few months, the local branches of Zack's and Dick Smith have
closed.  Hamilton/Avnet moved out a few years back.  We have a surfeit of
yuppie-based businesses; there are at least two major design firms,
three desktop publishing shops, and four computer stores in downtown
Palo Alto.  (The high-end audio store and the BMW dealership are a bit
further away, and the fashion mall with the Neiman-Marcus and the Bullocks
is a few blocks away on the Stanford campus.)  While mail order is useful, 
occasionally one needs to run out and buy some wire, or a power supply.  
One would think that Radio Shack could meet these needs.  One would be wrong.

     I recently purchased some 12v 500ma DC power supplies, of the wall-
transformer type, from Radio Shack.  I discovered, though, that while the
supplies could deliver 12v, or 500ma, obtaining both at the same time was
too much to ask.  Output voltage dropped to 10.5v at 250ma.  This seemed
rather tacky, even for Radio Shack.

     So, while taking these back, I decided to purchase some wire,
ordinary 20ga stranded wire, three different colors in one blister pack,
and so marked.  What could go wrong?  Two spools held stranded wire.  One 
held solid 20ga wire.

     So, if anyone out there works for an electronic parts retailer
interested in locating in a new area, consider Palo Alto, Redwood City, 
or Mountain View.  There is no competition.  
     
					John Nagle