wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 07:12:57 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 10/16/2017 11:55 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 16 Oct 2017 20:04:39 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:


... is causing the brick and mortar stores to close their doors.

I needed a HDMI coupler to extend a HDMI cable. Went on Amazon and they
had several, some for under $2. I opted for one that was a little more
expensive at $3.45 because it had gold plated contacts. Submitted the
order and it will be here in two days.

Then, I happened to be out running an errand and stopped in at a Best
Buy, deciding that since the couplers are so cheap, I'll pick one up
there so I could finish the project I am working on today rather than
having to wait for two days.

Found the coupler but the package had no price on it. Took it up to the
register thinking it was probably 5 or 6 bucks, tops.

Girl scans it and the price was $29.09.

I told her that must be a mistake, so she manually entered the number on
the package. Yup. $29.09.

Told her I changed my mind. I'll wait until Wednesday. That's absurd.


Those electronics stores are all living on life support. Ebay has
become the new Radio Shack except much better, even when Radio Shack
actually sold electronics parts.
If you want small lots of components (anything from resistors to ICs)
check out Ebay. They are buying this stuff in big lots and breaking it
up into small lots. Since most of this stuff will ship with a 1st
class stamp, shipping is free and fast.



Before they finally closed their doors for good I occasionally visited
Radio Shack to pick up some electronic components for a guitar amp or
something I was repairing. The selection of components rated for vacuum
tube devices was pretty bare and what they had you could tell had been
there for a long time. Hard to even find a resistor in anything more
than an eighth watt.


Radio Shack sucked for getting components by the 80s. Fortunately we
had one real electronics store here until around 96-97 that served the
hams and what few electronics repair guys who were still around but it
was on life support for years before it closed and pretty expensive.
If I could wait, I used MCM. (and still do on some stuff).
Now I look at Ebay first. My collection of common components like
resistors capacitors and general use transistors is actually growing
again since the Ebay guys usually sell in lots of at least 10 for
pennies a unit. One thing I have built a lot of recently is a LM317
based pass regulator in 3VDC, trying to eliminate a bunch of AA
battery use for things that don't really move. The 5v stuff is easy.
The good old LM309K is still around for about a dime each.
I am starting to think Edison may have been on to something with his
DC power distribution but these days it would be 12v and 5v, using the
5.5mm coax and USB A socket. Unfortunately in a whole house system you
might need 10 or 8 ga wire to keep the voltage drop reasonable. Even
then you would want the power supply centrally located and star wired
from there.
Then the question is whether one big switcher supply is more efficient
than few dozen wall warts plugged in around the house that are unused
most of the time.
That might be another "science fair" project for me, comparing a bunch
of wall warts to a PC supply, unloaded and loaded with a given load.
A "Kill a watt" would be the right tool I suppose.


Got a couple outlets that have a duplex receptacle, and dual 2 amp USB
charge ports.

On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:02:38 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

Got a couple outlets that have a duplex receptacle, and dual 2 amp USB
charge ports.

I have one of them too. It ends up not being enough ports for all the
stuff we end up charging. I may end up cutting in a bigger box and
installing another one there.

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/17/2017 12:21 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:10:14 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:

... is causing the brick and mortar stores to close their doors.

I needed a HDMI coupler to extend a HDMI cable. Went on Amazon and
they
had several, some for under $2. I opted for one that was a little
more
expensive at $3.45 because it had gold plated contacts. Submitted the
order and it will be here in two days.

Then, I happened to be out running an errand and stopped in at a Best
Buy, deciding that since the couplers are so cheap, I'll pick one up
there so I could finish the project I am working on today rather than
having to wait for two days.

Found the coupler but the package had no price on it. Took it up
to the
register thinking it was probably 5 or 6 bucks, tops.

Girl scans it and the price was $29.09.

I told her that must be a mistake, so she manually entered the
number on
the package. Yup. $29.09.

Told her I changed my mind. I'll wait until Wednesday. That's absurd.




Or the are like Sears. A few years ago, I needed a 3/4 drive
breaker bar
to change the water pump on my diesel. $45 at Sears, but sign up
email
and order online for pickup. $21 and Sears is only a couple miles
from me
in the shopping center. I think that is the last purchase there. So
last week, get an email that I have $20 free cash to spend on home
fashions. So wife and I buy $20 of towels for the fire victims.
2 days
later I get an email I got $25 of more free cash. Bigger selection
this
time. I have been looking at metric ratcheting box end wrenches.
So go
online for store pickup. They bring to car. $79 set, on sale,
$50 off.
So for $5.45 with tax I get a really nice set. No wonder they are
bankrupt.

The ironic thing is that they used to be the king of mail order and
just about the time when internet sales were starting to gain a little
traction, they went solid brick and mortar abandoning ther catalog
operation. (90s)
It s a classic case of losing your imagination and not looking at
where the world is headed. With their infrastructure, experience and
their product line they had the opportunity to dominate the online
marketplace.



Yup. When I was a kid I'd spend hours going through that massive Sears
catalog.

When I was a kid I was *in* the Sears catalog. We had a neighbor who
was a photographer. His "model" was unavailable so he called my Mom.
It was for one of those portable basketball hoops. They showed up with
the hoop, some clothes from Sears, and a basketball with a Sears logo on
it. After a few shots of me shooting a layup, our neighbor said the
ball might be blurry (no digital back then). They partially deflated the
ball, set it on the back of the hoop against the backboard (with the
Sears logo facing the camera) and all I had to do was jump like I was
making a shot. That was what they used. I still have copies of the
photos they didn't use and the ball was blurry.

The minimum rate back then was $60 per hour. I was paid $60 for the one
hour but 10% was taken out for an agency fee so I netted $54. I never
met my "agent". Not bad for a high school kid in the early 80's. That
photo ended up in one catalog, the Christmas "Wishbook" and a smaller
flyer they mailed to the house.

On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:01:05 -0400, Alex wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/17/2017 12:21 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:10:14 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:

... is causing the brick and mortar stores to close their doors.

I needed a HDMI coupler to extend a HDMI cable. Went on Amazon and
they
had several, some for under $2. I opted for one that was a little
more
expensive at $3.45 because it had gold plated contacts. Submitted the
order and it will be here in two days.

Then, I happened to be out running an errand and stopped in at a Best
Buy, deciding that since the couplers are so cheap, I'll pick one up
there so I could finish the project I am working on today rather than
having to wait for two days.

Found the coupler but the package had no price on it. Took it up
to the
register thinking it was probably 5 or 6 bucks, tops.

Girl scans it and the price was $29.09.

I told her that must be a mistake, so she manually entered the
number on
the package. Yup. $29.09.

Told her I changed my mind. I'll wait until Wednesday. That's absurd.




Or the are like Sears. A few years ago, I needed a 3/4 drive
breaker bar
to change the water pump on my diesel. $45 at Sears, but sign up
email
and order online for pickup. $21 and Sears is only a couple miles
from me
in the shopping center. I think that is the last purchase there. So
last week, get an email that I have $20 free cash to spend on home
fashions. So wife and I buy $20 of towels for the fire victims.
2 days
later I get an email I got $25 of more free cash. Bigger selection
this
time. I have been looking at metric ratcheting box end wrenches.
So go
online for store pickup. They bring to car. $79 set, on sale,
$50 off.
So for $5.45 with tax I get a really nice set. No wonder they are
bankrupt.

The ironic thing is that they used to be the king of mail order and
just about the time when internet sales were starting to gain a little
traction, they went solid brick and mortar abandoning ther catalog
operation. (90s)
It s a classic case of losing your imagination and not looking at
where the world is headed. With their infrastructure, experience and
their product line they had the opportunity to dominate the online
marketplace.



Yup. When I was a kid I'd spend hours going through that massive Sears
catalog.

When I was a kid I was *in* the Sears catalog. We had a neighbor who
was a photographer. His "model" was unavailable so he called my Mom.
It was for one of those portable basketball hoops. They showed up with
the hoop, some clothes from Sears, and a basketball with a Sears logo on
it. After a few shots of me shooting a layup, our neighbor said the
ball might be blurry (no digital back then). They partially deflated the
ball, set it on the back of the hoop against the backboard (with the
Sears logo facing the camera) and all I had to do was jump like I was
making a shot. That was what they used. I still have copies of the
photos they didn't use and the ball was blurry.

The minimum rate back then was $60 per hour. I was paid $60 for the one
hour but 10% was taken out for an agency fee so I netted $54. I never
met my "agent". Not bad for a high school kid in the early 80's. That
photo ended up in one catalog, the Christmas "Wishbook" and a smaller
flyer they mailed to the house.

I thought you were going to say you were the guy with his dick
showing.

On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:01:05 -0400, Alex wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/17/2017 12:21 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:10:14 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:

... is causing the brick and mortar stores to close their doors.

I needed a HDMI coupler to extend a HDMI cable. Went on Amazon and
they
had several, some for under $2. I opted for one that was a little
more
expensive at $3.45 because it had gold plated contacts. Submitted the
order and it will be here in two days.

Then, I happened to be out running an errand and stopped in at a Best
Buy, deciding that since the couplers are so cheap, I'll pick one up
there so I could finish the project I am working on today rather than
having to wait for two days.

Found the coupler but the package had no price on it. Took it up
to the
register thinking it was probably 5 or 6 bucks, tops.

Girl scans it and the price was $29.09.

I told her that must be a mistake, so she manually entered the
number on
the package. Yup. $29.09.

Told her I changed my mind. I'll wait until Wednesday. That's absurd.




Or the are like Sears. A few years ago, I needed a 3/4 drive
breaker bar
to change the water pump on my diesel. $45 at Sears, but sign up
email
and order online for pickup. $21 and Sears is only a couple miles
from me
in the shopping center. I think that is the last purchase there. So
last week, get an email that I have $20 free cash to spend on home
fashions. So wife and I buy $20 of towels for the fire victims.
2 days
later I get an email I got $25 of more free cash. Bigger selection
this
time. I have been looking at metric ratcheting box end wrenches.
So go
online for store pickup. They bring to car. $79 set, on sale,
$50 off.
So for $5.45 with tax I get a really nice set. No wonder they are
bankrupt.

The ironic thing is that they used to be the king of mail order and
just about the time when internet sales were starting to gain a little
traction, they went solid brick and mortar abandoning ther catalog
operation. (90s)
It s a classic case of losing your imagination and not looking at
where the world is headed. With their infrastructure, experience and
their product line they had the opportunity to dominate the online
marketplace.



Yup. When I was a kid I'd spend hours going through that massive Sears
catalog.

When I was a kid I was *in* the Sears catalog. We had a neighbor who
was a photographer. His "model" was unavailable so he called my Mom.
It was for one of those portable basketball hoops. They showed up with
the hoop, some clothes from Sears, and a basketball with a Sears logo on
it. After a few shots of me shooting a layup, our neighbor said the
ball might be blurry (no digital back then). They partially deflated the
ball, set it on the back of the hoop against the backboard (with the
Sears logo facing the camera) and all I had to do was jump like I was
making a shot. That was what they used. I still have copies of the
photos they didn't use and the ball was blurry.

The minimum rate back then was $60 per hour. I was paid $60 for the one
hour but 10% was taken out for an agency fee so I netted $54. I never
met my "agent". Not bad for a high school kid in the early 80's. That
photo ended up in one catalog, the Christmas "Wishbook" and a smaller
flyer they mailed to the house.

After some heavy searching I found that shot. Page 454:

http://www.wishbookweb.com/FB/1983_Sears_Wishbook/#454

That was good money. Hope you didn't waste it on frivolities, but bought something useful...like a
gun.

wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:01:05 -0400, Alex wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/17/2017 12:21 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:10:14 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:
... is causing the brick and mortar stores to close their doors.

I needed a HDMI coupler to extend a HDMI cable. Went on Amazon and
they
had several, some for under $2. I opted for one that was a little
more
expensive at $3.45 because it had gold plated contacts. Submitted the
order and it will be here in two days.

Then, I happened to be out running an errand and stopped in at a Best
Buy, deciding that since the couplers are so cheap, I'll pick one up
there so I could finish the project I am working on today rather than
having to wait for two days.

Found the coupler but the package had no price on it. Took it up
to the
register thinking it was probably 5 or 6 bucks, tops.

Girl scans it and the price was $29.09.

I told her that must be a mistake, so she manually entered the
number on
the package. Yup. $29.09.

Told her I changed my mind. I'll wait until Wednesday. That's absurd.



Or the are like Sears. A few years ago, I needed a 3/4 drive
breaker bar
to change the water pump on my diesel. $45 at Sears, but sign up
email
and order online for pickup. $21 and Sears is only a couple miles
from me
in the shopping center. I think that is the last purchase there. So
last week, get an email that I have $20 free cash to spend on home
fashions. So wife and I buy $20 of towels for the fire victims.
2 days
later I get an email I got $25 of more free cash. Bigger selection
this
time. I have been looking at metric ratcheting box end wrenches.
So go
online for store pickup. They bring to car. $79 set, on sale,
$50 off.
So for $5.45 with tax I get a really nice set. No wonder they are
bankrupt.
The ironic thing is that they used to be the king of mail order and
just about the time when internet sales were starting to gain a little
traction, they went solid brick and mortar abandoning ther catalog
operation. (90s)
It s a classic case of losing your imagination and not looking at
where the world is headed. With their infrastructure, experience and
their product line they had the opportunity to dominate the online
marketplace.


Yup. When I was a kid I'd spend hours going through that massive Sears
catalog.
When I was a kid I was *in* the Sears catalog. We had a neighbor who
was a photographer. His "model" was unavailable so he called my Mom.
It was for one of those portable basketball hoops. They showed up with
the hoop, some clothes from Sears, and a basketball with a Sears logo on
it. After a few shots of me shooting a layup, our neighbor said the
ball might be blurry (no digital back then). They partially deflated the
ball, set it on the back of the hoop against the backboard (with the
Sears logo facing the camera) and all I had to do was jump like I was
making a shot. That was what they used. I still have copies of the
photos they didn't use and the ball was blurry.

The minimum rate back then was $60 per hour. I was paid $60 for the one
hour but 10% was taken out for an agency fee so I netted $54. I never
met my "agent". Not bad for a high school kid in the early 80's. That
photo ended up in one catalog, the Christmas "Wishbook" and a smaller
flyer they mailed to the house.
I thought you were going to say you were the guy with his dick
showing.

Did that happen?

John H wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:01:05 -0400, Alex wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/17/2017 12:21 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:10:14 -0000 (UTC), Bill
wrote:

Mr. Luddite wrote:
... is causing the brick and mortar stores to close their doors.

I needed a HDMI coupler to extend a HDMI cable. Went on Amazon and
they
had several, some for under $2. I opted for one that was a little
more
expensive at $3.45 because it had gold plated contacts. Submitted the
order and it will be here in two days.

Then, I happened to be out running an errand and stopped in at a Best
Buy, deciding that since the couplers are so cheap, I'll pick one up
there so I could finish the project I am working on today rather than
having to wait for two days.

Found the coupler but the package had no price on it. Took it up
to the
register thinking it was probably 5 or 6 bucks, tops.

Girl scans it and the price was $29.09.

I told her that must be a mistake, so she manually entered the
number on
the package. Yup. $29.09.

Told her I changed my mind. I'll wait until Wednesday. That's absurd.



Or the are like Sears. A few years ago, I needed a 3/4 drive
breaker bar
to change the water pump on my diesel. $45 at Sears, but sign up
email
and order online for pickup. $21 and Sears is only a couple miles
from me
in the shopping center. I think that is the last purchase there. So
last week, get an email that I have $20 free cash to spend on home
fashions. So wife and I buy $20 of towels for the fire victims.
2 days
later I get an email I got $25 of more free cash. Bigger selection
this
time. I have been looking at metric ratcheting box end wrenches.
So go
online for store pickup. They bring to car. $79 set, on sale,
$50 off.
So for $5.45 with tax I get a really nice set. No wonder they are
bankrupt.
The ironic thing is that they used to be the king of mail order and
just about the time when internet sales were starting to gain a little
traction, they went solid brick and mortar abandoning ther catalog
operation. (90s)
It s a classic case of losing your imagination and not looking at
where the world is headed. With their infrastructure, experience and
their product line they had the opportunity to dominate the online
marketplace.


Yup. When I was a kid I'd spend hours going through that massive Sears
catalog.
When I was a kid I was *in* the Sears catalog. We had a neighbor who
was a photographer. His "model" was unavailable so he called my Mom.
It was for one of those portable basketball hoops. They showed up with
the hoop, some clothes from Sears, and a basketball with a Sears logo on
it. After a few shots of me shooting a layup, our neighbor said the
ball might be blurry (no digital back then). They partially deflated the
ball, set it on the back of the hoop against the backboard (with the
Sears logo facing the camera) and all I had to do was jump like I was
making a shot. That was what they used. I still have copies of the
photos they didn't use and the ball was blurry.

The minimum rate back then was $60 per hour. I was paid $60 for the one
hour but 10% was taken out for an agency fee so I netted $54. I never
met my "agent". Not bad for a high school kid in the early 80's. That
photo ended up in one catalog, the Christmas "Wishbook" and a smaller
flyer they mailed to the house.
After some heavy searching I found that shot. Page 454:

http://www.wishbookweb.com/FB/1983_Sears_Wishbook/#454

That was good money. Hope you didn't waste it on frivolities, but bought something useful...like a
gun.

That's it. The photo they used in the regular catalog had our house in
the background. Same photo but without the background removed. You
could see the neighbors house too. They go a kick out of that.