The Source (Radio Shack) ... the demise is complete - at least for me!

Here in Canada when Radio Shack became The Source (I don't even remember how long ago that was) the demise began. DIY materials used to get walls of space and I slowly watched as "one by one" the walls came down. BUT - I still would go into my local store (because it's closer than the bigger electronics stores in town) to buy my soldering supplies, the odd jack, speaker terminals, and other odds and ends.
 
About 3 - 4 months ago my multi-meter died (my fault... it wasn't auto sensing and I wasn't paying attention) and I have been keeping an eye out for a replacement (I'm frugal.... or should I say cheap). Since my last DMM came from The Source I walked in there today and looked around. I didn't see any so I asked the nice young lady where the Digital multi-meters were. After she disgustingly put her phone to her side she said "I don't have a clue what that is!".
 
Well - she got the first 5 words right.

I thought all the Radio Shacks had closed. But the other day I spotted one. I thought, "Great! I can get a headphone adapter!".

I went in and looked around. Admittedly the store was full of cell phone items. But they "were out" of headphone adapters. The clerk looked it up on his computer and said he didn't think the store would be getting any.

Meters? Geez, they don't even carry simple 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch headphone jacks apparently.

craigb
Must be a Canadian thing.  We still have Radio Shacks here and I'd never even heard of "The Source" before your post!

Here in Canada (at least Western Canada) most if not all Radio Shack stores became "The Source". It has become a very useless outlet... carrying a lit bit of everything, but specializing in nothing. DIY is all but gone, just one small - half empty aisle.
 

craigb
Maybe you can find what you need online?

 
Actually - I walked just a couple of doors down to Canadian Tire (a major Canadian chain) and they had plenty of multi-meters to choose from. Their $75 meter was on special for $25 so in keeping with my frugal nature that one made it's way home.

Before their collapse in this area I would occasionally have the need to go to one. It had been decades since I went in one that the staff had any inkling of any electronic parts. Instead of the walls lined with parts, they had been condensed down to some large multi-drawer part cabinets near the back. Still over-priced parts (of course). I guess the staff were used to people like me. Once I started looking through the cabinets, they knew they were out of their depth and ignored me until time to check out. :)
 
On the subject of meters, I was surprised to find they have come a loooong way over the years. I got a tiny little amprobe at fry's a few years ago to replace a bad RS meter. It was only like $20 but it was a full VOM with transistor, diode and capacitor tester, audible continuity PLUS a built in frequency counter. It's probably not the most accurate but still... DANG!

My Fluke DMM of decades also just died.
I, being broke, (Not so frugal, just broke) , bought a DMM on eBay new for $8.00!
 
It's about the size of a cigarette pack and has a weird 12v battery in it but it's a DMM and was $8.00
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VELLEMAN-DVM810-MINI-3-1-2-DIGIT-DIGITAL-MULTIMETER-19-RANGES-/272055780953?hash=item3f57c9c659:g:g2UAAOSwEeFVOr5H
 
I'm gonna miss Rat Shack.

Hi,
 
We still have one Radio Shack here in Vancouver ...up in Hazel Dell. I can remember when they owned "Incredible Universe" and they screwed up its managing badly, and sold it to Fry's ... well, you always know good from bad management ... Fry's is still there in Wilsonville, and is our "church" ... you gotta visit it at least once in a while to pay respects ... ohhh wowowowow ... a new Asus motherboard!

craigb

Moshkito
We still have one Radio Shack here in Vancouver ...up in Hazel Dell. 

One?  We've got a bunch!  There's one on 164th, one on 78th Way, across the river in Lloyd's Center, etc.

NNNNahhh ... I go to "church" once every couple of months in Wilsonville. More fun!

Amazon and Ebay are your friends.
 
http://www.tedweber.com/
https://tubedepot.com/
http://www.angela.com/
https://www.tubesandmore.com/
http://www.mouser.com/
Maybe something here, not sure: http://www.ax84.com/
http://www.digikey.com/?&WT.srch=1
http://www.mojotone.com/
https://www.amplifiedparts.com/
 
I've been pleased with Weber, Mojotone, Mouser, and have used most of the others. Mouser for bulk parts or stuff the others don't have.
 
Local pawn shop may have a DMM. Cords from hair dryers and other things are cheap at thrift stores... and you may find other things you need at thrift stores, yo never know what you might find there.
 
Good luck. We still have a RS but they never seem to have what I need. They made some great stereo systems back in the mid to late 70s. Remember the MACH I II and III speakers. They were pretty cool. I had a RS integrated amp and tuner in the 70s and it rocked!! ...but I drift.
 
J