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Electronic parts. There used to be several local shops and a Radio Shack where you could go in and just buy basic electronic components (capacitors, resistors, photocells, transistors, breadboards, potentiometers, you name it). They phased all of that out in favour of toys and trinkets before just folding.
Now I have to order on Mouser or Digikey and wait. Sure there's WAY more variety, but I miss being able to just run & grab something I might have forgotten (or, let's be honest, fried somehow).
The only hope I’ve had near me is Microcenter. Only place I’ve seen in ages where I can walk out with at least some resistors and sensors but the selection can be…eh on some items.
I keep thinking about checking one out, but nearest is 42 miles away and their prices are not competitive. I miss Fry's.
Never had the chance to see a Fry’s but yeah, a number of things that I’d desperately need on short notice are overly marked up.
Then again, I guess I’d take a markup than waiting a few days for shipping if I’m on the cusp of finishing a project.
I miss Fry's too. Got so much cool stuff there before online shopping was safe and convenient.
But they totally dropped the ball. The weird disconnect between their brick and mortar store and their online store, the constant out of stocks that was the norm, even over a decade ago. Not to mention the "sticker of death" on all the returned product they put back on the shelf.
So glad we still have a few of those kicking around in our city, but they just can’t compete unfortunately.
I try supporting local, but I’m not spending 25% more just to do that.
I'd say 400% + is a more realistic cost of buying components local vs. online. Regardless, I miss having the local option even tho I can actually get most parts delivered faster than it used to take me to drive to Fry's & back.
I used to live in Toronto, and I'd hit up Active Surplus regularly. An iconic place for any hobbyist in the area. I don't think the guy in the gorilla suit works there anymore though :(