this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2023
61 points (98.4% liked)

Ask Lemmy

27253 readers
1766 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions


Rules: (interactive)


1) Be nice and; have funDoxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them


2) All posts must end with a '?'This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?


3) No spamPlease do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.


4) NSFW is okay, within reasonJust remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either [email protected] or [email protected]. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].


5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email [email protected]. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.


6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try [email protected] or [email protected]


Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.

Partnered Communities:

Tech Support

No Stupid Questions

You Should Know

Reddit

Jokes

Ask Ouija


Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Sometimes I find myself shopping for things that I'd prefer to go out and get within the same day, but now I'd have to order and wait a few days to get...So I'm wondering what some of those things may be for you?

all 48 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] JackiesFridge 88 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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).

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I keep thinking about checking one out, but nearest is 42 miles away and their prices are not competitive. I miss Fry's.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] schmidtster 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Dedh 9 points 1 year ago

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.

[–] owenfromcanada 4 points 1 year ago

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 :(

[–] MacedWindow 34 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Cables. All the ones you can find local are at least twice the price of online, and many are impossible to find outside of microcenter.

Also good, safe powerstrips. The local ones are cheap with bad outlets. Better to find a certified one online.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What certification do you look for?

[–] MacedWindow 5 points 1 year ago

There are a few, TUV/ETL/UL. Any of those and/or good user reviews are what I look for. I've had too many cheap ones spark or just have very loose ports to trust them anymore.

[–] hperrin 3 points 1 year ago

SD cards too.

[–] VindictiveJudge 2 points 1 year ago

My entire region doesn't even have Microcenter, and the local equivalent died out a couple years ago. I have to either go online or drive through a state and a half to get just a SATA cable or an internal SSD unless I want to risk Best Buy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Man, Im hunting for a good powerstrip for my desk right now too.

That Isobar is tempting, but seems overkill for a PC.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

If it's not specifically called a surge protector, it's probably not worth it. It's difficult to even find a good surge protector online without getting flooded with cheap power strips because SEO makes them all show up in the same searches. But they are not the same. Power strips are little more than splitters with a switch. A surge protector will actually offer your devices some protection.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) give you a load of sockets to work with and protect your expensive electronics from damage

[–] MacedWindow 1 points 1 year ago

This is the one I ended up going with. Not too expensive and it has good, solid connections that ease my house fire paranoia.

[–] qantravon 26 points 1 year ago

Electronic components. Almost all small parts shops are gone.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago

Hobby shit.

There used to be a hobby shop in town that catered to all kinds of things, from metalworking, to mini figures, to sewing and leathercraft. Model kits, trains, science kits, and if I remember correctly they even had a small section dedicated to chemistry supplies.

That was when I was a child.

Now that I'm actually in to several of those things, it's closed. My parents used to go for TTRPG stuff.

I'd love to not have to drive an hour and a half to pick up a leather stamp, or pop in to see if they got a new shipment of metals I need. And don't get me started on outdoor hobbies. The best we've got is a few shitty national chain sporting good stores.

[–] A_Random_Idiot 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

appliance parts.

Used to be so many stores that sold parts for self repair. Most of them have disappeared (at least around me), and the few that remain are either a ridiculous drive away, or ridiculously expensive. Like, sure, I could drive 3 hours to your store, buy the part I need for 70 bucks, and drive 3 hours back home.

Or I can go online and order the part and have it in a day or two for less than quarter of the price.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Im lucky theres a dude nearby selling parts out of a small shop. Hes a wizard at appliances, too, so even though the parts a lot more expensive (because he sells OEM stuff and not Chinese knock offs), hes got a lot of knowledge you can glean from him.

[–] A_Random_Idiot 4 points 1 year ago

Oh yeah, I only get OEM stuff.

I dont get the knockoffs. I don't want to do the job 5 times in a week, be out the money, and go get the OEM part anyway.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Boot and shoe care products. If you're lucky, Target or whatever might carry one or two tins of medicre Kiwi shoe polish and maybe one type of leather conditioner. I remember having better selection at just the grocery store and being spoiled for options at any of the 4 or 5 proper shoe stores that used to be in every neighborhood.

[–] schmidtster 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Marks or any cobbler will have those.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The closest shoe repair place to me is 60 miles away these days 😔 It's not like I live in a small town, either! I remember when there was one in every second or third strip mall. It's not like it's tricky to order a bottle of Obenauf's online, but I miss being able to just be like, "I better swing off at this random place to pick some up while I'm thinking about it."

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

All the little doohickeys that you don't need all the time, like plug converters, extension leads, puncture repair kits, a good range of screws.

Local shops might have something, but never the one you want because it's just not economical to keep a good range in stock.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That was my first thought. All the little adapters from Radioshack you used to be able to grab on a whim. Need to connect some RCA jacks to your headphone plugs? Or need a universal ac adapter with an assortment of dc plugs?

Cant really get that stuff anywhere but online now.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A surprising number of those things have ended up being at my local Best Buy (including both of your examples), but lower level components like resistors are impossible to find. Even at hobby shops there are only components specifically related to rc vehicles, nothing miscellaneous.

Edit: I guess this was a common opinion. You’d think interest had picked up with so many electronics “maker” things popping up with Arduino or the Pi.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel like Wilko had the odd bit, but if I was like, I need a lightening to audio wire, or a USB to USBC adapter then I'd struggle. You have to order those. I guess I notice because I'm in a ridiculous job where sometimes you need those things immediately and it's a nightmare.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m in a ridiculous job where sometimes you need those things immediately

There was a great story about why Jamie Hyneman had so much stuff in his workshop, and it sounds exactly as you describe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn6_TE9i5r8

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, like "we need a pack of black half inch nails", "cool, when for?", "like half hour?"

Fucks sake.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Fountain pens. I used to buy them at the local office supply store, but they’ve been gone for 25 years. For that matter, my town doesn’t even have a big box office supply anymore.

And books. I really miss a proper local bookstore.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

On the flip side, the variety and market segments that are open to fountain pen people are as good as they've ever been (since ballpoints became a mature technology), both for ink and pens. Sure, the Sheaffer School pens and Waterman Phileases and Cross Whatevers aren't hiding in Office Depot anymore, but you can still find a Varsity or a wick-feed Zebra pretty easily, and the Internet is so much faster than it used to be. I guess I'll never pop into the cigar shop by the office to pick up a spare Lamy Safari though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Unfortunately that's gotten worse even since 2021

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I feel lucky weve got Powell's Books downtown. Its fun going in there to browse, even if I'm not picking anything up.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Unfortunately, anything non-perishable. I go into local shops and can search an item I want on the internet and it will always be way, way cheaper. Cheap enough to where I can't justify "supporting local business." I'd love to, but I'm just as broke as everyone else right now.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Saffron

While it's expensive, and this is a fairly low income area, I used to be able to get a couple of brands in-store.

But, because it's expensive, and this is a low income area, it became a great way to get easy money. You go to the grocery store, pocket a couple of containers, then sell them on ebay. That's enough money to get you to the end of the paycheck if you do it regularly. Enough people figured this out, and nobody carries it at all now. The only thing you can find is the badia, and even that isn't in every store in the county. And it ain't good saffron tbh.

[–] MrJameGumb 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Aftershave. I used to just get it at the grocery store, but lately they only have Old Spice grandpa aftershave. I just buy my brand online now.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Old spice has come back around... Haven't you seen the commercials? 😁

[–] LemmyKnowsBest 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

bed bath & beyond has risen from the dead, but they're only online now.

i used to spend hours browsing through those magnificent real-life stores.

[–] davidgro 4 points 1 year ago

Jeans that fit me.

I'm not even that unusual of a size - just taller than most, and with weight gain I have actually entered easier to find sizes. (Used to joke that I could find lots of them that would fit if I could wear them rotated 90 degrees - switching the waist and inseam numbers)

So I used to be able to go to a department store and with a lot of searching, find some pairs and try them on to confirm that they fit.

Then it started getting scarce. On the final offline jeans shopping trip, I went to JC Penny and bought literally every pair of jeans they had in stock that fit me - about 10 pairs.

Now I would just have to buy online if I want any new ones (not counting specially shops)

[–] TAG 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have not been able to find decent jersey knit bed sheets since my local Bed Bath and Beyond closed down (and it was one of the first locations to go).

I can get some at Walmart or Target, but they are not going to be soft and will not last long. I have tried to order online, but even purchasing from a big name brand, they ended up lower quality and higher price than Walmart.

I have had luck with Home Goods, but their selection is always a bit of a gamble.

[–] hedgehogging_the_bed 2 points 1 year ago

If you're trying to replace your Pure Beech Jersey I can recommend Sheets and Giggles as a suitable replacement. They aren't jersey but they are just as soft. My husband loved Pure Beech and replacing them was a huge problem for us. Sheets and Giggles is around twice as expensive and made from bamboo modal instead of beech but they are the closest we've come so far.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Bull Boxer sneakers

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Printer Ink for my weird tiny printer. It isn't available in most stores any more and I have to order it online