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Forum Index : Electronics : Dick Smith in receivership...
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9308 |
I saw on the news that Dick Smith is not doing so well. It's just a name now though, what with the real Dick Smith selling off the stores about 30 years ago or something.... I basically stopped going to Dick Smith, once they stopped selling all the components that made them what they were in the beginning. Jaycar are now my replacement store, as they still sell discrete components, but they are about the last one still doing that in New Zealand at least.(there are SICOM, Element14, RS etc, but I mean walk-in retail stores) Anyway, Dick Smith's Fun Way Into Electronics were how I started learning this stuff - right down the path of those simple projects you screwed together on a block of wood with 100 odd screws and washers. If not for the Dick Smith 'Funway' books, I probably would not be where I am today, as that was where all my design work started from all those years ago....... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Yeah its a real shame. I think if they stuck with the original business model ( components, kits, hobbies, etc ) the business would still be up there with the likes of Jaycar and Altronics. Unfortunately like many businesses, once a business goes on the share market and is run by over paid directors who have never held a screwdriver, the quality of service falls and the business looses its soul. Its one reason I will never own shares in any business. I remember growing up with Dick Smith, and the local outlet staff knew me by name. When I visited the big smoke ( Brisbane ), I would nag Dad to take me to the big Dick Smith store in the city. Years later my little brother worked for Dick Smith, and bought his first computer, a VZ200 from them at staff discount. Its fun to go through old ETI and EA magazines and see the Dick Smith kits and parts advertised. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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TassyJim Guru  Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6101 |
Not a surprise but still a shame. I very nearly bought a DS franchise about 20 years ago. Ended up with a computer store instead. I am glad that I didn't but an extended warranty for the new monitor I bought a few weeks ago. I preferred shopping there rather than HN. We don't have may choices here. Jim VK7JH MMedit MMBasic Help |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9308 |
They were reporting on the news here, that any and all gift vouchers would not be honoured, so this means that anyone who got a Dick Smith voucher for Christmas cannot claim on it, nor can the purchaser return the voucher for a refund. The person on the news item was saying that the receivers are treating all voucher holders as 'Unsecured creditors', which is really geek talk for 'You'll never see your money again.' when we're talking receiverships or liquidations. Either that, or you are offered something so insulting - like 5c for every dollar - that is is essentially nothing. I'm glad I did not buy anyone a Dick Smith voucher, but that is mainly as I have not gone to their shop for years now. Interestingly, the new manager of our local Jaycar used to work at Dick Smith until about November 2015, so that is a curious twist! He got out just in time... Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| Pete Locke Senior Member  Joined: 26/06/2013 Location: New ZealandPosts: 181 |
...And prior to Dick Smith getting into New Zealand, we had David Reid Electronics. Back in the day when I used to have hair, DRE was the only go to place for components. You could import Australian bits from Dick Smith, but that involved going to the bank for an international money order, writing a letter (internet was Star Trek stuff back in the 70's) and wait a month for the things to arrive. Dick Smith moved in to New Zealand and bought DRE. The component variety flood gates opened for those of us in the little Island off Australia (Just ask any American of that era where N.Z was, and that was the answer :-) and the core market that was Dick Smith Electronics helped us hobbyists continue our delight in making more and expensive smoke generators to the detriment of the poor old BC108 sacrificial project lamb. It's a shame that they went the way of corporate bean counters direction and in the process killed their core business of the time. Who can remember building the kit's they used to not only sell but support if you had a problem.......But that was when I used to have hair..... |
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| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
Yes quite a few years now Dick Smith Electronics shop became just shop selling products. Some quite interesting, but complete products are quite a difference from kits or individual components. Possibly making enough money from parts that often sell for well under one dollar each must have been a problem. George |
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| M Del Senior Member Joined: 09/04/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 155 |
So DSE became a shop like any other under the woollies brand and began selling full products. The DSE near me still had a range of components till about 2005ish. The guy in the shop told me head office said it had to go, so it did. The funny thing is Jaycar still sells components and look like they are doing well. It could be a management thing as gizmo said. Mark |
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powerednut Senior Member Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 221 |
*edit: self removed for excessive grumpiness* pls ignore |
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Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
Well I thought that it was only a problem I suffered with, so nice to see there is fellow sufferers out there. From one grumpy old bugger to another ...... Grrrrrrrrrr! Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| powerednut Senior Member Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 221 |
indeed. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! |
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VK6MRG Guru Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 347 |
It will be interesting to see what happens to DSE once it has shut up shop ..... Will Mr Dick Smith get it back for a song and go into partnership with Altronics or Jaycar to expand there operations? Not on the dick smith scale as it is, but maybe so that in most major towns there is something to shop at. Dreams are free! Its easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission! ............VK6MRG.............VK3MGR............ |
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