The Local Dick Smith store has closed down

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DarthKermit

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# 107020 5-Aug-2012 14:50

We still have the other shiny bright one that only sells consumer electronics, but the one that still had a vestage of hobby electronics has gone.

Are there any of them left near you?

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

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# 667793 5-Aug-2012 15:01

To a degree jaycar kick in where Dick (and David Reid :P) left off, not to forget RS as well

DarthKermit

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# 667794 5-Aug-2012 15:03

Wade: To a degree jaycar kick in where Dick (and David Reid :P) left off, not to forget RS as well

True, I find Jaycar to be what DS was about 20-25 years ago (showing my old age now!!!)

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

TheUngeek

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# 667797 5-Aug-2012 15:35

Yeah Dick Smith have completly pulled out of what they started as. Now solely do consumer electronic goods

mattwnz

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# 667813 5-Aug-2012 15:58

I don't even bother to go in these days when I pass it, and I get sick of staff coming up to you when you first go in just to browse. The only time I will is if they have some sort of special on. They did sort of lose me as a customer after some poor after sales service from their regional manager, and I had to go to the manufacturer to get it resolved.

keewee01

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# 667817 5-Aug-2012 16:06

Where do you live? Good idea to post that so people can see.

Our local DSE (Ashburton) is still open.

Elpie

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# 667822 5-Aug-2012 16:13

TheUngeek: Yeah Dick Smith have completly pulled out of what they started as. Now solely do consumer electronic goods

That started 3 years ago when the remaining share of Dick Smith was sold to majority shareholder Woolworths. At the beginning of the year Woolies announced that DS was for sale and that and up to 100 underperforming stores would be closed over two years as part of a rationalisation of the business.
They have since said that only 5 NZ stores would close. Palmerston North had one go last week, I don't know which other 4 are going or have gone.

Woolworths, which is Australian, said they would retain consumer electronics in their Big W stores in Aussie. It makes sense that anything other than consumer electronics isn't a good fit with a variety store chain.

heavenlywild

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# 667840 5-Aug-2012 16:48

Dick Smith seems to sell a lot of cheap and outdated electronics. It's going through a slow death.

Kyanar

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# 667859 5-Aug-2012 17:21

keewee01: Where do you live? Good idea to post that so people can see.

Our local DSE (Ashburton) is still open.

Um, that's not what he means. He means that "Dick Smith" is not what we used to see as "DSE". From back in the days when you could go in there, get a "Funway into Electronics" kit, browse three aisles full of resistors and transistors, and pick up a couple of capacitors to go on your breadboard speaker kit.

The stores that claim to be "Dick Smith" are an insult to the name. They're just JB Hifis in drag.

Unfortunately, there are no Dick Smiths left in NZ.

sleemanj

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# 667870 5-Aug-2012 18:09

So, Dick Done then :)

There's nothing really of value lost in having a DSE store close. They are really just a typical home entertainment store.

Although interestingly, the Riccarton Mall (chch) one does still have a limited range of electronic components (at least passives, and I think some discrete semiconductors).. at the back of the shop.

NB: People looking for a component on the spur of the moment, it's useful to note that Global PC stocks a reasonable selection of odds and ends and can be cheaper than Jaycar - example as a quick check, an LM324 at global PC $1.95, at jaycar, $2.40. Of course any of the main suppliers would be far cheaper, but they are not 5 minutes away down the road.

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

ascroft

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# 667884 5-Aug-2012 18:31

I see them now as an underdone version of JB HIFI. Like a corner dairy trying to compete against a supermarket......... I don't see how they differentiate themselves so suspect they are doomed.

Having said that, about a month ago I bought a 1.5tb Segate USB drive for $179 from them that didn't seem bad at the time.

They wouldn't be my first choice to look for anything - although they do now seem to stock hair curlers!!!!! Go figure.

Mark Ascroft
Wellington

mattRSK

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# 667885 5-Aug-2012 18:32

Element14 is really good. If you make sure to choose a component variant that is in stock it is usually on your doorstep the next morning.

DarthKermit

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# 667903 5-Aug-2012 19:15

keewee01: Where do you live? Good idea to post that so people can see.

Our local DSE (Ashburton) is still open.

Sorry, I thought it was on my profile. I'm in Palmerston North.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Dunnersfella

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# 667915 5-Aug-2012 19:24

ascroft:
Having said that, about a month ago I bought a 1.5tb Segate USB drive for $179 from them that didn't seem bad at the time.

But that's the thing.
Selling hard drives cheaper than others is often a loss leader... so unless the customer doesn't buy anything else at the time, you've just ticked the old (and somewhat pointless) market share box. And hey, you can't put market share in the bank...

mattwnz

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# 667942 5-Aug-2012 20:29

Dunnersfella:
ascroft:
Having said that, about a month ago I bought a 1.5tb Segate USB drive for $179 from them that didn't seem bad at the time.

But that's the thing.
Selling hard drives cheaper than others is often a loss leader... so unless the customer doesn't buy anything else at the time, you've just ticked the old (and somewhat pointless) market share box. And hey, you can't put market share in the bank...

Loss leaders work well for supermarkets, but not sure how well they work for bigger purchases at appliance stores.

bisr

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# 667950 5-Aug-2012 20:42

DSE is rubbish. Anything you can find there you can find somewhere else for cheaper, often a LOT cheaper. Jaycar beats DSE anyday. In Auckland I also like Surplustronics but I still think Jaycar is better. Frankly I also use trademe a lot.

Computer stuff I go to PB Tech or Playtech, in addition to being cheap they have good stock and have the best staff. I bought another 3TB hdd (WD Caviar) from Playtech for $229.99 inc GST a few weeks ago.

I have no emotional attachment to DSE, it is just a place where the ignorant go to buy toner and printer cartridges and be robbed.

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