Amazon refund

[Hotrodder]

I used to enjoy a rummage around Radio Shack in California, and in UK there was Maplins. I suspect they will soon disappear, if they haven't already. When I was building the crossovers for my new tower speakers a few years back I recall I had to get components from the Netherlands and Germany. I think the drivers came from UK.

[Hotrodder]

I recently went to our local Espace Emreraude where I'd purchased a 2m wide flail 'weed whacker' machine used behind my tractor with it's PTO power.
I was wanting a litre of EP gear oil for a possible top up/oil change to the direction transfer gear box/reducteur so asked at the spares/repairs counter.
Despite having umpteen of the machines for sale in their yard & presumably being able to carry out service work on them they not only had no 1 litre bottles but none 'loose' in containers in the workshop.
My question as to "How the hell do you service these things you sell?" was met with the all to usual Gallic shrug.
Amazon had it & delivered two days later.
Is it any wonder these local places are going to the dogs????

Funny you should mention that. I bought a metre wide rotavator to use behind my little Kubota tractor. Bought it from a friend who had used it only once and then left it sitting in his barn. I was using it one day when a visiting farmer mentioned it didn't sound right. A bit noisy. He suggested I check the oil in the little right angle gearbox on top. Sure enough, it was dry, and there was a large chain drive inside a housing at one end, also bone dry. Neither area had ever been lubricated. You'll never guess...............it was proudly displaying an Emeraude Espace sticker!

[L Austin France]

I recently went to our local Espace Emreraude where I'd purchased a 2m wide flail 'weed whacker' machine used behind my tractor with it's PTO power.
I was wanting a litre of EP gear oil for a possible top up/oil change to the direction transfer gear box/reducteur so asked at the spares/repairs counter.
Despite having umpteen of the machines for sale in their yard & presumably being able to carry out service work on them they not only had no 1 litre bottles but none 'loose' in containers in the workshop.
My question as to "How the hell do you service these things you sell?" was met with the all to usual Gallic shrug.
Amazon had it & delivered two days later.
Is it any wonder these local places are going to the dogs????

Funny you should mention that. I bought a metre wide rotavator to use behind my little Kubota tractor. Bought it from a friend who had used it only once and then left it sitting in his barn. I was using it one day when a visiting farmer mentioned it didn't sound right. A bit noisy. He suggested I check the oil in the little right angle gearbox on top. Sure enough, it was dry, and there was a large chain drive inside a housing at one end, also bone dry. Neither area had ever been lubricated. You'll never guess...............it was proudly displaying an Emeraude Espace sticker!

[RobertArthur]

I popped into a RadioShack retail store somewhere in New York one day to take a look around. I came out with a Micronta logic probe. It came with a manual straight away. It might come in handy one day. At the time, I’d just started replacing all sorts of old tube-based measuring equipment with fully transistorised versions, as well as with the first generation of logic ICs – RTL, TTL and later CMOS technology. Is a logic gate low or high (5 volts) somewhere? Or somewhere in between? It came in very handy when a lovely little HP frequency counter with LEDs as the display – seven-segment displays made up of individual small red LEDs – started playing up. Somewhere inside, a rather indecisive gate on an RTL IC – what shall it be, boy? Yes or no, high or low?

[exile]

I used to enjoy a rummage around Radio Shack in California, and in UK there was Maplins. I suspect they will already disappear, if they haven't already. When I was building the crossovers for my new tower speakers a few years back I recall I had to get components from the Netherlands and Germany. The drivers came from UK I recall.

Maplins did disappear but was resurrected as online only about 6/7 years ago. That is probably the only way such specialist businesses can survive in the modern world where bricks and mortar are so expensive - rent, rates, cost of personnel etc.

The same seems to be happening with model shops, where those without a serious web presence seem to be on the edge.

[Hotrodder]

I guess the root cause is the cost of running the bricks and mortar shops for what have become "niche" interests. Without the online option the interests themselves would become extinct.

[Polarengineer]

Most probably why Amazon do the easy return service. One no longer needs to see the item in the shop before buying.

[Loup-garou]

That's a good point PE. I had forgotten about going to have a quick look-see before ordering -moving to France Profunde ended that.

I notice that Amazon are now putting the strapline "Frequently returned article" (something like that) against some items on the website.

[Polly]

Yes, I’ve noticed the ‘frequently returned’ notice - I’m usually keen on reading reviews but definitely watch out for those.

I’ve also noticed that more and more returns can be taken to Asda; very convenient for us as there’s one not far away and much more convenient than a PO, which are becoming rather scarce around here - even better than a PO as no label is needed.