HSC Electronics (Sacramento, CA)

[SavannahLion]

For those of us in the Sacramento region. The Sacramento branch of HSC electronics is officially closed as of December 29. They'll liquidate their inventory on the 18th and 19th.

What a severe disappointment. Even though HSC didn't specifically carry arcade components, their generalized electronic collection was more than adequate enough to make up the bulk of my MAME cabinet circuitry needs. This was the only store I've ever seen that actually have crimp-on connectors for ribbon cables that actually have pin spacings that fit bread boards. When I went to the store, I would have to set aside a minimum of two hours just to pick up resisters because of all the browsing that needs to be done on each visit. Racks and rack servers, heat sinks, motors, Mystery Boards, this place had a lot. If you were looking for something very specific, such as a specific sized heatsink or specific RAM IC, you needed to go elsewhere. But HSC filled the bill for everything else.

There was a buyer waiting on some bank loans or another to purchase the store and reopen, but it appears that deal fell through. Then I located an email on the owners attempting to find financial investment support for the store but I guess they didn't get enough.

Now I'm left to ordering parts from Mouser or DigiKey or from other members on this board. It's nice to order a bunch of IC's cheaper online, but I lose the great advantage of browsing for bits and bobs. Looks like I'm right back to scrounging crap doesn't-fit-my-project-but-I'll-use-it-anyways-because-I-can't-find-anything-better-for-cheaper parts in the junk heap and prowling the phone books until a replacement store opens up.

Even my GF noticed lately how bummed I've been all this month.

[JimmyU]

With all the crap electronics stores around ($100 for a HDMI cable?  Screw you Best Buy!), it's kinda sad when a good one goes out of business.

[knave]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Was this isolated to the Sac store?

I'd be really sad if my local HSC closed. I bought parts for my first computer there in like 1986 or 7.  I still go frequently even to "just look"  I wouldn't have anywhere else to get bulk electronics.  I like the 99¢ bins as well.

[SavannahLion]

Yeah, from what I understand, it's limited to the Sacramento store. The Santa Clara and Santa Rosa will apparently stay open. It's kind of ---fouled up beyond all recognition--- up from what I hear. According to the ex-employees, they claim the Sacramento store actually makes more money than either of the other stores.

If that's true, I can't really imagine why they're shutting the Sac store down.

[Ken Layton]

Too bad you're not up in the Seattle, Washington area. We've got Boeing Surplus. Everything left over from building aircraft gets sold at Boeing surplus: wire, connectors, light fixtures, computers & parts, motors, fans, nuts & bolts, etc. I've never been there, but friends have told me of some really great bargains there.

[SavannahLion]

Too bad you're not up in the Seattle, Washington area. We've got Boeing Surplus. Everything left over from building aircraft gets sold at Boeing surplus: wire, connectors, light fixtures, computers & parts, motors, fans, nuts & bolts, etc. I've never been there, but friends have told me of some really great bargains there.

Whenever My father and I went to Nevada, we would have a laugh at the ranch cattle and horses. There would be a fence separating cows (and/or horses) and an animal on the first side of the fence would eat the grass on the other side and an animal on the other side would eat the grass on the first side.

Personal anecdote aside, Sacramento is a rather anemic city. People in this city act like they desperately want to improve consumer diversity yet do the exact opposite by Wal*Marting everything. Wal*Mart/Home Depot/Whatever is fine when I'm going to pick up some generic pipe insulation or some general purpose paints. But when you're looking for something very specific, forget it. We have this light fixture with a double-ring fluorescent and the store that sold it to us doesn't even carry replacement bulbs! Only one store that we could find is even able to order the bulbs for us. WTF? 

Kinda sad really. Everybody in this city clamors for "unique" things, but then just wander off when the opportunity presents itself.

[SavannahLion]

I've been sending out a few feelers with my tiny slice of contacts and the results are really bad. I got a suggestion to check out a place called Marvac but their Sac branch has been closed since 2002! I got wind of another potential location, but the person can't even remember the name of the store, just the location. Grrrr 

Damn, this just sucks royally.

[Ken Layton]

Marvac buys from my local supplier!

[Spaz Monkey]

There's (supposedly) another electronic-type store off of Folsom near the flea market between Power Inn and Watt.  Here's a link: http://daviswiki.org/Surplus_Stuff

[boykster]

Too bad you're not up in the Seattle, Washington area. We've got Boeing Surplus. Everything left over from building aircraft gets sold at Boeing surplus: wire, connectors, light fixtures, computers & parts, motors, fans, nuts & bolts, etc. I've never been there, but friends have told me of some really great bargains there.

The Boeing surplus is pretty neat-o.  I've been there a couple of times looking for some electonic instruments for work, but never to buy stuff for myself.  Its amazing the stuff you can get for next to nothing.

when I was in HS a buddy of mine skipped class one day to drive to a Hanford surplus sale....NEAT! (Handford, as in Hanford the nuclear power plant / research center).   

[PhiDeltCraiger]

I lived near the Santa Rosa (Rohnert Park) store for years and was always very disappointed with the place. They never have what you want and when they do have it, they are out of stock. I've had a couple good experiences out of maybe a hundred visits. If I really wanted something I would drive over an hour to go to Frys. Much better in my opinion.

[knave]

Just out of curiosity what would you find at Fry's that you'd also find at HSC.

Aren't they completely different stores?

I go to HSC for cords, adapters, Power supplies, spools of Cat5, spools of Coax, and to browse through surplus items.  There is no better place to pick up molex connectors around here. (or any other small electronic component) Heck, lots of the stuff in the 99¢ bins would cost $10 or more at other stores.

There's plenty of things that I don't go there for, but what they do have is a godsend to the hobbyest.

[SavannahLion]

I lived near the Santa Rosa (Rohnert Park) store for years and was always very disappointed with the place. They never have what you want and when they do have it, they are out of stock. I've had a couple good experiences out of maybe a hundred visits. If I really wanted something I would drive over an hour to go to Frys. Much better in my opinion.

maybe you're not really understanding the intent of a store like HSC? Like the other poster says, HSC served/serves a different market than Fry's does.

If a person wants complete appliances (computers) or major components (HDDs for instance) that are all relatively recent, then Frys is the place to go. If you're looking for low level parts like resistors, capacitors, connectors or a random 5v power supply and all of it for a reasonable cost, then HSC was the better choice. Yeah, Frys has some components, but when a store charges $2 or $3 for something as ridiculously common as a basic 555, it's probably not the best place to shop for that kind of thing.

Regardless, Frys associates suck ass for the most part. Years ago, I got wind of the PS2 Linux dev kit put out by none other than Sony itself. When I was at Frys, I asked about the kit and the answer I got back was something along the lines of, "we don't carry illegal software," and, "we don't sell illegal warez so people can hack their PS2." WTF? Apparently, they're following a different dictionary as everyone else.

I like shopping at Frys but I don't really like their policy of checking receipts at the door and the knowledge of their sales staff is rather limited.

[bfauska]

I think my fellow Seattlites may be disappointed to hear that Boeing Surplus no longer operates as a physical storefront. The have switched to an online auction setup. 

[boykster]

I think my fellow Seattlites may be disappointed to hear that Boeing Surplus no longer operates as a physical storefront. The have switched to an online auction setup. 

aw damn, that sucks!