I am curious...how is Frys actual inventory versus what they show on their website?
Do they match up?
In-store items at the Frys store near me in Manhattan Beach CA correlate well with their website for large items. But it's a different story for small electronic components (resistors, caps, NTE stuff). That section is so poorly organized that even if the parts are there, the employees still can't find them. Very maddening!
In-store items at the Frys store near me in Manhattan Beach CA correlate well with their website for large items. But it's a different story for small electronic components (resistors, caps, NTE stuff). That section is so poorly organized that even if the parts are there, the employees still can't find them. Very maddening!
I suspect that this "state of confusion" is the norm in the retail world for electronic parts.
If so, I would think it would drive suppliers like Parallax crazy...it would me.
Not really. Parallax would sell a bulk order to a certain entity, say Radio Shack in this case. It's not up to Parallax to keep up with Radio Shack's shortages and outages. They just sit back and wait for the next order when Radio Shack figures out that they are out of the items. SOP
Not really. Parallax would sell a bulk order to a certain entity, say Radio Shack in this case. It's not up to Parallax to keep up with Radio Shack's shortages and outages. They just sit back and wait for the next order when Radio Shack figures out that they are out of the items. SOP
Do you use this facility on the RadioShack website?
I've found it to be completely reliable. But if you have doubts about the "in stock" designator, each store's phone number is right there, and you can call them with the part number to do a stock check.
TMT
Like many stores, our inventory at corporate HQ is batch processed over night. If I sell out of an item today, it won't be refelected on the web until tomorrow. The closest to an accurate electronic inventory is on the individual store's POS system. If the product has been stolen, and the store has not made the necessary corrections, the electronic inventory is incorrect. Best to call the store and ask the associate to do a physical check by part number.
Jim
I am aware of the maddening 24 hour delay in inventory count...and I think all companies suffer from it....it's the nature of the beast when they are anchored to legacy software/mainframe technology.
I agree to narrow the gap one can use the POS info...and actually have the RS associate walk over and verify that the item is hanging on the hook.
If one wants immediate and verifiable results, calling the local stores is the only way to do it...the web info is not from personal experience.
FWIW...the people who are the face of RS do an excellent job...its the system they work with that is lacking. And as a comparison, Walmart suffers greatly from this "can't trust they have it" problem even though they are the leaders in JIT inventory control...and good luck if you think you can call and try to get a staff member to verify the existence of an item.
TMT
Like many stores, our inventory at corporate HQ is batch processed over night. If I sell out of an item today, it won't be refelected on the web until tomorrow. The closest to an accurate electronic inventory is on the individual store's POS system. If the product has been stolen, and the store has not made the necessary corrections, the electronic inventory is incorrect. Best to call the store and ask the associate to do a physical check by part number.
Jim
It works great for STATIC info that does not change.
Inventory count (note that there is no quantity info listed) and availability (do they have that last one or did it just walk out the door?) it does not work as well.
I also note that the "Ship to Store" feature does not give the customer how long it will take. In today's design environment, that is a very important parameter.
Do you use this facility on the RadioShack website?
I've found it to be completely reliable. But if you have doubts about the "in stock" designator, each store's phone number is right there, and you can call them with the part number to do a stock check.
JIT to your door (Ship to Door) is the next step from Ship to Store that many companies are now trying to use to stay revelant in today's competitive retail environment.
I have been watching Same Day Shipping closely...it is the way of the future...and the death of the brick and mortar retail store/
Pricing differences will equalize out as cheaper shipping costs versus internet taxes balance out.
I have been watching Same Day Shipping closely...it is the way of the future...and the death of the brick and mortar retail store/
Most companies I buy from ship the same day as long as the order is placed early enough. They have been doing this for years.
Too bad McMaster-Carr doesn't carry Parallax items. Yes they charge more but you get it the next day, at least here you do.
Either you're paying the insane price for next day delivery or you live very close to the McMaster-Carr facility. How far you are from where something is shipped makes a big difference. I live 400 miles from Mouser and I get 2 day delivery by UPS ground or regular USPS. The cost is about $7 either way. My only complaint there is that they don't do low cost 1st Class packages.
Pricing differences will equalize out as cheaper shipping costs versus internet taxes balance out.
I bought something online from a company that was required to charge state sales tax on internet orders. I probably won't be buying anything from them again. I agree that if people allow this type of taxation to become more widespread, then it will make a real difference when it's time to purchase higher priced items.
In the future Same Day Shipping will be the norm, not the exception.
It will put tremendous pressure on suppliers to have their inventory control in place and current.
Note that I said suppliers and not retailers...the retail landscape is changing and will very different in a few years as suppliers cut the retail middleman out of the product supply chain.
Internet taxation WILL happen...it has been not in place to allow the supplier - Internet - buyer chain to mature...and with time will be the norm. I am interested in how international sales will be dealt with...crossing borders always comes with headaches.
Most companies I buy from ship the same day as long as the order is placed early enough. They have been doing this for years.
Either you're paying the insane price for next day delivery or you live very close to the McMaster-Carr facility. How far you are from where something is shipped makes a big difference. I live 400 miles from Mouser and I get 2 day delivery by UPS ground or regular USPS. The cost is about $7 either way. My only complaint there is that they don't do low cost 1st Class packages.
I bought something online from a company that was required to charge state sales tax on internet orders. I probably won't be buying anything from them again. I agree that if people allow this type of taxation to become more widespread, then it will make a real difference when it's time to purchase higher priced items.
A question for the group...I thought that Radio Shack carried a Parallax GPS module(which one?) and a Parallax Gyrocope(mispelled) but I do not see it in the stores...what is going on with that?
I bought the PMB-648 GPS SiRF Internal Antenna GPS from Radio Shack a year ago. Their price was $15 more than Parallax which is probably why it looks like it was discontinued.
Internet Taxation is a reality. In Pennsylvania you must file taxes on every Internet purchase on your state tax form or pay a base fee to cover it if you don't know what the amount was. After November of this year any purchase made from Pennsylvania on the Internet should be taxed by the company providing the product. BTW Pennsylvania's sales tax (or luxury tax) is a major headache to figure out which products get taxed!
If you type Parallax into RS's website search box, you will be shown the 28 Parallax products that RS currently carries. If a store near you stocks an item, you will be able to determine that either by querying the "Find it in a store near you" link, if you trust it, or by a simple phone call to one of the listed stores if you don't. There really is nothing more to say here on this matter, unless of course one is simply trolling for a confrontation.
Comments
You turn my boss back into a human (or a reasonable facsimile there-of) RIGHT NOW!
-MattG
OK..OK...
Right from the corporate mouth.
whoosh. Back to a unicycle ridin' , Fornia Elev-8 flying, geek that we all know and love.
Ken, last avatar please.
Or not, Now that I think about it...
hummm....take your time Pub...no rush
-MattG
Do they match up?
In-store items at the Frys store near me in Manhattan Beach CA correlate well with their website for large items. But it's a different story for small electronic components (resistors, caps, NTE stuff). That section is so poorly organized that even if the parts are there, the employees still can't find them. Very maddening!
I suspect that this "state of confusion" is the norm in the retail world for electronic parts.
If so, I would think it would drive suppliers like Parallax crazy...it would me.
Not really. Parallax would sell a bulk order to a certain entity, say Radio Shack in this case. It's not up to Parallax to keep up with Radio Shack's shortages and outages. They just sit back and wait for the next order when Radio Shack figures out that they are out of the items. SOP
I can see how one can say that this is the way it is.
It also represents a bottleneck to getting your product into the hands of the consumer...especially when one has to play hide and seek to find it.
The flipside is it IS another retail channel that allows access to the public...which is good.
See post #22...
Missed that....thanks
Do you use this facility on the RadioShack website?
I've found it to be completely reliable. But if you have doubts about the "in stock" designator, each store's phone number is right there, and you can call them with the part number to do a stock check.
IOW, I don't see what the problem is.
-Phil
Like many stores, our inventory at corporate HQ is batch processed over night. If I sell out of an item today, it won't be refelected on the web until tomorrow. The closest to an accurate electronic inventory is on the individual store's POS system. If the product has been stolen, and the store has not made the necessary corrections, the electronic inventory is incorrect. Best to call the store and ask the associate to do a physical check by part number.
Jim
I agree to narrow the gap one can use the POS info...and actually have the RS associate walk over and verify that the item is hanging on the hook.
If one wants immediate and verifiable results, calling the local stores is the only way to do it...the web info is not from personal experience.
FWIW...the people who are the face of RS do an excellent job...its the system they work with that is lacking. And as a comparison, Walmart suffers greatly from this "can't trust they have it" problem even though they are the leaders in JIT inventory control...and good luck if you think you can call and try to get a staff member to verify the existence of an item.
It works great for STATIC info that does not change.
Inventory count (note that there is no quantity info listed) and availability (do they have that last one or did it just walk out the door?) it does not work as well.
I also note that the "Ship to Store" feature does not give the customer how long it will take. In today's design environment, that is a very important parameter.
I have been watching Same Day Shipping closely...it is the way of the future...and the death of the brick and mortar retail store/
Pricing differences will equalize out as cheaper shipping costs versus internet taxes balance out.
Most companies I buy from ship the same day as long as the order is placed early enough. They have been doing this for years.
Either you're paying the insane price for next day delivery or you live very close to the McMaster-Carr facility. How far you are from where something is shipped makes a big difference. I live 400 miles from Mouser and I get 2 day delivery by UPS ground or regular USPS. The cost is about $7 either way. My only complaint there is that they don't do low cost 1st Class packages.
I bought something online from a company that was required to charge state sales tax on internet orders. I probably won't be buying anything from them again. I agree that if people allow this type of taxation to become more widespread, then it will make a real difference when it's time to purchase higher priced items.
It will put tremendous pressure on suppliers to have their inventory control in place and current.
Note that I said suppliers and not retailers...the retail landscape is changing and will very different in a few years as suppliers cut the retail middleman out of the product supply chain.
Internet taxation WILL happen...it has been not in place to allow the supplier - Internet - buyer chain to mature...and with time will be the norm. I am interested in how international sales will be dealt with...crossing borders always comes with headaches.
Let's face it - If a device is needed pronto, knowing Radio Shack's potential inventory does nothing.
-Phil
-Phil
Well, unless of you're trolling...
Now...do you have anything to add about the topic..."What Parallax products did/does Radio Shack sell? "?
Thanks in advance for any useful info.
Internet Taxation is a reality. In Pennsylvania you must file taxes on every Internet purchase on your state tax form or pay a base fee to cover it if you don't know what the amount was. After November of this year any purchase made from Pennsylvania on the Internet should be taxed by the company providing the product. BTW Pennsylvania's sales tax (or luxury tax) is a major headache to figure out which products get taxed!
If you type Parallax into RS's website search box, you will be shown the 28 Parallax products that RS currently carries. If a store near you stocks an item, you will be able to determine that either by querying the "Find it in a store near you" link, if you trust it, or by a simple phone call to one of the listed stores if you don't. There really is nothing more to say here on this matter, unless of course one is simply trolling for a confrontation.
-Phil