The slow death of Jaycar?

[SmallCog]

I then had to convince them that I indeed did have a suitable crimping tool to do the job I was doing. It's like they wanted to pre-qualify me to buy the parts.

Surely that isn't what they were doing. Sounds like a very uncharitable slant to spin. They probably deal with lots of people who may have no idea what specialist tools may be needed and they were trying to forestall common eventualities.

Nah it was odd and I was being quite diplomatic describing it.

I told them I had the crimp tool and they grilled me with questions rather than just take my money.

[jonovid]

Jaycar walk in convenience has a quality all of its own.
as mail-order can be so..so slow at times.

[robzy]

The Jaycar PDF catalogues used to be so useful.

They don't seem to have them on their website anymore.

"I have checked, however after the introduction of the new website, the link to the 2021/2022 engineering and scientific catalogue is no longer there, apologies. We haveno  new catalogue out yet, No ETA."

[johnboxall]

The Jaycar PDF catalogues used to be so useful.

They don't seem to have them on their website anymore.

"I have checked, however after the introduction of the new website, the link to the 2021/2022 engineering and scientific catalogue is no longer there, apologies. We haveno  new catalogue out yet, No ETA."

They broke a lot, a lot of stuff with the new website. Click and collect died for a while. The project content went missing. They seem busy riding the motorised esky around their new head office.

Anyhow, I have pdf catalogues. DM me your email address.

[Sal Ammoniac]

I visited a Jaycar store in a small town in New Zealand a few months ago and I was amazed at the breadth and depth of their products. I live in Silicon Valley and we have nothing that's the equivalent of that Jaycar store despite this area having about 20x the population.

[fzabkar]

Anyhow, I have pdf catalogues. DM me your email address.

https://web.archive.org/web/20210404171432/https://www.jaycar.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/9371026128926/Jaycar-2020-Catalogue-AU.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20221025032537/https://www.jaycar.com.au/latest-catalogues

https://web.archive.org/web/20221025032537/https://www.jaycar.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/9588302020638/Jaycar-2021-catalogue-AU-Front.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20221025032537/https://www.jaycar.com.au/medias/sys_master/root/9588302118942/Jaycar-2021-catalogue-AU-Back.pdf

[Brumby]

I visited a Jaycar store in a small town in New Zealand a few months ago and I was amazed at the breadth and depth of their products. I live in Silicon Valley and we have nothing that's the equivalent of that Jaycar store despite this area having about 20x the population.

It is that very breadth and depth of their products that has allowed them to survive in smaller population areas and which has caused some to question their future.  Motorised eskys and fly guns make a true electronics fan wonder ... but it is this sort of offering that can help put enough money in the till to keep the doors open.

I don't mind it, but I tend to walk straight past that stuff to grab that connector or piece of heatshrink I need there and then.

[5U4GB]

Another thing with them is that you know what you're getting.  Recently ordered some PG9's from a local distributor and got sent some Chinese crap where the sealing ring was so rigid it was halfway between a PG11 and PG13 with maybe 1mm of movement from least to most tight.  So I went to the local Jaycar and paid around 10x the price but got genuine PG9s that worked as they should.

[MickeeYay]

My local Jaycar plays that annoying NOVA FM on the speakers at the front entrance. If that is a ploy to draw in a younger customer, it ain't working. The shop had a few retired techos in their late 60s wandering the aisles looking annoyed at the loud racket blaring from the speakers.

[flashover]

I've decided to do something about the electronics/hacking itch I've had since I was young, and now being financially in a position to do so, am investing in a modest but capable electronics workshop again with some semi-decent tools I wished I had when I was younger (is there a place to discuss workbench setups/battle stations here?), so I can be a bit more serious about electronics and hardware hacking.

Though what surprised me, presuming that Jaycar was still the 'go-to' when I started my workshop project a week ago, was how hard it was to find semi-decent tools that weren't no-name branded, or tools that were competitively priced. I get the whole markup-profit thing, though I was quite surprised to see Bunnings had a good $30 discount on Weller's WE1010 soldering station compared to Jaycar. Sydney Tools carries things like USB Device Multimeters (Klein brand, which seems to be mid-range), though the best I could find out of Jaycar's website was a simple LCD voltage meter. Sydney Tools also had Klein multimeters generally.

Maybe it's just that Jaycar's website sucks?

I would've thought that Jaycar had a few more tool options available, such as a few more well-known electronics brands and options including hot air rework stations, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and so on targeting serious enthusiast/semi-professional markets. Seems like a missed opportunity to only stock basic tools from brands that aren't considered beyond basic entry-level hobby tools. It'd be nice to see some tooling from Rigolm Klein, Hakko, and so on sold through Jaycar.

Jaycar certainly has a massive advantage over Altronics (I like Altronics' website though) in that Jaycar has hundreds of stores (268 according to their store finder as of writing) spread throughout regional Australia, as well as the cities, which makes a massive difference for someone like me that lives regionally where postage can be slow, if not relatively expensive, at times. Its also nice to get hands-on in store, something I greatly miss over ordering online, despite that online ordering is a huge convenience with an exponentially larger selection.

All that said I'm just breaking back into the electronics scene after a two decade hiatus, so maybe I've missed the mark completely...

If that is a ploy to draw in a younger customer, it ain't working.

I'm probably not as young as 'younger customer' now (mid-30s) though I agree it's a poor ploy.

That said, if they want to get younger people into Jaycar: lean in hard on the makerspace/hackerspace/enthusiast market, especially electronics and robotics. Sponsor local makerspaces (if there are any nearby), and if they have enough space in store host basic classes on soldering, small electronics, etc. like some games stores do with dungeons and dragons/other card game nights.

What got me into electronics initially was Dick Smiths' Funway to Electronics. Do that, and start building a following.

[TERRA Operative]

Come to the Test Equipment Anonymous thread to ask and talk about test gear.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/

We might seem a bit eccentric, but we welcome anyone with even a passing interest in test equipment.

However, be warned, we will absolutely and whole heartedly encourage any and all acquisition of any form of test equipment whatsoever....
But, we can steer you right in getting set up properly for a reasonable cost.



I also grew up with the Funway projects, I read the books until they literally fell apart.
Luckily I had a Jaycar not far away wherever I lived in Australia and was able to experience them before their foray into the novelty farting toys...
I've not been there much (maybe once or twice) since the last decade of living in Japan, but family members still use them when they need a part 'right now' and still rate them as worthwhile for getting a project finished 'this weekend', the shenanigans with Freetronics notwithstanding...

[flashover]

We might seem a bit eccentric, but we welcome anyone with even a passing interest in test equipment. However, be warned, we will absolutely and whole heartedly encourage any and all acquisition of any form of test equipment whatsoever....

Sounds like my kind of people! I'll be over there shortly.
I have a somewhat.. err... problematic condition that I acquired through my other (expensive) hobby, photography, called GAS... Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
I just hope GAS isn't contagious...   

[Brumby]

We might seem a bit eccentric, but we welcome anyone with even a passing interest in test equipment. However, be warned, we will absolutely and whole heartedly encourage any and all acquisition of any form of test equipment whatsoever....

Sounds like my kind of people! I'll be over there shortly.
I have a somewhat.. err... problematic condition that I acquired through my other (expensive) hobby, photography, called GAS... Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
I just hope GAS isn't contagious...   

No, it's not contagious at all.  If you have it, you were born with it.  It may not have manifested itself earlier in life, but the fact you've even found the glossary means you've stepped in directions that confirm you are afflicted...

Welcome to the rabbit hole!

[Brumby]

Oh, BTW, we have some excellent, world class enablers here!!

[5U4GB]

I just hope GAS isn't contagious...   

Nah, you just have to hold your nose and hope the GAS passes.

[johnboxall]

Maybe it's just that Jaycar's website sucks?

The new one does. I've had click-and-collects just vanish into thin air a couple of times. Or something is "available for delivery" until you try to pay. They don't answer emails. *shrug*

That said, if they want to get younger people into Jaycar: lean in hard on the makerspace/hackerspace/enthusiast market, especially electronics and robotics. Sponsor local makerspaces (if there are any nearby), and if they have enough space in store host basic classes on soldering, small electronics, etc. like some games stores do with dungeons and dragons/other card game nights.

They tried that with their makerspace concept store in Broadway (Sydney) - right opposite UTS.
https://www.retailbiz.com.au/retail-profiles/jaycar-electronics-to-open-first-concept-store

Students aren't silly, they know how to save money. It gave me flashbacks of our PowerHouse stores in the late 90s at DSE. Good times.

They do sponsor odds and ends:
https://www.jaycar.com.au/partnerships

That Jaycar makerspace store is no longer. They have a new or nicely renovated store at 127 York St which gives me PTSD from working at 125 in the 90s. There's 3D printers and spools of PLA, etc., but that's it.

For reasons, I spend more time than I should following retail in this area. Both Jaycar and Altronics are still there, but pivoting away from what a lot of people (as electronics enthusiasts) expect of them. Why not? They have to follow the money. If you can't turn a SKU - get rid of it and replace it with something that moves.

Altronics are more of a wholesaler, with a few retail stores that are generally very good. Depends on the staff at the time. Our Altronics wholesale rep is excellent. You can email Altronics and get an answer, without any BS. If something isn't right, you can email or call and the issue will be resolved. They also manufacture excellent audio and PA products in Australia.

Since the passing of Gary Johnston, you can see the change in Jaycar. Bulky, profitable items are taking over - you can't blame them. I'm often poking around old stores, refurbished stores and had a look at a new store last month (Woolloongabba) a very old store that burned out, so it's now an example of the Jaycar from 2025. So much floor space for car fridges, cables, kids toys, and kits is just down to what's left of the Short Circuits range and a few holdouts. I was very surprised and happy to see the component drawers in the new store.

For both companies, you can see the reduction of things of interest to hobbyists. And I don't blame them at all, why compete against aliexpress that can deliver to Australia for $2.50 in under ten days? Yet they continue to a degree.

I do see them kick their own goals though. E.g. Jaycar are getting things from Keyestudio in China, and not having it rebranded. So lazy, they have the volume to arrange this. So if you can wait a week, plenty of money to be saved. Don't get me started on their lack of loss prevention. Altronics take the photos from their ali suppliers for new products, you can Google lens search the images and find them in under ten seconds. Madness!

To finalise my old man observations - if you want these companies to stick around and offer what you want, they need your support.