Dick Smith: 189 of 386 stores set to close

[Don McKenzie]

Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close

Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386
stores could close as a result.

Parent company Woolworths is reviewing the electronics retailer due to underperforming sales, and CLSA analysts believe
the best option is to reduce store numbers.

"We believe that Woolworths will close up to 189 stores (out of 386) that are deemed unviable and invest significant
effort in pursuing an online strategy to support the 'bricks and mortar' presence," analysts David Thomas and Richard
Barwick wrote in a report entitled "Off With Dick's Head".

"While some may see this as a band-aid measure, we believe it will give Woolworths an ability to improve profitability,
continue to be a relevant player in consumer electronics and allow it to minimise the initial liability-writedown,” the
report read.

Full Story:
http://www.connectedaustralia.com/News/BreakingNews/tabid/119/ArticleId/6643/Off-with-Dick-s-head-189-stores-set-to-close.aspx

Cheers Don...

====================

--
Don McKenzie

Dontronics: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/

DuinoMite the PIC32 $35 Basic Computer-MicroController
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/the-maximite-computer.html
Just add a VGA monitor or TV, and PS2 Keyboard.
Arduino Shield, Programmed in Basic, or C.

[o...@grrr.id.au]

On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:02:30 +1100, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:

>Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>

Techxperts -- FAIL!

[felix_unger]

On 23-January-2012 3:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:

> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>
> Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and
> CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386 stores could close as
> a result.
>
> Parent company Woolworths is reviewing the electronics retailer due to
> underperforming sales, and CLSA analysts believe the best option is to
> reduce store numbers.
>
> "We believe that Woolworths will close up to 189 stores (out of 386)
> that are deemed unviable and invest significant effort in pursuing an
> online strategy to support the 'bricks and mortar' presence," analysts
> David Thomas and Richard Barwick wrote in a report entitled "Off With
> Dick's Head".
>
> "While some may see this as a band-aid measure, we believe it will
> give Woolworths an ability to improve profitability, continue to be a
> relevant player in consumer electronics and allow it to minimise the
> initial liability-writedown,” the report read.
>
> Full Story:
> http://www.connectedaustralia.com/News/BreakingNews/tabid/119/ArticleId/6643/Off-with-Dick-s-head-189-stores-set-to-close.aspx
>
>
> Cheers Don...
>
> ====================
>

They've also abandoned their 'refund within 14 days, no questions asked'
policy. I thought it was too good to last.

--
rgds,

Pete
-------
“If Julia is the answer, then what was the stupid question?!”

"Julia finally got something right. Older people don't vote Labor, because they have seen too many incompetent, mismanaging, money-wasting Labor governments"

"I regard the prime minister to be in breach of the written agreement she signed, leaving me no option but to honour my word and end my current relationship with her government. We should be able to trust our politicians to keep their word. Frankly a deal is a deal" - Andrew Wilkie, Federal Member for Denison

“All that's needed now is a small miracle to rid us of the worst prime minister and the worst government in Australia's history”

"If the WORLD as a whole cut ALL emissions tomorrow, the average temperature of the planet's not going to drop for several hundred years, perhaps over on thousand years" - Tim Flannery, Climate Commissioner

[atec77]

On 23/01/2012 2:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>

> No surprise as discussed when you let idiot bean counters take over

dropping the parts line lost a huge group pf customers as the shite
microwaves can be had cheaper elsewhere

[who where]

On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:02:30 +1100, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:

>Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>
>Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386
>stores could close as a result.

(snip)

Since they stopped carrying most of the stuff I would have bought
there in the past, from my pov they might as well shut the whole 386
of them.

[swanny]

On 23/01/2012 3:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>
> Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and
> CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386 stores could close as a
> result.
>
> Parent company Woolworths is reviewing the electronics retailer due to
> underperforming sales, and CLSA analysts believe the best option is to
> reduce store numbers.
>
> "We believe that Woolworths will close up to 189 stores (out of 386)
> that are deemed unviable and invest significant effort in pursuing an
> online strategy to support the 'bricks and mortar' presence," analysts
> David Thomas and Richard Barwick wrote in a report entitled "Off With
> Dick's Head".
>
> "While some may see this as a band-aid measure, we believe it will give
> Woolworths an ability to improve profitability, continue to be a
> relevant player in consumer electronics and allow it to minimise the
> initial liability-writedown,” the report read.
>
> Full Story:
> http://www.connectedaustralia.com/News/BreakingNews/tabid/119/ArticleId/6643/Off-with-Dick-s-head-189-stores-set-to-close.aspx
>
>
> Cheers Don...
>
> ====================
>

They probably had too many stores anyway after acquiring Tandy. Several
duplicate stores were closed just after the acquisition, however many
remained open, with dubious viability. What exactly does DSE do now that
makes it any different from HN, JB etc?

[Petzl]

On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:42:42 +1100, swanny <swa...@nospam.net> wrote:

>
>They probably had too many stores anyway after acquiring Tandy. Several
>duplicate stores were closed just after the acquisition, however many
>remained open, with dubious viability. What exactly does DSE do now that
>makes it any different from HN, JB etc?

And that's the real problem with retail shopping over the years there
are now to many of them doing much the same next door to each other.
--
Petzl
http://tinyurl.com/abba-money-money-money-midi

[keithr]

They charge more and employ less knowledgeable staff

[Jeßus]

On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:02:30 +1100, Don McKenzie <5...@2.5A> wrote:

>Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close

No great loss there. Except possibly to their shareholders. Good
riddance to (post 1985) DSE I say.

------
If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong? ? Steven Wright

[SG1]

"swanny" <swa...@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:9DjTq.2050$v14...@viwinnwfe02.internal.bigpond.com...

They don't have enuf stock/variety as the above mentioned.

>

[Yaputya Leftlegin]

"Jeßus" <no...@all.invalid> wrote in message
news:rmlrh71vp85i7dam7...@4ax.com...

My first amplifier was a Dick Smith kit - the EA Playmaster 136 from around
1972/73.
There was only one Dick Smith store at the time, at Gore Hill in Sydney.
I used the mail order service and the kit arrived promptly with all bits
included - and it
worked first time. DSE has long since lost the plot.

[Clocky]

atec77 wrote:
> On 23/01/2012 2:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
>> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>>
>> No surprise as discussed when you let idiot bean counters take over
>
> dropping the parts line lost a huge group pf customers

No it didn't.

I worked for DSE and parts sales were almost insignifcant largely due to
pressure from cheap sources online and places like Jaycar that have a better
inventory of components.

Even Jaycar is having to diversify as component sales are ever declining.

[felix_unger]

what did they ever sell that was any good

[Clocky]

Likewise, but I know that component and tool sales were declining for years
(I worked there for some time as a casual when I was semi-retired (gimme a
break, I was only 35 and I was one of the few people who knew my P section
stuff OK) and that wasn't going to sustain all those stores.

The problem they have is that they are often still thought of as the
electronics enthusiasts store (so the average Joe still thinks it's not for
them, at least that's the vibe I get) and at the same time they have killed
off the enthusiast lines and have gone with products that people think are
synonymous with the larger, better known retailers.

They're fucked IOW and may as well close all the stores as I think that will
be the inevitable outcome anyway

[Sylvia Else]

On 23/01/2012 3:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>
> Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and
> CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386 stores could close as a
> result.
>
> Parent company Woolworths is reviewing the electronics retailer due to
> underperforming sales, and CLSA analysts believe the best option is to
> reduce store numbers.
>
> "We believe that Woolworths will close up to 189 stores (out of 386)
> that are deemed unviable and invest significant effort in pursuing an
> online strategy to support the 'bricks and mortar' presence," analysts
> David Thomas and Richard Barwick wrote in a report entitled "Off With
> Dick's Head".
>
> "While some may see this as a band-aid measure, we believe it will give
> Woolworths an ability to improve profitability, continue to be a
> relevant player in consumer electronics and allow it to minimise the
> initial liability-writedown,” the report read.
>
> Full Story:
> http://www.connectedaustralia.com/News/BreakingNews/tabid/119/ArticleId/6643/Off-with-Dick-s-head-189-stores-set-to-close.aspx
>
>
> Cheers Don...
>
> ====================
>

Since they've long become just another consumer electronics retail
store, I doubt they'll be missed by many readers of these groups.

From my perspective, they died a while back, they just didn't stop moving.

Sylvia.

[Clocky]

felix_unger wrote:
> On 24-January-2012 2:02 AM, who where wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:02:30 +1100, Don McKenzie<5...@2.5A> wrote:
>>
>>> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>>>
>>> Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end,
>>> and CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386 stores could
>>> close as a result.
>> (snip)
>>
>> Since they stopped carrying most of the stuff I would have bought
>> there in the past, from my pov they might as well shut the whole 386
>> of them.
>
> what did they ever sell that was any good

They were at one time handy for electronics, like components and stuff and
had a decent range of tools for electronics work...
If you weren't into that, then they had little to offer I guess.

[Clocky]

When I was working there about 8 years ago the rot had already well and
truly set in.

Staff generally avoided anyone approaching the "P" section like they had the
plague already then, because there was no money in it and it required some
expertise to help people. High GP items meant a bigger paycheck and
upselling extended warranties on high value items was all the rage.

It was clearl already then that the "P" section was a relic that nobody
really wanted anymore. As service got worse, fewer customers would come in
to ask for advice and buy components, so lines got deleted etc, until they
finally dumped the whole lot last year.

But really it's hard to see how DSE has any relevance at all today as others
are doing what they are trying to do, but they already do it much better.

[felix_unger]

sell crappy DSE products.. :)

[felix_unger]

yes, I know. Dicky had kits for just about everything. but the
electronic parts and components were pretty cheap and nasty and
overpriced. He made his money by importing cheap junk and selling it at
inflated prices, and from his kits. in those days he had little
competition, but you could always get better electronic parts from
electronic parts stores like Radio Parts, until they started selling the
cheap stuff to compete. I recall when Radio Parts used to sell mostly
German plugs, sockets, etc. then when they started selling the imported
shit you couldn't even solder half their stuff without it falling apart.
Dicky was also one of the first retailers to get into computers, with
the Sinclair, etc., He had little competition with the PC's.

[felix_unger]

because it's a throwaway situation now with electronic items. you wont
find many TV repair shops these days.

[keithr]

On 24/01/2012 7:02 AM, Parko wrote:

> On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:02:30 +1100, Don McKenzie wrote:
>
>> Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and
>> CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386 stores could close as a
>> result.
>

> So what?
> http://www.wiltronics.com.au/
>
There have always been places like that, the thing about the old DS was
that they were round the corner if you wanted the odd resistor or
capacitor. Jaycar is the nearest thing now.

[Krypsis]

On 24/01/2012 4:38 PM, felix_unger wrote:
> On 24-January-2012 11:45 AM, Clocky wrote:
>
>> atec77 wrote:
>>> On 23/01/2012 2:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
>>>> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>>>>
>>>> No surprise as discussed when you let idiot bean counters take over
>>> dropping the parts line lost a huge group pf customers
>> No it didn't.
>>
>> I worked for DSE and parts sales were almost insignifcant largely due to
>> pressure from cheap sources online and places like Jaycar that have a
>> better
>> inventory of components.
>>
>> Even Jaycar is having to diversify as component sales are ever declining.
>>
>>
>
> because it's a throwaway situation now with electronic items. you wont
> find many TV repair shops these days.
>

The items are throwaway because of their cheapness. The cost of repair
frequently exceeds the initial cost of the equipment. As well, much of
the stuff you buy these days is either not designed to be repaired or
the cost of components to do so makes it prohibitive.

--

Krypsis

[Bruce Varley]

"Clocky" <not...@happen.com> wrote in message
news:jfl0di$c02$1...@dont-email.me...

When you look at the impetus that large chains usually put into a new
business stream purchase, such as service stations, the whole DS exercise
looks pretty half-hearted. It may be that Woolies realised early on that the
whole thing was a bit of a mistake, and minimised their losses.

[bristan]

"Don McKenzie" wrote in message news:9o44ep...@mid.individual.net...

Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close

Its just evolution.
I just had a Samsung led tv repaired because the earphone socket had broken.
The whole board was replaced and it only had two boards inside. Even techs
are not using many components

Silicon chip is full of arduino and picaxe as well as other microprocessor
projects.
Components will probably only be available from niche suppliers in the
future.

Many businesses have come and gone/going due to changing technology. Kodak
being a prime example







woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end, and CLSA

[Clocky]

felix_unger wrote:
> On 24-January-2012 11:45 AM, Clocky wrote:
>
>> atec77 wrote:
>>> On 23/01/2012 2:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
>>>> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>>>>
>>>> No surprise as discussed when you let idiot bean counters take
>>>> over
>>> dropping the parts line lost a huge group pf customers
>> No it didn't.
>>
>> I worked for DSE and parts sales were almost insignifcant largely
>> due to pressure from cheap sources online and places like Jaycar
>> that have a better inventory of components.
>>
>> Even Jaycar is having to diversify as component sales are ever
>> declining.
>
> because it's a throwaway situation now with electronic items. you wont
> find many TV repair shops these days.

Plenty of people are hobbyists (like me), but almost everyone sources their
information and parts online now.

[Clocky]

DSE never sold the Sinclair range. He sold mostly cheapo knockoff clones of
Apple, Tandy (CAT, System 80), and rebadged Vtech (HK) produced stuff like
the VZ200, VZ300 and Wizzard consoles. To be fair to him, whilst he did
import all this stuff, he also introduced computers to people who otherwise
may not have been able to afford one.
After Woolworths got involved they started selling later Commodore PC's, as
well as their own branded range. Probably some clones as well.

[SG1]

"bristan" <no...@none.com> wrote in message
news:4f1f919e$1...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...

>
>
> "Don McKenzie" wrote in message news:9o44ep...@mid.individual.net...
> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>
> Its just evolution.
> I just had a Samsung led tv repaired because the earphone socket had
> broken. The whole board was replaced and it only had two boards inside.
> Even techs are not using many components
>
> Silicon chip is full of arduino and picaxe as well as other microprocessor
> projects.
> Components will probably only be available from niche suppliers in the
> future.
>
> Many businesses have come and gone/going due to changing technology.
> Kodak being a prime example
>

Good example of a company killed by it's own invention and not following up
on it.

[Krypsis]

Back in 78 - ~ 82 DSE sold Exidy Sorcerer computers as well. There was a
user group for them IIRC. Advanced for its time but still it fell by the
wayside. I bought a Sorcerer from Rod Irving Electronics (RIE). It was
the last he had in stock in his (then) only store in Northcote, Vic. It
was a display model and I kept it for a few years before passing it
along to a friend in the mining game in WA for use as a word processor.

RIE gathered a few more branches, a warehouse and bankruptcy. I last saw
him when he was opening his Box Hill store in what I considered a poor
location. Had a bit of a chat about the state of affairs in the
electronic component industry. He told me that his largest profit
margins were in components. He had a bunch of women in his warehouse
stuffing plastic bags with resistors, capacitors, diodes and the like.
Huge markups on the components but was lucky to get 10 - 20 percent on a
beige box PC of that era.



--

Krypsis

[Rod Speed]

It hasnt been killed, its only in Chapter 11, which allows it to continue.

And it isnt even possible to follow up on the invention that destroyed its basis
in a way that avoids the result they got.

[swanny]

Sure, you can get 500% markup on a resistor, but then you are only
making a few more cents. Hobbyist component supply is not really high
volume. 10% on a $1000 beige box is still going to be easier and more
profitable than 500% on a bag of resistors.

[Clocky]

Quite right, I forgot about the Sorcerer is one I don't have yet.

> RIE gathered a few more branches, a warehouse and bankruptcy. I last
> saw him when he was opening his Box Hill store in what I considered a
> poor location. Had a bit of a chat about the state of affairs in the
> electronic component industry. He told me that his largest profit
> margins were in components. He had a bunch of women in his warehouse
> stuffing plastic bags with resistors, capacitors, diodes and the like.
> Huge markups on the components but was lucky to get 10 - 20 percent
> on a beige box PC of that era.

That's true and whilst components may have had a huge markup you also needed
to sell them in volume.

[Petzl]

On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:08:06 +1100, swanny <swa...@nospam.net> wrote:

>
>Sure, you can get 500% markup on a resistor, but then you are only
>making a few more cents. Hobbyist component supply is not really high
>volume. 10% on a $1000 beige box is still going to be easier and more
>profitable than 500% on a bag of resistors.
>

Haven't been there for a while is David Reid Electronics 127 York St,
Sydney still selling bits? (behind Queen victoria building).
--
Petzl
http://www.cool-midi.com/midi/d/dire_straits-money_for_nothing.mid

[Andy Wood]

Petzl <pet...@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:08:06 +1100, swanny <swa...@nospam.net> wrote:
>
>>
>>Sure, you can get 500% markup on a resistor, but then you are only
>>making a few more cents. Hobbyist component supply is not really high
>>volume. 10% on a $1000 beige box is still going to be easier and more
>>profitable than 500% on a bag of resistors.
>>
>Haven't been there for a while is David Reid Electronics 127 York St,
>Sydney still selling bits? (behind Queen victoria building).

No, that disappeared nearly five years ago.


Andy Wood
woo...@trap.ozemail.com.au

[Jeßus]

On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:45:39 +0800, "Clocky" <not...@happen.com>
wrote:

>atec77 wrote:
>> On 23/01/2012 2:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
>>> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>>>
>>> No surprise as discussed when you let idiot bean counters take over
>>
>> dropping the parts line lost a huge group pf customers
>
>No it didn't.
>
>I worked for DSE and parts sales were almost insignifcant

Yes, but when exactly? You mention online and Jaycar, most of us are
thinking back to the 1980's, at least.

>largely due to
>pressure from cheap sources online and places like Jaycar that have a better
>inventory of components.
>
>Even Jaycar is having to diversify as component sales are ever declining.
>

[Jeßus]

On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:46:18 +0800, "Clocky" <not...@happen.com>
wrote:

And also agents for Yaesu. DSE was very useful back in the old days
and a lot of the staff were actually knowledgeable about electronics
(!)

[Clocky]

Jeßus wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:45:39 +0800, "Clocky" <not...@happen.com>
> wrote:
>
>> atec77 wrote:
>>> On 23/01/2012 2:02 PM, Don McKenzie wrote:
>>>> Off with Dick's head: 189 stores set to close
>>>>
>>>> No surprise as discussed when you let idiot bean counters take
>>>> over
>>>
>>> dropping the parts line lost a huge group pf customers
>>
>> No it didn't.
>>
>> I worked for DSE and parts sales were almost insignifcant
>
> Yes, but when exactly? You mention online and Jaycar, most of us are
> thinking back to the 1980's, at least.

They only dropped the parts line last year, but even a decade ago they were
insignificant as far as profitability goes.

[Yaputya Leftlegin]

"Clocky" <not...@happen.com> wrote in message

news:4f225f37$0$11120$c3e...@news.astraweb.com...

Sad but true.
When Dick Smith started up, parts and kits were the main attraction.
I bought my first amplifier as a kit from Dick Smith at Gore Hill by mail
order.
There was only one Dick Smith store at the time (1973).
The amp kit was an EA Playmaster 136, and the kit was perfect-nothing
missing.

[felix_unger]

I know

[felix_unger]

On 26-January-2012 7:57 AM, Jeßus wrote:

> On Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:46:18 +0800, "Clocky"<not...@happen.com>
> wrote:
>
>> felix_unger wrote:
>>> On 24-January-2012 2:02 AM, who where wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:02:30 +1100, Don McKenzie<5...@2.5A> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>>>>>
>>>>> Woolworths’ strategic review of Dick Smith is drawing to an end,
>>>>> and CLSA analysts predict 189 of the retailers’ 386 stores could
>>>>> close as a result.
>>>> (snip)
>>>>
>>>> Since they stopped carrying most of the stuff I would have bought
>>>> there in the past, from my pov they might as well shut the whole 386
>>>> of them.
>>> what did they ever sell that was any good
>> They were at one time handy for electronics, like components and stuff and
>> had a decent range of tools for electronics work...
> And also agents for Yaesu. DSE was very useful back in the old days
> and a lot of the staff were actually knowledgeable about electronics
> (!)

yes, he only employed electronics nuts

>
> ------
> If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong? ? Steven Wright

[felix_unger]

On 25-January-2012 4:22 PM, bristan wrote:

>
>
> "Don McKenzie" wrote in message news:9o44ep...@mid.individual.net...
> Off with Dick’s head: 189 stores set to close
>
> Its just evolution.
> I just had a Samsung led tv repaired because the earphone socket had
> broken. The whole board was replaced and it only had two boards
> inside. Even techs are not using many components

That's all they do now -replace the PCB. and they don't repair the old
board. it's just case of replace with new.

[Clocky]

felix_unger wrote:
> On 25-January-2012 4:22 PM, bristan wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "Don McKenzie" wrote in message
>> news:9o44ep...@mid.individual.net... Off with Dick’s head: 189
>> stores set to close Its just evolution.
>> I just had a Samsung led tv repaired because the earphone socket had
>> broken. The whole board was replaced and it only had two boards
>> inside. Even techs are not using many components
>
> That's all they do now -replace the PCB. and they don't repair the old
> board. it's just case of replace with new.

Wrong. Samsung do repair boards where it is economically viable (like
replacing the caps in the power boards in some of their TV models) but it's
not done by the partswapper but by a service and repair centre.

I know this for a fact as I have a friend who is a service tech with
Samsung.

[felix_unger]

well maybe they do with the older stuff, but not with Plasma / LCD
panels. at least that is what two Samsung techs have told me

[Clocky]

felix_unger wrote:
> On 28-January-2012 9:50 PM, Clocky wrote:
>
>> felix_unger wrote:
>>> On 25-January-2012 4:22 PM, bristan wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Don McKenzie" wrote in message
>>>> news:9o44ep...@mid.individual.net... Off with Dick’s head: 189
>>>> stores set to close Its just evolution.
>>>> I just had a Samsung led tv repaired because the earphone socket
>>>> had broken. The whole board was replaced and it only had two boards
>>>> inside. Even techs are not using many components
>>> That's all they do now -replace the PCB. and they don't repair the
>>> old board. it's just case of replace with new.
>> Wrong. Samsung do repair boards where it is economically viable (like
>> replacing the caps in the power boards in some of their TV models)
>> but it's not done by the partswapper but by a service and repair
>> centre. I know this for a fact as I have a friend who is a service tech
>> with
>> Samsung.
>>
>
> well maybe they do with the older stuff, but not with Plasma / LCD
> panels. at least that is what two Samsung techs have told me

No, they do that with LCD's.

It's exactly what they did when they fixed my TV last year, under warranty.

My friend said that is what they would do, and the part-swapper who came out
to fit the "new" board confirmed it was reworked. He pointed out the
capacitors that were replaced.

[bristan]

"Clocky" wrote in message
news:4f256073$0$29896$c3e8da3$5496...@news.astraweb.com...

Before the serviceman would start I had to sign a form agreeing to accept
"second hand " parts or whatever Samsung sent out in the words of the repair
guy.
He also said that the old board had to be sent back to Samsung. Sounds like
they may well repair boards and reissue. This was under warranty btw.

[Clocky]

With the right equipment replacing caps and SMT components, even IC's, takes
a few minutes so it would be economically viable to do so especially with
common faults. (like the dodgey caps in the power supply board causing the
click of death which affected nearly every Samsung LCD a couple of years
ago)

[Jeßus]

On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 16:09:02 +0800, "Clocky" <not...@happen.com>
wrote:

>With the right equipment replacing caps and SMT components, even IC's, takes
>a few minutes so it would be economically viable to do so especially with
>common faults. (like the dodgey caps in the power supply board causing the
>click of death which affected nearly every Samsung LCD a couple of years
>ago)

Another 'click of death', albeit different. I well remember the Iomega
Zip drive 'click of death'... those drives were a complete PITA but
was better than using a floppy, I suppose. When they worked, that is.

[Krypsis]

Err, they "were" a floppy albeit with a much greater capacity than the
useless 1.44 MB jiggers! I have a number of them around here and have
experienced few issues with them in recent years. I have 4 x 250 MB IDE
internal drives, 2 or 3 250 MB USB externals and 2 750 MB externals, one
USB, the other Firewire. The Firewire 750 lives on one of my Macs. Lost
count of the number of disk I have. No shortage however. The cheapness
of CDs and the proliferation of USB devices has rendered them all
somewhat redundant but they still find uses around here.

--

Krypsis

[Jeßus]

On Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:02:26 +1100, Krypsis <kry...@optusnet.com.au>
wrote:

>On 6/02/2012 9:17 AM, Jeßus wrote:
>> On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 16:09:02 +0800, "Clocky"<not...@happen.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> With the right equipment replacing caps and SMT components, even IC's, takes
>>> a few minutes so it would be economically viable to do so especially with
>>> common faults. (like the dodgey caps in the power supply board causing the
>>> click of death which affected nearly every Samsung LCD a couple of years
>>> ago)
>>
>>
>> Another 'click of death', albeit different. I well remember the Iomega
>> Zip drive 'click of death'... those drives were a complete PITA but
>> was better than using a floppy, I suppose. When they worked, that is.
>
>Err, they "were" a floppy

We quibbble on terms then... :)

>albeit with a much greater capacity than the
>useless 1.44 MB jiggers! I have a number of them around here and have
>experienced few issues with them in recent years. I have 4 x 250 MB IDE
>internal drives, 2 or 3 250 MB USB externals and 2 750 MB externals, one
>USB, the other Firewire. The Firewire 750 lives on one of my Macs. Lost
>count of the number of disk I have. No shortage however. The cheapness
>of CDs and the proliferation of USB devices has rendered them all
>somewhat redundant but they still find uses around here.

Yep, I've pretty much gone to hard drives and USB memory sticks for
most things now.

[felix_unger]

not possible with the design of many circuit boards today with the
components printed on the boards and the chips too small to de-solder,
and not to mention the time troubleshooting. cheaper/easier just to
replace the board

--
rgds,

Pete
-------
“If Julia is the answer, then what was the stupid question?!”

"Julia finally got something right. Older people don't vote Labor, because they have seen too many incompetent, mismanaging, money-wasting Labor governments"

“It doesn't matter [who the leader is] the Labor Party is rotten, the policies stink, the lies insufferable, and the waste intolerable. The Muppets could do a better job!”

“All that's needed now is a small miracle to rid us of the worst prime minister and the worst government in Australia's history”

"If the WORLD as a whole cut ALL emissions tomorrow, the average temperature of the planet's not going to drop for several hundred years, perhaps over on thousand years" - Tim Flannery, Climate Commissioner

"It is a remarkable fact that despite the worldwide expenditure of perhaps US$50 billion since 1990, and the efforts of tens of thousands of scientists worldwide, no human climate signal has yet been detected that is distinct from natural variation" - Bob Carter, Research Professor of Geology, James Cook University, Townsville

"Currently, China and India combined emit 20 times as much as Australia each day, and that factor is increasing rapidly. Australia's annual savings by 2020 could be emitted by China and India within five days" - Dr. David Evans former Govt Climate Adviser.

“What I see is a country bravely beating along to the agenda of some ideological people, in this case the socialist left of the ALP and the Greens, to take away what is a natural advantage. At the end of the day, we are paying someone else to use our coal” - Peter Costello, former Federal Treasurer - http://tinyurl.com/costello-carbon-tax

[geoff]

I think that was the Jaz - Zips were much more reliable.

geoff

[Krypsis]

It definitely was the Zip that was afflicted with the click of death.
Had one myself many years back. It was, if I recall correctly, a 100 Meg
USB external drive, one of the later slimline case models. The 250 Meg
and larger zip drives didn't seem to be as badly afflicted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Click_of_death

The Zip used floppy disk technology (a PET film disk) whereas the Jaz
used a rigid platter. Because the Zip used a "floppy" medium, it was
more rugged than the Jaz system. We had both forms of drives at my
workplace years back. I always carried a Zip drive and a few Zip
floppies to and from work in my briefcase. I was very reluctant to do
the same with the Jaz drive or media.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iomega_Jaz_drive

There is no reason why the Jaz drive could not develop a "click of
death" fault however. The term was originally coined to refer to the
action of the heads on a hard disk seeking to track zero repeatedly when
reference information on the platters was unable to be read. This
resulted in a clicking noise. Since the Jaz is effectively a removable
platter hard disk, it should be prone to exhibiting the same click in
similar circumstances. I never had the experience with a Jaz though had
it often on hard drives in the 90s.

--

Krypsis

[felix_unger]

No, Zips were infamous for the COD

--
rgds,

Pete
-------
“If Julia is the answer, then what was the stupid question?!”

"Julia finally got something right. Older people don't vote Labor, because they have seen too many incompetent, mismanaging, money-wasting Labor governments"

“It doesn't matter [who the leader is] the Labor Party is rotten, the policies stink, the lies insufferable, and the waste intolerable. The Muppets could do a better job!”

“All that's needed now is a small miracle to rid us of the worst prime minister and the worst government in Australia's history”

"If the WORLD as a whole cut ALL emissions tomorrow, the average temperature of the planet's not going to drop for several hundred years, perhaps over on thousand years" - Tim Flannery, Climate Commissioner

[geoff]

Krypsis wrote:
> On 9/02/2012 6:36 AM, geoff wrote:
>> Jeßus wrote:
>>> On Sun, 5 Feb 2012 16:09:02 +0800, "Clocky"<not...@happen.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Another 'click of death', albeit different. I well remember the
>>> Iomega Zip drive 'click of death'... those drives were a complete
>>> PITA but was better than using a floppy, I suppose. When they
>>> worked, that is.
>>
>> I think that was the Jaz - Zips were much more reliable.
>>
>> geoff
>>
>>
> It definitely was the Zip that was afflicted with the click of death.
> Had one myself many years back.

I have several Zips and 4 Jaz drives. The Zips still work (though not much
use for them nowadays), and all but 2 of my dozen+ Jaz cartridges died long
ago, most with the famous Click Of Death.

In the day it seemed the Jaz most vulnerable.

geoff

[felix_unger]

Yes, but before there was Jazz there was Zip!, possibly around the
Mesolithic era :), and the Zip's had the COD before Jazz even saw the
light of day. I can remember writing about it in the days before Jazz .
btw.. I still have Zips and use them! However, Win7 does not support the
Iomega tools software, so you can't password protect them, unless there
is some other way of doing it.

>
> geoff

>


--
rgds,

Pete
-------
“If Julia is the answer, then what was the stupid question?!”

"Julia finally got something right. Older people don't vote Labor, because they have seen too many incompetent, mismanaging, money-wasting Labor governments"

“It doesn't matter [who the leader is] the Labor Party is rotten, the policies stink, the lies insufferable, and the waste intolerable. The Muppets could do a better job!”

“All that's needed now is a small miracle to rid us of the worst prime minister and the worst government in Australia's history”

"If the WORLD as a whole cut ALL emissions tomorrow, the average temperature of the planet's not going to drop for several hundred years, perhaps over on thousand years" - Tim Flannery, Climate Commissioner