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Electronics and Computer Parts Store

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Started 3 years ago by Pougan
Latest reply from billycmh

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Pougan
Columbus, OH
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Does anyone know of a good place that has electronic and computer parts for decent prices? Microcenter is the closest I have found, but their cables are still crazy expensive. There's a store in Dayton called Parts Express that has things like 10ft HDMI cables for just under $8, but the cheapest I have found in Columbus is $20 for 6ft at Microcenter. I've looked around at various little computer stores like Computrade, but most of the smaller stores specialize in used equipment, not decently priced new stuff like Parts Express.

Thanks.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Hey! Welcome to the site! Good question. ;)

I've found that the cheapest cables can be found in two ways:

1) Buying them online

2) Making friends with someone who works in a computer store where the employee discount means getting stuff at cost. Because the price of cables in stores is completely subject to the huge markups that the store puts on them.

Posted 3 years ago #
Hael

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http://www.newegg.com/

Posted 3 years ago #
Pougan
Columbus, OH
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Thanks! It's good to be here!

1) Yea, that's what I do most often. I've been a long time shopper of newegg.com. I just really like having a local place where I can just go and grab it right when I need it.
2) I could try that, but then the friendship will always be tainted with the fact that I only like them for their employee discount ;).

It just bums me out that there's all kinds of places back home in Dayton where I could pick up cheap cables (i.e. $10 for 100ft ethernet cable at a place that cuts and crimps it for you off a spindle) but there doesn't appear to be any in Columbus for some reason.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Cutting & crimping your own ethernet cables isn't too hard and can cut down on the price. You *might* be able to find a place around down that does this, but I'm not sure where to look.

But I think HDMI is a completely different beast. I don't know if cutting and crimping is all it takes to put them together.

Posted 3 years ago #
pez

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Like newegg.com, you can't walk in there, but with the prices at monoprice.com and cheap shipping, I order whatever I think I might need my HDMI's were less than $5 each. Plus at work, we combine orders for the just in case parts and cables. It kills me that Best Buy asks $60+ for a Monster brand HDMI cable claiming superiority and less signal loss. They're digital, there's no concern of signal degradation, they either work or they don't.

Posted 3 years ago #
blammo
in the shadow of the wonder of bread
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Aren't Monster cables like the biggest scam in the world? (well, maybe not the biggest in the world, but certainly in the audio cable world)

Posted 3 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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Yes and no
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/hdmi-cable-battlemodo/the-truth-about-monster-cable-part-2-268788.php

Posted 3 years ago #
mfreeman

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I don't recall the name of the place off-hand, but there is a small used computer store that faces the east side of MicroCenter. They may not have a huge selection, but their prices are excellent. I always check there before walking across the little roadway and dealing with the MicroCenter madness.

You might also check eBay. A lot of times I've found things there that are a good deal, even after paying shipping, even on cheap items like cables.

Posted 3 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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If you mean Computer Success, I think they closed a couple years ago.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Yep. They did close a few years ago. :( I loved that place. I remember buying Commodore games there with my mom when I was 6 years old.

Posted 3 years ago #
Coremodels
Really close to Explorer's Club.
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I was there like once a week at least for a couple years rooting through the used game bin.

Posted 3 years ago #
WildmanDan
W. Hubbard/Vic Village
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I used to go there years ago myself. How I put my first computer together many years ago.

Posted 3 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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I defiantly know of a place in Columbus where you can get cheap HDMI cables and other a/v supplies. The company is called JAVACO, Inc, website http://www.shopjavaco.com. They are located at 3670 Parkway Lane, Suite E Hilliard. They face I-270 near the Cemetery road exit/on ramp. They are actually a supplier for the Cable Telecom industry so they sell practically anything you could need to for home theater and wiring. They also have very cheap network cables. The retail area is in part of a warehouse, just walk through the hallway into the warehouse and someone will be glad to help. Sorry to sound like a commerical here, I use to work for them so I know they hands down have the best prices a/v cables locally. They are open 9am-5pm M-F, closed Sat and Sunday.

Posted 3 years ago #
honavery
Arizona
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I hate to say it, but I think your best bet is still Monoprice. I haven't come close to finding a brick and mortar that is cheaper.

Posted 3 years ago #
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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circuit city has all of their cables 35% off at the moment since they are going out.

Posted 3 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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This was the best place. Haven't been here in years though.
http://www.geeks.com/

Posted 3 years ago #
futureman
Grandview Heights
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monoprice really is great. I picked up an awesome LCD wall mount that was high quality for cheap.

Posted 3 years ago #
Pougan
Columbus, OH
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futureman - Awesome! It looks like exactly the kind of place I was looking for! Thanks!

And I'll have to add monoprice.com to my list of online stores :).

Posted 3 years ago #
sixby9is42

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vestanpance wrote >>
circuit city has all of their cables 35% off at the moment since they are going out.

35% off MSRP. Best Buy and other stores may still have a lower price, since MSRP could be ridiculously sky high.

Posted 3 years ago #