[theamk]

I loved going to those stores! Long time ago, I was spending many hours there every month. But over time the hobbies changed, so I am not surprised those stores started to die out.

Why go to surplus store to fish for overstock of weird LCDs, when you can buy new one for $3, with documentation and a breakout board? Why salvage gearhead motors from industrial electronics when you can get brand-new ones for $5? And from the other side, if you've got some harmonic gearbox motor, why try sell them locally for $30 when you can get $150 on eBay?

There is no doubt a lot has been lost - those little stores had incredible deals, when some rare, high-quality parts were sold very cheap. Those $5 gear motors you buy today are much worse than that surplus store motor which was $100 new. But I also don't have to wait for six months for the right parts to appear in stores, so I think we are better off overall.