Where do *you* buy replacement parts?

I've recently purchased a PS3 off a popular auction site that might have a drive issue. Could be just filthy, could be faulty, could have nothing wrong with it, but thought it would be worth getting some pricing on replacement parts.

The last time I had a console repair on my hands, I went to good old Lik-Sang (rest its soul). Nowadays, I have no idea where to turn for good parts at good prices. A cursory glance in a search engine brings up a plethora of shonky-looking sites charging big prices.

At present, it looks to me that the best place to buy parts for current-gen consoles at a good price is eBay, but I'm sure that can't be right.

With older consoles (where the parts were a bit more off-the-shelf and complete replacements are scarce), I would probably go to RS or Farnell, Maplin for more general stuff - but that might be through convienience and familiarity rather than seeking out the best places.

So, where do *you* purchase parts when you've got a console, arcade cab or games machine that needs some care and attention?

It would also be nice to get a worldwide stance on good places (for forum brethren around the world!)

 

OK, looks like I'll have to start proceedings, then.

Worldwide:

DealExtreme (http://www.dealextreme.com) - a place for import parts from Hong Kong. Reasonably priced bits, the only critique is that you have to pay reasonable attention to what you're buying, as there's plenty of shonky counterfeits to be found.

TradeKey (http://www.tradekey.com) is meant to be an adequate site for purchasing components in bulk direct. You require membership and tend to only get good rates on high purchase orders, but if you run repairs it might be worth a look in.

eBay is always worth a look, although you have to be 3 times as wary when buying parts, as there are plenty of people (esp. in China and Hong Kong) who'll happily bend the truth when advertising goods. Also, prices are commonly overinflated, so check the market price elsewhere before buying.

United Kingdom:

JackOfAllGames (http://www.jackofallgames.co.uk) - tends to deal in repair parts. Advantage is that their prices are low, they offer a refund scheme if the part you order doesn't fix your console, and 3 month warranties on many things. Only real disadvantage is that they have a clunker of a website and their delivery times are a bit hit and miss.

 

Usually I get me a working console again and ditch the non working one as it's easier most of the time.

 

For tools I use maplins. There basically the only place that sells decent electric tools within this shit hole.

 

For consoles I go for a myraid of approaches.

Example, I had the casing, laser, motor and everything for a XBox 360 Hitachi 79FL DVD-ROM but no controller board as I bricked it due to a bad flash. Couldn't find a replacement board alone but found out the 79FK was compatible with everything else, hell it might be transflashable for all I know. Bought one off ebay for $7 and now I have a drive to sell.

Currently trying to source a laser for a VAD-6035 Phillips DVD-ROM for my old XBox but apparently is an EXTREMELY uncommon varient of Phillips drive with the VAD-6011 being common enough for cheap lasers to be on eBay. I refuse to pay high prices for a full DVD-ROM that most are asking currently.

Another method I use is to simply buy consoles, broken or not, from flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores and so on when I find a good price. Bought a "broken" XBox for $15 that simply needed it's solderless modchip reseated and d0 properly grounded. Broken Genesis on eBay? Parts for 3 others.

Websites are nearly impossible to work with for parts. I could probably start a small business doing just this but I don't have the capital to start up and selling people ribbons for $1 50 times a week just doesn't sound appealing enough.

 

i like dealextreme has almost of everything, but u can always use
Focalprice.com

 

Maplin is appalling now. They used to be good, but they're not what they used to be and nearly always are overpriced. I would use any of the several wholesalers instead of them (CPC, Farnell, RS, Rapid, Digi-Key, Mouser etc.). Some of those companies have branches overseas (in the US, there's Farnell, Digi-Key, MCM Electronics, and Radio Shack - but they're going downhill like Maplin).

A Maplin store opened in my town a couple of months ago. Before, we would have had to drive an hour to get to the nearest Maplin - and that's probably only been open 10 years or so. So it was quite a big deal. I still haven't set foot in there.

Here's an example for you of their pricing.

You know those 33-piece security screwdriver bit sets? The ones with Gameboy tri-wing and security Torx etc.

Maplin: £11.99 in one of those slightly awkward rubber holders


http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=11520

Screwfix (a few shops away from Maplin in my town): £4.49 in a nice hinged container with a belt clip1


http://www.screwfix.com/prods/96872/Screwdriver-Bits/Security-Bits/Security-Bitset

Incidentally, Chinese companies like Tradekey WILL give your e-mail address to all and sundry and you'll get spammed with things that aren't even remotely like the category you selected as an interest! Here's what we got when looking for a scrolling banner display:

Now, you tell me - what have chicken wire, LED lighting, iPhone rip-offs and USB products got to do with display stands?!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Xbox-OPU-5161...AU_Video_Game_Accessories&hash=item3cb04ff818
new laser.:thumbsup:

 

Craplin's seem a more apt name for them now.

True, they used to be amazing for parts.

In the '90s, their catalogue was huge, and their stores were always well stocked with components. The catalogue is now half the size, full of shite gadgets, and most of the time needs to be ordered in.

The only thing I buy from them now is soldering iron tips, which I can't find much cheaper online.

Edit:
I've used rapidonline.com and conrad-uk.com for some smd electrolytics that were hard to find. Pricing can be hit and miss sometimes though.

 

Quite. Their catalogue used to be superb, not only the selection of parts but the range of info (semiconductor datasheets, resistor charts etc.) - so much so that I would keep them, and still have them dating back to the early Nineties. One thing that seemed pointless to me was their move into computer parts in a bigger way - things were updated so quickly, by the time the catalogue was printed, the parts were outdated and overpriced!

AFAIK, Maplin only do Antex irons, and I don't use them any more myself. I think RS and/or CPC do the bits, though?

WOOAH! £10 + for an Antex bit? They're like £2.50 in CPC! (Tools, Storage & Handling > Soldering Equipment & Accessories > Tips - Soldering & Desoldering)

If you use a company that's foreign (and I think both Rapid and Conrad are), prices can indeed be variable with the currency. For the home enthusiast, CPC is probably the best place to shop nowadays.

 

Well, I've beaten the example I offered before! Today, I went into Toolstation, which is literally the building behind Maplin. My friend wanted screwdriver bits - on the same page was this:


33 piece security bit set £3.30
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...curity+Bit+Set+25mm+33+Piece/d80/sd650/p92461

Same as Maplin's, only it was nearly £9 cheaper - that's almost a quarter of Maplin's price!

 

Maplins are never well stocked anymore i only buy if a repair is needed the same day there tools are over priced.

 

Toolstation are a god send. There's one in my town that's a half hour walk [good exercise lol] or so if that and everything is really cheap yet really good quality from what I've found.