R F Potts

I have to rate this place very highly. They have excellent knowledgeable staff and a huge range and the desire to order anything they don’t have. They even have a window display which will look like junk to the casual observer but to someone like me it gives me plenty of ideas of what to go for.
I mean, I often want rare germanium transistors, various IC’s. Random sized ceramic and poly caps along with all sorts of trim pots and things. They’ve got all this in those little draws on the walls and the happy ending is that they are usually priced at ‘cost + 2−3p’ instead of it is all £1.99 mate.
I mean what slightly autistic person with an engineering mind doesn’t want to be asked a dozen questions about what type of wire you want when you ask for wire? This place is perfect as it modern retail terms it is like the shop that time forgot.
Only complaints is that is gets very busy because of the specialised and sometimes complex help you’ll get from them and you’ve got to put up with it but I don’t mind as sometimes I’ve felt guilty for how much of their time I’ve used up.
As an example I’ve gone in looking for a certain IC. They’ve not got it because it is some ancient archaic one which is now covered by a more fully functioned one. They’ve checked over my badly drawn circuit diagram, checked in a phone book sized book of specification sheets and picked out several alternative IC’s based on my current requirements and suggested how some will even be better and have additional functions. Thanks guys I’ll take one! How much? 40 pence? Hahaha you must hate my guts!