I just returned from China on the weekend. I spent a week in Hua Qiang Bei and toured two factories. I was blown away by the availability of seemingly everything. The article does not exaggerate the sheer number of components available for every possible use it seemed like. One section of a huge multi story mall was only security cameras, the next section was only home audio equipment, the next had a all the parts to make LED lights for architectural applications, then another had a desktop SMT machine for sale ($3800, 12 reels). It went on for several blocks of giant electronics shopping malls.
Language is definitely a barrier, and the sheer choice could be overwhelming. When you have 10 LEDs to choose from at Radio Shack you can make a choice easier than when you have ten floors of stalls that all sell LEDs. I got lost on several occasions wandering around these huge stores of parts. It was awesome.
I wish there was some comparable place in the US, but I have never heard of it.
I just returned from 4 electronic shops on the weekend, in a major california city. I couldn't not find jumper cables and switches on the size that i needed, or plastic knob covers. let alone a good looking big metallic knob cover that i wanted. I finally found the jumper cables only at a frys, but for 7x the price i could have them online, shipped from china. But since i was in a hurry, I paid $20 for a broken stereo receiver at craigslist and removed the parts I needed.
Language is definitely a barrier, and the sheer choice could be overwhelming. When you have 10 LEDs to choose from at Radio Shack you can make a choice easier than when you have ten floors of stalls that all sell LEDs. I got lost on several occasions wandering around these huge stores of parts. It was awesome.
I wish there was some comparable place in the US, but I have never heard of it.