Popular Post RickR Posted March 30, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 Let me just say up front...I think the place is fantastic. They have the very best selection of original and redesigned Atari parts, and the owner Brad really is helpful and knowledgeable. I've seen it over and over again though and it drives me nuts -- people on Facebook or other Atari sites complain about Best. "Their website is hard to navigate", "The guy was rude to me". Blah blah blah. Yes, the web sight is a little unsightly. But if you are diligent and willing to dig, there is a whole ton of good info there. Prices are kept up to date. My advice to those who need some help is to do this: Go to their FAQ page and bookmark it. Make note of the e-mail address. Take a look around the site. Copy and paste the full name and part numbers of the stuff you want into an e-mail. E-mail Best with that list. Give them your full name and address and ask for a shipping total. Once you get the return e-mail, call them. Tell them your name and that you e-mailed them earlier and want to give them a credit card number to complete the order. Easy! If you have a specific question, e-mail and explain it. Brad will help you. It's that simple. I was having trouble with a 400 once. I e-mailed, explained what it was doing, and I said I think I need to purchase a new ROM card. In that case, Brad had me try a few other things and ended up fixing it without having to buy any parts! And those other people say he's rude???? Puh-lease. I also want to add that the shipping cost charged is exact and fair. Not a penny more than what you see on the shipping label. Anyways, I've ordered a lot from them and am always happy. Just for fun, I've included a picture of my latest order....I bought 5 new 5200 controller flex circuits and also a 2600 cart to get me over the minimum order amount. Sabertooth, Justin, greenween and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 I have never dealt with Best Electronics. I have nothing against them but he does seem to have lots of good quality products and loads of information. I have been dealing with Video 61 when I discovered him in a flyer that came with a used XEGS stuff in 1998. I found them right after my mother passed. Brad does have a few 5200 items I am interested in but only when I can't get them from Lance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosweargamer Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 I only ordered from Best once to get a light gun and 7800 europad, but was overall happy with the experience. I even ended up using the box wrapped in Atari security tape as a backdrop for many of my videos. The website is very outdated in it's setup and can be a chore to navigate, yet there is also a charm to it as it still has a late 90's feel to it. I've also heard of people ordering their catalog just for the fun of flipping through the pages. Rowsdower70, RickR and LeeJ07 3 Quote The No Swear Gamer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChtJuo040EOCTVziObIgVcg Host of The Atari 7800 Game by Game Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and YouTube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowsdower70 Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 I know they are legit, and I'm not a basher...but the website is inexcusably bad (a little unsightly made me giggle). I mean, it's one of the worst websites I've EVER seen, much less for a company trying to do e-commerce.I haven't ordered from them, but if I did it would be via phone, and I've never heard anyone say they got ripped off by them. Quote "For you - Rowsdower from the 70 - have been appointed Omnivisioner of the Game Grid." ~ Atari Adventure Square Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickR Posted March 30, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 I think it may be a one man show. Probably a low budget for that web site!Yep, Video61 is great too!!And NSG -- I have a similar box that I use to store my Lynx (which I got from Best). It's too small...but it's too cool to throw out that box. Atari 5200 Guy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 I've been buying from Brad at Best Electronics for over 25 years. I've never gotten to know Brad personally, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't know who I am. What knowledge I have of any of the surviving original Atari vendors is that they are all for the most part "a one-man show" with some people or family members helping out from time to time, as needed. I've mainly gone to Best Electronics for parts. Best Electronics have contributed so much to the Atari world through parts availability, and re-engineering new parts like the gold contacts for the Atari 5200 joysticks. From a personal standpoint I've only had good experiences with Best Electronics and would prefer to buy from a reputable Atari dealer or another member in the forums, than from an unknown entity off of eBay etc. LeeJ07, Atari 5200 Guy and RickR 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari 5200 Guy Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 From what I've been told, Video 61, Best Electronics, and B & C were the three original Atari distributors that bought up most of what Atari had left when it was sold...and all three are still here. As I have said I never dealt with anyone other than V61. It doesn't mean that I might not in the future but for now I'm happy with Lance. There are games he don't have that I have thought about going to Collector's Cards and Games but since he moved I've heard nothing but issues with that place. So I've been worried about dealing with CCG again. I think it may be a one man show. Probably a low budget for that web site!Yep, Video61 is great too!!And NSG -- I have a similar box that I use to store my Lynx (which I got from Best). It's too small...but it's too cool to throw out that box. I have one of those boxes here, too, that was once a box for Clorox bleach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 I haven't ordered from them, but if I did it would be via phone, and I've never heard anyone say they got ripped off by them. That's how I always did it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 I've bought from them and the service has been great and the items have been exactly as they list them. Searching the site is a headache, though. RickR 1 Quote 🖖 Going to the final frontier, gaming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabertooth Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 In my view you can't go wrong with Best Electronics. I've always had great experiences and Brad is top notch in terms of customer service, responsiveness and shipping. Plus that packing tape is the jam! Best, B&C and Video 61 are all reputable sources for your Atari needs. RickR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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