Anybody ever order from Best Electronics?

[bigfriendly]

Hello everybody😀

I have four Atari joysticks that are a bit mushy when moving in certain directions and I wanted to get new boards for them. Had anybody ever ordered parts from Best Electronics? There website seems kinda primitive and in my opinion is not very user friendly. Also, are there gold plated boards really as good as them claim.

 

Thanks

Scott

[Cambouis de l'Atari]

Yes, his website is kinda primitive, I first also tought it was abandoned :-)

Contact him by mail, he is a very trustworthy person. i ordered a tia and a lightgun some months ago, everything went fine.

I can't answer about gold plated boards tought.

[jaybird3rd]

I've ordered from Best many times over the years. Their website is indeed very simple, but as I've said before, I actually have this theory that Bradley keeps it that way deliberately so that he only has to deal with inquiries from people who know how to read and write intelligent e-mails and use the phone. He's always been very helpful and courteous to me, and his merchandise arrives quickly and very well-packed. He must have a lifetime supply of original Atari packing tape; his boxes are always completely covered with it!

 

I've refurbished dozens of joystick and paddle controllers with his replacement parts, and in my experience, they all live up to the hype: the paddle pots (which I understand have since gone out of stock, unfortunately) seem to solve the "jitter" problem, and the gold-plated CX-40 joystick PCBs hold up very well and seem to give the joystick even better tactile feedback than Atari's original boards. And, if you're planning to get into the Atari 5200, his refurbished CX-52 joysticks are a must.

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

I've ordered from Best Electronics several times myself. The website is indeed very primative and looks like it was done in 1995 without any updates. I've bought mostly 5200 accessories. Mainly the refurbished gold plated joysticks, 7800 European controllers, games, and gold plated 2600 controllers. You can order the refurbished controllers, get the parts to install yourself, or even send them in to have it done for you. Bradley is a great guy and you can contact him by email or call him if I recall it's 1 to 5 PM Pacific Time Mondays through Fridays. If you need 5200 sticks they are worth every penny from Best and they live to their word that they will last a lifetime.

[fultonbot]

Yes. I bought 2 130XE's with RCA cable mods a couple years ago. Everything was great.

[Atarian7]

I've bought paddles, joysticks, and a computer chip for the Atari 2600. He helped me figure out which one I needed and that I needed one. That Atari works great now.

[bretthorror]

I ordered a light gun from Best and received it very well shipped.

 

But with that said, expect the strangest transaction you've ever had online haha.

[+SabertoothRetro]

I've only had great interactions with Best, whether for parts, reconditioned controllers or games. Just follow his directions when contacting him via email and it will go smoothly.

Edited May 15, 2016 by atariLBC

[mitchd61]

I've ordered a couple of times. Both were good experiences.

[bigfriendly]

Thanks everybody for your responses. I will email him and give him some business:)

[+xucaen]

A bit late, but... I bought a jaguar, a 7800, 2 CX78 game pads, a bunch of jag & 7800 games. Everything looks and feels brand new. Brad is the Best!

[chas10e]

Thanks everybody for your responses. I will email him and give him some business:)

after the e-mail feel free to give him a phone call as well to talk about your "mushy sticks" it may be the handles as well

 

new button will help as well

[SoundGammon]

Anyone have the link to their website? Thanks!

[Shawn]

Many times. Top notch guy.

[bigfriendly]

http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/

 

Here you go:)

Edited May 15, 2016 by bigfriendly

[atarian63]

Bought tons of stuff, always helpful on the phone and the stuff arrives FAST! with Atari tape on the boxes.

[fultonbot]

The Atari tape on the boxes was the best part!

[Andromeda Stardust]

I've done a couple over the phone transactions with them. I got an AV 7800 from them, factory fresh with a Europad, a pair of paddle pots and 2600A replacement switches I've yet to install, a couple dust covers, and a lightgun.

 

The lightgun was a separate order. Guy is a bit OCD when it comes to packaging. Lightgun came in a small box, packed inside a giant box with tons of biodegradable starch-based foam peanuts. And yes, the boxes were covered with Atari tape. I wish I'd saved them honestly.

 

Sadly Best no longer offer refurbished consoles. I've been nothing but happy with my AV 7800.

[+GoldLeader]

I bought 4 7800 Europads from him some years ago...And probably some other things that escape my mind. Ordered by phone, and it went Great! He was very nice and knowledgeable...I've been meaning to get upgraded paddles (or at least pots) from him for a while now....Man I hope I haven't missed out!! I may have to call him tomorrow!

[+GoldLeader]

Oh No!

 

Those paddles are now listed as Temporally Out of Stock!! OK "Temporally"? Does that mean there is a Time Vortex or Temporal Anomaly perhaps that may be sucking Atari parts through a wormhole and causing a tear in the fabric of Space Time?

[Oldschool80skid]

Oh No!

 

Those paddles are now listed as Temporally Out of Stock!! OK "Temporally"? Does that mean there is a Time Vortex or Temporal Anomaly perhaps that may be sucking Atari parts through a wormhole and causing a tear in the fabric of Space Time?

The refurbished consoles also state temporarily out of stock, but when I emailed him he stated that he was no longer selling refurbished consoles. Hopefully that's not the case for the paddles.

[Ballblaɀer]

The refurbished consoles also state temporarily out of stock, but when I emailed him he stated that he was no longer selling refurbished consoles. Hopefully that's not the case for the paddles.

 

When I was corresponding with Bradley back at the very end of March this year about an order I intended to place (BTW, another thumbs-up for Best from me!) I inquired about availability of upgraded paddles, and he responded:

 

After 14 - 16+ months of searching for a new Pot vendor to make them and 4+ months working with a potential new Pot vendor, we are going to start the search all over again today

 

[insert joke about finding a new pot supplier here]

[+GoldLeader]

 

When I was corresponding with Bradley back at the very end of March this year about an order I intended to place (BTW, another thumbs-up for Best from me!) I inquired about availability of upgraded paddles, and he responded:

 

 

[insert joke about finding a new pot supplier here]

 

 

Thx for the info Ballblazer...

 

It was one of those questions I was afraid to ask...But also an "out of sight, out of mind " deal where I hadn't thought about it lately..Sometime I will look into it further, but based on his previous years long search, it's kinda scary.

[chuckwalla]

I've been a regular customer for decades and never had a problem including some recent purchases such as a couple of CX-40 joysticks with gold contacts and a CX-52 Atari 5200 gold contact controller.

 

Great products, service, and packing of all items.

[AtariBrian]

If you buy a cib system from him beware . He puts it in a box that it barely fits in and doesn't use packing material on the corners and sides .