HFU HF Underground

General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: Beerus Maximus on November 21, 2020, 2321 UTC

Title: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: Beerus Maximus on November 21, 2020, 2321 UTC

Universal Radio is closing shop. This one hurts. The Ostermans were really dedicated to SWL.

https://www.universal-radio.com/RetireNotice.html

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: BoomboxDX on November 22, 2020, 0647 UTC

I'm a bit surprised no one is purchasing the online store. I'm sure the website gets a lot of traffic.

Not a good harbinger for the radio hobby in general.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: NJQA on November 22, 2020, 1634 UTC

I have been expecting this.  The first hint was the move of the store location, followed by the sale of service manuals and parts.  Then a number of used items they had listed started to look like someone was thinning out their collection...I was told this was from hamfests and estate sales but I wasn’t convinced.  Updates to their site were slow and last week they seemed to stop.

It’s too bad.  They will be missed.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: East Troy Don on November 22, 2020, 1739 UTC

Disheartening news.  Universal always displayed professionalism and knowledgeable , courteous customer service.
Best wishes to Fred and Barb. I wish you nothing but the best in your retirement.
Thank you.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: Sealord on November 22, 2020, 1935 UTC

Bummer

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: pinto vortando on November 22, 2020, 2344 UTC

Sad news.  :(

They were not only a good source for radios but all the other bits an pieces as well,
especially some of the hard to find stuff.  Always professional and courteous they
were my first stop when looking for anything radio.

Best wishes to Fred and the staff.  Thank you.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: skeezix on November 23, 2020, 0011 UTC

I will miss them. They were always the first place I'd go to when looking for equipment.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: RobRich on November 23, 2020, 1617 UTC

Cross-posting from https://swling.com/blog/2020/11/end-of-an-era-universal-radio-is-closing-shop/ ....

I shop DXE and eBay more these days, but I have made a few purchases from Universal Radio over the years. Hate to see it go, but I understand wanting to retire, too.

Suspected something was occurring when noticing several transceivers were no longer listed as “in stock” a few days ago. Even without the store, the site has lots of amazing information.

Hope the best for the owners and staff as they move forward.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: ThaDood on November 26, 2020, 0329 UTC

I still miss AES. Always done very well with them. And, for A/V gear, I still miss WDS, (Wisconsin Discount Stereo.) Am I showing my age by saying that?

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: Rizla on November 26, 2020, 2309 UTC

I learned a ton of things from their website back in the late 90's, such a helpful site just being there. I'm thinking of the days when dxing.com and a few others were go-to places (i.e. long ago). Sad to hear about this.

Title: Re: RIP Universal Radio
Post by: syfr on December 11, 2020, 0102 UTC

...hope the cats are OK!