This may be old news to some but I thought it worth posting anyway.
At least in the Atlanta area, there are several Radio Shacks that are closing down. As a consequence, at some of these closeout stores you can find incredible bargains in the components bins and other areas. Not to mention great bargains on Vex kits. Everything goes including store fixtures.
I discovered this when I went to the local Radio Shack in a big mall nearby and found they only had one (of the usual 2) parts bins left, and even that one was picked clean. I couldn't even find a decent DPTP switch and *no* capacitors (for motor noise suppression) ! Then someone told me about the closeout stores nearby and I got all the capacitors I need for all the motors I have; a few screw terminals; a couple of switches and more for just over $7.00 --- I'm sure would have run me about $35 normal price! A few days later I got one of the neat multi-voltage power supplys (with the different adapter tips) a few more terminals; a few more solid state goodies; 2 Vex Limit Switch kits (for less than $3.00 each) all for about 19 bucks. They also had some other Vex goodies that I almost bought even though I have written off that system for my particular needs (the limit switches appear to be easy to mount and will go on my current non-Vex robot) - they had some wheel kits with their version of Omni wheels and other big diameter wheels that could be adapted to non-Vex platforms with some careful drilling. Plus they handed out $10 Discount Coupons (good at the open stores) by the handful.
Just had to spread the news for those that didn't already know ...
Good luck on parts hunting ! JCDeen