Reputable sources of electronic kits

[caffeinatedbard]

I am looking to buy some electronic kits and found these guys on ebay.  Can any one vouch for them or suggest more reputable ones?

http://stores.ebay.com/nightfireelectronickits

[Jimmy]

http://www.sparkfun.com/

[caffeinatedbard]

Jimmy, thanks for the suggestion.  I have used them before.  The nice feature is their kits are well documented etc.  I have bought their RS-232 level shifter board and some other stuff from them.

If it helps, I am looking more for an electronic design kit that has a vanilla assortment of analog, linear, SMTs, through hole components.  I could easily just go on digikey and spend sometime on there but wanted to support the smaller guys like the adafruits, and sparkfuns of the hobby industry.

Thanks

[johnboxall]

www.jaycar.us
www.altronics.com.au
http://www.minikits.com.au/
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com/
www.kitstop.com.au
www.evilmadscience.com
http://electronics-diy.com/store.php?sel=kits

General "kit stores" are becoming fewer, and those that are around tend to specialise in one particular area (e.g. Arduino shields, RF things etc.)

[grenert]

Rainbow Kits has a horrible 1997-looking website, but nice kits (which actually provide some explanation of how they work, unlike some kits):
http://www.rainbowkits.com
Some of the kits are available from Jameco, if you happen to be ordering from them.

[caffeinatedbard]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I must say @tronixstuff, you were right, general vanilla parts kits are becoming fewer.  I had a hard time finding kits that didn't have a PCB included and that it wasn't targeted for some hobbyist platform (Arduino, PIC, etc.)

[caffeinatedbard]

I came across ladyada's wiki and found some very good information regarding different places to buy electronics.  You might also want to check out her other pages.

http://www.ladyada.net/library/procure/hobbyist.html