To start, I've been shopping, browsing there for over 30 years, this is Glen's 3 shop, expanding every time. A1 is my first go to when I need/want anything electronics related, I think I've only been disappointed once and left with nothing. I usually walk the Isles to see if there is anything new and yes many times I get myself something vintage to play with. More often than not the prices for the parts I need are at normal market give or take, the shop is close to home so this is a plus, I don't have to drive for a half hour to save a buck. for those who gave a negative review, Glen will treat you as you deserve. I've had many a long chat with him many times. If you just want your stuff, there are lots of online shopping outlets available. pay the extra get your prime free shipping and stop b!tching. You won't find another place like A1 anywhere, it's a 6 day a week unique rummage sale that has new stuff too. I've always been treated well and Glen does what he can to service his customers needs. Remember this is not Amazon or Temu, this is Glen's bread and butter and a dying niche brick and mortar shop, go spend a couple of bucks on some parts, something vintage or maybe a kit. I'll be there in a couple of days to pick up some caps for a dead power supply. read more

If I could only rate this place with a ZERO. I ordered a bunch of CMOS integrated circuits and almost all of them were shipped in the wrong type of plastic tube. CMOS needs to be shipped in ANTISTATIC tubes to prevent them from being damaged. Glen insists that they were antistatic tubes. As a result the product is going in the garbage and I will never deal with this place again. If you want quality parts order them from Digi-Key, the prices are a little higher but the parts are shiiped in the right manner and you receive them overnight! read more

AVOID, AVOID, AVOID! I biked all the way from downtown to browse and pick up a few bits for a project. Front of the store is locked down and owner creepily watches you on camera and speaks from somewhere out of view. I was rudely questioned about not wearing a mask, for which I saw no sign. I don't have a problem wearing a mask but I simply didn't have one. No masks were provided and since I was on my bike, I didn't "have one in the car". I was refused entry and the owner demanded that I tell him what part I wanted. I wanted many parts, and to browse - sorry but it doesn't work that way - it's a surplus store! I'd only go back to this place as a last resort and only on a weekend when the owner is not there. I'm only saying this because I recently saw The Whale and some people got crap in their life and take it out on others and don't know how to control their behaviour, like this owner. The old Active Surplus (from Queen Street) has started up again under the name The Gorilla Store which is worth checkout out. They are located on College Street west of Bathurst. read more

This place is the literal Wonderland for technicians or a simple tech geek like myself! Seriously, I can't stress enough how many items they have, every part you could ever need for whatever project, job or task you're trying to accomplish. From newer electronics bits and connectors to even extremely old things like new-old stock vacuum-tubes! Their website does have many of the more common items you would be looking for but I highly doubt it has everything listed because there is just way, way too much! I only had about an hour and a half to browse and I barley saw a potion of what he has to offer because there are so many eye-catching items I just had to stop and look at, Unfortunately my work hours are basically his exact business hours so at some point I'm going to have to book off an entire day to truly see everything. You just may need to take some time to find what you're looking for among the 1000s of products they have, Unless Glen knows exactly where it is which is an extremely high chance, I have no idea how he does it but he knows where everything is Speaking of Glen, He's an absolutely awesome guy! Very funny and a blast to get along with and just to talk to, which leaves me baffled by other reviews about him.. Not sure why most Yelp users are like this, but they'll often only leave reviews when they have something negative to say. Keep up the great work, Glen! You and your store is definitely one of the few hidden gems this city has left to offer and thank you for everything! read more

Placed an order by email to pick up the next day. Still had to wait in line. Good ol' Glen threw it together at the last minute, and when I got home it contained the wrong parts. When I contacted them, he insisted he made no mistake and started asking me irrelevant questions about my project as if I was an idiot and didn't know how the parts worked. Finally he *so generously* offered to let me come back and BUY the parts he owed me for HALF PRICE. RIDICULOUS! Absolutely the worst customer service experience I've ever had in Toronto. This store needs to close permanently. He's not interested in running a business anymore. read more

Ordered several parts. Due to pandemic, got them outside their door, curbside pickup in a bag. A number of the parts were blatantly not what I ordered in writing - wrong size, wrong voltage/voltage that did not match what I specified, etc When I tried to return them the next business day, they wanted me to pay for their mistakes by paying a restocking charge. read more

Truly the worst experience I've had in any store of any kind and this is not hyperbole. Rude and not helpful. Messy disorganized shelves. I can only feel pity for people who are this unhappy. read more

Avoid this place at all costs. Owner is grumpy, unknowledgeable, rude, arrogant, non-flexible and totally undeserving of a consumer audience. There is a lot of stock here but needs to be better managed. I predict this stiff will go out of business shortly and hopefully new management will take over and do something good with his products. I am trying to compile a list of alternatives (That is a short list), and repost . Do not give him your business unless you really need too and no need to say thank you to the owner, treat him like the POS that he is. read more

I have been conducting business with this store for over thirty five years and have always had a pleasant experience with this company. Unhappy customers should think for a minute what is involved in running an vintage electronics business and perhaps they might exhibit a bit more understanding as regards pricing, returns and restocking! read more

A great place for electronic related items. There are rows upon rows of everything from new parts, to salvaged components and all the tools required to make pretty much anything electronically. The shopkeeper/owner would rather you know what you're after before walking in, rather than browsing the isles as it could literally take hours. Best to look up the inventory on their website. Thanks, always answered my questions and offered the simple solutions. read more

Good place for unobtainum and commonly stocked electronic components. Lots of heavy iron (transformers), old outdated technology and "pulls", plus odds and sods of hardware, wire plus NEW, curent stock. Some things are overpriced; for what is basically outdated (1950's-1990's) E-scrap, but priceless if you happen to find that "no-longer-made" part that you need for a repair. Some scrap/used/pulls may have outdated sticker prices, so ask or make a fair offer. You'll find some odd vintage parts that is very fairly priced. Competitive prices on the newer stock of typical components. If you can't find what your looking for, Ask the owner. He seems to know where everything is located in the piles of box's and tangled circuit boards, or behind the counter. One of the last retail electronic parts stores in Toronto and reminiscent of the by-gone electronics shops on Toronto's Yonge St and NYC's Radio Row, combined with a scrap yard. Seeing is believing! Set aside lots of time if you want the challenge of browsing the overflowing aisles, and enjoy the experience! The owner does not always come across as "customer friendly", but that's just his dry personality. He is actually an "OK" guy. I don't know how he manages to carry his overhead with such a dying retail business. Thankfully, A1 is a brick and mortar Amazon/eBay alternative - especially when you "need it now" or need "hands-on" shopping for your creative creation. read more

You can find anything you need for electronics here and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended. read more

I called in with the specs of exactly what I was looking for, the person on the phone told me they had it in. I drove 20 min. to go pick it up. When I arrived and looked I realized they did not in fact have what I described over the phone. To which the gentleman replied "we have over 200 boxes, we don't know what we have." And that about sums up A1 electronics. Its a bunch of junk stored in a warehouse space. I even saw a pair of hockey skates there. read more

It's a place to get electronic junk, odds and ends. While they do have new stock and parts, the used and old equipment is the real attraction. The prices on most things are okay, with some a bit much here and there. But because there are certainly many things you will not find anywhere else, it may be worth it. When you are in the business of getting rid of stuff you've been paying to store for years, that may or may not be in working order... No returns is a necessary policy. Not sure how anyone could be mad about this policy especially when you could take something home not knowing how to use it, break it, and try to return it being worth less. Not like they can send it back to the OEM and get a replacement. The OEM likely doesn't even exist anymore! XD read more

Poor communication and dishonest. I tried to return something a half hour after I bought. Same nonsense as with the previous reviewer "I don't accept returns" and then tried to charge me a 20% restocking fee for a part that was sitting on the floor. Buyer beware read more

Thieves!!! Very rude and arrogant. They don't accept returns. No sign at the cash says that, nor is it printed on the receipt, nor is it mentioned at purchase (even though I expressed concern that the indoor TV antenna I was buying might be wrong for my location). As the a-hole owner said when I drove all the way back to return it, "I don't lend TV antennas." When I protested he said, "This is a different kind of store. You should have asked if you could return it." You know, as opposed to him saying it. Avoid, avoid, avoid. This guy doesn't deserve customers, he deserves a punch in the face. Just think, I could have gone to a big chain store, instead of a local shop, and had zero problems. A-1, you suck. read more