exxos store downsizing - discontinuing multiple items

[exxos]

. I can bring down some Gameboys with Pokemon Red or something, if it will clinch the deal?

Not really up to me, it's if @JezC goes.

Dawn did say it been better if there's WiFi as she could play games on her tablet... Even though there's a bunch of retro machines she could play on

Somehow drifted way off topic here

[mrbombermillzy]

Somehow drifted way off topic here

Yeah right. I will open some CL4 threads at some point, so all this sort of stuff can go there.

SIx months tomorrow!

[exxos]

I asked Grok to write a overview.. It did pretty well as I didn't give it any links or where to find info etc..


Reasons for Exxos Downsizing Atari Store

Exxos, the operator of the Atari-focused retro hardware store, is downsizing due to several challenges:

• Low Profit Margins: Managing ~230 items, many low-value (e.g., resistor packs, connectors) with profits often <£1/order. Packing, labeling, and shipping, plus a 2-mile post office trip, result in earnings as low as 50p–70p/hour for these orders.
• Loss of EU Market: EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) requirements have halted shipments to Europe, a key market. Only two orders from Germany were received in 2025.
• Health Constraints: As a solo operator, Exxos’ repetitive strain injury (RSI) limits their ability to manage inventory and operations.
• Market Saturation: Atari market sales have dropped tenfold, beyond EU losses, due to competition and alternatives like floppy emulators reducing demand for hardware upgrades.
• Operational Overload: Managing 230 items, sourcing supplies, and troubleshooting is overwhelming for one person, leaving little time for innovation.

Exxos is cutting ~90 items, focusing on higher-value products, with low-value orders facing a 2026 handling charge to ensure sustainability while supporting the Atari community.

[alexh]

Not that it matters but I have seen many sites make some low margin items "add on items" that is they can only be bought with a more expensive (profitable) item. Just an idea.

[dml]

Not that it matters but I have seen many sites make some low margin items "add on items" that is they can only be bought with a more expensive (profitable) item. Just an idea.

Good point. I was lucky to pick up some hard-to-find parts on the store for various repairs etc. so it would be sad to see all that disappear but I can understand a minimum order would make a lot of sense there. Really impractical to be shipping out low cost items one at a time.

[exxos]

Not that it matters but I have seen many sites make some low margin items "add on items" that is they can only be bought with a more expensive (profitable) item. Just an idea.

Certainly something to think about yes...

[exxos]

Good point. I was lucky to pick up some hard-to-find parts on the store for various repairs etc. so it would be sad to see all that disappear but I can understand a minimum order would make a lot of sense there. Really impractical to be shipping out low cost items one at a time.

A lot of orders are just "bits and bobs", yes I would agree the the sad and annoying not to have that.. But not many companies really deal with low value orders any more.. There is always handling charges for the most part anyway.

A lot of hard to find parts are becoming even harder to find and more expensive. Things like the STE simm sockets I can't buy anymore of. So once they gone, that's it. It just becomes very problematical from a lot of different angles. Discontinuing lines of stock is just a unfortunate and inevitable conclusion when dealing with such old parts.

Mostly it's the logistics of everything which is the problem. As I said at the beginning somewhere, I generally have been buying like 1,000 boxes to keep the cost on the boxes down.. but that's like 3+ years of boxes to store.. and that's just ONE size of box.. The smallest most common size boxes we use literally take up half of the shed alone.. A lot of other boxes I just buy like 100 of them.. like motherboard boxes, PSU boxes, other shipping boxes etc etc.. I already outed some rolls of bubblewrap to the loft

Its all a bit of a huge complex problem.. I mean I would pretty much lose a lot of the "bits and bobs" sales to evilbay or something no doubt. It is just going to be unavoidable collateral damage in the end. There will be like a £5 and handling charge for low value orders next year. Low value things like the SIMM sockets etc which are just going out of stock anyway, so not really sure what low value items will be ultimately left in the end anyway..

Mostly I just want to concentrate on the Phoenix platform and higher value items such as motherboards, boosters and that sort of thing. Sales will be rather low of such things , but that's also half the point..

[exxos]

EU ROM's have all been discounted 50% in the store now to clear.

Put CLEARANCE OFFER 50 in the search box to list the ROMs.

https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/

Likely only of interest to a EU reseller. Buy the lot for a extra 25% off. Will take bank transfer if it helps.