I shop at the Micro Center in Cambridge, but I go in fits and spurts.
About three months ago, they reorganized the microprocessor area, and made it much easier to find things. Before they tended to just pile the stuff in random locations, and you needed to know what to look for (and look at the web site ahead of time to see if they are in stock). When I went in last, I saw Teensy 2.0's, Teensy 2.0++'s, Teensy 3.1's. I don't recall if they had the LC yet or not. I just checked the web site, and they don't list the LC, so I suspect they don't have it. In terms of stock levels, I don't recall them being out of stock, but I imagine it happens. They tend have only small numbers out at any one time.
Now as a customer experience, Micro Center at its heart is a computer store, and has much more emphasis on Raspberry Pi vs. Arduino/Teensy/Digispark/Adafruit/Sparkfun/Squareweare, etc.. I don't recall hearing many of the salesfolk helping other customers with deciding which microprocessor to buy (though I seem to get tagged as the person to ask several times when I'm browsing).
In addition to Micro Center, the Boston electronics stores You-do-it (
http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/) carries Teensy's. Note, You-do-it's web site is still firmly a relic of the 1990's. and it is nearly impossible to use to see if YDI even carries things. Telling you the price of the item, and current stock level isn't possible. I know they carry 3.1's. I think they may have had LC's the last time I was there, but I don't remember. Unlike Micro Center, I know they've carried the octows2811 and smart matrix shields (they may have also carried the audio shield, I don't remember). Unlike Micro Center, I do hear some of the sales folk talking microprocessors (usually broken down by age). YDI also carries a bigger assortment of stuff you would need for micro-electronic projects (leds, resistors, switches, capacitors, basic transistors, etc.), lots of lighting gear (neopixels, EL wire, smart matrix), and robotics stuff. Given YDI carries a lot of Adafruit and Sparkware gear, I suspect they get their Teensy's from A/S.
Now, if I need something right away, my decision tree looks something like:
- Do I want pins soldered in or being sure of getting an LC, order directly from PJRC;
- Is it Saturday and I have the rest of the day to kill? If so, go to YDI first, and then Micro Center (YDI closes earlier than Micro Center, and does not open on Sundays except in December);
- Do I need it ASAP? Order it from Adafruit before 10 and pay their shipping charge? Given I'm in the Boston area, I can get Adafruit stuff usually in 2 days, since they are in NY. Sparkfun (CO) and PJRC (WA) take longer, unless I'm willing to pay for faster shipping (and I have never been desparate enough to pay for UPS red at PJRC).
- Otherwise it would be go to PJRC and/or Adafruit (if I was buying other stuff at Adafruit, I would lump it in).
The question is do people make decisions based on a microprocessor hanging in a bag in a brick and mortar store? I suspect you get some, but it may be better trying to get maker spaces onboard to act as evangelists. Or revamp the package to get people who don't already know Arduino past the initial hump. I do wonder how we will get the next generation in. Previously, Arduino was the gateway drug, particularly at Radio Shack, but that is all changing. I see things like Oak (Digistumps new internet of things chip), Huzzah (Adafruit's version) and of course Raspberry Pi/BeagleBone Black getting the buzz.
I do like going to the brick and mortar store for all of the other components, and I have bought a Teensy or 2 when I was in there (a lot of the times when I have a general coupon for the store, but there is a minimum purchase for the sale, I will buy the Teensy then).