Radio Shack: A Penis In America's Ass Which Should Be Filleted Into An Artificial Cunnus
Bret Ludwig
Radio Shack, a period stain on the panties of technology and
progress, boils my juices. I hate Radio Shack. I hate them with a
passion. I don't hate blacks, Jews, nestizos or gays or anyone else,
but I hate the fuck out of Radio Shack.
I had an experience at a Shack about fifteen years ago similar to the
one listed below where, I swear to Wotan, I almost kneecapped a prick
bully manager with my trusty TC Contender. If it hadn't been for a cop
car pulling in the lot I would have took his leg half off at the knee
with a 130 grain hollowpoint. Most RS employees aren't THAT bad but
very few are worth the tampons their mother didn't use by being
pregnant with them.
http://www.eham.net/articles/13222
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
See the full story here:
LINK
Member Comments:
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG4YJR on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"The company said it will replace old, slower-moving merchandise with
new, faster-moving merchandise within higher growth categories."
I see the future, you go into Radio Shack and the only things to buy
will be:
1. Cell phones with contracts.
2. Satellite television receivers with contracts.
3. Satellite radio receivers with contracts.
4. Maybe batteries.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W4KYR on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I see a opportunity to get some good deals on closeouts.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N0XMZ on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I'm not at all surprised. Everything I buy, they discontinue! I've
never seen a company work as hard at driving away customers as this
one.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by DELOS88 on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
At one time there was a Radio Shack.
Now it is a company that sees money and feeding it's
CEO and other top members a lot of bonus dollars.
All for the stellar change to sell phones & RCA tv's
(see Wal-Mart)
Most stores are a franchise (pity the fool that has one) Walk into one
and Timmy from junior high will
gladly tell you what phone to buy.. a capacitor???
"duh is it from HP or Mac"
LET'S CALL IT LIKE IT IS.. A BLOATED IGNORANT COMPANY
They deserve to go.
Let's call radio shack (small type small company now)
THE PHONE BOOTH!!
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K4IA on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
This writing has been on the wall for a long time.
Not many people are buying electronic parts like a capacitor and you
can't make any money selling a 99 cent item.
They can't compete with WalMart, Circuit City or Best Buy on the big
ticket items like stereos and TVs. They used to have a lot of
equipment but they let their own brand die off when they should have
made it a premium nameplate like Craftsman tools are for Sears
They can't compete with the million other cell phone outlets because
there is only so much business to go around.
If RS is to survive, they must come up with something that is unique
and valuable. They need to look at Sharper Image or Brookestone.
Otherwise, the only RS stores you see will be in small towns where
there is no competition.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WA5UHK on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I have my "kick-em while they're down" comment too.
There is too much pomp and ceremony at the point of sale. I don't see
how they can make money when every transaction is so involved with
capturing customer address/phone # etc. For a $1.50 phone plug, why do
they care? Its as if the guy running the place lied about graduating
from college ;-}
Thank god we still have a family run retail electronics parts store
(Tanner's) here in the Dallas area and Mouser close by.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WB8NUT on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Looks like you have not been in a Rat Shack it years. They stopped
asking for name and addresses years ago - maybe five or more.
I agree with another writer, giving up their brand hurt. Parts at $.99
you can't make that much money but there were people who bought a lot
of parts because there were no other close outlets. Also remember that
they sold them for $.99, but it cost the store $.10 to $.20 cents so
sell a lot of parts and make a lot of money.
Their problem has always been a lack of stock. It was that way when I
worked there in the 1970s and when I go in the store today, it's the
same thing - we're out of it. The retailers biggest sin.
I give them five years and they'll be gone unless some new management
really straightens them out. They lost their way and I'm not sure they
know how to find their way back. They have alienated their base of
customers.
When I want a cell phone, I go to the cell phone company. When I want
a sat TV system, I go to the actual company. When I want stereos or
any type or sat radio, I go to Best Buy or Circuit City. Computers I
go just about anywhere. Rat Shack has no selection, no stock and
nothing there that interests me any more. Bye Bye, Rat Shack, it was
nice knowing you (well not really, just trying to be nice).
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KD5FJ on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Looks like you have not been in a Rat Shack it years. They stopped
asking for name and addresses years ago - maybe five or more.
I was in a Radio Shack store in Dallas last week and they insisted on
my name, address and phone number. I bought a few batteries!!!
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N1ERF on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I only go there if I'm desperate. A couple of years ago they stopped
carrying the stuff that they had when they bought out another catalog
company (can't think of the old name). Their acquired catalog items
were resonable, not the brand name RS components from their in-store
catalog.
They don't carry anything good anyway... Except the items that are
closeouts and the expandable steel antenna mast.
The employees are on comission. That makes them vultures. I just want
them to leave me alone unless I can't find it myself.
They used low temperature plastics in their components and melted
easier.
They stopped being Radio Shack in the early 1970's around the time
that the Lafayette stores closed.
Oh well... Just a few more reasons to add to the list.
John
N1ERF
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by AE7G on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Something called the Internet has drastically altered retailing.
The last time I needed parts, I ordered them on line.
When my Sony TV died, I went to Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears etc
looking for a new TV. None of the stores had a good signal source,
none of the stores had the TVs displayed so that I could step back far
enough to look at the TVs from what my viewing distance would be.
I turned to the Internet; found I could order a new Sony TV from Sony
and have it delivered to my house for less than I could purchase it
locally and have it delivered.
Ordered my new DVD player from SONY.
When I want computer parts, I use the internet. I do not have any
interest in driving to Circuit City or Office whatever to purchase
something, and then have to fill out a rebate form. The internet
usually offers better prices on more up to date equipment.
I went to 2 Home Depots looking for HVAC filters. Neither had them in
stock, so I ordered a case of 6 over the internet, and had them
shipped to me for the same price I would have to pay locally.
When I want to fly somewhere, I use the internet to gather flight
info, and buy tickets. Same for finding a hotels.
Anyone still buy Yellow Sheets when looking for gear? Anyone buying
weekly DX news letters? Blaming their fate on incompetence is just
plain silly.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG4RUL on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Don't ask who the ring tone sounds for, it sounds for thee, Radio
Shack.
Dennis KG4RUL
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K4RAF on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
The company has intentionally gone out of their way to drive business
away, both retail & wholesale, on many scales.
Tech America (the wholesale side) was great to deal with for their
first year. Then they screwed every good thing up including turning
away $3000 biweekly orders. Drove me elsewhere.
Radio Shack never could get their closeout system set either. Very,
very confused.
I have not dealt $0.10 with them in over 5 years.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WA6CDE on February 17, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
it used to be that Radio Shack hired hams and other electroic students
to work in their stores... but, then they did away with the hobbiest
items... and went into selling dish and cell phones... I had a friend
who owned two stores and the company told him that he could not hire
hams to work their... seems that if someone knew what they were doing
it was the wrong answer...
So it doesn't suprise me that they have turned turtle... after all as
other said.. if I want a tv I go to the tv/video place.. if I want a
cell phone... I go to the cell phone store... why would you want to go
to the middle man when you can cut him out and save the money... such
as what radio shack used to do...
In part the internet has cut into their sales.. but, it used to be
that while the part was not as good as what you could get at the
electroics store... it was convient and time saving... to be able to
walk in and pick it up.
When they got rid of the electroic parts.. I don't think much of
anyone except kids and sat people bought their stuff... actually it
turned into a toy store... and wall mart and others beat them on the
price every time...
Even their adds are dumb and don't have a appeal to the consumer... so
it doesn't suprise me to see 'em go... om a year they all will be
gone.. as they have nothing their any more...
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by NS6Y_ on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I go there for the odd battery (Fry's is cheaper and they're fresher I
think) and for coaxial power connectors, little odds and ends, the 9V
battery connectors they sell are good, and believe it or not their
banana plugs are about the best around. They sell the only Leatherman
Micra that has a calibrated-size wire stripper on it and No it's not a
copy it's the real thing, very useful tool! They're just good for a
lot of odds and ends like that, but their mainstay is batteries, TVs,
and stuff like that. They've really narrowed their assortment of
stock, the person coming in to get a Science Fair kit for their kid
(anyone remember those?) would probably also get, or get later, a CB
for the truck or a scanner, a crimp tool and wire for the fone they
were installing in the garage, etc. They used to sell enough
componants to build all kinds of stuff, but I dunno, it's true that
people just don't build stuff like they used to.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KF6HCD on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"Radio Shack: You've got questions-we've got cell phones".
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by NS6Y_ on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K9COX on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
You got jobs, we got people
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by NY7Q on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I strongly believe they should give up the name
"radio shack"....
I only shop there if it is an emergency.
Should be named "TELEPHONE JUNK SHOP"
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K8MHZ on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"You got questions, we got blank stares" is often too accurate. I have
the RS here trained. When I walk in they know that the only thing I
need to know from them is where the part I want is. They know that I
have already looked up the part number and there is no reason to waste
time trying to sell me anything else. And yes, they still have to put
my name into the computer every time I go there. Anytime anyone asks
if they can help me, I usually ask something like "Is it the formula
for inductive reactance or capacitive reactance that is the inverse, I
can never remember which one is figured as 'one over' something." If
they can't answer that simple question, they can't help me with
anything except location.
I think in the last decade I have had one person that knew about
electronics wait on me at an RS. He even figured out a resistive
network in his head. I was impressed. I needed a certain value
resistor which they did not have in stock. He took some time and
figured out how to use three resistors in a parallel series
configuration to get the value I needed.
He lasted about two months.
The way I see it is that RS decided to make a change 20 years ago to
slowly get out of components and put all their skills in complete
systems. The slow change is slowly killing them. If they would have
stuck to their guns they would have enjoyed the benefits of watching
all their competition close.
The poor quality of their parts and the lame staff caused me many
times to order parts from Mouser or MCM that I could get from RS. Take
their Molex knock offs for instance. The RS version of the 1545 is an
exact physical fit, but is only (wisely) rated for 8 amps where the
real Molex is rated for 30. Their coax is a freaking joke. I had one
RS bonehead tell me that their coax was 100 percent shielded. I took
my knife out and cut open the jacket. You could see half of the
dielectric through the crappy braid. I asked him if he still thought
it was 100 percent. He said he was not sure now, he had never actually
used any of it.
Even with my purchases now limited to connectors, plugs, jacks, etc. I
still spend close to 300 bucks a year at RS. They also have a parts
catalog that you can order from, many parts that are in the catalog
are not sold in the stores like their 35 watt 2-meter amp and their
SWR meters. Heaven forbid if I want an opto-isolator, though.
Too bad RS tried to keep up with the Jones'. Both RS and us would be
better off if they tried to keep up with the Elmers.
There are 4 RS stores in our county that could easily be replaced by
one centrally located electronics store. Who knows, maybe the demise
of RS will bring forth a new attempt, or at least allow some mom and
pop stores to order from the big suppliers and make a profit from
having available stock.
I live in a county that has 3 cities in it and a population of close
to 200,000. The county has around 400 licensed hams. Other than radio
shack, there is no place to buy 50 ohm coax or 259 connectors.
Even as bad as they have become, I would not be happy if the local
one's close as it has become them or mail order. I prefer to engineer
on the browse, tough to do if you aren't in a store.
73,
Mark K8MHZ
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K8MHZ on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"Edmondson admitted lying about his academic record on his résumé and
on the RadioShack Web site."
You've got questions, we make up answers.
What's the problem?
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG6AMW on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Poor Radio Shack. The problem is the "no where everywhere problem".
They focus on cells phone, RC hobby and computers and everything else
left is just inventory accidents, old habits and why are we called
Radio Shack. They lost their primary market (ham radio) in the 60's
and have been wondering in the wilderness ever since. There are
corporations that pursue these niches (cells phones or RC hobby or
computers) with great fervor and sucess leaving Radio Shack as a poor
alternative. They need to find a niche and become the best at it.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by NA4IT on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Lowe's doesn't know, and now Radio Shack is closed, what are we ever
going to do? tisk tisk
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG6AMW on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Radio Shack isn't closing, they're closing 400 to 500 stores out of
5,000.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KX8N on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"Radio Shack isn't closing, they're closing 400 to 500 stores out of
5,000. "
Yeah, but that 500 represents 10% of their stores. That's a pretty big
cut.
Our Radio Shaq (remember that?) focuses on cells. They had a huge blow-
up cell phone sitting outside last summer. They also have some
computer stuff, stereo components, and toys. That's about it, though.
I can go into a place called "Radio Shack", can't find an antenna for
anything other than a mobile CB, but I can walk out with a lava lamp,
a rain check for some Radio Shack speakers, and a laser pointer. Sad,
sad, sad...
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KX8N on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
While I'm at it...
A few years ago I saw the Gordon West Extra manual in the RS catalog.
I wanted to get a copy, so I walked into the local RS and asked for
it. They didn't have it. So I asked him if he could order it for me.
He fired up the computer, and said that particular item is something
they don't carry. They don't have it, they can't get it, and as far as
he knew, they never DID carry it. So I walked out.
A week later I happened to be in a city about 30 miles away, and they
too have a RS. I noticed they had a rack with some books on it. Low
and behold, there sat the Gordon West book I needed. Hmmm. Told the
guy at the counter about the deal with the local RS and he just
scratched his head.
They just have no clue. They definately should rename the place "Cell
Depot" or something like that. Take the name "Radio" out of it. Maybe
"Cell Shack", or "Junk Shack".
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N7SPY on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
This announcement is not as bad as it looks.
Radio Shack is closing up to 700 stores... let's see: they've got
7,000 stores... so they're closing up to 700 stores which is 10% of
their current amount of stores.
Here in Greater Phoenix Metro Radio Shack has 65 stores... so, if they
keep the proportions, they're closing anywhere from 6-10 stores...
... which is fine by me, because I think that there are too many Radio
Shacks out there.
Is it me or many Radio Shacks are located in lower-to-lower-medium
income neighborhoods? If so, their ability to turn a profit is...
well, low.
The Radio Shack corporation suffers from trying to compete with Best
Buy, Circuit City, and other big box electronic stores... and failing
miserably... so they have to rectify themselves by going back to their
roots... or risking going under.
By the way, I was at a Radio Shack today and I was asked for name,
address, phone number and all that good stuff. Had no choice, either:
they're the only ones in town who still sell regular-size tape
recorders.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N0XMZ on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
They still carry 2 meter amps?? Gee if my neighborhood store had one
on the shelf, I'd have probably bought it! It's kinda hard to sell
stuff you don't stock. (Too late now).
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K1CJS on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
More and more the "radio" is leaving Radio Shack. A couple of years
ago, they went to putting their 'Parts' in a drawer system to save
space and have everything in one or two cabinets. Now, most of the
parts age gone (and I mean the parts they had in the drawers when they
introduced that 'system') and more and more those drawers are mostly
empty--unless you're looking for bulbs or connectors for cable. No RF
connectors, no resistors, not even any more fuses! Instead, on the
racks there are tool kits and little odds and ends that you can't find
anywhere else. I think Brookstones is laughing out loud!
The question is this: Who wants to spend $50 for a computer tool set?
Yes I said $50.00! OK, there are some security parts, most of which
are cheap knock offs of the name brand parts which they charge premium
prices for. Audio connectors are the same--if you need a certain
connector, they might have it--if its a non standard p. o. j. that you
need. Hey, they do have that cold solder system, but its another knock
off.
Cell phones? Sure! But you have to go through their rigamarole--and
possibly pay more to boot. Digital cameras? Yep, but you pay more for
them there than at a local Staples office supply store. Same for
computer parts.
Time was you went into the local Radio Shack looking for parts and
wound up possibly buying a larger item. The new breed of businessman
now running the place tried to get people in there to buy the big
stuff first by saying they had the smaller parts sometimes needed that
the other stores didn't have. The problem now is that they don't have
those smaller parts anymore. There has never ever been a company
trying harder to put themselves out of business than good ol' Radio
Shack. The only crying sin is why they're dragging it out so long.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N3KQX on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Well, I know a RS dealer, and AFAIK, she makes a ton more money off
her Verizon Wireless franchise than the RS one. She told me that the
radio shack catalog is going to get even smaller next year, and that
they are encouraging her to not bother stocking parts/components in
the future (they want to get all that via a central warehouse web
ordering system and sent out 2-3 days). She also has a box of
discontinued parts that gets bigger all the time, that she ends up
selling at cost (sometimes less).
Of course, I'm most likely the only person in town that buys any of
that stuff anyway, so it will make more room for RC cars and I-pod
accessories.
Never much cared for RS anyway, at least after the TRS-80 model 4 was
introduced as a "business machine." This really changed the attitude/
culture of radio shack, at least all the ones I went to, from a
hobiest/electronics hacker type store to a button down "professional"
enviroment where the kids couldn't touch the computers anymore (I was
about 14 at the time), and really got hassled if we spent too much
time browsing. The sales staff seemed to change, focusing more on
their crappy computers and less on everything else.
Also, the guy who commented that they are located in low income
neibhorhoods: Remember, at one time, they were in just about every
shopping mall in the US. With the demise of the traditional shopping
mall comes the demise of the traditional mall store.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by G3SEA on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
It was inevitable.
All the more reason to support Ham Stores like HRO,AES,GigaParts,
Universal Radio Inc,Parts Supply Houses etc.
KH6/G3SEA
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG6WLS on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I have always been a bit peeved lately when asked, "what kind of cell
phone/provider do you have?", when paying for a couple of LED's for a
project.
I miss the old days of Allied and Realistic, but now... can't really
say that I'm sad to see RS go bye-bye.
73
Mike
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WR1TX on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I had to educate the RS people in Belton, TX about the police scanners
they have in stock. That meant everything about them: explaining
trunked systems (EDACS, Motorola, etc), frequency coverage (they
didn't know what that meant), among other things. I even had to
explain what a discone antenna was an what it was supposed to do. I
did make sure to discuss this with the manager; I'm considering going
upstairs, too. (Yes I know that probably won't do much good, but I
would feel better for having done so.)
I still go to RS for the occasional accessory. Their RF plugs and
adapters are good in a pinch, and as another poster said their banana
plugs ARE among the best around.
Most of the RS stores in malls only sell cell phone junk and some
computer stuff, but it's the individual stores that still sell the
stuff that some hams still need to have. But RS may have mortally
wounded itself when they gave up their brand, which was Realistic.
Products marketed under that name were actually pretty good by my own
personal experiences. I have an older police scanner, the Realistic
PRO-37, which still works great!
Ah, for the good old days of Radio Shack...
Warren / WR1TX
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG6WGM on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I don't think they have hired technical people for years. I worked for
them in the 80's and was specifically taught that the right answer to
"How does this attenna work?" was "It works great!". Salesmen-speak is
the only "answer"...
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KB3NCV on February 19, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I went to our local Radio Shack twice in the last two months with the
hope of finding a SPDT Micro switch. No deal....I was told they are
getting out of the "small stuff in the drawers" in order to
concentrate on the bigger stuff...I guess it's like everything else,
money talks. Remember the days of the home town hardware store that
had everything????
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W9AKH on February 19, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Great News! Hopefully they will close down the one in downtown
Washington, DC too! The store manager actually tried to beat me up a
few years ago, after I complained that they had overcharged me for a
set of batteries that were supposed to be at a 50% discount.
Considering that I had not left the store before I noticed their
mistake, what followed is truly amazing... He refused to give my money
back and said that the best he could do was to send a "check", for
which he needed my home address. He also said they had a $1.50
processing fee for sending the check! I refused to give him my address
and demanded an immediate refund. The little man said that I was
nobody to "demand" anything in "his" store and threatened to kick my
A**. When I pointed out that I'd love to have him on camera beating up
a customer, so I could sue his for his A** (those great security
cameras they keep...) Lord knows what demon possessed him and jumped
right at me. Other store employees joined... to protect me from their
boss. They were nice and courteous and apologized for everything, then
escorted me out of the store "for my own safetry", while some big guy
was restraining the store manager who still wanted to beat me up.
That's some shopping experience! How many of those 400-700 stores are
run by psychos like that??? Glad they will be back to the only
employment those guys deserve: running the street beating people up
for money, and hopefully being caught by the cops before they kill
anybody.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K8MHZ on February 19, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Was his name Dave?
If so, and he was a transfer from Michigan, I can believe every word
of it.
If not, Dave, an ex manager from our local Rat Shack sounds just like
this guy.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K8MHZ on February 19, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Sounds like a manager we had here in Muskegon a while ago.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by K8MHZ on February 19, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Sorry about the double. So much for hitting the 'cancel' button.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KC8VWM on February 19, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Radio Shack finally listens to what their customers want huh?!
Well, how exactly am I going to fix my TRS 80 computer now?
Radio Shack, is the only store who demand my zipcode, date of birth,
and a complete sequence of my genetic code in order to buy a 9-volt
battery.
No matter how much you may think you only needed a PL-259 connector
when you walk in the store, you really need a new cell phone plan.
Yes... Even if you are locked into a 15 year service contract with
Sprint, or are Amish, you must have a new cell phone plan, which of
course you will want to buy at the checkout counter as an impulse
purchase.
I found it rather humorous to find Wikipedia describing Radio Shack
with the following description:
"Radio Shack's proprietary brands include Optimus (video equipment -
discontinued, resurfacing at Christmas '05), Realistic (sound
equipment - discontinued), Archer (wiring and antennas -
discontinued)"
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Shack
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WR8Y on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I understand all the dislike for RS in this thread.
We here in Griffin, GA have a rather good RS store - it's even managed
by a ham!
... THey don't ask for phone numbers or names - just your zip code....
They don't try to sell you a cell phone when you are there to buy a
connector.
... They don't make you wait all day, while they are activating
someone's cellphone, when you are there to buy a headphone jack. ("...
let me take care of this guy while we wait for Verizon to activate
your phone...")
But the corporation WAS driving customers away for a long time..
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W9WHE-II on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
With arrl pushing to "dumb down" the hobby, just how many $0.99
capacitors do you think they will be selling to the CBers arrl is
seeking to suck into our hobby?
Roger that...........BEEP.
W9WHE
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WA1RNE on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Remember when Layfayette Radio was around? They used to compete head
to head with Rat Shack.
I always viewed Rat Shack as the lower quality one of the 2. Today,
they still sell a lot of junk.
Considering their highest sales and corporate goals seem to be
centered on cell phones, scanners, batteries and Monster Cables (total
rip off) they would be better off reorganizing and re-naming the
company "World of Wireless" or something to that effect - and do us
all a favor and be done with the rest of the junk they sell.
WA1RNE
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by NE0P on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
N0XMZ wrote: "I'm not at all surprised. Everything I buy, they
discontinue!"
Don't feel bad, I have the same problem with food items at Super Wal-
Mart. If I buy it on a regular basis, they will stop carrying it after
a couple of months. Either I buy some weird stuff, or Wal-Mart has it
in for NE0P
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WB4TJH on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Those of us who remember the original ALLIED ELECTRONICS before it was
bought out by Radio Shack, know what a neat store it used to be. That
includes the old Lafayette Radio stores, too. But I think it has all
been down hill for Radio Shack ever since. I go into a RS once in a
while for a part, and I will spend some time looking at the other
merchandise. It seems that most of it is the same-old-same-old that
everyone else is selling, but aways overpriced at Radio Shack. The
most expensive thing I ever bought from Radio Shack is a pocket
digital AM/FM radio. If they close a lot of stores, I really won't
miss them. Fortunately, I have a REAL electronic parts store here in
Sarasota, Fl., that is locally owned and operated. I will gladly
continue to spend my money there. They don't have to have my name,
address and phone number every time I buy something, either. That
really irritates me when I go into any store. It's none of their
damned business WHO I am , or WHERE I live, or WHAT my phone number
is. Yeah, I know I can, and do politely refuse to give it, but the
fact that they ask me for it irks me. I also hate it when some idiot
behind the register insists that I "need" the extra cost extended
warranty on something.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N9SWA on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I rem years ago when they actually had decent items for the ham. They
used to enjoy hams coming in theyre store and alot of times had a ham
operator running the place. Now you get some snot nosed kid that
doesnt know the difference between 50ohm coax & 75 ohm coax but he can
tell everything & anything u want to know about the difference between
altell & cingular. Who cares when I want to know about cell phone
service I'll go directly to a dealer not rat shack. They used to have
good items now it's just junk! We dont have any good ham stores around
this area so unless rat shack changes theyre way's we have to go thru
the internet or hit a ham fest. As for the other items they carry like
the radio control junk it's worthless. My son and I also enjoy the RC
truck hobby but we go to the local hobby shop and buy quality stuff
from Traxxas or Losi items that cost several hundred dollars but will
last a life time vs a 1/8 scale rat shack piece of crap for 125.00
that last oh a wknd then u have to throw it away. As for the
batteries? Sorry Rat Shack I'll drive the extra miles and goto
Batteries Plus.--... ...-- Dan
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KC8VWM on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Does anyone remember the Radio Shack battery club card?
:)
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W4NCR on February 20, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
missing ham radio line ! Does anyone remember THE HTX 100 HTX 202 and
HTX 404 HTX 204 HTX 212 HTX 242 !!
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by DELOS88 on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
More about Rat shack......
As of 2/20/2006 the genius CEO resigned.
That does not mean the people behind him are better.
>From stock market figures rs company lead by a great bunch of bean
counters..reported a net income of 49.5
million in 2005 versus a net company income of
130.9 million in 2004. Any takers of the stock??
Nice to give ideas in here but if really want to gripe
say hi to this gal.
Kay Jackson
Senior Director, Public Relations
(817) 415-3300
media relations @ radio shack.com
The can is full all that is left is to flush.
73
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by THERAGE on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"Does anyone remember the Radio Shack battery club card?"
Never cared for their batteries. :(
Remember when they had tube testers? Remember when they USE to sell
Realistic Lifetime tubes? They would guarantee the tube for the life
of the radio. 12AX7A, 6AJ8, ECC85, etc. Went down hill after that. :(
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by THERAGE on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
--RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores: Reply
by KG6WGM on February 18, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I don't think they have hired technical people for years.--
Another prime example of "dumbing down".
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KD6NEM on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
"You've got questions, we make up answers."
Wasn't that the truth!
I am proud of spoiling a deal a sales clown was making one day. He had
convinced this not too bright (or more likely just inexperienced)
customer that "you don't need a license for ham radios any more" and
was about to sell a 2 meter mobile to the guy. I boldly (not my normal
personality) proclaimed to both that operation of that radio without
an FCC license would be a violation of law & I'd be happy to be the
first to report that to the FCC. I may have used just a small amount
of hyperbole, but they did get the point. Also pointed out that they
had license manuals on the rack & why not take the test first, etc.
The look on the sales clown's face was even dumber than it had been
before, which had hardly seemed possible. The customer seemed
perturbed at the sales clown for lying to him. Unfortunately that
sales clown seemed not entirely atypical from all the ones I've seen
over the years. Very few had any clue at all about what they were
selling. Decent products which people need and decent service nearly
guarantees a store's success. Rad Shack has been blowing it in both
areas for years. And without much volume how would they be able to pay
any half intelligent sales person's wage? They set themselves up to
fail.
KD6NEM
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KE4ZHN on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
This is not surprising. Mismanagement and misdirection have plagued
the shack for years now. Not to mention pushy sales people. I dont
like to be asked my life history to buy a couple of electronic parts.
That is, if they even bother to stock any. Most shack stores stock
more cellphone junk than anything else. For some reason here in
Orlando every time you buy some small electronic parts they ask you
"what are you going to use it for?" One day I decided to have a little
fun with the nosy clerk and I told him Im building a thermonuclear
device in my garage. You should have seen the look on his face. Whats
even funnier is, the idiot had no clue what was in the package anyway!
He wouldnt have known a diode from his a$$.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG4RRN on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I worked for the Shack at one time after I was licensed to "fill-in"
the tax money the other job was extracting from my wages, and we had
the stupid commission sales averages, just sell, sell, sell.
Who cares if the dumb customer even needs the dumb TV or Cell phone,
the dumb sales "associate" will sell anything just so they can make a
commission.
I could not believe what I entered into.
And the funny part about it was they referred to "SPIF"
or something like that, that they came up with.
My female manager was a country bumkin of a woman,who never cared
about anything, except making sure the store was closed, and the cash
was there.
Half of the people who worked there were really lower intelligence,
and that was back during the themesong,"You have questions, we have
dumb looks"
era.
I was sad to see they stopped selling CB's Ham radios
scanners, and antennas.
After we re-organized both the sales floor, and the back room for the
forth or fifth time, I got tired of it all and quit.Two new managers
had come and gone during that time too, and one had moved to a D.C.
store and got so worked up-- he had a heart attack, on the job.
Everything else to me except for the electronic parts and cabinets and
soldiering supplies were JUNK !
What store is going to help young electronic engineers now????
Guess the Indians, from India, and the Japanese will fill in for our
lower standards nicely...anyone up for a brian freeze squishy?
Radio Shack... you have nothing... we have nothing.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N9SWA on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I've had 2 HTX 202's and also they're 10m rig as well as several
scanners, good equipment now it's just cell phones, satalite tv sorry
dont need that stuff. I need connectors, coax etc but when u ask the
sales person where it's at in the store they just look at u with a
stupid grin like there on crack or something. Sorry to see them go
downhill but they havent had anything worth buying in alot of years.
Guess the pimple faced store manager will have to go back to McDonalds
and sweep floors. --... ...-- Dan
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W2HWG on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
This does not surprise me at all. Not hardly worth going there
anymore.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W2HWG on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Another thought.
To bad these comments can not be forwarded to the CEO of RS
Wal-Mart should buyout Radio Shack !
by KB4IUJ on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I'm surprised Wal-Mart just doesn't buy up the chain and incorporate
them into their Super Centers.
Perhaps keep some francisee who aren't near a super center.
But the days of buying elecronic items are coming to and end. In lest
you haven't noticed we're in a throw away society.
I suppose we're on a evolutionary threshold where when we can make
things small, so that when the end of the world comes, there will be
less that needs to be broken down and return to rubble.
Think about that. Smaller MP3 player, hundreds of songs on a chip the
size of your finger nail. Everything is shrinking down for a reason...
Wonder what's nexted?
Big cars and trucks which run on water.. Imagine a biodegradible
vehicle... which can wither away in a short period of time. (Chinese
perfected that years ago = shoes). LOL.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KF6GOM on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
herd there CEO lied on there job application and never went to
college.that sums it up on bad management and big bonus for the upper
staff. wonder why they have to cut 500-700 stores??
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by AE7G on February 21, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Makes you wonder.
With all of this free expert advice here on eHam, how can a company
have either declining cash flow, or decreasing net profit.
Maybe the experts here should get together and buy a controlling share
so they can show us how it really otta be run.
;-o
Bob
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KG6AMW on February 22, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Quote, "I'm surprised Wal-Mart just doesn't buy up the chain and
incorporate them into their Super Centers." Why? The Wal-Mart people
would view Radio Shack as an anachronism (mid 20th century retail
marketing set up) and example of what not to do. No where -
everywhere, too much overhead, light weight management, inventory
problems, confusing name, its all there. What a mess.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by NG9D on February 23, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
CEO lied about college education to get job?
I don't care much about that.
I was, however, extremely impressed to find the $1.29 FET needed to
fix my static damaged DX390 as a stocked item at my local Radio Shack!
I urge the board to let him stay.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by KA2JIZ on February 23, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Hmm; MFJ buys them out, keeps the parts and moves their MFJ products
in. hmm...
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by N4UE on February 24, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Sorry, but this is simply a result of a 'global economy'. Go to any
Sears store today. Look carefully at the label on any electrical tool,
drill, saw, etc. You will see the words..."Made in China".
Some of the hand tools are still made in the USA, but due to sever
customer abuse of the 'unconditional guarantee', this is also
changing. Tape measures are no longer guaranteed for some defects, and
if you bring in a wrench that is rusty (not broken), and want a new
one, you are in for a BIG disappointment. At our local store, we have
dishonest people that scour flea markets for $ .05 and $ .10 Craftsman
hand tools that look like they were buried for 20 years. They expect
new replacements for these. I just LOVE telling them "NO"....
Now that Martha Stewart and Co. owns Sears, things are going to
change....
ron
N4UE
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WR8D on February 25, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Who needs em??? You can't hardly get parts there anymore. The internet
parts providers i guess have put the squeeze on them. If you have to
go there and then have them order a part for you because they no
longer "stock" it. Then its just much easier to get on line, look up
the part and order it yourself. Like i said who needs em, radio shack
who??? WR8D
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WR8D on February 25, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
On a lighter note i was setting up a hf mobile and went there to get
some "fast" coax. Sometimes depending on the store you can get a good
grade. Well they were as usual "out" of stock. The guy tried to sell
me every type of cable he had in the store and swore even speaker
cable would work for my feedline. Yeah, you guess it. The redneck in
me finally had to come out again. I hate it when it does that. "lol".
They will tell you anything they think you want to hear just to make a
sell. I used to "bait" them just to see how dumb they were and always
come out with a grin on my face. The wife is a dang good tech too and
used to manage one years ago. Sometimes i'd send her in for a part for
an old rig and when she walked in the door there would always be one
that had been around for a while and he would tell the others to just
leave her alone, she knew more about the parts etc than the guy that
owned the store. hi hi...Again, radio shack, whats that???? WR8D
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W5AOX on February 27, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
'Tis a sad commentary for today, but I find the best source for
connectors, coax, switches, microphones, wire, connectors, etc, is
your nearest TRUCK STOP!
Even out in the boonies away from the big cities truckstops often have
very well stocked basic electrical and electronics supplies.
Our local CB shop used to be a good place to buy resistors,
capacitors, etc, till one day I asked for a few resistors and when the
counter guy went to get them for me the owner bellowed from the back:
"WE NEED THOSE PARTS FOR FIXING OUR CUSTOMERS' RADIOS! IF WE SELL
PARTS WE WON'T HAVE THEM ON HAND WHEN WE NEED THEM.." Thoughts went
through my mind such as "Well, DUH, sell them at 200% markup, make it
worth your while, and RESTOCK!" But I just shook my head and walked
out. He was obviously too ignorant to realize profit on sales markup
is usually much better than repair/labor revenues percentage wise.
Not sure he's still in business. If trends continue, we may be back to
making homebrew capacitors with aluminum foil and cellophane.
RE: Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by WD5L on February 27, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
I believe that there are alot of hams and electronics enthusiasts who
would not be here were it not for Radio Shack at least as it was up
until the late 90's.
I got my start in electronics and obtained my knowledge about
semiconductors primarily through books my mom purchased for me at a
Radio Shack in Florida back in '74 when I was in 6th grade. I also
built my first crystal radio from 1n34a diodes, an AM loopstick coil
and a 365 pf variable capacitor I got at Radio Shack. They also sold a
high impedance 2000 ohm headset like the kind hams used to use prior,
during and after World War 2.
But Radio Shack is a for-profit corporation. The trend is toward
miniaturization and disposable electronics. Many things they once sold
like those germanium diodes, varicaps and high impedance headphones
are simply no longer available. Electronic components simply don't
move like they used to because people replace rather than repair their
electronic items when they fail. I personally purchased an IRF-510
MOSFET just two days ago because they are cheap and easy to get. They
make great HF amplifiers but when I got mine the bubble pack just
flaked right off. The '510 is good though. But remember Radio Shack IS
A CORPORATION and like all corporations it must make a profit or cease
to exist.
Judging by the responses on this list they people most likely to by
component parts aren't' likely to purchase there either. That's too
bad. I built my Tuna Tin II and Herring Aid 5 out of Radio Shack
parts. It was the most fun I ever had constructing equipment.
I worked at Radio Shack for a while and personally I found the
experience very rewarding. I prided myself on getting the customer the
appropriate product to meet their needs. Because I was an out of work
computer professional I full range of the computer hardware, CBs,
scanners, and yes, component parts. I frequently was called by co-
workers to help a customer trying to convert from incandescent bulbs
to LEDs and they needed the appropriate voltage dropping resistor or
the right wall-wart to power their battery powered devices.
My particular specialty was antennas. I was able to help alot of CBers
by pushing the 9" steel whip to get the best range on their mobile
radio and clear up alot of misinformation.
So take that into account when you go into Radio Shack. You never know
if you will run into an extra class ham operator who is more than
willing and eager to help.
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W9WRL on February 27, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
When I was a kid, I would ride my bike 5 miles each way to at that
time the only Radio Shack in town. I would by parts and stuff to build
all kinds of cool projects. They had a guy called the manager his name
was Allen, he knew his stuff and the products they sold. These days we
have 6-8 RS stores in town and the are all run by Shemales. When you
walking to a store they say "Can I help you" I always say to myself "I
really doubt it" They don't know anything about anything. I stopped
going to Radio Shack now unless I really must. If they were to close
all the stores I would never miss them.
You know what RS stands for don't you? Rarely Stocked
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W6MRK on February 27, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
well here goes my 2 cents worth...I worked for Radio Shack a year ago
for the experience(of course I didnt make millionaire status) anyway
the only radios we carried were CB"s and scanners, they dropped their
lines of 2 meter radios a year or 2 ago, the htx-202 was a very
popular radio at the time and they sold a bunch of them to the point
to where they couldn't keep them in stock....radio shack sure made
enough mistakes to begin to take them out the picture especially due
to their CEO, which was a new guy who didnt really care about the
electronics business itself. but wanted the company to stay on the
cutting edge of consumer electronics...haha, suddenly we were not
getting anymore real pieces parts that we normally carried ie loud
speakers, or automotive radio ie stereos and car speakers, and the
cell phone section seemed to get more and more broader.... I wonder
why...and recently they have stopped carring Verizon and in our Little
town of Big Bear Lake, we were the mainstay of a cell phone whose
coverage was considered good as compared to other cell phone
services....and our prices kept escallating to supposedly follow the
cutting edge of electronics...lhaha the manager who was female was
getting very tired of the company and I think wound up just not caring
anymore and let lots of things slide,and her health was detoriorating
at the same time due to company politics.There was a lot of back
stabbing going on to try to get the most sales.... we were paid
minimum wage and we each had to sell more than our share to start
making more than the minimum, unfortuneitly radio shack we used to
call cell phone shack, may not survive the new trends and become like
other retail stores and begin to slide off into the sunset, and as far
as our hobbie is concerned finding a real radio shack like the old
Henry radio or Knight radio stores, a thing of the Past... its a
shame, Radio shack in its day was a great place to shop or test tubes
or just to visit, but know more./.... 73" radio shack and rest in
pieces.....and good luck to all the younger generation who's trying
Radio Shack to Close 400-700 Stores:
by W4PSG on March 1, 2006 Mail this to a friend!
Went into a local Radio Shack two weeks ago. Salesman didn't know what
a PL259 was.
Jon Yaeger
Ludwig at bret...@yahoo.com wrote on 10/28/07 5:35 PM:
The decline of Radio Shack seems to follow that of US Manufacturers and
retail service organizations in general.
Radio Shack had some great stuff decades ago. Ditto with Lafayette and
Olsen Electronics . . . but they couldn't make it today either.
Kids don't have much interest in building things like we did. But then
again, it's kinda hard to solder your own Play Station together . . . .
There was a Radioshack.com outlet here in Atlanta for a couple of years.
They had great inventory of parts and tools -- not junk. For example, I
bought a STAMP CPU kit from them; the variable A/C supply that I use to test
tubes, and an Edsyn soldering station. Gone because apparently there is no
retail market for this stuff. I really miss them.
Jon
Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!
> The decline of Radio Shack seems to follow that of US Manufacturers and
> retail service organizations in general.
>
> Radio Shack had some great stuff decades ago. Ditto with Lafayette and
> Olsen Electronics . . . but they couldn't make it today either.
>
> Kids don't have much interest in building things like we did. But then
> again, it's kinda hard to solder your own Play Station together . . . .
>
> There was a Radioshack.com outlet here in Atlanta for a couple of years.
> They had great inventory of parts and tools -- not junk. For example, I
> bought a STAMP CPU kit from them; the variable A/C supply that I use to test
> tubes, and an Edsyn soldering station. Gone because apparently there is no
> retail market for this stuff. I really miss them.
OTOH, I just bought a large media storage unit. I got it online. No
tax, no shipping, and $25 cheaper before tax than available locally.
We are also fortunate to have a couple of really good electronics
surplus places in this area. I'd suggest that RS's business model
simply reflacts changes in the marketplace. It's possible that if they
didn't change, they'd be gone. That's what management teams are
supposed to avoid..
G
Many companies forget the impact of slow moving items. The tinkerers come
in to look around or pick up a part. In the process doing this myself,
has resulted in spending many dollars over the years. If there is no reason
to come in, then I'm not spending any money there. RS is not the only one
by any means. I also have a problem with K-Mart, Walmart, The Home Depot.
greg
Arny Krueger
"G" <ze...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:fg4lhp$305$2...@usenet01.srv.cis.pitt.edu...
> In article <1193639979.9...@50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com>, Shhhh!
> I'm Listening to Reason! <arty...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>On Oct 28, 7:36 pm, Jon Yaeger <jon...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>> The decline of Radio Shack seems to follow that of US Manufacturers and
>>> retail service organizations in general.
This occurred by natural means. Most product categories of 50 years ago
slowly morphed into larger and more complex things. One of the biggest
morph-jobs happened to appliance stores. I remember when appliance stores
only carried fridges, stoves, and the like. Radio stores were completely
different things, and the twain never met. Then radios became more
mainstream, and appliance stores started carrying them. Then came TVs, and
stereos. Then came component stereos (a big change!). Then came VCRs and
etc. Fast forward to 2007 and check out your friendly neighborhood Best Buy
store!
>>> Radio Shack had some great stuff decades ago. Ditto with Lafayette and
>>> Olsen Electronics . . . but they couldn't make it today either.
Radio Shack has teetered near bankruptcy for like the past 20 or more years.
The cause was their inability to morph their huge chain of stores into what
consumers are looking for in a neighborhood electronics store, this week.
>>> Kids don't have much interest in building things like we did. But then
>>> again, it's kinda hard to solder your own Play Station together . . . .
Agreed.
>>> There was a Radioshack.com outlet here in Atlanta for a couple of years.
>>> They had great inventory of parts and tools -- not junk. For example, I
>>> bought a STAMP CPU kit from them; the variable A/C supply that I use to
>>> test
>>> tubes, and an Edsyn soldering station. Gone because apparently there is
>>> no
>>> retail market for this stuff. I really miss them.
The same product lines exist online. The great ease with which we can now
browse and buy niche items on the web drove another stake into the heart of
the old-time Radio Shack store.
>>OTOH, I just bought a large media storage unit. I got it online. No
>>tax, no shipping, and $25 cheaper before tax than available locally.
That's the other benefit of buying online - more competitive pricing. Buying
at a brick and mortar store is now a luxury of sorts for many product
categories.
>>We are also fortunate to have a couple of really good electronics
>>surplus places in this area. I'd suggest that RS's business model
>>simply reflacts changes in the marketplace. It's possible that if they
>>didn't change, they'd be gone.
Actually, it was a certainty. But your basic thinking is sound!
>> That's what management teams are supposed to avoid..
They avoid being forced out of the market by keeping the brick-and-mortar
store focussed on what brick-and-mortar stores do best. I buy no groceries
to speak of online, for example.
> Many companies forget the impact of slow moving items. The tinkerers come
> in to look around or pick up a part. In the process doing this myself,
> has resulted in spending many dollars over the years.
Agreed. But what constitutes a slow-moving item has changed. In
rapidly-evolving technologies, the slow-moving item of 10 years ago is the
shelf orphan of today.
For example, we once had a chain of stores that catered to people who built
their own PCs. They had a store that was within easy driving and had a
reasonable stock of RAM, disks, cases, system boards, CPUs, etc. They just
closed all of their stores in Michigan but one which is some distance away.
The $400 Dell minimum PC, which is really a pretty servicable box for the
average user, had pretty well killed-off most people's justification for
building their own PC or having a local shop custom build it.
Another issue is the fact that most people don't need to upgrade their PC
every few years any more, because most people just browse the web and do
email, and 600 MHz Pentium 2 with 128 meg of RAM and Win98 can still do
that pretty darn well.
The price of a minimal but useful PC has dropped in from about $3K to close
to $500 in the past 15 years. There's a big difference in how you sell a
product that drops in price by 10:1 in constant dollars.
Dave
70's, they had the first mass-market computer the TRS-80. People couldn't
buy them fast enough, they were fantastic machines for the day. RS/Tandy
couldn't seem to ride that wave more than a couple of years... as soon as
some competition popped up, their computer market share just shrivelled and
died. They failed to innovate, and it cost them. They used to carry a good
line of radio-shack branded tools; multimeters, soldering equipment, etc.
but decided that a good selection of Xbox games was more likely to turn a
profit, given that there are zero other sellers of electronic tools in most
malls and 20 other Xbox game sellers. Go figure.
In most smaller towns (like the one I happen to live in) Radio Shack is THE
ONLY place I can buy component-level stuff and electronic supplies like
solder and the like. Every year they carry less and less, choosing instead
to fill the aisles with trash-quality electronics like boom boxes and cell
phones and, hell, I don't even know what else because I never look: I'd
never consider buying something there that cost more than $50. The last two
times I went in to the store, they were using the single remaining U-shaped
electronic component display alcove as a storage area for computer screens
or something. I had to ask the not-particularly-friendly manager if he'd
move the pile so I could find what I needed.
Much as I malign RS, I hate to see them go because there's nobody else that
carries even the meagre selection of electronic hobbyist tools and supplies
which I consume. I hate paying $15 shipping every time I need a $0.07
resistor.
Dave S.
Peter Wieck
> Much as I malign RS, I hate to see them go because there's nobody else that
> carries even the meagre selection of electronic hobbyist tools and supplies
> which I consume. I hate paying $15 shipping every time I need a $0.07
> resistor.
Mouser, Grasshopper. Mouser.
They more-or-less charge actual shipping costs, a modest handling cost
and get it to you quickly. There are several others who do much the
same thing. So that $0.07 resistor may cost you only $5. But at the
same time 100 $0.07 resistors might only cost you $12.
Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA
Norman M. Schwartz
"Dave" <dspea...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ePmVi.46342$G25.22745@edtnps89...
>
> Much as I malign RS, I hate to see them go because there's nobody else
> that carries even the meagre selection of electronic hobbyist tools and
> supplies which I consume. I hate paying $15 shipping every time I need a
> $0.07 resistor.
>
And/or wait a week for a $0.25 fuse I'd like to replace in one of my
speakers ASAP.
> Dave S.
>
robert casey
> Went into a local Radio Shack two weeks ago. Salesman didn't know what
> a PL259 was.
>
The only places I expect the sales people to know something of the stuff
they sell are at clothing stores and the guys at the produce aisle and
the meat counter at the supermarket. Forget about any place selling
electronics.
Back in my college days in the mid 70's, it seemed that anyone knowing
something about electronics or electrical engineering was immediately
disqualified from working at Radio Shack or similar places. Another
place was "Gem Electronics" in Paramus NJ on Route 17, and we had a
Lafayette place on the other side of Rt 17, but that died around 1975.
I kinda liked the parts drawers they recently had at RS. The sales
droids pretty much knew not to waste time on me if I was looking in the
drawers, beyond being sure I wasn't shoplifting.
Back in the mid 70's, RS parts were pretty crappy. (Though at least 2
steps above Poly Paks, remember them?). Later on, the quality did get
better as someone must have thought that good quality parts would
attract repeat buyers, who might also decide to buy something bigger,
like a scanner. Their 2 meter handheld was actually quite good, had
excellent intermod rejection as it didn't try to be a DC to light
receiver like most all other handhelds tried to be.
Today, RS is just a consumer electronics place, selling cell phones, TV
sets and stereos. That's pretty much it. Hell, they should change the
name of the places.
dizzy
Or Digi-Key. Free shipping on orders over $25.
RapidRonnie
>
> The only places I expect the sales people to know something of the stuff
> they sell are at clothing stores and the guys at the produce aisle and
> the meat counter at the supermarket. Forget about any place selling
> electronics.
>
> Back in my college days in the mid 70's, it seemed that anyone knowing
> something about electronics or electrical engineering was immediately
> disqualified from working at Radio Shack or similar places. Another
> place was "Gem Electronics" in Paramus NJ on Route 17, and we had a
> Lafayette place on the other side of Rt 17, but that died around 1975.
I applied to work at Radio Shack stores the week I turned 16, the
legal age to work then. I never got a call back. At eighteen, needing
a part time job, I did again with the same result. Years later I
encountered a former manager and told him what I thought of Radio
Shack. He remembered me and said it was obvious I was honest and had
basic electronic knowledge, so he threw my app in the trash, as his
district manager instructed. He said many of their best "salesmakers"
were stealing stuff right and left, but it was tolerated since the
more dishonest they were the more they sold. And many RS managers were
ex-cons or basically violent people, making the quarterly manager
meetings very stressful. He admitted he always carried a snubnose .38
to the meetings just in case some neanderthal chimped out.
Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!
> It's too bad Radio Shack never has gotten their shit together. In the late
> 70's, they had the first mass-market computer the TRS-80. People couldn't
> buy them fast enough, they were fantastic machines for the day. RS/Tandy
> couldn't seem to ride that wave more than a couple of years... as soon as
> some competition popped up, their computer market share just shrivelled and
> died. They failed to innovate, and it cost them.
Atari, Sinclair and Commodore seem to have lost PC market share
recently, too.:-)
robert casey
> Much as I malign RS, I hate to see them go because there's nobody else that
> carries even the meagre selection of electronic hobbyist tools and supplies
> resistor.
>
For resistors and such, well, I have what ham radio people have called a
"junk box". Basically circuit boards and such from electronics that
died or otherwise became useless. For the stuff that died, odds are
that the part you scrounge from it isn't what killed it, and if it's a
simple part (resistor, capacitor and such) is easily tested once you
removed it off the board for re-use elsewhere. No, I don't do repair
work for pay, this is strictly for hobby stuff. Of course this requires
some space to store this crap, but that's what basements and attics are
for....
>
>