Guess Where I Went Today?

smitty_p

smitty_p

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RADIO SHACK!

That's right. There is a Radio Shack only 20 minutes from my house. I needed some resistors and decided I'd look for a Radio Shack, just for kicks.

Imagine my surprise when I actually found one so close!

I had a pleasant conversation with the lady who runs the place. I learned that she has to source small components like resistors on her own. Radio Shack no longer has a warehouse for that sort of thing.

Also, because of how her franchise is structured, throughout all the bankruptcy proceedings with Radio Shack, the court ruled she didn't have to close down and she could keep the Radio Shack designation. I didn't press for details on that, but I thought it was interesting to hear.

I promised her I'd be back!
 
smitty_p said:
RADIO SHACK!

That's right. There is a Radio Shack only 20 minutes from my house. I needed some resistors and decided I'd look for a Radio Shack, just for kicks.

Imagine my surprise when I actually found one so close!

I had a pleasant conversation with the lady who runs the place. I learned that she has to source small components like resistors on her own. Radio Shack no longer has a warehouse for that sort of thing.

Also, because of how her franchise is structured, throughout all the bankruptcy proceedings with Radio Shack, the court ruled she didn't have to close down and she could keep the Radio Shack designation. I didn't press for details on that, but I thought it was interesting to hear.

I promised her I'd be back!
Click to expand...
Pretty cool. Wasn’t aware there were any left. Thought with the bankruptcy, they ceased to exist….. but I get how she’s still able to operate under the name.
 
“Radio Shack Store Numbers. Currently there are 516 stores in this list as of July 29th, 2024.”

Now. Find them all. Aren’t any close to me.
 
Used to look forward to the summer / fall catalog each year.
There were two near me when I first moved here 20+ years ago. The one left closed when :fan:for good.
 
smitty_p said:
RADIO SHACK!

That's right. There is a Radio Shack only 20 minutes from my house. I needed some resistors and decided I'd look for a Radio Shack, just for kicks.

Imagine my surprise when I actually found one so close!

I had a pleasant conversation with the lady who runs the place. I learned that she has to source small components like resistors on her own. Radio Shack no longer has a warehouse for that sort of thing.

Also, because of how her franchise is structured, throughout all the bankruptcy proceedings with Radio Shack, the court ruled she didn't have to close down and she could keep the Radio Shack designation. I didn't press for details on that, but I thought it was interesting to hear.

I promised her I'd be back!
Click to expand...
We have 2 radio shacks here on central coast California.. They have been cool enough to stock some parts for tube amps.
They seem to stay pretty busy with repairs.
I go there pretty often to buy parts.
 
iblive said:
Pretty cool. Wasn’t aware there were any left. Thought with the bankruptcy, they ceased to exist….. but I get how she’s still able to operate under the name.
Click to expand...

There is an online Radio Shack. I've actually bought a few things online from them. As I was looking for a Radio Shack near me, I ran across a couple articles that said Radio Shack is going to try to boost their online presence. I didn't bother to read the whole article, so I don't have all the details, but the idea is interesting.
 
Bought our first PC from the Radio Shack we had in our little berg. Twas the 80s. Tandy 1000. 8086 processor. I boosted the RAM to the max @ 64k and installed a 20MB hard drive. We thought it was the coolest thing ever.
 
Loved Radio Shack back in the 80's. It was an awesome place to check out technology from across the spectrum. Towards the end of their run I found my tiny hometown had one tucked away in the back of a hardware store. When I went in and was talking to the clerk, who happened to be the owner, I was pleasantly surprised that they had a LOT of electronic knowledge and wasn't the typical "cell phone salesperson" behind the counter.

At least I've been able to find a few independent shops in my day. Nice to go and wander through some of these places and let the electronic bug get it's feed.
 
According to Chuck, a radio shack salesperson, the downfall of radio shack was:
"You've got questions, we've got answers."
A new management team took over, and reduced the sales commission from 5% to 1/2%.
At that point, the best of the sales people bailed, and the whole thing spiraled down the crapper.

Otherwise experienced people would have kept working, and radio shack would still be in business.
So it was just a few bad management decisions and policies that killed it...
 
They were fun for switches, plugs, wire etc.
Best thing they made IMO were the Realistic Minimus 7 speakers.
Metal cssing, 40 W RMS, long throw little woofer, sound just friggin amazing for what they are. Never tried but I can kmagine pairing w a sub.
Still have mine. Good surround speakers.

realistic-minimus-7.jpg
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
According to Chuck, a radio shack salesperson, the downfall of radio shack was:
"You've got questions, we've got answers."
A new management team took over, and reduced the sales commission from 5% to 1/2%.
At that point, the best of the sales people bailed, and the whole thing spiraled down the crapper.

Otherwise experienced people would have kept working, and radio shack would still be in business.
So it was just a few bad management decisions and policies that killed it...
Click to expand...
Their jump into Cellphones was the ultimate nail in the coffin. You couldn't walk into one of those shops without the sales people jumping down your throat for a cellphone. And batteries. Sometimes it felt like you were held hostage unless you bought a pack of batteries at the register.
 
Ghostman said:
Their jump into Cellphones was the ultimate nail in the coffin. You couldn't walk into one of those shops without the sales people jumping down your throat for a cellphone. And batteries. Sometimes it felt like you were held hostage unless you bought a pack of batteries at the register.
Click to expand...
At the end cellphones were 50% of the sales revenue and they planned on phasing out small parts.

But it seems from what I just read, Radio Shack is still doing well in Mexico and several other countries....

The corporation is planning to open up more stores again in the near future.
 
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