Radio Shack is dead.

[displacedinMN]

RS filed for bankrupcy. Years of mismanagement, high prices and online competition killed a great company.

Let's hear those RS stories. I like to use spoilers to keep the OP short

My time working as RS

Spoiler!

I worked for RS part time. Just to pick up a few extra bucks before I found a teaching job.

It was going down hill then. The district manager was not happy when I told him many of our products could be found some where else cheaper. That did not make him happy. This was before the big depression.

Hey, price first. six bucks cheaper at wal-mart than RS. Printer ink at Office depot across the street was CHEAPER than I could get it WITH MY EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT!

We would have Saturdays where no one would be in for over an hour. Hey, Its Minnesota. Most are at their cabins on the weekend and RS is not a first stop store.

Lesser named electronics, low inventory, did not focus on the electronic geek or do it yourself person.
Terrible management the last 10 years.

Every customer was supposed to be asked about phones and Directv.

RS employees were always informed, but price sells.

Have not been back into my old store much since I left. Amazon has more and cheaper.

Old man Tandy is rolling over in his grave.
Modify message

From the Onion

Spoiler!

Electronics retailer RadioShack filed for bankruptcy after 94 years in business, ultimately unable to keep up with consumers’ shift to the wireless and digital technologies of the internet age. Here is a timeline of RadioShack’s decline:

1962: Retailer establishes a 40-year period of peace and prosperity among electronics retailers known as the Pax Radioica
1980: As a joke, RadioShack employee asks customer buying game-TV switchbox for name and address. Practice lasts company-wide for another 22 years.
1995: Poor microcassette harvest devastates first-quarter sales
1996-2005: Company coasts by on purchase of single VGA cord from Fort Myers, FL location
1999: RadioShack CEO assures Americans that products will break down regardless of Y2K
2001: Company introduces cordless Howie Long
2005: Corporation celebrates one-millionth customer walking in, scoffing at cost, and walking out empty-handed
2007: Email leaks reveal RadioShack in serious talks to buy pack of AA batteries from Duracell
2008: Company loses lucrative Defense Department contract
2010: Executives hold press conference to address issue of what exactly is going on with that one aisle of just copper wire and cable splitters
2015: RadioShack management forced to euthanize millions of thumb drives they can no longer support

Old Radioshack Magazines online. Open, don't download anything (so I have been warned)
http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

Ever sell audio cables to Mecca?

Yes. And he should not complain.

I got him a great deal on a Sprint Phone, Directv and a Compaq 386.

All with three year warranties and accessories to go with them.

And I got his address!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I guess no love for diodes either

Only if they are light emitting.

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[srvy]

Interesting I wonder what their new business model will be. Retail stores or internet only? Honestly, I cant see how they compete with online suppliers like Mouser or Parts Express. They must have a different plan like maybe fill in with what Best Buy used to be if the plan to have showrooms.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

People still solder stuff?

Yes, men do who like to do DIY and such. A soldering iron is one of the best and most used tools on my workbench.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

People still solder stuff?

I just built my own guitar speaker cabinet. I did all the wiring and soldering myself. I bought a empty cabinet, a speaker, and the wiring.

I repair guitar cables and stuff like that all the time.

[htismaqe]

I still have a good portion of my PA gear I bought at RS 30 years ago.

Most of it still works.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by srvy

Interesting I wonder what their new business model will be. Retail stores or internet only? Honestly, I cant see how they compete with online suppliers like Mouser or Parts Express. They must have a different plan like maybe fill in with what Best Buy used to be if the plan to have showrooms.

Internet only-except the mom and pops in the sticks

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Sorry

For guitar players, we tend to solder pick ups/output jacks

Yup. And don't forget tone knobs and pickup switches.

[Shaid]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

People still solder stuff?

I have kids who destroy xbox controllers. I can fix joysticks on one for 5 bucks soldering it rather than paying $40-60 for a new one. Of course, I usually make them wait a couple months before fixing it but that's what you get when you are hard on your damn controller.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

Internet only-except the mom and pops in the sticks

That makes sense I will be checking them out when they are up and running.

[Boon]

RS locked the doors 10 years. Overpriced and a fruit salesman who liked to take little boys camping.

[stanleychief]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Nobody ever mentions inductors

They get a bad wrap.

[Stewie]

Will they continue to ask for your phone number when you buy batteries?

[srvy]

They did that along with many retailers in the day. Most people had a landline with the majority not paying for a silent number. So boom you started receiving sales flyers and special sales in the mail. Wasn't bad at all in my book I always checked them out. The 3 dollar auto-ranging volt ohmmeter made great xmas gifts. The 1.49 transistor radio with headphone jack was perfect to listen to Buddy Blatner and Wayne Larivee at chiefs and Royals games.

[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Bring back those Tandys too!

I was the first kid in several of my junior high school classes to turn in papers I wrote on my Radio Shack TRS-80. It had 32K of memory. No I didn't type that wrong and that was also the memory used by the operating system that was largely written by Mr. Gates himself if I understand correctly.