Posted: 8/13/2010 3:52:43 PM EDT
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. . . how do they stay business?
I picked up a Samsung Vibrant last week, and have been look for accessories for it. I picked up a Sandisk 16GB microSD card off Amazon for $29 delivered, but couldn't find a case that I liked. I was out during lunch today and saw a Radio Shack. Remembering their TV commercial about being THE place for cell phone accessories, I stopped in looking for a case for my phone. They also had microSD cards so I did a price check. $119.99, again ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY BUCKS for the same thing I bought. I asked the hovering sales associate if the price was a typo. "Oh, no. They're not on sale anymore." He says with a straight face. 
"Apparently, not," I replied. "They were $59.99 just yesterday," he answered. Hmm, you can save -300% by shopping at the Shack. 
IBTCSB. |
I used to be in their stores a few times a week buying shit for projects and tinkering. But that's when Heathkit still had retail stores.  Honestly don't know how they stay open. I maybe go into one twice a year for some small, odd bit of hardware (that they still carry) that I don't want to order on-line and get raped on shipping. For us older farts, this will be a walk down memory lane...  http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/ |
| it really is a mystery. I cant see how anyone in their right mind would go there to buy anything other than some electronic component, switch, plug, odd cable, or whatever. I never see anyone in the store looking for anything other than one of those type of items, yet their walls are covered with random TV's, stereo stuff, games, and totally lame mini home theaters. I guess they COULD be a viable, profitable dealer for cell phone stuff (IF you happen to catch the sale, that is), but every time I walk into one of them, I find myself staring at WALLS of inventory that just CANT possibly move.. |
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I used to go to the Rat Shack on a frighteningly regular basis. No less than 2-3 times a week.
I haven't bought anything there in months. It's pathetic what has happened to that place. I miss the days of kits, useable components, and loose batteries in bins. I order everything online now. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| I stopped in last month and asked if they had 555 timers in stock. The guy behind the counter had no clue what I was talking about. I looked around and surprisingly found a drawer full of them in the electrical component section. The poor guy had no idea what they were. |
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They need to transition to a regional electronics megamart rather than a Cell Phone hut at every other corner.
Out of the 10 or so in the Richmond area, only one or two still carry CB antennas. And don't even think about asking about Ham Radios to the kid who's younger than the leftover parts in the corner. 
Heck, I'm only 21 and wish for the days of 
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I don't even think they carry CB radios in RADIO Shack anymore. They do, it's just a painfully small selection...like two models. Three if you're lucky. Quoted:
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Project parts, adapters and gadgets. this, they have a lot of stuff that you'd otherwise need to order online. Um, really? You must live in a parallel universe. I have a hard time finding the most common of RF adapters. Their component selection sucks donkey balls. You're much better off ordering from Mouser or Digikey. I wanted to build a cable for my HF rig and needed a 13-pin connector. Good luck finding that at Phone Shack. Ordered it from Digikey on Monday and it was in my hand on Wed. |
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Quoted: Fry's Electronics is what Radio Shack should have been. Oddly enough Fry's bought out the Incredible Universe stores that were started by Radio Shack/Tandy (and failed spectacularly). God knows how much stuff I bought from the Fry's in San Diego when I lived there.  |
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How do they stay in business? Volume. Plus geeks like me know where to get electronic components. But they still have a small drawer of discreet components like diodes, some transistors and of course, the resistor packs. Just order a couple of things from Mouser and they will send you a telephone book sized catalog for all your component needs. I have no idea what 80% of the stuff in that catalog is 
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