Goodbye Radio Shack

[The_Blur]

I went into a closing one yesterday, and I can see why they need to close. Despite everything being at least 40%, half of the merchandise was still there. The front of the store featured phone cases for most of the front-left side of the store. That's not technology, and it's certainly not going to make a brand stand out from competition, especially when competitors have a lot more space than a small mall unit. In the back, Radio Shack had almost untouched merchandise in alarm clocks and home phones that Radio Shack should have offloaded over a decade ago. As I passed the register to check out the nook of remaining goods on the opposite side of the store, I saw a collection of Bluetooth speakers and earbuds. From the looks of it, this represented the best stuff leftover after customers ransacked the now missing remote control cars and helicopters that used to be here.

If the store weren't closing, I can't see anything I would have bought. There were some useful project components I didn't mention, like splitters and switches, but these can't keep a business afloat, especially when Radio Shack's limited money is tied up in home phones, iPhone cases, and overpriced speakers. It's sad to see an overpriced and unfocused brand, like Best Buy, succeed over a more niche overpriced brand, like Radio Shack.

[CamaroSpike23]

[IBM]

Radioshack was the worst.

[Mr. iNCREDIBLE]

they are closing roughly 1,900 of 4,000 stores.

as I understand it, Amazon.com is looking into taking over a lot of those closed stores to use them for Showcases and pick-up, drop-off centers.

Radio Shack has been a disaster since the late 1990s, when they switched from being a hobbyist store to attempting to be a main stream cell phone sales and service center.

The last two times I went to Radio Shack to get a simple part I needed I could not get any assistance or they didn't have the part, the employees have no clue, are commission based, and don't care.

What should have been a 1 mile trip to get a coax barrel connector and some speaker terminal connectors (staples of what the old radio shack carried) resulted in an online order from Amazon and a 3 day wait.

[JasonK]

The return policy was a complete joke. Store credit only.

[RubyCamaro]

Sounds like ours is closing, just in time to help make room for our local Kroger's to become a Super Kroger.

[MLAZ1990]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

LOL!!!

[MLAZ1990]

Originally Posted by JasonK

The return policy was a complete joke. Store credit only.

RadioShack isn't the only place that does that lol!

[Angrybird 12]

They got away from their core business of selling electronic hobby parts and tools and repair parts.
Also they quit hiring people that knew what a capacitor or resistor was...

[jshaf]

walked by the one at the local mall the other day, was sad, almost nothing left in it. like watching a dying animal bleed out.

[alex70olds]

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

They got away from their core business of selling electronic hobby parts and tools and repair parts.
Also they quit hiring people that knew what a capacitor or resistor was...

Bingo!

I agree completely. They abandoned their core business.

[ssrs2lt]

Yeah I remember when the local store would mail a bill to you.. The capable salesman was forced out by cost.. I went in there recently in Virginia and the store was a wreck..sorry those people are going to be unemployed.

[kevinw]

i used to like Radio shack long ago, i think Tandy Corp. owned them. Back in the laste 60s, i used to remember ALLIED stores as my brother had a ALLIED receiver and speakers, then it changed over to REALISTIC i think, as i had a REALISTIC receiver, from Radio SHack. they would carry all the great stereo components. i just went to day to get a HDMI splitter box since i just bought a XBOX ONE. Best buy didnt have the splitter. yes, they got away from their core business. i still have those ALLIED speakers my brother bought in 1968 and they still work. alot of places ask for phone and name and address for marketing. not a big deal to me. but sad to see them go

[f5journal]

Originally Posted by Scalded Dog

Radio Shack was great... until some pointy- headed corporate genius thought that it would be good for business to require all customers--- cash, check, card, or shiny beads--- to provide their mailing address in order to make a purchase. Customers--- including me--- found this intrusive and irritating. I want to buy a two- pack of AAA batteries, but in order to complete the transaction, I need to provide detailed information on where I sleep at night?

That was the beginning of the end.

Corporate ideas are sometimes brilliant--- other times, not so much. It's time for people to realize that making intelligent decisions is the only way to go, not doing some stupid thing based off of some bizarre idea a CEO or president came up with one night in a dream.

Stupid idea... repelled customers in droves, and sent RS into a tailspin. They'd still be selling circuits and RC cars and headphones and even two- packs of AAA batteries just as fast as they could restock shelves if it weren't for the really dumb idea of somebody with the clout to make policy.

THAT'S my theory, and I'm stickin' to it.

forgot about that...yup