Educating your local Radio Shack..
Oldbitcollector (Jeff)
Posts: 8,091
So today I had a little time between appointments/shipping to visit my local radio shack, so I loaded up my coat pockets with everything for this kit and a few demos on a microSD card. Spent twenty minutes with the manager and one of his employees demonstrating the Quickstart w/Quickplayer on one of the TVs.
No only was it well recieved, but I've been invited to come back Wednesday night and do the same demonstration for the other two employees.
Get out there and spread the word about the Propeller gang! It's not hard to do!
OBC
No only was it well recieved, but I've been invited to come back Wednesday night and do the same demonstration for the other two employees.
Get out there and spread the word about the Propeller gang! It's not hard to do!
OBC
Comments
-mg
my local RS calls me to fix stuff
Yet i dont know, radio shack hikes their prices up a lot. the quick start board is like $40 at radio shacks that carry them, but at mouser and hobby stores they are about $30 to $34. i want to educate RS that the reason so many of us don't buy from them is due to their ignoring the fact that we have other options and don't HAVE to buy at their prices. I just spent $115 at mouser, why not the shack, because the same stuff would have been ~$220!
i love the shack but its so expensive now that we got options.
maybe we should all tell RS alot more of us can buy a LOT MORE parts ih they had lower cost.
id spend ~10 times as much at the shack if they will lower their prices to be close to other companies.
an IR receiver should not cost over $4 when they are 60 cent for the same kind at mouser and DIGIKEY.
hey i like RS and will keep trying to bring them up to speed cause heck i want to be able to walk in to a store and look at what i am buying more then going online.
OBC
radio shack only sees me on emergencies, and even then my local radio shack stocks such a poor selection i often have to go to the one 40 miles from me.
it will not ruin the shack to lower costs a little at least and it may just benifit them as well.:blank:
there are a lot more tinkerers and weekend engineers around then it seems, and i feel like the shack ignores that nowadays.
plus id want to see more ICs at the shack, like the propeller chip itself and the atmegas, not just the quick start and the arduinos.
my first computer was an apple 2E i found and i rebuilt it all with logic chips from the shack. i was 9 years old when i found it and i still remember what was wrong with it.
a failed 74ls166 and a bus tranciver and a 74151 chip and while i was at it i took off all the chips and put in sockets so if any more chips died i could pull them easy is anymore went. all those chips and sockets were bought at the shack. when RS went to trying to sell mostly cell phones and toys i watched as the prices go up and up on the components and logic chips went away. i was 9 in 1991 and the shack was amazing to me. now it sort of lost its luster as it tries to reclaim all of us tinkerers and macguyvers and weekend engineers, but they are doing it at premium prices. 4 resistors for $1 and a voltage regulators for $3 just wont get back as many of us as they need to.
and id like to say localy radioshacks are closing down left and right, and mainly i talk to others who like to make stuff, and they say they would buy at the shack but since its so much they like I stock up and only pays that premium for emergencies.
um ok what does this mean ?
i stand by what i say they could lower their prices some period.
My favorite trip to RS ever was picking up my BOE Bot. My first BOE Bot's BOE is still inside of a movie projector handling all of the cue systems automation, been going strong 5+ years now.
From the inside, RadioShack's venture into cell phones (15+ yrs ago) loosely caused the slow dismissal of anybody with electronic component knowledge and a total retraining and focus on phone and plan sales. The newer phone sales associate received big incentives for every sale, far beyond what they'd get from anything in the component section. Concurrently, many of the corporate office RadioShack staff with real electronics knowledge retired or left (from F. Mimms, Leon to S, Leininger) and the skills were simply not available to be passed to the new staff of buyers. Tech America was a pit stop to saving this audience along the way. Following this was a robotics effort that was driven by marketing instead of customer needs.
It's totally different now.
Today, these guys have conducted powerful market research and know what they're doing for this audience. The corporate staff are in the community, mingling with you and I at the events we attend. They read these forums and build projects. We believe in this company because they served a very important role in the late 70s and early 80s, even providing some of the early experiments inspiration for Chip. Although times have changed, about 95% of all Americans live within 5 miles of a RadioShack. I'm in the 5%, unfortunately.
They need the education you provide.
The efforts of all of you to visit the stores and assist the managers is truly helpful. You guys don't know how much we appreciate this help. We've got to be the most fortunate business in the world to have customers as advocates, friends, and users of our products.
Ken Gracey
P.S. Today I was at my kids middle school to run the Spring robotics class (been there every day for an hour, and will do the same through June) and one student followed me all the way out of the school and to my car to talk about his soldering experience. I had just given 34 kids a training on soldering for tomorrow's project - building a S2 Robot Badge. This particular student was fully activated and could hardly wait for Friday's class. He had been to RadioShack sometime recently, bought a cheap soldering iron with a big fat tip and wide-diameter solder and couldn't wait to work with our Hakko tools. RadioShack was his source for parts and some kind of initial inspiration!
So, in conclusion, while Radio Shack MAY be ATTEMPTING to fix their reputation, it will take some major improvement in staffing, including store managers, before I have any faith in their business.
As long as the employees are getting big commisions on the cell phones, they will never be interested in the componets.
Why help someone with componets to get a $0.10 commision when they can help someone with a cell phone and get a $50.00 commision ?
This is exactly why I hate stores that have commisioned salespeople. It drives the employees to sell the customer the item that gives them the largest commision and NOT the item that best fits the customer's needs.
I'm not saying the sales staff has to know a lot about electronics. But they would know what a resistor and a capacitor is, and what it does. How to use a multi-meter. Is that too much to ask ?
I really do wish Radio Shack luck in this new push. I too have very fond memories of Radio Shack as a kid. Going in and writting programs on the TRS-80 computers. Buying parts, bragging to the sales staff about what I was building, etc.
In my mind, they would be better off paying a set wage and getting away from commision sales. If a salesperson doesn't give great service without a commision... Then fire them and hire someone who will.
I haven't been in RS for a couple years. Maybe I'll venture in the next time I pass by and see if I notice any changes.
Bean
You have to keep in mind that, like any other business, Radio Shack needs to make money.
The vast majority of people have a cell phone, a very small percentage fall in the range of those that buy components, they have to focus on what keeps the doors open.
The range of components now is also much larger than in the 70's and 80's making it harder to maintain a meaningful inventory in a retail store.
Look at how large the Digi-Key catalog had become (prior to going fully online) since being the size of a thin magazine back in the early 80's.
I think the best focus is on "gateway" items such as those from Parallax to get people interested.
C.W.
"I have a 3.5 volt battery. I want to use this 3 volt led to indicate the power switch is on. What size resistor do I need, because the internet said I needed one. The 3 employees at the other store couldn't help, so they sent me here. Both employees here looked at me like I was crazy. Can you PLEASE help me?"
For 5 employees to NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS PATHETIC!!! That includes at least 1 store manager? *Who BTW asked me after the other guy left,
"Could you understand what he was talking about, because I think he was drunk."
The store manager was right in front of the punk a** kid. I just glared at both of them until they gave me my change. I wanted to punch him in his face SOOO. I should have complained to the BBB something, but I'm too lazy to pursue it. Now I dread going in there, do the best I can to be polite, and GTFO as quickly as possible.
The guy was not drunk, he just needed help and all the employees at the Radio Shack stores in my area are don't even know what ohms law is... how to look something like that up. Point the guy to the right BOOK? All things I proved I was able to do in front of a store manager, then have him tell ME HE DOESN'T THINK I'M QUALIFIED ENOUGH? WHY NOT? "Well I'm looking for someone with prior sales experience." "I have 2 years in retail" "As a warehouse employee" "Which included working on the sales floor" "Well I'm looking for someone with cash handling experience" "I worked for a year in fast food as a cashier" "Well that was in 2000, I'm looking for more RECENT experience" at which point I walked out of the interview. I don't know why he didn't like me, but now I go to the other store, just so I don't see him.
All I'm saying is this. If most businesses were ignorant about a product they sold, they would go out of business very quickly. For example, it would be like MS saying, "Well we sell you this operating system, but we don't know anything about how to develop for it.?
@ctwardell, I agree that they can't stock everything. Nor can every employee know everything about all the components. But at lest know how to find the book that you sell that has the formula in it?
I don't think they really need an extensive selection of components. But they do need a broad enough selection that people can find something useful. With the preponderance of microcontroller-based hobbyists, I don't know if there would be enough call for all the discrete logic chips that were the foundation of my early hobbyist years and the reason that I used to hang out in Radio Shack. How many people these days would go to Radio Shack because they needed another quad NAND chip? You used to be able to choose between CMOS and TTL versions there (and maybe even multiple TTL versions).
For the most part, I don't expect them to have a lot of the ICs that I might want - that's what I have Digikey, Mouser, and Jameco for. But, I would like to see an improvement in the quality of some of the components they do sell. I don't know how many Radio Shack switches I've had "explode" on me because the plastic or metal structure failed (this is mostly true of push buttons).
Back in the early 80s when Radio Shack was still an important supplier of components for my projects, I was one of those guys who used to help other people with electronics projects in the component aisles. At one point, I had a standing offer for a job at one store any time I wanted it because of that. That was from a manager who appreciated the component part of their sales - and long before they became a cell phone store.
Anyway, I hope they can turn things around enough to get hobbyists (especially beginners) going back into the stores.
I agree with that point. I think maybe they need an "Ask an Expert" kiosk that lets them do a live web meeting with someone knowledgable.
It probably wouldn't really take too many people to staff the "Expert" end of it.
C.W.
Next time you go into a shack, show A sales associate the ElectroDroid app for his cell phone, and how it can answer some of the " annoying " questions like which resister do I. Use with this led? Then suggest that their are some books that can teach them more about that stuff right there in the store. (some Forest Mims titles should be there.)
Next, try the friendly approach like OBC offer To share a bit of knowledge,ask if any one knows anything about the parts. Buy your next cell phone from the guy that responds favorably. We all need to think about parallax projects that could be completed with just parts available at Radio Shack. if I show a guy a project that he buy complete at my store today, he is less likely to go off and buy it online and wait a week to get the parts.
Ken for his part, needs to show Corporate where they need to add a few of the glue parts like jumpers and headers so that DIY board can be easily connected to the prop. I have not developed anything demonstrating the prop is that I can't afford to buy the parts to do the project.
I do hate the know it all customers who come into my store and assume that I know nothing about electronics. If their attitude is bad enough, I will let them buy the wrong stuff, knowing that it isn't going to work!
Jim
I will try to be more patient with the employees when I go in, and will try talking to the managers. I doubt they will listen to my advice, but maybe if I bring in my project...
I don't try to come off like a know it all. And I really try not to have a bad attitude. I guess I'm just nostalgic for the early 90's when I went to my radio shack as a young boy and was able to find ALL THE STUFF I NEEDED for that simple project.
Thanks again for posting Jim. Next time I am in the stores, I will politely offer to share some knowledge and advice.
But, on the other hand I think it's been a few years since they asked me about my cell phone and plan and tried to get me to switch.
You bet, Jim. Every chance I get I'll do that for the community. Thanks for being here on the forums.
Ken Gracey
But what other accommodation was possible? I don't want a cell phone and they couldn't possibly guide my selection of components.
I often purchase in excess of $100 to $200 in parts at a time. i dont buy often but when i do i get a lot.
So, i want to see more selection nothing to insane, just 2 more drawers, one for MCUs and ram, and one for LOGIC chips.
these two things are even more important to we the hobbyist electronics users then ever in this digital age.
i like my arduino i bought at radio shack, but with the fact that there are often between 6 to 8 empty unmarked bins in the components drawers at the over 8 RS's within 50 miles of my home, i belive it is not ridiculous for them to stock a DIP40 prop, a 32K EEPROM, an ATMEGA328, and perhaps the prop clip.
4 bins of reasonable project components due to the fact that to do a new project with a Prop we don't always need to buy a starter board and we dont always need to buy an arduino just for a project.
the simple fact is these basic parts are the root of so many projects and will enable the sell of far more componets.
the DIP 40 Prop and atmegas will sell bread boards.
i slight lowering in cost on some of the basic components will have double effect.
1: we who know what these parts do and can be used with we appreciate the lower cost.
2: people who don't know how to use these parts will be less weary to try the projects that use said parts.
example adding IR to BOEBOT
32Khz IR reciver $4 x 2
ir leds $2 x 2
resistors packs $1 x 2 (due to some versions of circuit maybe 3 packs due to different values needed)
jumper wire kit $9 x 1 (haven't bought this kit in long time so sorry if price is wrong)
total $23!
reduce leds to $1 ir sensors to $1.50 and it goes to $15 still expensive compared to say mouser but cheap enough to make the novice more comfortable with trying it out.
as you may know the nice Vishay IR recivers are only 60 cent on average and when i buy 25 i can can get them for ~48 to 53 cent, if i could get them 1000 at a time they will be ~32 to ~38 cent. radio shack stocks an IR receiver i can get for ~10 cent if i wanted it.
point the RS can lower prices slightly and increase volume of sells to a point that may even increase profit margins on their dwindling component sells.
Ill often Drag my laptop in and show them what I made from the last time I was in .
the one thing I get nagged on is batts . ( sorry but I use NiMH )
the best part is that I am able to help them ..
If Iam in they will often send a person to me to help out .
its a healthy repport
as far as prices .. Yea considering I used to work in LA in a wallgreens sized place called R VAC that had teh entire NTE and philmore LKG line up and every TTL and CMOS chip one would want . and I got my stuff at cost !
I do miss those prices .. but I can stil phone in to my old job and get what I need in a few days ..
Schill .. or better or worse I never leave RS with a total under Ben franklin . once to twice a month . 200 a month is not bad and is way more biz then a crappy phone .
when I was a sales person ar RVAC I would sell what was needed and not any more then that .
Why ?
cause I rather gain a person's trust and sell 100 in parts and have them come back time and time again ....
then hose them for 200 in over pimped gold this and monster that and never have them come back .. ( cough best buy Cough) ..
Ill Never steer a customer wrong . they, after a few years came to trust me and my knowledge and it gained a ton of long term relationships for the company and to this day Ill still do a consult for them ( RVAC) From time to time.
Peter...
Your brand of customer service is like mine. I do have customers that have followed me all over the valley( I have worked in 8 stores) because I give them the best service that I can, and hopefully the right answer every time.
When you go into a Shack next time and find empty slots in a parts drawer, note the stock numbers and ask the manager to add them to his next ESS order. Thay should get it in in about a week, and it alerts him to the fact that someone wants to buy this stuff.
I for one, try to do an ESS order twice a week. If a drawer contains an emptybin itis because someone came in and bought me out this week.
I ,for one, am going to start bugging the buyers from the inside to add some of the necessary glue pieces to allow completion of a complete micro based DIY project. I would welcome a few suggestions as to what that might be like male and female headers, servo extension cables, etc. I know that pricing is an issue and lower pricing could bring up the volume up. Maybe we could implement a DIY club card that could give a discount on parts purchases over a certain $ threshold. That keeps the margins up for the guy that is only ever going to buy one package of resisters and gives you volume customers even more reason to come back more often. What do you think?
Jim
I think that's a great idea. If RS is serious about getting into the DIY movement, then that would certainly help.
I also think you are right about the needed "glue" for connecting things together. Connectors are one of the most frustrating things to find when you need them.
I think what's most needed for stimulating DIY interest in a place like RS is an atmosphere of DIY. In the RS of my childhood days, the local RS felt more like a workshop, with ham radios in operation, tons of parts everywhere, and knowledgeable nerds doing things on site. I know that was probably an aberration even in those days, but I think people, in particular kids, need a sense that they themselves can actually buy this stuff and make things with their own hands using their own brain power. So many people are accustomed to thinking that technology is something you pull out of a box, flick on the switch, and let it go. I think demonstrations and a working corner of some sort would help shift that paradigm. I've found that many "normal" people find even something as simple as the process of soldering to be amazing when they see somebody do it in real life.
For me a semi bulk would be nice...... so lets say If you get 5 pairs of DC plugs and jacks ( 10 items ) you get 20% off that combo .... this would for me entice a customer to buy lets say one more to get a price break ..........
the Card is a good idea too . Keeps people coming back .. .
I cut my teeth at the shack in the 90s
I still have all my mimms books and I did all but one of the XXXX in one Kits . my mom would Drop me off there for Hours and I would chat with the manager there who was rather influential in to me getting in to electronics .. showed me how to solder ( I was 6 ) then as soon as I was 7 I got my own Iron .
I rather miss the smell of those old stores .
what would be really nice is those cap and resistor and inductor and perhaps transistor grab packs .........
for Micons and the like a good start is gonna be a over ample supply of pullup resistors .. 1K -10 K range . a 20 pack is more idea for us and
for RS it will help keep more of the 5 packs in stock for normal users ............... I feel really bad grabbing half the bin and leaving the thing dry ..
to tack on to what
ElectricAye said .. a place where others can see what was made in the last week or so would be cool
RS sells the E Photoframes .. pop some project photos on them . or on the TVs they are selling ..
Peter
Now lets see, a DIY soldering station with a project slide show running on a QuickStart board and displaying with Rayman's HDMI adapter board and a soldering tutorial runnable from a Roku box with ir remote from the Prop! A tv set that is available for sale is the display.... That could be a powerful driver for DIY sales!
I also know that we need to stock up on some high temp caps to repair flat screen tv's. What a winner that could be if we sold the caps, soldering kits and had video tutorial on how to do it. I turn away a lot of customers that want to do that rather than pay $ 200 to have their TV repaired that ate a bunch of cheap electrolitics.
Jim