What Parallax products did/does Radio Shack sell?
Too_Many_Tools
Posts: 765
What Parallax products did/does Radio Shack sell?
I ask the question the way I do because it would seem that Radio Shack has not fully stocked its stores with what Parallax products it did/does handle making it difficult to know what is available.
Thanks for any info.
I ask the question the way I do because it would seem that Radio Shack has not fully stocked its stores with what Parallax products it did/does handle making it difficult to know what is available.
Thanks for any info.
Comments
(Same goes for competitors.)
Use the "Find It Nearby" feature at RadioShack.com to find out if a store near you has your item in stock.
http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=13384949&kw=parallax&origkw=Parallax&sr=1
PE - Take advantage of that Free Ship-to-Store option!
Again.."what Parallax stock did Radio Shack originally carry?" is the starting point of understanding what might is out there.
Thanks
What does RadioShack's former inventory matter vis-
1) What Parallax products did Radio Shack ORIGINALLY carry?
2) What Parallax products does Radio Shack carry NOW?
Fact from personal observation...what Radio Shack has on the web DOES NOT represent what any particular store may have hanging on the wall.
Thanks for any info.
And, prices may vary from one Radio Shack to another, I've found. As far as what Parallax products are carried, that's a question for Parallax folks, no doubt. I guess someone from Parallax may be able to tell you which of their products are bubble-packed for sale at Radio Shack. Other than that, what you see is what you get (each RS store I've looked into has a different assortment of Parallax, Seeed Studio and Arduino products).
dgately
1) What Parallax products did Radio Shack ORIGINALLY carry?
I have looked and cannot find that information.
Thanks
http://forums.parallax.com/content.php/40-New-packaging-and-products-for-RadioShack-stores-a-quick-look
I doubt there are any two Radio Shack stores that are exactly the same. They will all be different with respect to what items they stock, whether from Parallax or other suppliers, and no matter whether now or back then ("originally"). Things change.
Why does it matter what they USED to carry?
As it has been mentioned before; products come and products go. What was offered last week, may not be offered this week.
Would you ask Amazon to supply you with a list of products they no longer carry?
The link provided by Rick in post #10 shows most blister pack items that were going to Radio Shack, Micro Center and Fry's.
BTW..welcome to the forums.
I'm no Parallax representative, but ORIGINALLY means when? Long time ago, I think they MIGHT have occasionally carried a Basic Stamp in SOME locations. Bout a year back, Radio Shack started to return to electronics, rather than specializing in crappy cell phones. At that time, a few stores started to carry Quickstart, Ping))), and a few other items, as discussed on various threads. I didn't see the same collection at the three stores closest to me. But the most common parts where Quickstart and Ping))).
Is that what you mean by originally?
Welcome to the Forums! :thumb:
The only thing I could add to what's already been said is that what is carried by which stores is completely up to Radio Shack - we don't have very much say in "what should go where"...It's up to them.
I think, if we had it our way, we'd put everything we have in every store :thumb: But it's not up to us.
One real big advantage that brick and mortar has is that the product is available INSTANTLY. No waiting to get it shipped, nor any cost to ship.
Coincidentally, I went to my local Shack yesterday.
I went to "our section" and saw about 6 or 7 of our items. I asked the sales guy "what does a QuickStart board do for me?
Bless his heart, he said: "I have absolutely no idea". We have two Shacks in my town, so this coming Saturday I'm going to bring in some working demo's of the things they're selling - hopefully to wet their appetite for what is possible with the stuff they sell.
Now, how do I make a PING ring again?
-MattG
I emphatically disagree.
I went to two stores yesterday afternoon and bought out their stock of a particular item and, today, neither is listed as having stock of that item. A couple others have stock, but I have enough already.
Mission Accomplished.
The link provided is a start.
As to what they sell now, I'm not sure. Most of it has such I high markup I just order it straight from Parallax.
Try this Thread http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php/133909-New-packaging-and-products-for-RadioShack-stores-a-quick-look!
Jim
WHY is it so important to know what RS used to sell in 2011?
No slam, just really curious.
- if you're a hobbyist looking for a particular product it might be easier to source it directly from Parallax;
- if you have a concern related to patents and RFID tags you should speak with our corporate legal counsel;
- if you're a teacher we'll send you everything you need for free to get you started - no need to go to RadioShack;
- if you're considering opening your own store of some kind, we can provide sales data to help you focus the plan; or
- if you are looking for a discounted item, it may have been replaced with a newer product and we can help identify it too.
Around 2011 or shortly thereafter, this is what you may have found in a corporate-owned RadioShack (smaller corporate stores or dealers may carry some of these items; larger stores may carry all of them):
RFID Reader and Tag
What's a Microcontroller Kit
PIR Sensor
Gyroscope Sensor
Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
Compass Sensor
GPS Sensor
XBee Starter Pack
Propeller QuickStart
Keeping RadioShack current on our latest products is a challenge. Ideally, we'd have the Boe-Bot/Shield Bot kits and Propeller Activity Board in their stores, but these changes take time. Once you send product out to a huge number of stores you have to carefully consider so many details related to margins, packaging, manufacturing ability, longevity, returns, marketing, compatibility, etc. and the list goes on and on. They must place huge trust on the supplier to collaborate closely and we must make the right decisions.
Ken Gracey
And thanks for the info.
The reason why I am asking is that I am attempting to use Radio Shack as a backup when I NEED a Parallax component NOW...leveraging that RS legendary local availability when seconds count. Hasn't everyone needed that "one thing right now" to make a deadline...and a damaged component, miscounted parts count, a "darn I just dropped the thing and can't find it" can all make for a very bad day...and having a local source can be a solution.
My experience with Radio Shack so far is that their store inventory doesn't always track with their web site. Like most companies their inventory computer system is lacking...so one needs to know what they are supposed to have so you know what to ask for. In terms of Parallax, there was not a list of what Parallax product Radio Shack was carrying. I would recommend your marketing department have that info (for Radio Shack and other retailers) posted as a sticky on the Parallax site so it is easily accessible. Customers can't buy what they don't know you are offering at Radio Shack. Reading the forums here there are comments that reflect my observations..that sometimes at Radio Shack one has to really look to find Parallax offerings as they are not posted in the most prominent places in the store. Playing "hide and seek" for a part when a deadline looms is not my idea of a fun time.
Again...thanks for the info.
And since I have your attention could you answer a related question?
I would assume that over the last two years some new Parallax products have been introduced while other product has been discontinued.
So what is the CURRENT (2013) line of Parallax product that Radio Shack stores are supposed to have?
Thanks
And no, it is not always accurate, up to date, etc....so it cannot be trusted to be 100% correct.
I have spent hours and miles learning this when trying to find components to finish a project.
FWIW...Walmart pioneered the JIT inventory tracking system and they have the same problem...what the web says they are supposed to have versus what they really have on the store shelves.
-Phil
Don't expect you favorite Parallax and any other electronic object to get preference to the pegboard over cell phones.
Edit:
Guess Phil had a better time with his local Shacks. My three a have the same problem. Sales people that don't have a clue. (They are all corporate stores).
Pleased to reply, Too_Many_Tools:
Tell us where you live. If there's a MicroCenter or Fry's nearby you can access about 50 different parts from us. I'll certainly pass the suggestion to the marketing department - I think at one time we had a page showing which products were available from RadioShack.
The CURRENT line of products depends on which kind of RadioShack store you can access. I'm going to have to guess a little bit but I think this is pretty close.
Top 50-performing corporate-owned stores:
Accelerometer Sensor
RFID Reader and Tag
What's a Microcontroller Kit
PIR Sensor
Gyroscope Sensor
Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
Compass Sensor
GPS Sensor
XBee Starter Pack
Propeller QuickStart
Arduino Shield Bot
Boe-Bot
S2 Robot
BASIC Stamp Homework Board
Top 1200-performing corporate-owned stores:
Accelerometer Sensor
RFID Reader and Tag (?)
What's a Microcontroller Kit
PIR Sensor
Gyroscope Sensor
Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
Compass Sensor
GPS Sensor
XBee Starter Pack
Propeller QuickStart
BASIC Stamp Homework Board
Top 5200-performing corporate-owned stores:
Accelerometer Sensor
PIR Sensor
Gyroscope Sensor
Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
Compass Sensor
Propeller QuickStart
BASIC Stamp Homework Board
RadioShack Dealers:
Chosen by individual dealers
If you're designing around specific Parallax products let us know that information. Then, we can probably identify the best way to get it now, when you need it, without waiting.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhh!
yea the markeup is high but Hey that is the price you pay for I need it now ...........