It's hard to avoid one with a college age daughter.
The way my 12 year old is going, she'll have to ask the Reverend Mother, her platoon leader or a corrections officer if she can go to the purse store!!
The way my 12 year old is going, she'll have to ask the Reverend Mother, her platoon leader or a corrections officer if she can go to the purse store!!
Teenage years are the greatest challenge. Best of luck friend.
NOoooooooooooo......!!!!!!!!!! Not another Radio Shack revival thread.
A. Amazon sells everything and delivers for free.
B. EBay has more of the same made cheap by the Chinese and delivered for free.
C. Going to the mall is so passe.
D. The good stuff is at Digi-Key and Mouser
E. What's a radio?
(I was happy to see Chucky though... He's back...!.!...)
I can only conclude that the American corporate world is now capable of supporting 'corporate zombies' that wander the earth and snag innocent consumers into their lairs.
Every now and then you hit a home run. Nice post. :-)
RadioShack over here in Australia is slightly different and traded as "Tandy Electronics" which was taken over by Woolworths and merged with Dick Smith Electronics. They have all gone the same way and I could see them making this mistake over the years by letting their business be run by the bean counters. Those tiny components aren't very profitable you know, so get rid of them and concentrate on the gadgets instead I can hear them say. Of course a real business takes this advice into consideration and that consideration should also take into account what kind of people come to the store and why in the first place, to buy that low profit item component and then they are enticed by all the other bits and pieces including the gadgets. Now without the components and bits and pieces there is no reason to go there as there are plenty of other cheaper and more convenient places to get gadgets from. This "stock only the profitable lines, get rid of the junk" mentality is also prevalent in other businesses that are slowly dying too.
That's why online businesses have filled the gap. Digikey, Mouser, and Jameco provide the needed parts.
Radio Shack & Lafayette electronics were the place to get to get real electronic parts and components. Now cell phone, radios etc dominate the store and very little for the hobbyist
.
The way my 12 year old is going, she'll have to ask the Reverend Mother, her platoon leader or a corrections officer if she can go to the purse store!!
LOL, know what you mean, glad it's in the past, and looking forward to when her daughter is that age.
This isn't a shot a you, Jeff, but is every other new Subject around here going to be on bashing radio shack, lamenting their direction and focus, and disparaging their irrelevance, ad nauseam ?
How about a moratorium on all "radio shack" subjects?
Having grown up during their zenith, I have to say the 80's were not the height of Radio Shack's prominence; they were the beginning of its demise.
That catalog is from around 1980. In 1980 RS had one of the most popular home computers in that nascent market, a fairly full line of hobbyist parts, some of the best respected stereo equipment for both car and home, and some of the best consumables like cassette tapes. They were the go-to place for the CB radio craze and its accessories. They had the battery of the month club. They had Forrest Mim's notebooks and a whole rack of other cool trade project paperbacks. They still had PBoxes and N-in-1 kits with the spring clip connectors. They were one of the first places for relatively inexpensive radio controlled toys. And they regularly deep-discounted their returns and broken stuff for the tinkerers in local stores.
In that era I knew the manager of what was then one of the largest RS franchises in the US, in the Lake Forest Plaza mall in New Orleans East. This guy watched me grow up as our stop at his store was my highlight for every visit to the mall.
1980 was the point at which it all started to fall apart. The start was, ironically, the computers, which ate away at inventory numbers available for parts (in those days RS strictly limited their inventory to 2,500 items to keep store inventory manageable). Parts weren't giving them the profit margins they needed to pay the rents for swanky storefronts like the Plaza Mall, so they kept knocking parts off the inventory in favor of pricier and more profitable consumer goods.
By 1983 or so I recall seeing a frustrated article in one of the electronics mags about the difficulty of running a "build it from Radio Shack" article because, by the time the magazing publication lead time elapsed, RS would have churned at least some of the parts out of availability. Someone decided the discards/returns bin was tacky and they stopped doing that. CB radio frittered into fad status. The computer section ate much of their inventory allotment, much of it with business machines and accessories which never sold many units, which then got steamrolled by Apple, Commodore, and IBM.
Around 1989 I ran into my old RS manager in another NOLA area mall; he recognized me, even though it had been at least 7 years since we'd last crossed paths. He said he was selling life insurance and that he had bailed on RS because he was sick of critical decisions being made by, as he put it, "people who wouldn't recognize a RS franchise if they happened to stumble through the entrance of one by mistake." It's hard to believe but in those days RS did attract enthusiastic and dedicated people. Most of their employees didn't know what a 7441 driver chip was for but it was a safe bet that if you hit four or five RS franchises -- there were at least that many in NOLA -- you'd find the guy who did know. You loved hobby electronics, you were nuts about CB radio, you were a total audiophile nerd, working at RS used to be what you'd do if you didn't go to college for a shot at business management or engineering. By 1983, working at RS was about like working at Walgreen's.
The most surprising thing about RS is that they are still around at all. Perhaps the most sanguine thing about the Super Bowl ad is that it had better not be the 80's any more -- the 80's are what dropped them and nearly killed them the first time, and they never have really gotten off the mat after that. They need to figure out what they can do that Wal*Mart and Amazon and every cellphone provider's company stores can't do for you better. The answer to that might be "not enough to keep the lights on." But that's where they are right now.
That's why online businesses have filled the gap. Digikey, Mouser, and Jameco provide the needed parts.
Well, I never used Tandy or Dick Smith for my parts anyway (as if they would have what I need) except on the odd weekend occasion when it was worth a try. 95% of my parts come from Digikey and Mouser but odds and ends are best got from Element14 with overnight delivery (if they have them in stock!) here in Oz. The electronics chain store here that does appear to be successful is Jaycar as they cater to the hobbyist/student/service market and sometimes they even have a part or tool I need. They also have wholesale supply as well.
BTW mklrobo, the people that would buy in Radio Shack aren't the kind of people that even know about Digikey and the like so that gap can only be filled by stores like Jaycar over here. Besides with a very reasonable $35 Fedex charge most hobbyists over here would never ever consider this an option.
Having grown up during their zenith, I have to say the 80's were not the height of Radio Shack's prominence; they were the beginning of its demise.
That catalog is from around 1980. In 1980 RS had one of the most popular home computers in that nascent market, a fairly full line of hobbyist parts, some of the best respected stereo equipment for both car and home, and some of the best consumables like cassette tapes. They were the go-to place for the CB radio craze and its accessories. They had the battery of the month club. They had Forrest Mim's notebooks and a whole rack of other cool trade project paperbacks. They still had PBoxes and N-in-1 kits with the spring clip connectors. They were one of the first places for relatively inexpensive radio controlled toys. And they regularly deep-discounted their returns and broken stuff for the tinkerers in local stores.
In that era I knew the manager of what was then one of the largest RS franchises in the US, in the Lake Forest Plaza mall in New Orleans East. This guy watched me grow up as our stop at his store was my highlight for every visit to the mall.
1980 was the point at which it all started to fall apart. The start was, ironically, the computers, which ate away at inventory numbers available for parts (in those days RS strictly limited their inventory to 2,500 items to keep store inventory manageable). Parts weren't giving them the profit margins they needed to pay the rents for swanky storefronts like the Plaza Mall, so they kept knocking parts off the inventory in favor of pricier and more profitable consumer goods.
By 1983 or so I recall seeing a frustrated article in one of the electronics mags about the difficulty of running a "build it from Radio Shack" article because, by the time the magazing publication lead time elapsed, RS would have churned at least some of the parts out of availability. Someone decided the discards/returns bin was tacky and they stopped doing that. CB radio frittered into fad status. The computer section ate much of their inventory allotment, much of it with business machines and accessories which never sold many units, which then got steamrolled by Apple, Commodore, and IBM.
Around 1989 I ran into my old RS manager in another NOLA area mall; he recognized me, even though it had been at least 7 years since we'd last crossed paths. He said he was selling life insurance and that he had bailed on RS because he was sick of critical decisions being made by, as he put it, "people who wouldn't recognize a RS franchise if they happened to stumble through the entrance of one by mistake." It's hard to believe but in those days RS did attract enthusiastic and dedicated people. Most of their employees didn't know what a 7441 driver chip was for but it was a safe bet that if you hit four or five RS franchises -- there were at least that many in NOLA -- you'd find the guy who did know. You loved hobby electronics, you were nuts about CB radio, you were a total audiophile nerd, working at RS used to be what you'd do if you didn't go to college for a shot at business management or engineering. By 1983, working at RS was about like working at Walgreen's.
The most surprising thing about RS is that they are still around at all. Perhaps the most sanguine thing about the Super Bowl ad is that it had better not be the 80's any more -- the 80's are what dropped them and nearly killed them the first time, and they never have really gotten off the mat after that. They need to figure out what they can do that Wal*Mart and Amazon and every cellphone provider's company stores can't do for you better. The answer to that might be "not enough to keep the lights on." But that's where they are right now.
Well said.
FWIW...an article I read about RS mentioned why they have held on so long....they had an obscene amount of cash from the 80's...which they have been coasting on for about two decades...no more.
I am shocked that they would have even spent the money on a Super Bowl ad...seems like a Hail Mary act of desperation considering how terrible their finances are.
This isn't a shot a you, Jeff, but is every other new Subject around here going to be on bashing radio shack, lamenting their direction and focus, and disparaging their irrelevance, ad nauseam ?
How about a moratorium on all "radio shack" subjects?
No mortatorium please.
The rise or fall of RS is an excellent case study to watch as to what to or not to do.
For the money spent on the production and airing of that commercial, they could have electronics training for their staff so they know what they are talking about.
I'll go back to Radio Shack when the salesperson knows what a diode is and how it works. Is that really ask so much for an electronics store ?
Bean
I agree...but that won't get new customers to come in.
It may help to keep them coming...but RS needs a new customer base...now.
Well, I never used Tandy or Dick Smith for my parts anyway (as if they would have what I need) except on the odd weekend occasion when it was worth a try. 95% of my parts come from Digikey and Mouser but odds and ends are best got from Element14 with overnight delivery (if they have them in stock!) here in Oz. The electronics chain store here that does appear to be successful is Jaycar as they cater to the hobbyist/student/service market and sometimes they even have a part or tool I need. They also have wholesale supply as well.
BTW mklrobo, the people that would buy in Radio Shack aren't the kind of people that even know about Digikey and the like so that gap can only be filled by stores like Jaycar over here. Besides with a very reasonable $35 Fedex charge most hobbyists over here would never ever consider this an option.
I had no idea that the logistical cost of electronics were limiting the electronic hobbiest in your area. I was under the impression that electronics down under were affordable. I do not understand the logistical
problem; Half of Hollywood actors have a vacation home "down under", and you are not but a hop, skip, and jump from China. Mr. Wonderful in the Shark Tank could be approached, but his royalty cost would
exceed the cost of the parts, and we would be in worse shape. Now, if Amazon sold electronic parts, that might solve the problem. A businessman, I am not.:frown:
I just heard on the news that they are closing down 500 more Radio Shack stores. That will pay for the Super Bowl ad! You may find that your local Radio Shack may not be there soon. In the meantime find one that is closing and stock up. I saw one close and it had a sign saying 70% off everything in the store 2 days before it closed. I kicked myself for not going in and stocking up.
I just heard on the news that they are closing down 500 more Radio Shack stores. That will pay for the Super Bowl ad! You may find that your local Radio Shack may not be there soon. In the meantime find one that is closing and stock up. I saw one close and it had a sign saying 70% off everything in the store 2 days before it closed. I kicked myself for not going in and stocking up.
I love Radio Shack! I hate it that they are downsizing.:frown: I grew up with Radio Shack; they were the hallmark of the geeks in my area.:frown:
I'd be very impressed if .... outlets all had a vending maching that you inserted your debit, ATM, or credit card and then could select the resistors and capacitors that you wanted (maybe even iPhone wifi link to your shopping list).
You just push enter, out comes everything in tidy packages, and the machine never runs out of the items you most need. (Or, the machine might offer alternatives to items that are unavailable.)
That is frickin great idea. It could be loaded with reels like for pick and place machines.
And the machine could be upgraded to include a pick and place, when the "print your own board" tech comes along a bit further next year.
I bet one might sell one or two such machines to hacker spaces. But I suppose the total world market would be six or seven machines, as usual.
The biggest problem with the vending machine idea is that there just isn't room for more than a few dozen items at best. With electronic parts I think if some vending machine manufacturer really wanted to, they could figure out how to get the number of individual items up quite a bit - maybe a hundred or more, but I don't see the market being big enough to justify the effort.
Yes, there is the problem. Back in the day an electronics outlet could hold a good stock of the small range of components that people might want to use.
I mean think of the old tube radio and TV days. A few tube types, the most common resistors and capacitors etc and you were set.
Even in the 1970's and 80's you were OK with a bunch of TTL chips and perhaps the most popular microprocessors.
Now it's impossible. There is a much bigger range of components and technology advances and changes what people want all the time.
The biggest problem with the vending machine idea is that there just isn't room for more than a few dozen items at best. With electronic parts I think if some vending machine manufacturer really wanted to, they could figure out how to get the number of individual items up quite a bit - maybe a hundred or more, but I don't see the market being big enough to justify the effort.
Waddayunuts? A few dozen parts? The coke machine in the cafeteria is about 6' tall 4' wide and 3' deep. If there were only 1 roll of a given part in place of 1 can, there would be many parts in there. (I think I'll measure and count next time I'm down there). In my shop, the little drawers for all the resistors, capcitors, diodes, screws, wires nuts, styrofoam balls, connectors, motors, magnets, and an equal number labeld MISC, take less volume. A machine could be MUCH more densely packed. Just as with the coke cans, there only needs to be one mechanism that does the dispensing, for what ever part is selected.
I bet idbruce could build a machine like this AND patent it. Every hacker space and library (ugrading to hacker space) in the world wants one of these, whether they know it yet or not. Too bad I only do software and not hardware.
I just heard on the news that they are closing down 500 more Radio Shack stores. That will pay for the Super Bowl ad! You may find that your local Radio Shack may not be there soon. In the meantime find one that is closing and stock up. I saw one close and it had a sign saying 70% off everything in the store 2 days before it closed. I kicked myself for not going in and stocking up.
Been waiting for the other shoe(s) to drop....
I have been expecting further closures.
And I agree....time for the vultures to do another go around...
Hmm...do you think with the upcoming store closings that RS might seriously discount their 3-D printers?
Unlikely to see more than one if any. Only on hand merchandise gets pre closing discounts. One thing that never gets discussed in the gloom and doom articles, is when new stores are opened replacing non profit locations.
Jim
The coke machine in the cafeteria is about 6' tall 4' wide and 3' deep.
And how many different flavors of soda does it dispense?
I wasn't speaking of the total amount, only of the variety. Sure a machine could hold a couple million 1k resistors, but how many would it sell in a year?
Unlikely to see more than one if any. Only on hand merchandise gets pre closing discounts. One thing that never gets discussed in the gloom and doom articles, is when new stores are opened replacing non profit locations.
Jim
Jim, indeed, I do share some of your feelings. While it's true that the overall future of RadioShack is at question by many, the internet is a tough place to have your future tested due to a generally negative discussion tone. From my point of view, we're frequently processing orders to RadioShack because they are selling the product we buy. This morning we're shipping 1,000 gyroscopes and their replenishment orders are significant in quantity and dollars. When I speak with their corporate and buyers I also learn of store openings, layout resets and many other proactive changes around their new market.
Ken, I agree I grew up in a city that has 5 Radioshacks. If they closed them all down and opened 2 more centralized stores with a selection of everything in the 5 stores I think everyone would benefit and what complaints about the convenience of 5 stores would slowly go away since you don't need to stop at least 2 stores to get all the parts you need.
Comments
The way my 12 year old is going, she'll have to ask the Reverend Mother, her platoon leader or a corrections officer if she can go to the purse store!!
Teenage years are the greatest challenge. Best of luck friend.
Every now and then you hit a home run. Nice post. :-)
That's why online businesses have filled the gap. Digikey, Mouser, and Jameco provide the needed parts.
.
LOL, know what you mean, glad it's in the past, and looking forward to when her daughter is that age.
How about a moratorium on all "radio shack" subjects?
That catalog is from around 1980. In 1980 RS had one of the most popular home computers in that nascent market, a fairly full line of hobbyist parts, some of the best respected stereo equipment for both car and home, and some of the best consumables like cassette tapes. They were the go-to place for the CB radio craze and its accessories. They had the battery of the month club. They had Forrest Mim's notebooks and a whole rack of other cool trade project paperbacks. They still had PBoxes and N-in-1 kits with the spring clip connectors. They were one of the first places for relatively inexpensive radio controlled toys. And they regularly deep-discounted their returns and broken stuff for the tinkerers in local stores.
In that era I knew the manager of what was then one of the largest RS franchises in the US, in the Lake Forest Plaza mall in New Orleans East. This guy watched me grow up as our stop at his store was my highlight for every visit to the mall.
1980 was the point at which it all started to fall apart. The start was, ironically, the computers, which ate away at inventory numbers available for parts (in those days RS strictly limited their inventory to 2,500 items to keep store inventory manageable). Parts weren't giving them the profit margins they needed to pay the rents for swanky storefronts like the Plaza Mall, so they kept knocking parts off the inventory in favor of pricier and more profitable consumer goods.
By 1983 or so I recall seeing a frustrated article in one of the electronics mags about the difficulty of running a "build it from Radio Shack" article because, by the time the magazing publication lead time elapsed, RS would have churned at least some of the parts out of availability. Someone decided the discards/returns bin was tacky and they stopped doing that. CB radio frittered into fad status. The computer section ate much of their inventory allotment, much of it with business machines and accessories which never sold many units, which then got steamrolled by Apple, Commodore, and IBM.
Around 1989 I ran into my old RS manager in another NOLA area mall; he recognized me, even though it had been at least 7 years since we'd last crossed paths. He said he was selling life insurance and that he had bailed on RS because he was sick of critical decisions being made by, as he put it, "people who wouldn't recognize a RS franchise if they happened to stumble through the entrance of one by mistake." It's hard to believe but in those days RS did attract enthusiastic and dedicated people. Most of their employees didn't know what a 7441 driver chip was for but it was a safe bet that if you hit four or five RS franchises -- there were at least that many in NOLA -- you'd find the guy who did know. You loved hobby electronics, you were nuts about CB radio, you were a total audiophile nerd, working at RS used to be what you'd do if you didn't go to college for a shot at business management or engineering. By 1983, working at RS was about like working at Walgreen's.
The most surprising thing about RS is that they are still around at all. Perhaps the most sanguine thing about the Super Bowl ad is that it had better not be the 80's any more -- the 80's are what dropped them and nearly killed them the first time, and they never have really gotten off the mat after that. They need to figure out what they can do that Wal*Mart and Amazon and every cellphone provider's company stores can't do for you better. The answer to that might be "not enough to keep the lights on." But that's where they are right now.
Well, I never used Tandy or Dick Smith for my parts anyway (as if they would have what I need) except on the odd weekend occasion when it was worth a try. 95% of my parts come from Digikey and Mouser but odds and ends are best got from Element14 with overnight delivery (if they have them in stock!) here in Oz. The electronics chain store here that does appear to be successful is Jaycar as they cater to the hobbyist/student/service market and sometimes they even have a part or tool I need. They also have wholesale supply as well.
BTW mklrobo, the people that would buy in Radio Shack aren't the kind of people that even know about Digikey and the like so that gap can only be filled by stores like Jaycar over here. Besides with a very reasonable $35 Fedex charge most hobbyists over here would never ever consider this an option.
Well said.
FWIW...an article I read about RS mentioned why they have held on so long....they had an obscene amount of cash from the 80's...which they have been coasting on for about two decades...no more.
I am shocked that they would have even spent the money on a Super Bowl ad...seems like a Hail Mary act of desperation considering how terrible their finances are.
No mortatorium please.
The rise or fall of RS is an excellent case study to watch as to what to or not to do.
Same here...
And there seems to be no where else to get a similar product these days.
I agree...but that won't get new customers to come in.
It may help to keep them coming...but RS needs a new customer base...now.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/long-term-costs-radioshack-super-150049353.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/radioshack-s-ads-make-a-promise-its-stores-can-t-keep-134135221.html
The 1980's were when Radio Shack released the classic Forrest Mimms Engineer's Mini-Notebooks as well as the "CoCo".
I had no idea that the logistical cost of electronics were limiting the electronic hobbiest in your area. I was under the impression that electronics down under were affordable. I do not understand the logistical
problem; Half of Hollywood actors have a vacation home "down under", and you are not but a hop, skip, and jump from China. Mr. Wonderful in the Shark Tank could be approached, but his royalty cost would
exceed the cost of the parts, and we would be in worse shape. Now, if Amazon sold electronic parts, that might solve the problem. A businessman, I am not.:frown:
I love Radio Shack! I hate it that they are downsizing.:frown: I grew up with Radio Shack; they were the hallmark of the geeks in my area.:frown:
That is frickin great idea. It could be loaded with reels like for pick and place machines.
And the machine could be upgraded to include a pick and place, when the "print your own board" tech comes along a bit further next year.
I bet one might sell one or two such machines to hacker spaces. But I suppose the total world market would be six or seven machines, as usual.
I mean think of the old tube radio and TV days. A few tube types, the most common resistors and capacitors etc and you were set.
Even in the 1970's and 80's you were OK with a bunch of TTL chips and perhaps the most popular microprocessors.
Now it's impossible. There is a much bigger range of components and technology advances and changes what people want all the time.
Only the on line guys can keep up with this.
Waddayunuts? A few dozen parts? The coke machine in the cafeteria is about 6' tall 4' wide and 3' deep. If there were only 1 roll of a given part in place of 1 can, there would be many parts in there. (I think I'll measure and count next time I'm down there). In my shop, the little drawers for all the resistors, capcitors, diodes, screws, wires nuts, styrofoam balls, connectors, motors, magnets, and an equal number labeld MISC, take less volume. A machine could be MUCH more densely packed. Just as with the coke cans, there only needs to be one mechanism that does the dispensing, for what ever part is selected.
I bet idbruce could build a machine like this AND patent it. Every hacker space and library (ugrading to hacker space) in the world wants one of these, whether they know it yet or not. Too bad I only do software and not hardware.
Been waiting for the other shoe(s) to drop....
I have been expecting further closures.
And I agree....time for the vultures to do another go around...
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2014/02/04/the-80s-called-and-theyre-closing-down-500-radioshack-stores/
Jim
And how many different flavors of soda does it dispense?
I wasn't speaking of the total amount, only of the variety. Sure a machine could hold a couple million 1k resistors, but how many would it sell in a year?
Jim, indeed, I do share some of your feelings. While it's true that the overall future of RadioShack is at question by many, the internet is a tough place to have your future tested due to a generally negative discussion tone. From my point of view, we're frequently processing orders to RadioShack because they are selling the product we buy. This morning we're shipping 1,000 gyroscopes and their replenishment orders are significant in quantity and dollars. When I speak with their corporate and buyers I also learn of store openings, layout resets and many other proactive changes around their new market.
Ken Gracey