RadioShack--Prop Shop?
rjo_
Posts: 1,825
Welzorn et al,
Things are looking up at RadioShack. I went to look for some diodes. Low and behold... there was half a drawer all cleared out... waiting for Parallax peripherals (accelerometers etc.) What I didn't see was a space for Props, accessory packs, headers, motor controllers or servo-s. The drawer cover also had no Parallax signage (yet).
The manager of the store shared his hope that some nifty Parallax kits might become available... The stock of kits at RadioShack hasn't changed much for a quite a while. He also noted that he just went through a divorce and can't really afford his hobbies anymore... so Parallax might do some targeted marketing to the managers.
It would be interesting to see some third party boards at RadioShack!!! (HC's video overlay board might do very well... particularly if the GPS was right next to it.)
Looks like a very good move for RadioShack... but is it enough? will it be Prop-erly marketed? A full drawer, half empty is a good sign. A full drawer with a Propeller logo on it would be just the thing!!!
Things are looking up at RadioShack. I went to look for some diodes. Low and behold... there was half a drawer all cleared out... waiting for Parallax peripherals (accelerometers etc.) What I didn't see was a space for Props, accessory packs, headers, motor controllers or servo-s. The drawer cover also had no Parallax signage (yet).
The manager of the store shared his hope that some nifty Parallax kits might become available... The stock of kits at RadioShack hasn't changed much for a quite a while. He also noted that he just went through a divorce and can't really afford his hobbies anymore... so Parallax might do some targeted marketing to the managers.
It would be interesting to see some third party boards at RadioShack!!! (HC's video overlay board might do very well... particularly if the GPS was right next to it.)
Looks like a very good move for RadioShack... but is it enough? will it be Prop-erly marketed? A full drawer, half empty is a good sign. A full drawer with a Propeller logo on it would be just the thing!!!
Comments
While the wife is shopping in the local Walmart, (I hate that store) I usually drop into the
nearby Ratshack to see if somehow I might get lucky and find parts I can use for my
prop experiments. The other day I was mentioning to the clerk how disappointing that is
was to see parts shelves that were not being restocked. In the conversation he mentioned
that as he understood it, the CEO of radio shack was planning to take a section of the
stores "back to their roots" so to speak, and offer more electronics for hobbyists.
He didn't know the details of this move, but since Parallax already has a foothold in
this store, perhaps we *may* (see disclaimer above) see more items from our
favorite designers, as well as a few more useful items in our direction.
From a strictly business standpoint, I completely understand the direction that Ratshack
has gone. Consumer electronics have a broader market, and it takes a lot of resistor-pack
sales to equal the sale of a 42" television. It doesn't mean I like this, just understand it.
Has anyone else seen anything that lends to this being a possibility?
Parallax insiders want to speak up? (If you can) [noparse]:)[/noparse]
Oldbitcollector
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Buttons . . . check. Dials . . . check. Switches . . . check. Little colored lights . . . check.
— Calvin, of 'Calvin and Hobbes.
Post Edited (Oldbitcollector) : 10/15/2007 2:01:22 PM GMT
It's a business fact. There were "inside of the drawer markers" for various Parallax products... with the Parallax name right on the label.
RadioShack has a real focused CEO. I'm hoping that he jumps in all the way... A few peripherals will get lost in the shuffle. And the actual market won't get touched.
What would work best for both Parallax and RadioShack would be to have that Magic Logo in RadioShack's window (neon... and where can I buy one?) and in every advertisement.
I talked to the manager and he was definitely excited about it all, but didn't seem to know any more than what was obvious from the drawer markers.
Rich
Instant gratification sometimes outweighs the higher markups that RS will probably charge, although there won't be any shipping charges.
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Brian
uController.com - home of SpinStudio
Plese restock your shelves!
When are you going to get better inventory?
Your getting out of the component business? Why?
Now your going to get back in the business? Why?
There latest and greatest is this (for me anyway)
They said if I need a part and they can find it on their intranet system, then I can purchase it there and they will ship it to me free!
But sadly that system didn't show much more than "What's a MicroController?"
·
All I have to say is I'm happy to see this change. As of late I've been making trips to Radio Shack to discover that they "don't carry that anymore, but you can get it online."
Instead of placing a digikey order.
Sometimes a resister of some odd value is all you need. (and you don't feel like mixing and matching to make up that value with 3 or 4 other parts)
Guess they would almost have to go back to their roots.
I mean who buys anything consumer electronic at RatShack anymore?
Bestbuys, Walmarts and Gateway/Dell super stores have taken most of that market from them in the past few years.
Maybe it's a good move after all.
Maybe it'll get more younger people into the hobby as well.
"Young Teen : Oh cool, a robot kit in the window! That's RADE!~"
--Andrew Arsenault.
Thanks for the reported sighting rjo_ !
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So it is a matter of job security vs. availability and supporting a local one of a kind business
Even more upsetting is that the "real electronics shop" is more than a little thin in selection, they have branched out into the car audio market, which fills a large section of the available floorspace. however every trip there ends with only getting half what I need.
The biggest difference for me is that when I say I need x component Radio Shack doesn't know or care about the product (other than having a clean drawer), the local electronics shop tells me that they have it, or can get it, or will order it, and perform a transaction through the local bowling alley for me to meet my schedule to boot.
Additionally as of last week when I was desperately searching for some supplies before my prop got here, not a single Radio Shack had a parallax drawer or section of drawer in my area (Orange County, California). So we aren't all so lucky. I ended up finding my crystal at the local shop, but I had to digi-key my eeprom.
I can tell you what's going on.
As soon as we deliver to RadioShack, this is what you will find in the company-owned stores (around 5,000 of them):
Memsic 2125 Accelerometer Sensor
PIR Sensor
TSL230 Light to Frequency Converter
Ping))) Ultrasonic Sensor
RFID Reader + 2 Tags
Their prices will be like ours, plus $2 or so. Of course, all of these sensors work well with their core Parallax microcontroller product·already sold in the stores:·The BASIC Stamp Activity Kit (with Andy's book "What's a Microcontroller?").
You're right about the technical focus from the CEO, too. He's·made requests to properly outfit the electronics component section and to bring it up to date.·The Parallax expansion·couldn't have happened without a particular buyer who really understands the customer base and their needs, too.·These·improvements in RadioShack stores were a 3-4 year planning effort and we're working hard to get them·underway·well before·the holidays. Their commitment to stocking newer components recognizes the importance of a valuable customer base who grew up with Forrest Mimms, audio projects, TRS-80s, 8-tracks, 300-in-1 kits, handheld radios and·DIY electronic projects. . . along with the new roboticists and science fair market.
Of all the large retailers we've sold to, I can tell you that RadioShack is the best. They're respectful and considerate of their business suppliers. A lot of Parallax folks turn the cranks to support such a customer. It's amazing how many people have a key role in serving such a customer (Andy, Stephanie, Aristides, Lauren,·Jim, Mark, Paul, Jen,·etc.).·I'm really·thankful and proud·of their motivation and interest. I know we say it all the time on forums and it seems a bit·like a small company [noparse][[/noparse]like we are] but these Parallaxers do amazing things behind the scenes.
We'd also like to add Propeller products to their stores. We're looking into the right mix of things to put·into·the drawers as part of the next phase.·But first·we need to see the sensors·stocked and·measure some level of·success.
Thanks for the interest in seeing Parallax in RadioShack.
Sincerely,
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
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The more I know, the more I know I don't know.· Is this what they call Wisdom?
"In marketing, a loss leader is an item priced not for profit, but to attract customers. If effective, the loss leader stimulates sales of other goods. .."
Do you happen to know when they'll be getting their stock Ken?
Whelzorn, probably in about two weeks.
Ken Gracey
Parallax, Inc.
Maybe you can nudge them to sell wire suitable for wire wrap -- they sell the tool but no gauge small enough to use with it.
F
They do sell it; you just have to look extra hard for it. The "problem" is, is that the manager behind the counter that places the orders probably does not know the difference between wire-wrap wire, speaker wire, or magnet wire and has not re-ordered any new stock.· You can't blame the manager though, It's nobody's fault really, it's the trend that Radio Shack has fallen into that they recognize and are trying to recover from.· We have all gradually seen it over the years, and I myself always try to give the benefit of the doubt so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
·
Fred, you should “nudge” your local Radio Shack store manager to order these part numbers for you.
The recommended 30 AWG comes in Red(Catalog #: 278-501), White(Catalog #: 278-502), and Blue(Catalog #: 278-503) and it goes for $3.99 a spool of 50-ft
·
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Beau Schwabe
IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.
Post Edited (Beau Schwabe (Parallax)) : 10/17/2007 6:28:01 AM GMT
Originally Radio Shack was an industrial parts house (circa 1960) like Digikey that also serviced the T.V repair and ham radio market. That all changed when Tandy Leather of Fort Worth, Texas bought out the company and created a francise approach to selling electronics.
When they say they want to go 'back to their roots', I really wonder how far back. As a franchise, they have always struggled with getting useful parts to all the stores and having informed managers and clerks able to support their products. It seems many of the Leather Store owners were suddenly shifted into the electronics business. I remember when you could buy both leather tools and electronics in some outlets. As a catalogue house, they had a huge useful inventory in one central location, but no support - like Digikey.
It would be quite wonderful it they would commit to selling educational packages like WHAM [noparse][[/noparse]What's a Microcontroller]. In the past, they commited to Parallax BOEbots, and then suddenly dumped Parallax and started VEX [noparse][[/noparse]a bit unsucessfully] in competion due to support problems.
If their is one thing that Tandy Corporation's version of Radio Shack has never learned, it is that they have to commit to fully supporting the customer base in order to retain loyalty. Otherwise, people just occasionally drop by and hope they can get lucky and save a few bucks. But, people will pay for·an additional value.
There have been good periods for Radio Shack [noparse][[/noparse]when they first sold the CoCo Color Computer and has Forest Nim's texts OR the early days of selling PCs] but the people at the counter rarely knew much about what the customer was doing. With a more aging population, it is possible to get good retired computer geeks or engineers as counter people.
The fundamental difference between Parallax and Radio Shack is that Parallax has commited to support an educational approach to selling its product while Radio Shack has generally maintained a more commoditized consumer sales approach. Parallax's books are as important as the products they support. They are thorough and informative -- not dry techincal reference.· They inspire people to create new things and explore independently.
In sum, I really don't think there are really solid roots to go back to so much as going forward in a retail partnership where Parallax is not an in-house product so much as a valued and reliable ally that increases their walk in trade and opportunities to have a larger loyal·customer base, possibly an expanding one.
But it really won't work well if they once again suddenly discontinue Parallax and try to purvey their own clone without the complete array of educational technical support and fellowship.
Hobbyist generally buy consistently from people and shops that are meeting places for their pals and gurus. Or they just seek out the lowest prices from the ends of the earth.
Just having good prices on batteries means that people will drop by to only buy batteries. And maybe a bit of solder.
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"Everything in the world is purchased by labour; and our passions are the only causes of labor." -- David·Hume (1711-76)········
Post Edited (Kramer) : 10/17/2007 8:12:28 AM GMT
Instead of looking for people with some electrical background they want people who have sold cell phones before.
I don't mind my section of parts cramped into one hidden corner of the room while the front wall and half the counter space is devoted to cells, but the service people act like my corner is a newsense, a part of the store covered in shame, hidden because they can not take it out back and burn it.
In our area, except for RadioShack there is no electronics supply store for do it yourselfers or hobbyists.
Our town is known as the home of "Heroin High." We boast the second highest rate of alcoholism, divorce and cancer among small towns in the US. (I don't know who is first but being second is not a good thing. The most common complaint is that "there is nothing else for young people to do."
If I were RadioShack, I would use the Parallax link to promote my business to local schools, governments, and businesses... as a partial solution for the drug problem. I do not know of a medical instrument, which could not be improved by the Propeller, ... or a business, which could not automate itself more efficiently by intelligently using the Propeller.
We are all conscious of the constant need for innovation (to keep our society and economy healthy). Parallax teaches, conveys and invites innovation. RadioShack is everywhere that this kind of innovation is needed.
To profit most from this business relationship, RadioShack needs to convey the "Parallax experience."
I have all the Forest Mims books... I read them. But what made electronics real for me was the Propeller.
One of the things that makes RadioShack different (in my experience) is the very high quality of store employees. RadioShack retains their employees well and their employees appear to actually love their jobs.
When I talk to young people... who have no education and no real prospects... what I say is "look at this. This is the most important innovation since the birth of the home computer... This is the future. You can do anything with it. You don't need a college degree, you just need to master this one little chip and your future will open up for you. You can play with it now, eventually become an expert and then use your hobby to leverage a really good job."
With the right internal marketing, the Parallax link could help revive, renew and energize the business culture of RadioShack.
Graham
I'm not sure what happens when they collide but it will be interesting, the propeller is not a PC but its more than just a conventional micro.
In some ways it feels like too much all at once to grasp, Chip had 8 years to think about this and then we get it on a plate. It's like an evolutionary jump and I think it will take time for us to catch up.
Graham
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The more I know, the more I know I don't know.· Is this what they call Wisdom?
I stopped trying to explain myself a long time ago. In many ways, I'm way out of my depth in this forum, but I can't resist trying to entertain the engineers.
As to my planet? After setting up a machine shop to improve all of the instrumentation and developed the first digital corneascope, I was the first ophthalmologist in Illinois to perform hyperopic keratomilieusis (for a diabetic, aniridic, aphake)...only to find that the operation actually violated the basic principles of the inventor... Jose Barraquer, in that the there was an uncontrolled plastic deformation of the untouched part of the cornea. My research group also marketed the first commercially available, fully digital angiography system for the eye. My long term interests include the application and limitations of information theory in characterizing biologic systems, and the relationship between epistemology and national security. I have done fundamental work in mathematics and have advocated a change in the structure of algebraic expressions. In the area of recognition, I developed a correspondance theory, with broad applicability not only to recognition but also perception.
Rich
ps: I am rarely wrong. Stock tip of the month: RadioShack.
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The more I know, the more I know I don't know.· Is this what they call Wisdom?
(Parsko is finally back in the US!!!!)
I was living in Eindhoven, Netherlands for the last two years (the home of Philips, which most of you should be familiar with!). I found the Prop in March, 2006. Since then, the world has been my oyster. Okay, moving away from the lame comments...
In Einhoven there were two electronics shops I frequented. Coditronix, and Brigatti. Coditronix was closest to Radio Shack. Brigatti was closest to "that guy who is hardcore into electronics and decided to open a store" kinda place. If I wanted anything, I pretty much knew either one would be able to AT LEAST fill my needs with something.
To me, that last statement "...be able to fill my needs with something" is paramount. I personally prefer my desires to be "instantly gratified", like any warm-blooded american. These two stores fulfilled that desire. I knew I could buy from Digikey, probably a bit more than 50% of the cost I would pay in person, but I'd have to wait. Not only would I have to wait, but I would not necessarily know what I was going away with (or expecting in the mail). I react well to a person, who I can bounce ideas off of (or confirm my newbie questions).
My point, if not obvious. Radio Shack has all this. I recall, going back a bit, that they used to train their staff to be knowledgable in electronics. If this is still true, and you get a huge hobby supplier (Parallax!) into the mix, this is a recipe for success for both Radio Shack AND the hobbiest. I personally, would prefer to go to RS and spend 50% more, if I knew I was getting something I wanted and needed, and have it now. I think Ken said 5000 stores nationwide. The list he said they will stock is a great start. I will gladly buy a spare of those components, even with the $2 markup, if that means that I could eventually have a place to go and get some answers (besides forums such as this, of course), and be able to put my paws on parts!!!
My 2 Euro cents (about 2.8 American cents at today's rate...)-Parsko
PS - The store, Brigatti, was the kinda place I wish Radio Shack was. They ALWAYS had something to fill my needs!!!! I walked in and it was like looking at a wall of the pull out boxes filled with components!!!!!!!!!!!!!!