We can all agree that RadioShack isn’t exactly the DIY mecca it once was.
What used to be a haven for amateur radio operators, tinkerers, and builders alike has devolved into a stripmall mainstay full of cell phones and overpriced junk. RadioShack knows that they have fallen out of your good graces, and since you are the demographic that put them on the map, they are appealing to the DIY community for input.
They want to know what is important to you – what you would like to see at your local RadioShack, and what would bring you back through their doors. Obviously price is a huge concern, especially with online outlets like Digikey and Mouser just a few clicks away. At the end of the day however, if you require a component RIGHT NOW, it would be nice to have the ability to grab some parts locally.
We’re well aware of the fact that this is all part of a marketing scheme, but if it helps stock your local store with a few odds and ends that are actually helpful, it won’t hurt to let your voice be heard.
Stick around to watch the video appeal from RadioShack’s brand manager, [Amy Shineman].
[Thanks komradebob]
[via ARRL.org]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxyDab_s_lY&w=470]
I was reflowing a motherboard and ran out of flux and heatsink paste. I went up in my local branch to buy some and the lady behind the counter didnt even know what I was talking about. Im glad to see that they hire people that are not tech savvy.
I will be buying my gear off the internet from now on.
Radioshack moved the link.
http://blog.radioshack.com/2011/05/19/radioshack-the-diy-community-you-talked-were-listening/#comments
Not sure if this is where Amy (in the video) meant for us to leave our comments about Radio Shack here, but I’ll try it here anyway.
If RS is looking for ways to improve their electronic parts stock for the DIY’ers, they should see what other electronic parts suppliers stock is, like:
http://www.partsconnexion.com/
http://tubesandmore.com/
I would like to see RS stocke at least a minimum basic supply of tubes; a wider variety of semiconductors and a wider variety of capacitors – both low and high voltage types. Obviously, I wouldn’t expect them to do this all at once, but to start st some point and add on. RS used to have, for exemple, 0.01/3kV disc capacitors…now they no longer carry those.
Who at RS makes the desicions to discontinue carrying certain items? …and why?
Obviously, it’s not the DIY’ers.
If RS folks would just take a look at their past catalogs (like 2002 or older), I think this would give them an idea of what electronic parts to restock.
If RS wants BIG short-term sales profits, then they should just become another one of the “Big Box” stores and forget selling electronic parts, soldering tools, ham/CB radios and antennas, panel meters and the like. Otherwise, they should have a good selection of items (afore mentioned) like they used to. Evidently, there’s enough of us that think they should do that, hopefully they will.
BTW, this site has many of RS’s former catalogs:
http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/2002_small/
Perhaps RS will look at these to get an idea of what they used to carry (incase they don’t recall).
Does staff that actually know what a resistor or a capacitor are count as a product?
The wide appeal and implementation of what Radio Shack founded their business on is simply no longer a part of the present culture.
It’s a rabid consumer culture – a disposable, shrink-wrapped, Californicated, I want it yesterday and for nothing culture.
Arduino? Kits? MEH. You silly buggers. Enough with the delusions of grandeur already – kitters, modders, hardware hacks – we’re a slowly vanishing breed.
The growth markets are everything to do with pampering women, fashion, music and self-worship.
I forsee a day when Rat-Shack starts selling tickets to American Idol right next to the big sales item de jour: A mega-plastic TV studio mock up with cheap CCD cameras and audio/video mixing software so the bubble-gum and purple sequins crowd can pretend they’re on TV in their own living rooms.
Arduinos at RS? really? ROFL.
First, accept the fact that the large majority of your customers already have a Cell Phone (or TV, or DTV, or DVD/Bray) and do not need a new one. What this really translates into is the RS Corporate yelling at their employees every time they do not sell someone a new cell phone. If someone wants a remote for their TV, it does not mean that they need a new Cell Phone and the employees should not be punished or fired because of this. I think that is one of the main reasons people hate coming into the stores is because the people working there are forced under threat of termination to push crap down their throats.
Parts are one thing, but there is always the option to order from the store and ship to someone’s home. But bring back the Engineering Notebooks and starter kits from the late 90’s. Even though times have changed, a five year old can still be opened into electronics by building a wireless FM mike.
I have worked retail before, and I spent three years working at RS in that time. I made more sales by selling what the customer wanted rather than selling them what Corporate told me to sell them. All of the complaints that were filed on me were from sales that were done by following what the DM said had to be sold. Trust the fact that your customers already have an idea about what they want, and that not everyone entering the store needs to have a new Cell Phone.
it would be awesome if they had at least one person at the store who has even a little electronics knowledge. they always ask if they can help, but then can’t. can i help you find anything? sure, i need a 1uf capacitor. a capacitor? uh… (clearly doesn’t know what it is) or i’m looking for some enamel coated magnet wire or wrapping wire. we only have regular wire. you will have to make it magnetic yourself… (are you freaking serious?!) true stories by the way.
@CryonicTech:
You’ve hit the nail on the head as far as the very reason I don’t *ever* want to go to R$. The corporate monkeys that make you ask me if I want to be helped have pushed customer service to the point where it’s more of a customer annoyance than a service.
When I walk into a store, only *one* employee should ask me if I need help at most. I’ve been in many branches of R$ all over New York state and they’re all the same. I’ve walked out of more than one without buying anything because employees wouldn’t just %@#$ing leave me alone to do my shopping. I know it’s not their fault – it’s the managers.
Other stores that have done this have usually stopped after about a month of it. I let the first one go and say “no thanks”. I then start counting up from there and respond with “You are the nth person to ask me that…”. The point here being that I want to convey back to the employees just how annoying it is to be asked that all the time. Usually the message eventually gets back to management and it stops. Not so with R$.
I don’t think I’ll ever want to go to a R$ again, no matter what they have in inventory. There are so many other places with better customer service, in my opinion.
@DavidTheEE
I like the ‘office hours’ idea. R$ might not be able to afford the cost of hiring all knowledgeable workers, but getting a few who are open at given times in order to help with peoples’ projects would be a decent compromise…
I’m posting late because the solder iron tips I special ordered on May 18th. for the high end Radio Shack soldering station were not yet MIA when this post first appeared. At this point June 17th., when I try to pull up the RSU order number I get “The resource you are looking for has been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable”.
This is typical of Radio Shacks recent performance. For this reason, I do not recommend purchasing any product from Radio Shack that requires accessories only available through their RSU special order service.
Here are a couple of ideas inspired by actual events.
1. Don’t put returned defective items back on the shelf. The multimeter I bought was defective. I returned it. A month later I went back in and the same multimeter was there, looking a little more beat up (bought and returned a few times since?).
2. When a customer asks that you notify them when an item is in stock… Do it. Hoping that RS would get another multimeter in stock, and because the item couldn’t be direct shipped to my house (?) I left my cell phone number and name. I never got a call. That was two months ago.
That was the Manteca, CA, Radioshack.
I don’t know, these seemed obvious to me, but maybe I’m wrong.
Why don’t they just look at sparkfun. Give people what they want at a fair price.
They should let us trade our ds in for a different color
Do not try to reply because i am never coming back.
I wandered into my local RS today… they’re making progress, but they’ve still got a long way to go.
They had a small selection of Forrest Mims books in stock and a couple of DIY project kits that weren’t there last time I dropped by, so that’s a start. There was even a BSII kit, but no arduino though.
My current gripe is that they still want $1.50 for a single capacitor (not a pack of 5 or 10).
I don’t think radioshack could ever become what it used to be. When I started electrical engineering my grandpa told me to buy stuff from RS. I went there about 4 times before giving up on the limited selection. First time I asked where the resistors were and the clerk was dumbfounded – I don’t believe RS staff know basic components. If RS prices were on par with Sparkfun, DigiKey or general internet, and had employees who knew the difference between a capacitor and LCD, I might shop there – but they don’t.
I am afraid that it is to late, they are getting obsolete, the interest of the public on technical play is changed, as the level of the technical education sunk, and they also contributed to that, basically they alienated their own market by chasing short time better revenue.
The TV ads are appearing about the end analog TV, so while in rat-shack (“tha source” in a condesending tone) today I suggested they set up a digital box and antenna to demo the products they already sell and let people see it.
#1, can’t, because every store must be perfectly identical, and this would be un-pre-planned, and un-approved.
#2 can’t open product, even though it’s comes in cardboard boxes and is already open and displayed, just not hooked up.
#3 can’t, as they are BELL-satellite owned, the two products would compete.
He believes there is a difference between a digital antenna and a non-digital antenna.
(drinking from the corporate kool-aid machine?)
He believes there would be no picture difference between last months analog picture quality and next octobers all digital picture, and that a weak signal gives ghosts and noisy picture, not pixelation and freezing.
See, they aren’t allowed to even set one up, so he doesn’t honestly know what he’s (not) selling, he just knows “favour selling bell”.
They are NOT the “source” of technical information. Never. Never.
He was REAL concerned if his district manager caught him with it set up on display.
I guess all the good ideas have been thought of, or can only come from people with executive gym key-cards, working in expensive offices.
“It’s complicated.”
I felt sorry for him in a pathetic way, but, it’s just a pay cheque for him, so whatever.
It’s too late to be what they were, it’s a heavy handed “cookie cutter” corporate mentality.
The old radioshack was more than just inventory, and they’ll NEVER comprehend in any useful fashion what that means.
I got a phone with a warranty the phone broke , so in to radio shack for coupons whats up with that!!!
Been waiting days for this coupon!!!!
Radio Shack Sucks on service
The reason I got into electronics is that once upon a time, Radio Shack carried affordable magnet wire, 365 pF variable capacitors (oh, all right, they were poly not air-variable), ferrite loopstick tuning coils (the ones with the screw-operated slug in the middle!), crystal earphones, and 1N34A diodes that were actually 1N34A, not 1N60’s or something else thrown in the package. And the 1N34A’s came in packages of ten, so you could pitch rejects, of which there were few, and test and choose the best one of the bunch. And then you could make a tiny crystal radio, stick it in a Tic-Tac box or whatever, ground it to the dial stop of a phone or whatever (steam radiators at the school were great grounds!), and amaze your friends and yourself by actually building a working radio… with parts from Radio Shack. Computers and such are nice… but simple radios can be the first experience of the magic of making stuff, into stuff that does something neat! Kinda like you brought it to life…
Books would be nice, too. I only hope some day that someone starts scanning the Zim and Morgan books before they are lost forever…
Even at their DIY peak 30 years ago I used to loath going into an RS store for parts because I knew I would get seriously ripped off, and likely have to pick some inferior substitute for the part I needed. So the suckage is *really* deep. Not only will they have to fight to (a) reprogram all their midlevel management and sales people, (b) work hard to recreate the market they helped to destroy, and (c) provide *anything* with true value, they will have to figure out why they couldn’t make the DIY market profitable in first place 30-40 years back. Basically I’m not holding my breath!
I would like the convince of a brick-and-mortar store. So if you want my business this is what you need to do.
1) Stock new parts. I’m serious. Those parts from the 80’s are old, don’t work usually, and are overpriced.
2) Stock common parts. Yeah, its great that you sell wire, but maybe have some LEDs too? I just called the local shack and they don’t have any IR LEDs not one pack. Or the right switches. Or the right resistors.
3) Be reasonably competent. Make a flowchart or something for your employees so if I ask where the components are at a new shack they don’t get confused and start pushing telephones on me.
Bonus) I don’t even care about markup as long as its comparable / reasonable to shipping fees. However, if I can buy an LED online for .44 cents + SH, and your only way to sell one to me is also online, but for 3.99 + SH, guess where I will buy it? RADIOSHACK YAY! No, no, I jest. I would buy it for 44cents from mouser.
stock a broader range of products like digikey and mouser on the RS website but leverage “ship to store” to outcompete web-only stores
I am a hobbyist for over 30 years and just started going to radio shack after years
A crayon red headed sales associate made my returns experience so bad , that I had to rush my children from the store. I was being treated like a crack head with a receipt from the trash can.
I had a low end soldering that was to light duty for my needs. I also had a few capacitors that were wrong for the project. She told I could not return a product that had been used. She told me it was just $7.00 worth of products.She told me that radio shack did not put the returns policy on every item. The manager allowed the return, but the associate added that “next time we wont return it”.
I was so mad that I just took my products and left the store.
I thnk radio shack should mring back the minmus 7 speaker! It was a black bookshelf speaker. The box was stuffed metal. I still have a pair and they sound great! If they sold them I would buy another pair! Also any audiophile will tell you that tube amps are superior to solid state amps. I plugged my ipod into my sons Fender Hotrod guitar amp (tube) and the tubes dampened the harshness of digital audio. It sounded great. Radioshack.. you should design and sell a 5 watt per channel, 10 watt per chanel and 35 watt per channel single ended stereo component amplifier. It should have a futuristic retro look.. keep the sheilded tubes and transformers in the case, expose the tubes that don’t need sheilding in the front of the radio on a chrome polished plate. have a line in port and optional ipod port. This would sell!!!! I thought this was a unique idea but check the web! There’s a demand out threre and short supply on new designs. I’d gladly pay $225.00 for a 25w per channel stereo push pull amp and $500.00 for a 25watt per channel single ended stereo amp The single ended amp needs to have a decent transformer to pull it off. Single ended amps sound cleaner.
Note anyone of these designs will blow away a 300 watt solid state amp.
Bring back the kits like the 150-in-one projects kit I had as a kid. Learned something about electronics (and how to follow instructions!) and had a lot of fun. If I wanted phone accessories I’d go to the Verizon store, or Walmart or something.
HAM RADIO equipment
No other national retailers sell amateur radio equipment. I got my first amateur radio from Radio shack. Is that a strange thought that I would get a radio from radio shack which is what amateur radio operators call the place for there radios?
radisohack sucks. I used to work there. Their user base in the past (radio hackers, DIY guys) – buy things predominantly online now. Stores themselves are managed by fear nowadays. Everyday: how many useless service plans u sell, contract phones and credit cards with sky-high APR. Every day if you don’t meet the quota – u are being “disciplined” aka yelled at. I’ve once see manager simply cry cuz some district dude made a conference call and promised to simply fire them if quota is not met.
F radioshack big times. Not buying anything from there ever again.
Products? Geez…..How about some caps rated over 50V? Is it too much to ask that they carry a few basics rated 450V or better? Why do they have an online category of “Antennas & Dummy Loads,” w/lots of junk antennas an NO dummy loads?
What would be better than adding products would be to stop insulting those of us w/technical knowledge and years of experience, especially hams. Why do these people attempt to BS in the obvious face of superior knowledge?
Why do these jerks keep asking if they can help me after it becomes obvious that I know their stock numbers and store placement better than they do? They have to look up stock numbers on a screen and after 40 or so years of shopping for components, I’ve got the numbers memorized.
Sorry, but RS has much to do w/the dumb-down of America. Most of the employees and their customers have no clue as to how most of their junk operates. What a way to go through life. Nothing but buzz words and lacking any sort of knowledge to support actually using the words.
I’m a beginner with electronics and found that I out grew R.S. very quickly. I do own the Learning Lab and it was an excellent investment but If I’m looking for a component chances are they just don’t have it. Maybe if they start with a thorough on line catalogue and add parts to the stores according to what people order?
OPEN LETTER TO RADIO SHACK MANAGEMENT
The reason Radio Shack is in financial straits is simple. The company abandoned it’s market niche. After Charles Tandy died, the corporation moved away from the high profit, low dollar ticket items customers wanted from Radio Shack. Now you are reaping what you have sown. What used to be called the “bottom 1800” of your store’s inventory is not on display, its hidden away in drawers. point in fact store personnel try hard not to sell that inventory at all, because it hurts their dollar per ticket average. Preferring to push low profit items i.e. cell phones. Keep on doing this gentlemen and you are doomed. You can not now or ever inthe future compete with Best Buy on high end electronics. Your customers, your market, wants what other retailers refuse to stock, wire, components, power supplies. They also want knowledgeable sales people who have a clue about their inventory and what it can be used for. The sales people I see in your stores are mainly interested in trying to sell their customers merchandise they had no intention of buying. People don’t like that kind of pressure, it turns customers off.
When I shop at Radio Shack (Glenbrook Mall, Fort Wayne, IN), I would say 3 visits out of 4 the store is out of the items I want, and these parts are supposedly carried by Radio Shack. If I were you, I would start offering ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT THAT NO ONE ELSE CARRIES LIKE YOU USED TO DO. Radio Shack used to be a quirky electronics store that sold a ton of wire and power supplies because no else would. Somehow you thought you needed to move beyond that, which explains why your losing customers right and left. The market is still there. You just stopped listening.
You need to sell a GOOD static protected digital temperature controlled combination soldering gun AND hot air rework gun, with tips you can replace. “Just a soldering gun” was more all you needed (and bought from Radio Shack, of course!) as I did as a kid in the ’70’s, but you need BOTH of these items to do ANYTHING these days! Take a look on ebay by typing in “Hot Air Rework Station” and you will see what I mean….
Form a partnership/alliance with Make magazine.
Set up a table or two where kids could meet and learn a bit…why not have a “Maker” meeting right at the store?
Think about carrying some QRP amateur radio kits, and some ham books… talk to the ARRL and (this is IMPORTANT) PLEASE don’t forget to talk to Gordon West and Wayne Green! They will know what’s best and I am sure you will find their advice to be the best.
Every Radio Shack SHOULD be THE local geek hangout!
Best of Luck in all your endeavours.
Sincerely,
Bill (W8LV)
Just spent $12.00 on an assortment of resistors of varied values. Most of them weren’t even within tolerances. My 220K’s were reading 186.72k, well below the 5% tolerance and there were many others that were worse than that even. I don’t even mind paying a little more money for the ability to get some components right away, however, at least have quality if you aren’t going for quantity.
The golden days of Radio Shack ended with the death of Charles Tandy who was a mass marketing genius and who knew how to pull people into a store with products and prices. Even the old logo :Radio Shack” was unique and today, all they have is junk you can buy anywhere and unmotivated employees. I worked there from 1977-1980 and was proud but sorely underpaid so I left.
FIre everyone, bulldoze the buildings, and build a new Frys Electronics. That’s what I want.
hi ,several times I had asked radio shack in the states if they had a part I needed,in canada they are no longer called R.S ,but the source . still not sure if they are really together in one way
or another but both times never heard back thanks R.C
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Consolidate the stores. Fewer but bigger stores, mean people will have to flock to them.
Also considder networking and becomming a store within a superstore. Not unlike how Starbucks is often located in Krogers.
I wouldnt mind some transistors that meet leakage spec. My TDCS box couldn’t control the current @2ma until I replaced the radio shack transistor with the exact same part from Digikey. Are they 2nxxxx or not?
Amy.. you are pretty cute but unfortunately Radio Shack is doomed for several reasons. 1. Lack of education of employee knowledge. I know what it used to be and what it is now. There is just no hope for you. 2. Technology has passed most of the associates by the way side. Associates that don’t care and hang around in clusters while customers are in the store? Not a good sign. 3. You don’t have any product in your stores or even if you do you dont understand what it is
No hope.. give it up.. please just go out of business already
Radioshack should get into the 3D printer craze and sell AFFORDABLE 3D printer kits and the zillion accessories that go a long with them. The key word here is affordable!
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Stick a fork in it; it’s done. By ignoring its real customer base in favor of selling common junk at high prices, with poor customer service and slow checkouts… they will long be remembered as a perfect example of what *not* to do. And so, for the final time, these words: “No, you can’t have my name, address, or phone number! They don’t ask me for it at the grocery store when I buy soup, and you can’t have it just because I’m buying a spool of wire!”
Goodbye, folks!
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