In article m, "Ryan, KC8PMX"
writes:

I think, because of credit checks, they need that for certain things like
cell phones, satellite dish service, and any credit card sign-ups. But
again, there should be some way that this could either be written down by
the customer and also the sales rep should have some way of either calling
the information in, in a way to protect privacy, such as keying the social
security number via touch-tone pad.

If you have a major credit card there should be no need for a SSN. If you
qualify for a MasterCard or Visa, you sure as hell should qualify to buy a
satellite dish or a cell phone.


I used to support Rat Shack but since they have gone the way of only
computers, cell phones and satellite dishes and barely anything close to
radio anymore, I probably won't be shopping there much anymore......


The demise of Radio Shack and it's transition to just another mass-merchandise
consumer electronics store is one of the saddest stories in American retail for
us radio enthusiasts.

Remember when Radio Shack employees actually KNEW something about the products
they sold? Back when you could go in and say "I want to put up a base CB
antenna....what's the best way to do it and what do I need?", and they would
actually know the answers?

Remember when you were a kid and wanted to learn about electronics? Radio
Shack had a whole line of P-BOX kits to choose from. You could build radios,
small transmitters, motors, etc. And when you were ready to engineer your own
project from scratch, Radio Shack carried a full line of electronic components
and books to show you how to do it.

Sadly, like everything else in this country, all that matters is the almighty
corporate dollar. The suits decided they could bring in more bucks by shutting
out the hobbyists and selling satellite dishes and cell phones instead. They
could increase those stock dividends by hiring minimum wage flunkies, rather
than experienced personnel. A few more cents were wrung out by dropping Radio
Shack's unique line of merchandise (Archer, Nova, Tandy, Micronta, Clarinette,
Realistic, etc.) and simply selling the same national brands that everyone else
does.

The Radio Shack of today is simply a smaller, less efficient, overpriced
version of Best Buy or Circuit City. Few original products, nothing for the
electronics enthusiast, and salespeople who would have a problem replacing a
blown fuse in a power cord.

Sad indeed.