In article rio.net,
clfe wrote:

Problem with that scenario is most and I'd dare say a majority of the RS
clerks didn't have a clue about electronics - to be able to give "that" type
of answer. They were lucky to know what a resistor was, let alone how to
substitute one value for another. They were good when they sold parts, the
other stuff was for the "other" people - not into Electronics. I'm talking
the toys and gadgets. For anyone wanting to go in for parts only - it has
seriously lost its touch.

The manager of the Radio Shack I went to before I moved here, was a ham.
All of the employes knew radio (swl or scanners), electronics or computers.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (077)-424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice: 1-215-821-1838
Support the growing boycott of Google by radio users and hobbyists.
It's starting to work, Yahoo has surpassed Google.

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...
In article rio.net,
clfe wrote:

Problem with that scenario is most and I'd dare say a majority of the RS
clerks didn't have a clue about electronics - to be able to give "that"
type
of answer. They were lucky to know what a resistor was, let alone how to
substitute one value for another. They were good when they sold parts,
the
other stuff was for the "other" people - not into Electronics. I'm
talking
the toys and gadgets. For anyone wanting to go in for parts only - it has
seriously lost its touch.

The manager of the Radio Shack I went to before I moved here, was a ham.
All of the employes knew radio (swl or scanners), electronics or
computers.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (077)-424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice:
1-215-821-1838
Support the growing boycott of Google by radio users and hobbyists.
It's starting to work, Yahoo has surpassed Google.

I don't doubt that at all. "Some" did know what they were doing and/or
selling. But, by and large - most didn't. I was in a store once too where a
customer asked about a Public Service Scanner. The sales lady didn't know
what was what with the three models they listed. I overheard them asking her
about them, as they wanted to buy one. She plain said "I don't know". I
asked if I may help, she said yes. I explained to them what they needed to
know and they did buy "a" scanner. I told the young lady - I know it may not
be required, but you should at least "try" to learn a little of what you're
selling. That store wasn't a RS, but just goes to show, many sales people do
not know their products. THAT can hurt them in the end. People don't want to
or like to buy things they can't use. Especially now with the price of gas
to return something.
The Employee selling the item isn't going to look very good - whether he did
it on purpose or just plain didn't know. In the end, I think the Staples,
Wal-Marts, Office Maxs, (maybe Circuit Citys and so on are going to be in
the front. Radio Shack selling basically the same thing the others do - with
the exception of a few things, will peter out. I give them 10 years tops. I
hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it. I think their era has come and gone.

clf

clfe wrote:

the front. Radio Shack selling basically the same thing the others do - with
the exception of a few things, will peter out. I give them 10 years tops. I
hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it. I think their era has come and gone.

clf

10 years? No way. In recent years I've had a few instances to go into
a RS looking for stuff for the kids like videogame machines and just odd
random non-radio related stuff. They aren't competitive with that stuff
either.

Seems to me that they are 'surviving' off of their convenience aspect
since most of their urban stores are located in malls and many smaller
towns that don't have the big box stores and malls at least have an RS
franchise...but they never have a very good stock of anything. When you
go into a RS and they can't fit you with a new cellphone battery whats left?

My bet is that there are a lot of red ink stores in their chain and the
poor franchisees are basically working only to have a job and to try and
salvage their investment. I suspect if it weren't for their franchising
schemes the name Radio Shack would be long gone already.

-Bill M

Well RS is doing well financially, better than the competition. As for
what they sell, well, you have to follow the money especially with the rents
so high. Cellphones, satellite service and other modern fun things is where
the money is now. Parts make up very little of the business, even though
they make a high profit on them. The do-it-yourself market is pretty lean
now a days, with college areas making up the biggest market. It is to easy
to buy a digital rig and get it up and running than a homebrew one. Even
though the homebrew one is funner to get going.
The internet also plays a big roll in the dimise of the parts draw.
There is also a few hams left at RS.

Dave
KB1HUP

"-ex-" wrote in message
...
clfe wrote:

the front. Radio Shack selling basically the same thing the others do -
with the exception of a few things, will peter out. I give them 10 years
tops. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it. I think their era has come and
gone.

clf

10 years? No way. In recent years I've had a few instances to go into a
RS looking for stuff for the kids like videogame machines and just odd
random non-radio related stuff. They aren't competitive with that stuff
either.

Seems to me that they are 'surviving' off of their convenience aspect
since most of their urban stores are located in malls and many smaller
towns that don't have the big box stores and malls at least have an RS
franchise...but they never have a very good stock of anything. When you
go into a RS and they can't fit you with a new cellphone battery whats
left?

My bet is that there are a lot of red ink stores in their chain and the
poor franchisees are basically working only to have a job and to try and
salvage their investment. I suspect if it weren't for their franchising
schemes the name Radio Shack would be long gone already.

-Bill M

Dave wrote:

Well RS is doing well financially, better than the competition. As for
what they sell, well, you have to follow the money especially with the rents
so high. Cellphones, satellite service and other modern fun things is where
the money is now. Parts make up very little of the business, even though
they make a high profit on them. The do-it-yourself market is pretty lean

I wasn't meaning to compare selling cellphone contracts with selling
parts that nobody buys anymore. What I meant to suggest is that they
are not even the best choice in the satellite tv/cellphone package
market. Sure, they get bulk deals from the main providers but so do a
lot of other people who don't have to pay mall-front rent prices and
can undercut them at their own game.

Follow the money is very appropo and will likely figure into their
ultimate demise. I'll reitirate that its the franchise owners who are
taking the beating, not the corporate entity.

-BM

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Well RS is doing well financially, better than the competition. As for
what they sell, well, you have to follow the money especially with the
rents
so high. Cellphones, satellite service and other modern fun things is
where
the money is now. Parts make up very little of the business, even though
they make a high profit on them. The do-it-yourself market is pretty lean
now a days, with college areas making up the biggest market. It is to easy
to buy a digital rig and get it up and running than a homebrew one. Even
though the homebrew one is funner to get going.

I recall a UP story a couple of weeks ago that stated RS had 50 million
profit off of over 1 billion in sales. So they are selling a hell of a lot
but barely staying in the black. 1/2 of 1 percent profit? Even a passbook
savings acct gets a better return than that.

john graesser wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...

Well RS is doing well financially, better than the competition. As for
what they sell, well, you have to follow the money especially with the

rents

so high. Cellphones, satellite service and other modern fun things is

where

the money is now. Parts make up very little of the business, even though
they make a high profit on them. The do-it-yourself market is pretty lean
now a days, with college areas making up the biggest market. It is to easy
to buy a digital rig and get it up and running than a homebrew one. Even
though the homebrew one is funner to get going.


I recall a UP story a couple of weeks ago that stated RS had 50 million
profit off of over 1 billion in sales. So they are selling a hell of a lot
but barely staying in the black. 1/2 of 1 percent profit? Even a passbook
savings acct gets a better return than that.



Um, as I recall, 1 billion is 1000 million (in the USA where Radio Shack
is). So that would be 50/1000 or 5% profit.

John

"john graesser" wrote in message
...

I recall a UP story a couple of weeks ago that stated RS had 50 million
profit off of over 1 billion in sales. So they are selling a hell of a lot
but barely staying in the black. 1/2 of 1 percent profit? Even a passbook
savings acct gets a better return than that.

50 x10^6 / 10^9 * 100% = 5% - that's not so bad

"-ex-" wrote in message
...
clfe wrote:

the front. Radio Shack selling basically the same thing the others do -
with the exception of a few things, will peter out. I give them 10 years
tops. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it. I think their era has come and
gone.

clf

10 years? No way. In recent years I've had a few instances to go into a
RS looking for stuff for the kids like videogame machines and just odd
random non-radio related stuff. They aren't competitive with that stuff
either.

Seems to me that they are 'surviving' off of their convenience aspect
since most of their urban stores are located in malls and many smaller
towns that don't have the big box stores and malls at least have an RS
franchise...but they never have a very good stock of anything. When you
go into a RS and they can't fit you with a new cellphone battery whats
left?

My bet is that there are a lot of red ink stores in their chain and the
poor franchisees are basically working only to have a job and to try and
salvage their investment. I suspect if it weren't for their franchising
schemes the name Radio Shack would be long gone already.

-Bill M

Bill - BILL - I was "trying" to be nice about it - be conservative - give
them time to buy themselves out of this mess. If they go 5 they'll be damned
lucky. As to their "Franchising" - knowing what I do, I'd be very hard
pressed to want to be a part of their system. I recall a day when they
wouldn't allow (at least how I recall it) a store within 10 miles of
another. Now, they have stores and francised outlets squeezed in between.
Maybe in the quest to try to add more stores for more sales, - they choked
themselves. Seems to be a going thing today. A big store chain comes in -
claims the best of the world and within a very few short years - declare
bankruptcy and shut down. Whatever their problems are - Cell phone sales -
TV sets, Phones, Gadgets and so on - just aren't going to cut it. They
really did lose the basis of their origins. Sad but true - a sign of the
times. It wouldn't surprise me if tomorrow on CNN - they came out with the
announcement that RS is calling it quits. Like the death of a famous movie
star or whatever you hold somewhat near and dear - it may startle the mind,
but life goes on.

clf

If you buy it at Radio Shack & it has a warranty, they will do their best to
honor it. The new storage system for parts sure is better for us with
bifocals.

Their demise has been predicted for more than 30 years...
Some of the store help are very knowledgeable, some are not.

--
John Ferrell
http://DixieNC.US

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...
In article rio.net,
clfe wrote:

Problem with that scenario is most and I'd dare say a majority of the RS
clerks didn't have a clue about electronics - to be able to give "that"
type
of answer. They were lucky to know what a resistor was, let alone how to
substitute one value for another. They were good when they sold parts,
the
other stuff was for the "other" people - not into Electronics. I'm
talking
the toys and gadgets. For anyone wanting to go in for parts only - it has
seriously lost its touch.

The manager of the Radio Shack I went to before I moved here, was a ham.
All of the employes knew radio (swl or scanners), electronics or
computers.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM
IL Voice: (077)-424-1667 IL Fax: 972-2-648-1443 U.S. Voice:
1-215-821-1838
Support the growing boycott of Google by radio users and hobbyists.
It's starting to work, Yahoo has surpassed Google.