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FlyingRhenquest

In Honor of Radio Shack Closing 1100 Stores

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Yeah, back in the 80's they use to have a variety of fairly nifty things. For a while there the two things that could be guaranteed to be in any shopping mall were a Radio Shack and a loud coin-op video game arcade. Somewhere along the way, Radio Shack stopped having anything even remotely interesting and became an overpriced cell-phone and battery store, and I have't seen an arcade in a mall in a couple of decades. These days it seems like the two things guaranteed to be in any mall are a California Pizza Kitchen and an EB Games/Gamestop store.
I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

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I recently had a desire for an Arduino Micro for a small project. It's a $25 part. The local Radio Shack was selling it for $32, which is $2 MORE than they're selling it for on their own web site.

Fuck them.
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

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quade

I recently had a desire for an Arduino Micro for a small project. It's a $25 part. The local Radio Shack was selling it for $32, which is $2 MORE than they're selling it for on their own web site.

Fuck them.



Kinda hostile for 2$.[:/]

Then again - I guess maybe not.
I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

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normiss

I have sourced electronic bits numerous other ways for a very long time - I don't think I've been in a Radio Shack since they sued Auto Shack!
:P



Yeah same here. Been at least 15 years since I last visited one. CompUSA, Best Buy, even the hardware stores, etc pretty much took over.
"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

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turtlespeed

***I recently had a desire for an Arduino Micro for a small project. It's a $25 part. The local Radio Shack was selling it for $32, which is $2 MORE than they're selling it for on their own web site.

Fuck them.



Kinda hostile for 2$.[:/]

Then again - I guess maybe not.

"Didn't ask for no dime."

I knew what your link was a reference to as soon as I saw your comment.
I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

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We googled radio shack, and found out that the they are closing up to 1100 stores, which is only 20% of their retail locations. So their not dead yet, just downsizing to reduce their their loses until they figure out how to compete in todays market.

This phenomenon is nothing new for retailers that haven't kept up with the times. In our area we had a large Barnes and Noble that only lasted 2 yrs before they had to shut their doors along with other locations around the country.

Its the new normal for retailer's, either adapt to the current mkt conditions or die a slow painful death.
One Jump Wonder

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No mystery here....

Someone is selling cell phones and remote control cars on every corner. No-one is selling electronic components (including Radio Shack) anywhere. Stop selling cell phones and remote controlled toys and go back to what you're good at. B|

Birdshit & Fools Productions

"Son, only two things fall from the sky."

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Krip

We googled radio shack, and found out that the they are closing up to 1100 stores, which is only 20% of their retail locations. So their not dead yet...



They're just resting.:ph34r:
"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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FlyingRhenquest

Yeah, back in the 80's they use to have a variety of fairly nifty things. For a while there the two things that could be guaranteed to be in any shopping mall were a Radio Shack and a loud coin-op video game arcade. Somewhere along the way, Radio Shack stopped having anything even remotely interesting and became an overpriced cell-phone and battery store, and I have't seen an arcade in a mall in a couple of decades. These days it seems like the two things guaranteed to be in any mall are a California Pizza Kitchen and an EB Games/Gamestop store.



I used to buy all my electronics parts from the local Radio Shack, but the parts section got scaled back and back and back over the years.

Now I get the stuff I need online, although I did buy an Arduino manual from RS sometime last year.
...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

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kallend


Now I get the stuff I need online, although I did buy an Arduino manual from RS sometime last year.

Things change at the speed of communication. With the internet so handy and most electronics parts so easily shipped, it's easy to see why Radio Shack is in trouble. I think most of us do more of our specialty shopping online than ever before. I know I do.

Just like J.C. Penny, Radio Shack needs to find their niche and make themselves fit. Neither company has done it yet.

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JohnMitchell

***
Now I get the stuff I need online, although I did buy an Arduino manual from RS sometime last year.

Things change at the speed of communication. With the internet so handy and most electronics parts so easily shipped, it's easy to see why Radio Shack is in trouble. I think most of us do more of our specialty shopping online than ever before. I know I do.

Just like J.C. Penny, Radio Shack needs to find their niche and make themselves fit. Neither company has done it yet.

Winner. I agree, with the caveat that sometimes, things just aren't needed anymore. Radio Shack used to be THE place to go for electronics, and the stuff you needed to customize and maintain them, in an era where fathers handed their stereos down to their sons. But now, when the TV or stereo breaks, you just get a new one. And when you do, you go to Best Buy or some place similar. You don't need to figure out how to wire your record player through your amplifier into the graphic equalizer and into your TV so that you can seamlessly sync up Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and the Wizard of Oz.

There just aren't enough people tinkering around with electronics anymore. Those who do, get both the information and parts they need from the internet.

Elvisio "I was equally at home at Radio Shack and the arcade; you know, a real ladies' man" Rodriguez

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I used to work at a mom and pop electronics store in Houston. Need a resistor or diode? We sold them individually! I think it was like 5-7 cents for a resistor.

Radio shack would send people to us when they asked for a component that they didn't carry (which is pretty much most components).

Sadly I haven't found a store like that in Tampa... So either I suck it up and pay an excessive amount for a couple voltage regulators or I order online. I bought all of my Arduino stuff online.
"I may be a dirty pirate hooker...but I'm not about to go stand on the corner." iluvtofly
DPH -7, TDS 578, Muff 5153, SCR 14890
I'm an asshole, and I approve this message

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JohnMitchell

Anymore google brings me discounts and deals on so many specialty items. Fiat oil filters for Vskydiver's car? $20+ bucks at the dealer. Get 3 for the same price online, including shipping. B|



Hi john

Are you buying off ebay, amazon or just Google your way to success.

We recently bought some break pads from OReilly the fronts were fine. The rears were the wrong size. The dude at the desk checked his computer, "the computer said they were the right ones":S.

u tube rocks, as long as you find the right video. One guy was turning down his rotors attached to the rear end in 5th gear with a angle grinder.:o
One Jump Wonder

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Hi Robert

Think about the poor franchise owners. Not sure how many of them are left but their going down with a sinking ship. Might be a reason their merchandise is over priced, and limited.

The new CEO came over from Walgreens, has only been there about a year. They must have paid him a bundle, to switch companies.

Maybe the Brand Can't be saved and they will change the name to the Cell phone shack :D

One Jump Wonder

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RobertMBlevins

***No sad face here. They've been way overpriced for a long time.

They were great 30~40+ years ago when I was a kid looking for electronic parts.



And they used to actually have RADIOS. Now the selection is pathetic.

'We've lost our course, Captain...'

Never put 'Radio' into the name of a company unless you plan on carrying the best radios. At one time, they did. They had these radios with an external antenna screw for connecting a wire for extended range AM. I would take this radio camping, and even in the most remote wilderness I could still get baseball and football games by attaching a 100' copper wire off a roll and throwing it over a couple of tall trees.

Just like Home Depot sells the best homes :P

You should see the offices I saw at Office Depot...best in town! :D

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