RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
Expired - Now N7CAV (KD7PLU)
on
December 17, 2002
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After spending many, many dollars on IC Circuits, Resistors, Wire,
etc. My the writing on the wall finally came clear when I asked
some direct questions: 'You're out of Zeners and 2200uf Caps.
When will they be re-stocked? And why don't you carry HAM stuff
on the shelf anymore?'
I should have known when the HTX-252 went to 99 Dollars. Or
when all the scanners were thrown under glass with big-red tags
attached. But an open door revealed the 50-Ohm coax, packaged
IC's and small transformers sitting in the back room collecting dust
along with three full display panels of the like resting against the wall~
like tombstones of what used to be a Ham radio mecca.
'You got questions, we got blank stares . . .' This used to be the
statement we all fondly remember after a trip to the shack. Now it's
not so easy to live with. "We're not going to carry that stuff anymore.
It's all been discontinued, and we'll probably start discounting it as
closeout as soon as we have room."
No need to count the miles of register tape, but I'm positive my local
RatShack has sold more loose components and parts to me alone to
defend keeping the aisle in-place and well-stocked! Now I'm thrown
from the bus to make room for consumer electronics, cell phone
accessories and DVD-VHS combo players! I'm mad. I feel my
customer value and loyalty to the shop has been violated. They have
taken a broadband selection of loyal patrons and spit them out like a
watermelon seed on the sidewalk.
Why go back now? Catch a few deals? Hover over the 'bargain-bin
of once loved, never-ending (Until now) flow of 8-pin dips and
voltage regulators?! Why bother? Time to start going to national and
other large, online electronic parts resellers that still know and love
the considerable amount of money that hams pour into research,
projects, PS & Amps . . even breadboards that do nothing but make
good smoke-generators.
I'm sad to see what I feel is an end of an era. Another massive blow
to our hobby, and a very clear indicator that the river of new hams
will soon wither to a desert wash. We sat on our cans, we didn't go
out and show-off the hobby, we didn't elmer the kid that asked if the
HT was a scanner or phone. No- we just smirked and walked on.
Too busy, to elite, too bothered by those who are green or un-aware
of the complex, inter-workings of their own electronic world. We are
the blame. The customers we could have programmed into buying
things from our nook of the store are now going directly to the PILE
of cheap RC-Cars and over-priced, plastic cell-phone covers with
blue LEDs.
This infighting between old-school sparks and no-code techs; or the
CW/No CW debate has got to end. We're standing by as 440 turns
to liquid, our ATV channels are up for bid and everything above
800Mhz is a grab-bag for LD carriers to lay stake and slowly flood
into our spectrum.
Go ahead and recon the sales coming up at your local shack. But do
us all a favor- bring a young person with you. And when you get
home, show them some very simple projects that will at least prime
the well so we're not sitting on hill-tops using flashlights to
communicate instead of radios in five years.
Loren B. Cobb / KD7PLU Glendale, AZ
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K4QHM on November 28, 2002
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Loren, I hate to think it, but it seems your on the the right track on all fronts! Dennis Piche', K4QHM Miami Fla dpiche@bellsouth.net
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG4TDM on November 29, 2002
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I agree with the incompetence of the RS techs and salespeople. Been going there since I was a kid, and it seems they know less as the years go by. You can't ask them a question because they can't give you an answer, at least not a correct answer.
Tommy
KG4TDM
Miami, FL
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KB4TWN on December 17, 2002
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Are you sure, really, really sure, that this is such a bad thing? I realize that there's a certain amount of nostalgia associated with the "way things used to be". But I also think that there's a lot of hope for the future. Let's not make the mistake of running into something because we kept looking back.
It's true, things are changing. But, look at the wealth of parts and stuff that's available from Jamco, Mouser and national. So it's mail order, big deal, even Tandy did mail order. I can't count the number of times I waited for a tube or those Miller chokes or something a bit more exotic than a half watt resistor to come in the mail so I could finish. Remember Heathkit, I waited for the mailman for lots of those kits. Today, you can order on-line, most times see a picture of what you're getting, get up to date specs and information. And like you said, most of the guys at Radio Shack didn't know solder from J-clips.
So, when you went there, you were on your own as far as help anyway.
As far as helping, and elmering; yep, don't be mean, crass or holyer than thou. But keep in mind, that if you make it too easy, they won't stick with it. It won't be enough of a challenge. I see lots of kids looking at this stuff and wanting to understand, and some of them are mine.
73
Bradley
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WR8Y on December 17, 2002
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I just loved "You've got questions, we've got blank stares..." So true.
The RS stores here in Georgia (Atlanta, Forest Park, Griffin, Southlake Mall...) have all recently expanded their stock of switches, connectors and small parts. This is what I go to RS for ...
Real Ham equipment? HRO and AES suit me better: better selection, informed staff and easy to deal with.
Sorry to disagree ... but I don't see this as a 'massive blow to our hobby' any more than doing away with the code requirement would be a big boost.
Mark
WR8Y
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K1RDD on December 17, 2002
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On the flip side of this issue, the recent downturn in the High Tech industry has benefitted the Shack near here. I found a clerk who was obviously a laid off EE. We ended up having quite an educated conversation! Unfortunately, even that didn't make up for the lack of inventory, and all I left with was a $5 audio cable.
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by GREENEGGSANDHAM on December 17, 2002
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Actually, I've always thought a more appropriate jingle should have been:
"You've got questions, so do we."
I always hated answering a list of questions just to buy a roll of solder and a pack of resistors. I was thrilled when I heard a few weeks ago that they won't be playing 20 questions any more.
I agree with your post. It's a shame to see it go away. Aside from RS, which is right around the corner, the nearest electronics store is 30 miles from where I live. I guess I won't be making any more 'quick' trips to pick up a few parts.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N0AX on December 17, 2002
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Last time I went to the Shack (just a couple of weeks ago), the components were being moved to a very nice cabinet-based system that was very easy to search through. It's a lot like the "odd hardware" drawers that many hardware stores employ. I believe it is intended to keep components in the stores, while taking up less wall space. Those dumb blister packs were a pain in the neck anyway. Components have one of the highest profit margins in the store on a per-item basis, but they take up WAY too much space to be hanging on the wall. When a 5-resistor pack takes up as much space as a cell phone, something has to give. Maybe not all the stores are getting the cabinets? I suspect that the blister packs will be closeouts in the meantime.
As far as ham gear - the RS HT's and stuff are reasonably good and had competitive prices, but were hardly a significant market presence. Those cheap 10-meter radios, by the way, are a common source of trucker and taxi signals on 10-meters. RS does not check for ham licenses and sells anything to any customer. I'm not sure taking ham gear off the shelf there would be a terribly bad thing.
73, Ward N0AX
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC7MM on December 17, 2002
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Not to offend anyone, but....I am assuming that Radio Shack is getting out of the ham radio business, again, because it doesn't generate enough sales for them to continue in it. Let's face it, one has to sell a LOT of blister pacs of caps, resistors, etc., to make up for the sale of one DVD player or cell phone. I don't blame them for getting out. They can't afford to stay in.
As for poor quality salespeople. Most of the Radio Shack people I have talked with have been neat, clean, respectful, and very helpful. Most of them also are working part-time, at minimal wages, and with few, if any, benefits. Um, with surface mount technology taking over everything, and most products made overseas (gotta keep that global economy going), what are the rewards for these young people to learn about some old parts than very few of their customers want.
The world is changing guys. Our society doesn't reward young people for getting into science (much to our future chagrin). So get used to it. Unfortunately, when something breaks, the cheap thing (and that's what everyone wants today) is to throw it away and buy, buy, buy something new. As far as making something from scratch, few if any young people see the need or enjoyment in doing that.
So please give those young sales people a break. They are not in control. They only work there part time.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA9BXE on December 17, 2002
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Old Geezer time.... I remember when Chicago’s Surplus Row, Allied Electronics, Central Electronics, Newark Electronics, Hallicrafters and more, all closed down in the 60’s and early 70’s. I mourned all of those businesses and then some.
“Ham Radio will never be the same”, I cried.
But, I was wrong. A person just has to look a little harder and a little further to find the precious bits of “stuff” we need repair or complete a rig or some other component.
I think we’ll do fine for the foreseeable future.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KB3GJP on December 17, 2002
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Hi I just want to say, Not all the communications stuff are discontinued(excluding the cellphones)
All of the Shortwave radios with, Radio Shacks name on them are being replaced with other companys besides Radio Shack. All of Radio Shacks Cbs are being replaced with other companys. Radio Shacks, Only older model Ham Radios are being discontinued. Only The older models of Radio Shack scanners are being discontinued PRO90 and before. I have not heared anything about FRS,GMRS or business radios. I have not heard anything about accesories.
I bought at the dicount price. Radio Shack Shortwave radio dx-398 origonaly $250.00. Now $90.00 I bought a Dx-402 Originaly $169.00 now $69.00
I almost bought a htx-245 (TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE YOU GOT RIPED OFF)for $39.00
Almost bought one of Radio Shacks older scanners base station 800mhz, for $40.00
Last my friend bought a 2m/70cm 1 watt ht. 1 watt with supplied batteries $69.00
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 17, 2002
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Your right on the money! I have said years ago, Radio SCHLOCK is not what it used to be.
Many TV stations have had to send an engineer down to RADIO SCHLOCK down for emergency parts. Hams too have bought parts to fix something in thier shack.
Wish MR Tandy was still running the chain.
In the "good old days" Radio shack had a manager who could maybe could pass the 2nd class Radio telephone exam.
All sorts of customers who had some electronic background would help too.
Now most Radio schlocks employ ex-fast food workers!
Most Radio Schlocks do not carry parts at all.
Most of the Science Fairkit line is out.
Radio shack was named for radio operators. Now they
seem to be applience operators.
The long awaited catalog in Aug. wss an event.
No catalogs now. One must go on line.
Shame Shame Shame
73 de WA2JJH
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W0PPK on December 17, 2002
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The problem with Radio Shack is the caliber of people they are hiring! Some of them can hardly speak English or have any idea of what they are selling. Worse case scenario.
Bob W0PPK
No. Miami, FL
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by N6AYJ on December 17, 2002
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A few thoughts on this subject:
1. We have two Radio Shacks in town. One is terrible, with stupid clerks and very little inventory. The other is really great: just the opposite of the other store. E.g., they have the catalogs of all the major electronic manufacturers besides R.S. and will order anything you want. I sure hope the second store stays that way.
2. R.S. is a publicly-traded corporation, and these days shareholders demand stock price increases. The only way to do this is to keep sales volumes and profit margins up. Ham radio parts and equipment do not meet these criteria. If the Prez. of R.S. does not increase stock price or, worse yet, lets it slip, his head will roll. So really, we shouldn't be blaming R.S. The same thing is happening in many different industries. Blame the selfish, shortsighted shareholders.
3. Remember in the 1982 recession, when the L.A. Times ran a story about an out-of-work E.E.? Pres. Reagan claimed there really was no recession, decided to be pro-active, and called up a friend at R.S. and asked them to get this guy a job. The press duly reported it, and Reagan trumpeted it as proof that the economy was in fine shape. The problem was that the job paid only minimum wage. Six weeks later, the guy was able to find a REAL E.E. job, quit working for R.S., and the press reported this, too. Reagan was rather chagrined. Nothing has really changed since then. We need to remember that those R.S. clerks are only making minimum wage, and when they can find a better job, they're outta there. So the clerks turn over quickly, and don't know the product.
4. Shop online with the established electronic firms mentioned by the previous posters. The selection is SO much better!
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA9PIE on December 17, 2002
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I just love going into Radio Shack. Some kid who can't spell radio greets you and asks if you need help finding anything... heck, most of us are more familiar with where things are (that we need) than they are. When I have time, it's fun to answer them and say, "yeah, I just bought an Icom IC-706MkIIG to install in my car and I'm looking for a small speaker to install under the dash so that I can hear the radio, because I'm mounting it in the trunk". So they look at you and say, "uh, oh, um, well, we don't carry anything like that". So you follow with, "okay, do you have any small scanner speakers?". And they say, "yeah, we've got this one".
If not for the existence of Radio Shack, these Tandy salesmen would be at the McDonalds drive through trying to figure out how to give you change back for your order when you add the extra change necessary to ensure that your pocket only fills up with green singles and not coins.
Generally, I don't have the patience to have this much fun with them.
Overall, this is exactly why the hamfest flea market is in trouble. If you want to buy parts, go online with Digikey or Mouser. If you wanna buy new gear, go online with R&L (my favorite), AES, and the like. If you wanna buy used gear, go to eBay or eham (although eBay has some buyer protection features).
I brought this up a while back and the "old-timers" (of which I consider myself to be among them) told me that "I'll never buy a rig I haven't spun the dial on". Well, okay then 'old-timer'. But Radio Shack is out of the picture now and your flea markets are going away. We're all online now. Then again, they'll notice that when they go to Radio Shack to get their next pad of Tandy logging paper.
Mike, WA9PIE
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by N8FVJ on December 17, 2002
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RS had a habit of not restocking parts in a timely manner anyways. It got to the point some hams would call me first- no great loss to me.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KD6KWM on December 17, 2002
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This is news?? Radio Shack's been moving away from parts & supplies since the late 70's. I know. I used to work at a local R/S back in high school (77-78). Sales folks didn't know squat. They'd just say "talk to the tec in the back."
The selection of parts has been dismal forever.
Try real parts houses like DigiKey, Mouser, Dan's Small Parts, HSC, etc.
This is news? It's old news?
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K9FE on December 17, 2002
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I thought the death of electronics experimenters was back in 1972 when up in the Chicago area all the Allied Radio stores became Radio Shack. Quality went down as well as the service. We lived through it then, and I imagine we will live through this change.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KS3J on December 17, 2002
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As so many have said, it makes no sense to buy real ham radio equipment (transceivers, etc.) from Radio Shack in the first place. There are too many other vendors to choose from, all of whom have better product. As for small parts -- have you ever looked at the difference between Radio Shack connectors and, say, Switchcraft? The RS connectors are junk, completely unusable for all but the most superficial of applications.
Radio Shack's sister company, TechAmerica, was a great innovation for them. They finally had a good selection of parts, test equipment, and all manner of electronics supplies under one roof. Quality was good (they were carrying name brand stuff), prices were reasonable, and orders from the catalog weren't even subject to a minimum order.
Alas, some genius at Tandy realized they'd accidentally done something right and closed all the stores, renaming the on-line outlet "radioshack.com" and lobotomizing its inventory.
I will not see this as a loss. I never bought anything from Radio Shack ("You've got questions, we've got batteries") if there was an alternative.
Scott KD4DCY
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by KB0NLY on December 17, 2002
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You Got Questions, well we don't have any answers!
I have to local radio shacks, one of which has been established for many many years. The other radio shack has been started up in the last few years, and while the newer store has nothing of interest to me, the older store no longer does either.
I can't blame them for doing it, after all a $2 part doesn't make them the same profit that a cellular phone and accessories does. The older radio shack near me has gone to the bin method of selling small parts, i like the idea, it's like going to the hardware store to buy a bolt or washer. But the problem is they just don't carry the caps or resistors i am after on a particular day, so no quick fixes anymore.
But oh well, i live in Minnesota, Digi-Key is on my doorstep in 2-3 business days when i order from them online, and i don't have to drive anywhere and spend time hunting for the part hanging on a wall or in various drawers. As one of you have already mentioned at least when you shop online these days with the various parts suppliers you can see the latest up to date specs, and pictures, of the components your trying ot track down.
I don't have any problems with Radio Shack getting rid of there Amateur Specific product line, the radio shack by me (the older of the two) had a two meter mobile go on special last month, it had been sitting a very long time, you could tell by the dust collection on the box. Most hams don't go to radio shack for anything but parts and odds and ends anyway, most hams i ask say they do business with AES or HRO, and i have to candy stores i can call on for fast shipment, Burghardt's in SD, and Radio City here in Minnesota. But i also do business with AES, speaking of which i think i will go drool over the catalog some more!
73,
Scott, KBØNLY
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N0YD on December 17, 2002
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Hi to all:
Let's not blame ourselves, or fellow hams, or no-coders, or CBers, or uninformed clerks, or anybody else about this situation.
This is just "Business 101."
Most, if not all, businesses look at what they have on their shelves, what sells quickly and what does not. And they change their product offerings to delete what does not move quickly and add things that do move quickly. The quicker one turns over one's inventory, the more money they make.
Grocery stores do it, Wal-Mart does it, Sams does it, even McDonalds does it. Ever gone to one of these stores and discovered that they no longer carry an item they used to carry?
So let's move on and find other sources for the items Radio Shack no longer will carry.
And get back to having FUN with Ham radio.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Tom, N0YD "Yankee Doodle"
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by KB1FWN on December 17, 2002
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I just purchased a 36' mast from RatShack for $70 and it is still standing despite being overweighted. I am one of the few lucky enough to live close to a store where active hams work. They were lots of help, but admitted to being understocked on the stuff that they were 'supposed to sell'. They refuse to make a printed product listing, claiming their site is much better to use. Well, if thats how its going to be, thats how its going to be. Maybe we need to find another place to buy QUALITY, REASONABLY PRICED, AMATEUR RADIO equipment and components.
73', de Mike KB1FWN
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W2PA on December 17, 2002
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Well okay, too bad about RS from a convenience standpoint. But really - a Ham Radio Mecca?? I don't think so. When was RS ever that? Yeah, I've gotten lucky and found just what I needed sometimes - on the spur of the moment. But there are so many great places on the Web from which to order parts, and it's so much easier to find just what you want. And with documentation and full specs on every part. Why make the trip to RS?
I've only been a ham for a short time - since about 1969. But in my short experience I've seen the demise of ham radio predicted about once a year. And reading QSTs from before my time, it's clear that there have been falling-sky predictors as far back as the invention of radio. Come on gloom-and-doomers, just enjoy radio. Today with the Internet, computers, logging software, digital modes and more, ham radio is better than ever. Radio Shack getting out of it? We'll live. Is it really "another massive blow to our hobby"?? I don't think so.
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by K9PO on December 17, 2002
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I just bought my first Radio Shack radio, an HTX-10 on sale for $89. Good deal! RS has always been a source of conenctors, the occasional resitor or relay for me. They are close by and usually have basic, moderate quality parts.
But as we have moved to the SMT devices I have found less and less use for RS parts. Their connectors and cables are handy as is a spool of twisted pair when you need it. They are continuing those items.
I remember when RS got out of the ham business and then back into it. The 2nd time they got several big name mfgrs to make OEM radios (take a look at some of the Icom rigs and the RS ones) for them. Good deal for them and some hams.
I hope they still keep a focus on the non-tradional electronics stuff such as WX band radios, scanners, a few ham toys, cables and the like. But there are better places to go these days to get parts.
It is a simple decision of staying up with their main core of customers, equipment operators! At least they are not talking of going out of business as they have before.
73
K9PO
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by N0NB on December 17, 2002
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Didn't this just get beat to death over on QRZ a week or so back? :-)
About 25 years ago we had an RS store open in town (Marysville, KS). What a neat place for a budding ham and radio enthusiast to browse at. Growing up out here in the sticks meant that RS was typically the only source of any electronic parts or equipment. There was another RS in the county seat about 25 miles west of here and it was there I picked up an even then out of print copy of "5 to 1000 Watts" their Novice license manual from the late 70's (this was early 1981 as I recall). I picked up a few more pieces of literature between the two stores and started on the road to hamdom.
I've patronized RS a lot over the years. I bought my first computer a Coco 2 when they went on sale in November 1983 a couple weeks after receiving my Novice ticket. I bought a number of accessories for the machine, all grossly over priced by today's standard of price/performance. I bought piles of parts for countless little projects and also found out that RS RG-58 coax didn't last long buried underground!
The RS in this town changed owners in the late 80's and the new owners were more interested in video rentals than RF/computers and within a couple of years the franchise was sold again. The local RS store became a subset of a larger computer/office supply store and hardly catered to anything but the fastest moving parts. The owners dropped the franchise several years ago and the one in the town west of here also was dropped. Now the nearest RS is 30 miles to the east and is a subset of an appliance store, appropriate, huh? Two more stores are within 50 miles of here in Nebraska one is still primarily RS while the other is a combination of Cellular dealer and seller of engraved decorative limestone rocks.
I did not like all the information an RS store wanted to gather on a person. Often, when I was in a store I didn't frequent often, I would hand the clerk a bill and say that the sale was cash as I didn't need two or more copies of their sales circulars. Actually I didn't want my favorite store replaced in the master database.
Yes, the RS parts were of inferior quality, but that didn't seem to matter when I was aching to finish up some weekend project on Sunday afternoon.
I wish RS well in the direction they feel a need to go, but I find very little of interest there anymore. I really think RS lost its identity and its market presence when they killed the Tandy computer line. Without RS, I doubt the computer revolution would have happened at quickly as it did. Their machines were of good enough quality at a low enough price that RS sold a boat load of computers over the 15 years or so that they were in the business. Of course the IBM clones are what killed them and it was sad to see RS become just a retail outlet for IBM and now Compaq.
RIP old friend.
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by W9CW on December 17, 2002
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The most likely reason for RadioShack leaving the amateur radio market, beside slow sales, is the retirement of a couple of key RS executives, both of whom are hams. I won't name names, but these gentlemen were top executives with RS and one was the driving force in RS offering amateur products. With his departure, there is no longer a strong executive marketing voice for amateur radio within RS. I'll bet anything that this is the primary reason for RS' corporate decision.
73,
Don W9CW
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by KL7IPV on December 17, 2002
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Well, I haven't seen anyone mention Allied Electronics as a source. Do you know they still are? Look them up at : www.alliedelec.com. They will also send you a real 1400 page paper catalog ( I just got mine ) and it is full of good stuff. So my favorite stopping place is going away. The good ole Allied store now sits on my desk. Time marches on.
73
Frank
KL7IPV
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by KC2JYT on December 17, 2002
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Let me tell you about my recent trip to the "Ratshack". I am new to Hamradio, and just purchaced a couple "HT's". I needed a speaker mic, and when I asked the sales person if they had any, he replied, "it's discontinued"...that was after he asked another salesperson. So I left.
Went in another day looking for some connectors and in the small radio section left in the store, low and behold, NEW, INSTOCK, speaker mics, and still being manufactured!
Tried to find them on the internet site, and I think that is run by the same caliber salespeople, somehow the item is buried under the rubble of other stuff...Oh, I'll stop there...
Well, the same salesperson was there from the day before, and I pointed out to him where they were. Maybe I should get a job there???
I was being pleasant, but wanted to grab these guys by there ear and ask them if they have ANY idea what they have in the store. <sigh>
73
KC2JYT
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio?
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by WD8MGO on December 17, 2002
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I also do business with several Radio Shack stores here in the Dayton area. What I don't like like is their pushy attitude. I went to one in Lafayette Indiana for a wedding and the salesperson didn't like the idea I knew what I wanted and I didn't want his help. He turned out to be very rude(I should of notified the National Office).
Luckily in Dayton I did check with the mall Radio Shack and the manager( a good guy) told me that only mall stores will not carry parts. All outlying stores will carry parts. Besides here in Dayton we have Mendelson's(which on somethings aren't so cheap) and Midwest located in Fairborn(smaller but easier to get to a specific part). I was taught as a Novice to always keep junk parts on hand. Besides I use junk parts and kits for my artwork.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by G1YGJ on December 17, 2002
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In the UK we lost our Tandy stores, which were owned by Radio Shack, some years ago. They were bought out by a mobile phone outfit.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio?
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by AB8PR on December 17, 2002
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That's the same story I was told. Their mall outlets are moving towards the home theater/computer/toy business, since most of the customers that browse malls are after those products, not ham gear or coax connectors or op-amps. Other stores will continue to carry the full line of parts.
In regards to RS salespersons often being pushy, all I can say is, AMEN. I try to avoid one store in a nearby outlet mall, one of the sales guys in there reminds me of the McDonald's clerk asking, "Do you want fries with that?" Doesn't want to see you walk out of the store with only the item you came for. The store in another nearby town is much better.
I gave up asking them technical questions a while ago. Went in last month to try and get a replacement battery pack for my HTX-202. Big mistake. "We've got blank stares" fit the bill. I managed to get them to call the parts center and supposedly find the pack, I placed the order. I thought 12 bucks sounded like a steal, turned out I was right. Instead of the pack I got the internal memory battery. I'm going to order it from Batteries America instead, they have a pack that provides 12 volts for the same price as the replacement pack from RS.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio?
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by N3SKO on December 17, 2002
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My nearby store has re-organized the stuff into some metal cabinets which are easier to sort through (especially with these blasted trifocals :-).
If you are in the same store frequently, it is fairly easy to "house-train" the store staff. A couple of hard stares and grunts and the youngsters will usually leave you alone, especially when you start rooting through the parts.
Just stay away from the RS's selling computers - I just about explode when I hear some of the tripe they give uneducated consumers (I teach Computer Architecture :-).
Ah well, progress, right? I still miss the old electronics stores in Center City Wilmington...
73, john
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio?
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by N6HBJ on December 17, 2002
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C'mon. HAM radio is a specialty hobby with a limited customer base. You will always find parts that you need in a specialty store.
As far as I remember RS only began to sell HAM radios within the last decade after no code 10 meter comm. began possible and they basically were selling CB radios for 10 meters instead of 11. Not what I'd consider top quality gear anyway.
Yes, the clerks arent very helpful these days but their just kids workin minimum wage. Give em a break. At least their working! Since we are the "experts" then we should be able to find what we need ourselves by looking in the catalouge all by ourselves. God forbid we have to do a little research all by our lonesome. I think we can manage.
What is all this death of HAM radio doomsday predictions I constantly hear? maybe I'm wrong but hasn't computers and no code liscensing INCREASED the number of HAM operators during the last decade or two by introducing thousands of operators who otherwise wouldn't have been attracted to the hobby?
HAM radio is a worldwide hobby and it is here to stay-relax. It will be around long after WE are gone. =)
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W4UDX on December 17, 2002
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I gave up on RS quite awhile back. All it's good for now is replacement dial lamps. I get my parts from Mouser Electronics. They send me at least 2 catalogs a year packed with parts, even though all I ever bought from them were cheap 2 or 3 dollar parts. And you can order parts online at www.mouser.com. If you're into homebrew or repair, I highly recommend them. RS is just another retail audio/video store now...
Mark W4UDX
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by RAD1OMAN on December 17, 2002
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why don't we all pick up axe handles and beat this dead horse?
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG4PIL on December 17, 2002
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Radio Shack is pretty much a reflection of most of your retail stores today. Very few stores today have salesmen that know the products they are selling. Try some of your auto parts stores, hardware stores etc.
George KG4PIL
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N2CJ on December 17, 2002
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RS was nothing more than a disappointing necessary evil for many years. The name "Radio Shack" itself is a blasphemous lie. It's not that they are out of the ham radio business, they were never really in it. What's more, I haven't been able to figure out what business they ARE in. Is it computers? Cell phones? Consumer electronics? Car audio? They dabble in this and that, but don't have a consistent selection of anything. It's amazing they've lasted this long. From as far back as the infamous TRaSh-80 of the 70's and 80's, to their foray into the PC compatible machines, a few ill-conceived transceivers, supplies for etching pc boards(??), lousy batteries & stupid toys--- I've never figured them out.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N6JSX on December 17, 2002
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I heard RadioTrash was going out of the parts business a few years ago due to low sales - but in talking to a RS district manager I found that during the non holiday season the small parts stuff is what makes up a large percentage of their sales - keeping some stores in business. But I've been expecting this to happen as RS does not consider the service they provide but the mark up that makes profit. They're in business to make money not to be a service to our needs.
Oh their HAM stuff - all I can say is they sure didn't do very much market study before trying to sell the radios they put out. If they would have put out a low cost dual band mobile - I bet it would be a hot hot seller - face it WE HAMs are cheap and WE are always looking for a good DEAL! RS doesn't realize this. They need a HAM in their marketing department to understnad us and what will sell to us!
I also doubt that RS is making much on PC sales as there are far better deals out there and Compaq is about to go under!
I think that RS is heading into shakey times and they continue to alienate the technical world it may be dooms day for them.
On another note - I will have to say WE HAMs sure are NOT doing much to get kids into our sport! A few years ago I published an article challenging retired HAMs and HAM clubs to start an "adopt a school" type program where retiree's could assist in teaching/running/setting up electronics and HAM projects at their local schools. A way of getting involved in the community and giving something back. There are a few of these programs around but very few - ARRL always seems to get involved a day late and then require special funds to do anything. The HAM clubs don't need the ARRL - do it on your own - talk to the school system - propose a a method - get equipment donations - get a science teacher licensed - then help them!
Awe why try - we will just sit around a rag chew about the good old days and what it "was" like until our bands are taken away for commercial use due to fading numbers. Bye
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio?
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by RAD1OMAN on December 17, 2002
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in dayton, who NEEDS a Radio Shack? You have
Mendelson's
Midwest Surplus
MCM Electronics
Parts Express
and Consolidated...
Did I miss anyone?
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KB5IAV on December 17, 2002
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I think Radio Shack getting out of ham radio is not going to hurt our service that much.
Radio Shack is getting out the ham business for a simple reason, it's just not profitable for them. During my 13 years in ham radio, my "big" purchases of new stuff came from AES, HRO, or from vendors at a hamfest, not from Radio Shack.
The only ham radio items I've purchased from them are things like 50ohm coax, connectors, twinlead(not sure if that's really a ham item, since it's used for TV/FM too), and other small items. In other words, nothing over a few dollars at a time. These items will most likely continue to be carried, since they can be used for CB, TV, and so on. I don't like the quality of their connectors, but if I'm doing an antenna project on a weekend afternoon and need a connector, I can drive to Radio Shack and get a connector in 5 minutes.
As for the bootleg activity on our bands being caused by Radio Shack, I remember when I first got into ham radio when the Uniden HR2510/2600 10 meter rigs were being sold through retailers like Service Merchandise, truck stops, and CB stores. I'm sure this widespread availability of that rig might have had something to do with illegal activity on 10 meters.
One positive thing I have to say about Radio Shack is during my many years without cable TV, they were the only place I could go to buy a decent indoor TV antenna. Nobody else seems to carry those anymore.
Radio Shack to me is a store where I can get an occasional item that I can use for ham radio, but not much more.
73,
Jonathan, KB5IAV
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N0AH on December 18, 2002
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It is a bad rap, but when was the last time anyone fixed their rig with a part from rat shack? It the board that gets replaced these days- Bummer but the way it is for 90% of gear out there.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by VE3TMT on December 18, 2002
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Don't think I read any other replies from Canada but here in VE3 land, the Radio Shack stores have been dropping their inventory of ham gear for years. Even scanners now are hard to find. And resistors, transistors and caps forget about it. I have to drive 20 miles to get to the closest parts retailer. With the money I've spent at Radio Shack over the last 20 years I should own half the company, but it seems every time I go into the store looking for something, it has been discontinued. I have picked up some bargains over the years, but I sure do miss the old days when the shelves were stocked with parts of every kind.
If you're looking for a cell phone or computer, go nuts, but look elsewhere for your ham radio needs.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG6AMW on December 18, 2002
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Radio Shack is desperately trying to find a niche to survive in. Its no wonder they have minimum wage employees who know little. They trying to hold their overhead down while they figure out what they want to be. Radio Shack was a ham radio store, no an electronics store, no a computer store, no a personal electronics store, no a hobby store, no a ____. You get the point. They may not last much longer. Us hams are just a remnant from their original marketing efforts that pop up now and then which confuses the hell out of them.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W9JCM on December 18, 2002
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Yes but you keep going back there even if you get the DUH looks from salespeople. I wish they would sell more ham/communications stuff but oh well. There is always another place to buy something.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by VE6XX on December 18, 2002
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Greetings & Merry Christmas to all: I hate to be negative at this time of year but the only good thing Radio Shack ever made was junk, & they had to label that "made in China" in order to sell it! Their small parts were floor sweepings, acquired from God knows where. As has been pointed out in other posts, the staff, in the main, are minimum wage earners, oweing to bottom line constraints. Years ago, I spent a half year running a satellite service depot for RS. I never saw such a collection of crap in my life. Batteries...
let me tell you about batteries. Remember, this occurred 25 years ago, but never the less......
RS had a Christmas special on radio controlled toys.
There was a tank, a "jeep"(reg) a racing car, & something else. If they sold 1000 of those for Christmas we got 999 returned for repair. A tech was having a problem with one particular unit & came to me for help. The cctry was sensitive to voltage levels so I pulled the 4 "D" cells out & dumped in 4 "Coppertops". I immediately noticed a great difference in the weight of the cells. Out of curiosity, I hacksawed one of the RS "D" cells in two.
As God is my witness, the exterior of the cell was a "jacket" & inside was a "C" cell with conductive straps attaching it to the pos & neg terminals on the "D" case!!!! I read the label on the "D" shell, & in small letters it said " D size cell" !!!
Certainly not fraud in the letter of the law, but absolutely deceitful business practise. The RS coax cable might better be labelled " RADIAX"(reg). You can play X's & O's in the gaps between lays in the braid.
I would never buy anything from the "Shack" that was available anywhere else in the free world! They routinely screwed their store owners over here in Canada. The Franchise is operated as a "partnership" under Canadian law(or was) & everything was the rsponsibility of the store operator & he or she stood all the losses. As an example: Product "A" would be sold to the store operator at X dollars to be resold at "X + 25% dollars" . Routinely, RS Canada would put product "A" on sale through national advertising at an advertised retail price below what the store operator paid RS for it. Guess who absorbed the loss?
In MHO amateurs have lost nothing through RS recent decision to withdraw from amateur & parts markets.
One man's opinion. Before anyone asks, I have never had an association with the "Shack" in any way. I was paid a salary to run the service depot by the owner of that depot, & the cheques came from his registered numbered company, not the "Shack". I have had several friends who were unfortunate enough to be "franchisees" for the "Shack" until they wised up.
Once again, this info is 25 years old & is confined to Canadian experience...I have no knowledge of U.S. or overseas operations.
Cheers! & Happy Holidays to all from Brian, VE6XX
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by KV4BL on December 18, 2002
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Right On, Loren! There is much truth in what you say. I have learned a lot from others' posts, also, such as just how inferior some of those parts and components I have been buying from RS really may have been. I know that it seems as though any idea that the Shack ever had about being "ham oriented" is fast slipping away. Their old HTX-202/404 series of radios were ideal for a beginner or old timer. They took much into consideration with these radios and the way they came packaged. Features that most manufacturers should have made standard but instead made as "add ons" were standard with the 202. Things like CTCSS encode AND decode, DTMF, DTMF squelch, Ni Cad battery and charger AND AA battery case were part of what made this a great radio out of the box. As time passed, they started to lose touch. Their newest 10 meter "offering" was shameful. Obviously no real hams were consulted or had any hand in the design of this radio. Let's see, AM and USB (nothing wrong with either of those), and FM (fine except no CTCSS encode and certainly no decode), and LSB (ok I guess if you can tell me what good it is on 10m), and NO CW! They can put in LSB but no CW....don't try and tell me any hams were consulted about this one! More recent mobile offerings, as written about in the E-Ham reviews, just weren't hitting on much at all in the reliability department. Then, as someone already touched on here, they did something that I am sure tended to urinate in the cornflakes of more than just some hams....they decided to quit printing catalogs!!!! When I found this little gem of wisdom out a month or two ago, I said right then and there that I would certainly be buying less from Radio Shack from that point onward. Yes, online stuff can be done more cheaply and updated more easily, BUT...there is something about a catalog that will never be replaced in my estimation. You never have to wait for the catalog to download, you can use it anywhere at any time. I have a WebTV and I cannot read the small print on the RS web site as it appears waaay to small on my screen. Yeah, guess I should buy a computer but for now, that is out of the question financially. It'll hurt, not being able to drive 5 miles and get a part for a needed project or repair, but hopefully, in time, something better will come along and replace it and meet the need. 73, Ray KV4BL
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KA2IRQ on December 18, 2002
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The reason they are discontinuing all of those items is because they don't sell. The reason they don't sell is because we stopped buying them! So why should we mourn the loss of something we stopped doing long ago?
Sure, it was fun to walk in and tease the sales clerks... but I'd rather spend my time researching my next project and ordering the parts on-line anyway. Searching through the racks was only fun for a few minutes anyway- it lost its appeal when you found they were out of stock on the most important component in your project. (I NEVER walked out of a Radio Shack with everything on my list- always was missing at least ONE item.)
There were some shining exceptions to their quality problems also- my two HTX-202 radios are still going strong and were some of the best 2-meter HT's ever made... and various scanners were excellent. Although, since that was the "later years" most of that equipment was made by other companies and branded as Radio Shack.
The world is trying to find an equalibrium between on-line storefronts and brick and mortar storefonts. Everything was "going on-line" for awhile- then the Internet bubble burst. Brick and mortar made a comeback. Now it is swaying back towards on-line, but not as quickly or as far as the original Internet fad. Eventually, it will reach a "steady-state" - but I think for electronic parts and hobby radio equipment, the ship has sailed. Fire up your web browser and make sure your shipping address is correct!
73,
Marlo
KA2IRQ
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WM1S on December 18, 2002
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True, Radioshack has removed a lot of the small parts from its walls. This happened mostly in mall stores where parts like this just don't sell. All of the other strip stores received the stock that the mall stores had to get rid of, and is now in the 8 foot long parts draws.
I can't speak for the other 7000+ stores, but I try very hard to train my staff to be as helpfull to the people that want the $.50 restior as well as the
$300.00 dvd/vcr combo, but thay can't all be experts!!
Just my 2 cents!!
Mike, WM1S
manager
store 1003
fairhaven, ma
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by KE3UY on December 18, 2002
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So radio shack is getting out of the ham radio business. GOOD! Pardon my sarcasism, but since the late 70's they've been slowly getting out of the radio business (What ever happened to the Radio Shack computer stores?). Yeah, we'll have to order more stuff from other suppliers, we'll have to plan our projects a little better, we'll have to go in with other HAMS and by 500' spools of rg-8/-8m/-58 ect. instead of just what we need, but is it really all that bad?
Some other companies are going to make more because of this. But... it is ashame that you can't go down to the local store and get that part to make the radio you just built work (at least a little, and usually on a Sunday).
As they (to me) look to get out of the radio business altogeather, will they still call themselves Radio Shack? I mean, they won't sell radios.
Call it progress. Just don't forget what happened to radio row (World Trade Center), the drug store tube testers, or the radio/tv repair shops. Those that are left are slowly dying out. All in the name of progress. Maybe we should all slow down a little and stop and smell the roses.
Now, where is my radio shack soldering iron? ...
To ALL, Have a safe and happy holiday season.
Enjoy the small things in life (they'll be gone soon enough). 72/73 Mark, KE3UY.
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by KE6CC on December 18, 2002
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Another Old Geezer ....
I too remember Allied Radio Shack in the pre-Tandy days. In fact I still have the Knight Kit R-100a Receiver and T-150 Transmiter that my dad (WB6HNR - now a silent key) and I built as our first "commercial" gear.
However, I do feel the hobby has lost something with the demise of those companys. We are becoming, with the possible exception of UHFers and QRPers, applaince operators. If thats your bag thats OK, but I really enjoy building smoke generators.
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To WD8MGO
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by N2MR on December 18, 2002
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"I went to one in Lafayette Indiana for a wedding and the salesperson didn't like the idea I knew what I wanted and I didn't want his help. He turned out to be very rude(I should of notified the National Office)."
No wonder he was annoyed....You can't get married in a Radio Shack Store!!!
73 Mark N2MR
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RE: To WD8MGO
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by WR8Y on December 18, 2002
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And another thing...
"I went to one in Lafayette Indiana for a wedding and the salesperson didn't like the idea I knew what I wanted and I didn't want his help. He turned out to be very rude(I should of notified the National Office)."
No wonder he was annoyed....You can't get married in a Radio Shack Store!!!
Sure you can, if this guy was clergy and was there to perform the ceremony!
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by NB6Z on December 18, 2002
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A "massive blow to our hobby" or an opertunity for a strugling ham entrepreneur?
Support your local ham e-business!
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N6TGK on December 18, 2002
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Didn't I see this article on QRZ a month ago? My local Radio Shack still has all the parts I need and they still sell amateur radio equipment. They sell that new dual band handheld. Looks pretty good.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC7MAW on December 18, 2002
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Regardless of what happens to amateur radio or radio shack, we won't be communicating with a flash-light in 5 years. I love the hobby, but thats all it is - a hobby. Our communities do not rely on Ham radio for communications. Most don't know what its about in the first place. Telcom technology in the commercial area does a pretty good job of providing for communications for the masses and those non-hams out there who do understand something about our hobby are inclined to think that relying on amateur radio for communications is equivalent to using a flash-lite anyway.
Hate to say it, but Ham radio is a hobby that can be expensive and difficult to get into with all the antenna restrictions and license requirements.
Radio Shack is a business and exists to make money. if keeping hams happy does not make good business sense then why do it.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC7MAW on December 18, 2002
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Regardless of what happens to amateur radio or radio shack, we won't be communicating with a flash-light in 5 years. I love the hobby, but thats all it is - a hobby. Our communities do not rely on Ham radio for communications. Most don't know what its about in the first place. Telcom technology in the commercial area does a pretty good job of providing for communications for the masses and those non-hams out there who do understand something about our hobby are inclined to think that relying on amateur radio for communications is equivalent to using a flash-lite anyway.
Hate to say it, but Ham radio is a hobby that can be expensive and difficult to get into with all the antenna restrictions and license requirements.
Radio Shack is a business and exists to make money. if keeping hams happy does not make good business sense then why do it.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG4MBU on December 18, 2002
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Well, here in Chapel Hill, NC we have a couple RS stores - one in "the mall" and one not. The one 'not' is owned by a Ham and he is a long standing member of our local club.
Some of the folks he has working for him have their clue-bit cleared when it comes to the kinds of things we look for, but he on the other hand, is one of "us" and it shows.
He recently got rid of all those little blister packs of connectors and has them in drawers in less "packagey" bags. He always knows what you are talking about, and has a 2M HT and a 10M mobile up at the front counter where everyone can see 'em.
If I am not mistaken, each RS is a franchise, but there is some freedom on the part of the franchise owner to stick to the party line, or cary the RS stuff, plus other things (I may be wrong here, but I remember another RS store that was like that).
Anyway, if you go to the mall, you get what you get. If you go to a RS owner by a Ham, you might be surprised!
THX 73 DE KG4MBU
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by K4WTN on December 18, 2002
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Perhaps there just blowing out there old stock and making way to be a main line supplier for Kenwood, icom ect.
I guess if they wont carry any radios they will have to change there name.
Maybe
R/C car shack?
battery shack?
Cell phone shack?
Out of stock parts shack?
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KE2IV on December 18, 2002
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Loren,
Quite honestly, I think you are overstating the case. I note by your QTH that you live in a large metro (Phoenix) area. This goes a long way to explaining the metamorphoses of your local R.C.
Let me explain. I have two QTH's. One in Manhattan in NYC and the other in upstate New York. Those RS's in NYC that haven't closed have definitely transformed themselves into cell phone and electronic appliance stores. There's little, if any, demand for small parts etc. in the City and there is a lot of opportunity (and competition) in the cell and appliance markets.
Conversely, the two RS's I frequent in upstate NY (one is actually in MA-land) have recently renovated and have vastly improved their parts area including installing easy to find slide out drawers systems much like you see in hardware stores for small parts.
These drawer systems should, if used correctly, vastly improve inventory management and (hopefully) result in fewer out-of-stock situations on parts.
I agree with the commentator here who opined that not all change is bad for ham radio (even if a lot is). It certainly would help if we vastly increased our ranks etc. but that's grist for a different mill.
One last point, as also noted, there are a lot of other parts suppliers out there (e.g. Ocean State Electronics - and no, I don't work for them!). With the web they are a lot easier to find and order from so progress ain't all bad now, is it?
73,
George
KE2IV
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by KE1MB on December 18, 2002
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Who needs radio shack? Yea it is nice to pick up parts on the fly, but there are pleanty of on-line stores to shop from.
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by W8MIS on December 18, 2002
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I have a small bussiness here and used fax order parts from RS.com. It was some time ago all the 900 number parts were on sale and then soon not in stock. Talking to many order takers none would say that they were phasing out of the parts business. I too have two shoe boxes of receipts from them. Now all the things we (hams, builders) use are smashed into some drawers. Time to order from other companys. And belive me there are many out there that are willing to help with small orders and charge fare shipping. I had a small company name here called Shack Accesories and the shack sent me two letters from there lawyers saying I had to stop using that name. And one thing for sure they do not have any "shack accesories".
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W8MIS on December 18, 2002
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Gee buy me books and send me to school and what do I do? Date the teacher..
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG8ZH on December 18, 2002
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You can't fault Radio Shack for their decision. I seriously doubt they ever made any real money on ham gear and as far as the sales people are concerned, What do you expect? Does anyone really think Radio Shack will hire a bunch of electronics tech's and pay them $50,000 dollars a year to staff their stores?
As things are now, we may not just loose Radio Shack, but I suspect many or most of the smaller ham stores around the U.S. will be eaten up by the ham giants like HRO and AES. The smaller ham shops are having a hell of a time trying to compete with the big guns. They don't have the volume to get the price breaks from the manufacturers that the big guys get. Don't be suprised if 5 or 10 years from now, we only have 2 or 3 ham distributers left nationwide.
KG8ZH
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio?
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by KB1WM on December 18, 2002
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I grew up in Dayton, rummaging around the wonderful piles at Mendelsons; Radio Shack was never able to hold a candle to that.
But here in the sticks of Connecticut, I'd be hard pressed to track down a diode on a rainy Saturday.
Avery
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC2SSB on December 18, 2002
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<<After spending many, many dollars on IC Circuits, Resistors, Wire, etc. My the writing on the wall finally came clear when I asked some direct questions: 'You're out of Zeners and 2200uf Caps. When will they be re-stocked? And why don't you carry HAM stuff on the shelf anymore?'
'You got questions, we got blank stares . . .' This used to be the statement we all fondly remember after a trip to the shack. Now it's not so easy to live with. "We're not going to carry that stuff anymore. It's all been discontinued, and we'll probably start discounting it as closeout as soon as we have room." >>
That's odd... my local Radio Shack has moved these items into a neat new pull-out shelf display. Each shelf has a different item and the shelves pull out to give you access to whatever items you need. The coax is still on the shelves at my local Shack. Doesn't look like they're going anywhere, at least here in NJ.
One thing I did notice is that there didn't seem to be any mobile antennas hanging up, but they might have just moved them.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N3SNZ on December 18, 2002
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I got my LAST Radio Shack rig a few months ago.
The "You got questions, we got idiots" thing holds true. My local store was SO bad I has to raise royal hell with the manager to get my order placed. The counter guys knew crap about radio let alone ones they SELL!!!
I literally went into meltdown when I called them to see if my order came in only to find that they LOST IT!
I think it was the first time that those guys at my local RS felt the wrath of a P.O.ed ham.
Needless to say I got my order the next morning....
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KB4JKU on December 18, 2002
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That is quite a shame to the ham community. There quote should be You,ve got answers they got questions, because every time i walk in there and ask a question i get the Deer in the Headlight look! I dont think it will be such a great loss,however this is just my opinion.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by RS2002 on December 18, 2002
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Here we go again. I'll not bore you to death about what's really happening at RS, nor why that is. It would fall on deaf ears. Awwww, why not.
Over 5200 RS stores are owned by the company. The other 2000 or so are independantly owned, as either dealerships or franchises. If you go into a store and they aren't showing a lot of cell phones, etc, then they are probably one of the latter. I don't necessarily like it, but that's where the money is. Sorry, folks, but even if we were selling FT-897's, below cost (which is the only way most of you would buy it) we still wouldn't be able to generate much business from ham radio. Has the company made some mistakes with ham radio equipment, yes. Has every amateur radio manufacturer, yes. But hey, we're an easy target.
I particularly love hearing about how most of you value (and treat) our employees. Have you not figured it out yet? If an employee knew enough about electronics theory to be able to answer your questions the way you expect, he'd be working somewhere else. This isn't that difficult to understand. We pay a reasonable wage for retail sales. That does not equate to a reasonable wage for a technician level person. I ask you this question, would you be willing to work for $6 an hour, unless you sold enough merchandise to make more than that "on commission"? If so, you know what you would be trying to sell, as often as you could? That's right, cell phones, because that's where the money is. The commission on 5 packages of resistors, a couple of capacitors and a project box is about a dollar, give or take. Ready to come and do it the way hams would like it done, for that kind of money? we'll sign you right up! Should they know where communication speakers are? Yes. Should they know where the resistors are? Yes. Should they be able to understand electronics theory for you, and help you design that circuit that you're struggling with? No. Are they able and willing to find those things for you, unfortunately not always, or not enough. But this isn't an exclusive trait among retail sales "clerks". This is a by-product of low unemployment. You see, anyone can get a job. And "anyone" does, with us and with every other retailer out there. And exactly how do you motivate these people? Threaten their jobs? Verbally beat them up? So they go out and get another job? Which they will do. I do not have the time to retrain people over and over again, so this becomes a "lesser of two evils" decision, sometimes. And if it happens that way in my store, out in the country, I'm positive it happens all the time "in the city". Sorry. Welcome to 2002.
RadioShack isn't going out of the parts business, at least to the extent that it's been in the business. Stores will either have the 8' or 4' drawer arrangement, based upon sales movement rate, available floor space, etc. The 8' arrangement allows for almost all of the parts that have been carried for the last decade or more. As for the Ham Radio business, RS hasn't made any such announcement that I am aware of, and it is near and dear to my heart, so I'd know. I have both the 2 meter and 10 meter radios set up and working at my store, so it does happen. Occasionally, for sure. Also, if you don't see what you're looking for, ask someone. If it were me, I'd ask the store manager, as that person is responsible for the whole operation (though they may know nothing more than the salespeople) and since they have to inventory it, they ought to know where it is. And they also get paid by the profitability of their store, so they certainly want you to buy as many resistors as you are willing to, and any thing else in those drawers, as that's the most profitable area in the store. (Unfortunately, you have to sell an awful lot of that stuff to make an impact on the total sales dollars, so we do have to sell DVD players, Satellites and yes, cell phones.) Another example is the CB antenna line. Many stores don't show those items on the floor, again due to space limitations and lack of move rate. But they probably have them out back. And let's face it, folks, if you're here reading and contributing to this thread, you can use the internet. Simply look up the catalog number on RS.com and give that number to the salesperson. They can they punch it up on their store computer, which will tell them if they have it or not. Finding it may still be an issue, but you will have cut to the chase, so to speak. Every store has the online catalog available for you on that big, ugly fixture with the flat-panel monitor on it. (The one that used to be used for MSN stuff.) Kinda looks like the drive-in on the Jetsons, to me. I digress. There is an on-line catalog there, as well as a CD-rom in case the store doesn't have on-line access. You can look it up, right there in the store. If you need to.
It is certainly difficult for me to read this over and over again, both here and on QRZ, as I run my RS the right way. Yes, I'm probably in the minority, but should that make me throw my hands up and give up? According to you folks, I might as well. Because RS isn't worth your time. Well, I guess I'll have to keep taking care of my little group of satisfied hams in my part of the world, and try to get myself to avoid reading these threads.
Try and have some fun, folks. I find it more rewarding than tearing other folks down. Over and over again. Sheesh. And people wonder why the hobby doesn't grow. Grumpy elitist techy types. Certainly MUCH better than the rest of the populace. Gotta go, because I certainly don't have any answers, now, do I?
73
RS2002
P.S. As for the RadioShack name, it came from the radio shacks used in ship-to-shore communications in the early 1920's, not from amateur radio. (Though both related, obviously.) RadioShack began in 1921, in Boston. The name does not indicate "amateur radio" in any way, to the general public. Only hams relate the term "radio shack" to amateur radio. No one else in the world makes that connection. (OK, military communications people, too, if ya wanna get nit-picky...oooops, look who am I addressing here, of course they'll be nit-picky!) Yes, we still sell radio's. Some of them two-way. FRS, GMRS, business band (MURS), CB, and yes, ham radios. Plus scanners and Grundig (did you hear that, GRUNDIG!!!! Oh, the crap that RadioShack sells....) shortwave radios. Magellan GPS systems. And plenty of AM/FM radios. So the name RadioShack still does apply, to the rest of the world. Sorry if it offend you folks, though. But since you're not shopping with us any way, haven't liked us or our products, and have no intention of doing so in the future, why should we worry about that. The name applies to those who shop there. Happily, and often. Merry Christmas. Happy Holiday's. Have some fun, and try to smile a little.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KX8N on December 18, 2002
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As far as the good-old online catalog that they have in their stores, I walked in to our local store and rattled off a catalog number for a book that I needed. The manager who happened to be running the register told me that not only did they not have the item, but they could not get it. The "computer told him" that the item didn't exist and that they might be able to get one the following year. So, I drove 30 miles away into the next town, and tried the next closest Radio Shack. The book was laying on a shelf in the store. Maybe my local Radio Shack deals with a different supplier or something. But that showed me how knowledgable my local Radio Shack manager is. They told me that an item didn't exist in the Radio Shack inventory ANYWHERE, yet I found it at a Radio Shack 30 miles away. Impressive...
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KF5VM on December 18, 2002
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Actual Conversation
Me: I just need a roll of solder.
RS: What are going to use it for?
Me: Ham Radio
RS: What's that?
RS: What's your address?
RS: Do you want a cell phone?
RS: Why don't you want a cell phone?
RS: What is solder used for?
Another guy: Can I get one of those CBs that has high power and 100 channels?
RS: You bet.
The guy: Someone said I need a license.
RS: They can't tell you what to do.
Good riddance, at least to "ham" radio sales. I hope they still sell solder.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by VE4MM on December 18, 2002
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Called for some coax.
Only 1 store in Winnipeg had a 50' roll.
In the back, full of dust and a price from 1980.
Got the cable for 1/2 price. What a deal.
They had a tripod as well. In a box but opened.
73
Michael Mark, P.Eng.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KL7IPV on December 18, 2002
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An additional two cents.......... I spend a lot of time in Radio Shack. I have since it was Allied. My phone # and address is probably in 5 different atores here. When I travelled on my job, it was more than convenient to stop at RS no matter where I was because I usually knew what they had and could get it quickly. I still look for small stuff there and will as long as they'll carry it. I tell my wife and others, " it aint a real mall unless it has a pet store and a Radio Shack". One of the main reasons I shop there is that I firmly believe in supporting my local dealer BEFORE I do mail order. I have figured out that mail order saves me tax but the shipping usually equals what I save on tax. If I do the little shopping as well as the large (when the item is there) I figure I am keeping the store here just a while longer. So there are catalogs and e-stores, but they lack that "touchy feely" thing that sells the product. Maybe, just maybe, if our own attendance picked up at the local Radio Shacks, then so would the items we want. Hopefully that will happen BEFORE they quit altogether.
73
Frank
KL7IPV
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K1MKF on December 18, 2002
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In my part of Connecticut the Radio Shack salespersons look like street gang members, covered in tattoos, body piercings and rarely speaking english. All they want to know is if they can sell me a phone and to update the database when I buy some stuff. I was there just the other day and some fellow needed a new battery for his cellphone. The kid said, "It's not available can I sell you a new one?" When the customer became irrate the manager jumped in. The battery was not in stock but they could get it in a few days. Clueless! Just leave me alone and let me search through the drawers.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K7ZOV on December 18, 2002
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This one I have to respond to. I used to be a electronic engineer until I tuned 55 now I can't get a job or even an interview. So it was suggested that I and apply for a job a RadioShack. Well you get what you pay for right? Well in Arizona the start pay is $5.15 /hr. Not much money and not much service not much common sense.
In Mesa we had a store that was originally called TechAmerica then changed to Radioshack.com. It was the single best thing to happen in electronics for the valley. You could walk in and buy RS stuff and buy Alinco, Icom and other ham supplys cheaper then any place in town and in most cases the store price beat the mail order price.
They had in stock every imaginable connector, switch, IC, project box, torrid, wire etc all ready to pick up and take home. And according to the store manager they were in the black .... SOOOOOOOO what did the mental morons do at Radioshack.stupid, they shut the store down. The only place where you could ask a question and get a real answer and buy all your supplies. Now I am back to Mouser and Digikey and not very happy about it.
By the way I did interview just for the fun of it and I guess 30 years of electronic engineering is just more then they could handle. I wasn't qualified for that job either .... Any idea of what a 55 year old electronic engineer can get a job now a days? I have questions and I have no answers ...
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N9LVS on December 19, 2002
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Well I have some disagreement with this.
First RS just came out with the new dual-band HT. Its has had great reveiws in CQ and QST. I got one myself they are the best built most easy to operate HT I have seen in years. All metel case (how long has it been since you have seen a all metel HT). So I don't think you can call RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio.
The ham equitment is now in a glass case. Which to me is a great idea. In our store you will see the new dual band HT, the 2 meter mobile and the 10 meter mobile all plugged in and ready to go. The old way sitting on a shelf they could not do that. All you would need is someone grabbing the radio and keying up on the 2 meter band. There is enough of that on HF without RS help out that effort.
Its true that alot of the parts are gone. But when you look at the package and there are 3 on the shelf and the package doesn't even have a barcode on it (its that old) does it pay to keep it around. There are still RS parts stores mostly in strip centers (look for the store with four rows of drawers not just 2).
People right now is the big problem. There not as technical as they used to be. Elecronics is moving faster than it ever has and your expecting every employee to know everything about everything. Take a look at the last few catalogs there HUGE. Infact now it is so big it doesn't pay to print so they put it online. Now here is a question for you to think on. "do you know how to make 50,000 differant items function off the top of your head" Thats what your expecting them to do. So if you ask a question like "Is there a diagram of a packet interface cable in the manual and how easy is it to build". You should expect to see a deer in the headlights look from some of the sales people there. I know a gentleman at one of the local stores. You ask him how is the best way to set up surround sound and he will talk your ear off for 20 minutes about it and you will know how to do it correctly when he is done. But ask him about how to put together a op-amp curcuit there is no way. Now is that good or bad.
Here we are lucky of the 6 guys at the local store 4 are ham radio operators and I would almost bet you. That if you where to ask a question like "is there a ham radio operator I can ask a question about X radio or Y radio I'm sure they could get them on the phone" (I have seen that done in more than one store) They know who to call if they can't answer the question.
So is RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio I think not!!
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AD7DB on December 19, 2002
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Radio Schlock is going where the bucks are.
As for getting parts or other things, where there is a need, someone will fill it.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AG4RQ on December 19, 2002
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What we need is a good old-fashioned radio and electronics store. It should be a nation-wide chain, and should specialize in two-way radio gear (ham, CB and commercial), antennas, stereo equipment, broadcast and shortwave receivers, electronic tools and parts, electronic kits and most of all no computer equipment and no cell phones. I even have a couple of catchy names for the new chain:
Lafayette Radio Electronics
or
Allied Radio
:-)
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KA5N on December 19, 2002
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Hasn't anyone noticed that all stores are clerked by folks usually teenagers who don't know anything? Haven't you noticed that all stores sell just about the same thing whether grocery stores, drugs stores, or Sears and Walmart? Ever notice that everything is made somewhere by midgets and that XL will maybe fit an eight year old boy? When I was a kid clerks were adults who knew the store stock or could tell you where else to go to buy something. Before magic cash registers and computers, the grocery clerk knew the prices of ALL item and could count change!!
I have always disliked RS (yeah sometimes I buy stuff there) because of the questions they ask. Somebody needs to know my phone number and name for a $1.98 cash sale? The online RS was pretty good for a short time, now all the good stuff is gone. I remember when I could buy all the parts for a simple 10 meter phone transmitter from my local radio store and did including a modulation transformer!!! It's a whole new world and I haven't decided if the good stuff outweighs the bad.
Merry Christmas and happy eggnog
Allen KA5N
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N1RWC on December 19, 2002
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Quite Truthfully, I was told when I was a Store Manager for Tandy, that the only reason that they kept the small parts was for the 5% of the customers who actually bought the odd and end parts. Unfortunately, the CEO and Board of Idiots decided to place their money and employee labor on Long Distance Sales rather than focusing on taking care of their customers. If you look up Tandy on the NYSE, you'll notice it doesn't exist. Instead they changed the name to Radioshack Corp. Probably because of all the labor law suits filed due to poor upper management. Thankfully, I left them and got a real job with real pay.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WV1K on December 19, 2002
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I read this post with some enjoyment. Not in the sense that it is occurring, but that it was all too true. I have been reading about Radio Shack in the different financial sources and I suppose the broadest statement is that they fancy themselves a miniature Best Buy or Circuit City.
Get real.
I like their scanners, have never had a problem (unlike UNIDEN, the supposed BEST) and love my PRO-95, But let's leave the home electronics to the other stores.
As far as ham radio, I went yesterday for what is popularly known as coax seal. Gone. I bought the last two rolls on Cape Cod last week and needed more, only to be informed they used to get refills automatically and it was not in their computer. By the way, this was from one of the ONLY knowledgable salesmen employed there. He actually programs the scanners and clones them for customers (who promptly screw them up and bring them back claiming they don't work...).
Sanners ? Yes and well known for them. Parts ? Yes.
Audio ? Bwa ha ha.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WV1K on December 19, 2002
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Egging ?
Thank you for saying this.
I bought a Columbia winter jacket a month ago after failing to read the label.
It is made in Vietnam. Yes, they do make them for XL in their country. Why ? Less material !
No one in my family was there, but you know what too ? No thanks, Klinton. Too much, too soon.
Had I seen it I would not have bought it. Too late now. And it isn't up to snuff... the wind goes right through it.
Please make sure your next jacket has fleece from Malden Mills. I have no affiliation, but they are the last of two manufacturers and after this, you want to support them. But I'll tell you, I'm taking a field trip there soon before I get pneumonia.
I wish I did (yeah, so what if this is WAY off topic, it's important !).
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG4PWC on December 19, 2002
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The biggest loss to me is the inability to get Licensing Education material. If you wanted to steer someone into looking into Amateur Radio, you will have to order a book online! No browsing at the library, or in the bookstores; no such material is available. Even the Amateur Radio magazines aren't sold in most bookstores. Maybe ARRL will put their "Now You're Talking!" book as a free download!
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KA5YSY on December 19, 2002
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I, too, have to use RS for emergency parts at times, though I dont like to for a number of reasons. First, I know more about what they have in inventory than most of the employees, including some managers. With about 3 exceptions ever, most of the time when you ask a question, you get the 1000 yard stare mostly seen in combat veterans. The sales people must have to know nothing about electronics or anything vaguely related in order to be hired. They do know how to attempt sales upgrades however; two days ago I needed an audio/video cable to attach between a friends VCR and TV he just purchased. He has no fancy home theatre, just the tv and vcr. The kid who desided to help me at the counter saw my cheap grey patch cords and inquired about my use for them, then told me they were not what I needed. Instead of my $5 cord, he wanted to sell me gold plated $18 cables. When I asked why, he said something about the cheap cables being noisy and not sending signals as clearly as the gold plated ones. Keep in mind this was for a 3 foot cable! I told him I had to go get my boots because the BS was a little too deep in the store for my good shoes.
If RS gets out of the electronic business, so what???
73 de ka5ysy
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WD5JBZ on December 19, 2002
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As long as RS continues to sell bare 7/22 antenna wire, I'm happy. That's all I ever buy from them.
Most areas have electronic parts supply alternatives within driving distance. You just need to do a little research. Look in the yellow pages and call a couple of TV repair shops. Ask those guys if they know of a local source for components. It's worth a try. Here in the New Orleans area there are at least four fairly large supply houses.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W1GI on December 20, 2002
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There is a lot that could be said about this... However the real issue is our own approach.
I am a tinkerer and build an occasional circuit but todays youth are system oriented people. Much like we have become from buying complete 1 box systems (i.e. transceivers).
This is not bad, it is just entropy. There will always be those who build and those who operate and some of those are the same people. But many more just operate and what mode they use is not the issue, it is the fact that they are active that is important.
If we are to grow the hobby we need to make our systems accessible to theirs. "Theirs" are PCs and game consoles.
So, create a demo of an integrated shack. Have the PC do more than just logging, use the data ports on our "modern" radios (my 13 year old TS-850 for example) and show the real fun of operating where you can see, hear and decode morse or PSK31 from the waterfall on the screen.
Use the spotting mode on your software to show a map of where the call sign is located and have the computer rotate the antenna and tune the rig and then make and log the contact.
Demo how exciting ham radio can be to the new version of the technically oriented young person and that will get them interested and our beloved hobby will grow.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AB7R on December 20, 2002
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I recently did a paper on RadioShack for my accounting class.
According to their 2001 annual report and 10K, about 45% of their net income is from accessories, parts and wireless. They classify these as their Anchor products. Although they made no mention of small electronic parts, they did seem to want to focus on accessories for household electronics, regardless if they sell the main appliance or not. They are also going to focus on "Everything wireless" for cell phones.
One thing that did concern me is they converted a lot of short-term debt to long-term in order to increase their liquidity for paying bills. If there sales revenue does not improve, they may end up having to start selling assets and accounts receivables to pay short term bills and increase cash flows.
Please note this is only an observation from a second year accounting student.
GL and 73,
Greg
AB7R
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC9AAI on December 20, 2002
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Good Subject... I've been disappointed with RS for years and wrote them off as an electronic toy store long ago. I've had many of the same problems.
I've spent a lot of time building and organizing my own inventory of small parts and don't rely on any of the local RS stores. If I'm desperate, I go on line and overnight the parts in...
I found the parts are better quality anyway..
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Bandwidth wasting duplicate article
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by N0TONE on December 20, 2002
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If you're going to write the same article for both QRZ AND EHAM, please at least do us a favor, and change the wording and/or content so that the "new" article includes "lessons learned" from the old one.
Back in the days when our magazines were all in print, it was a violation of contract to submit the same article to two magazines.
There is no reason to comment on this article, an entire thread can be found at:
http://www.qrz.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=3&t=24370
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K4NTY on December 20, 2002
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Just another example of the expert "merchandisers" that are hired by these big companies. Give a kid just out of college a diploma in a marketing field, and he's hired by the big boys.
Mark my 56 year old words: There will be an explosion of computers, pda devices, and home entertainment at the "Shack". That's what the "Xers" are telling the money suits to buy and sell.
I live in a city of over 1,000,000, and there is no place to buy parts. I mean no place! We have to mail order everything!
Oh, Hell, I guess that I will just have to throw my Collins stuff away when it breaks!
Cal Walker
K4NTY
k4nty@perigee.net
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KF6GOM on December 21, 2002
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you hit it right by some folks who are not willing to help the young hams and giving tips on the hobby, the other night i was listing on a QSO and the veteran ham was just hammering this new ham about 2 week old and giving him a hard time on antenna questions, they left him out cold i called him and gave him the information he needed now he always calls me for questions, this to me is the hobby of good will...
lets not discourage and promote the hobby we need more good hams out here or the hobby will be taken away from us...thanks for this forum 73s .,......
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N6KD on December 21, 2002
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Radio Shack has always been convenient - and you can even find them in small towns. Over the years, however, the quality of their components has gone down and the prices of the merchandise has escalated.
The best solution for project parts in the future will probably be the mail order firms that offer reasonable prices and generally good quality. I am going to miss the convenience. Radio Shack has figured out that they can make a lot more money selling consumer junk to unsuspecting buyers.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by RobertKoernerExAE7G on December 21, 2002
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YEA! What is wrong with the businesses?! For some strange reason, they only sell items they can make a profit on. They should keep selling stuff they loose money on. After all, the whole point is to please customers, right through bankruptcy, and until the point creditors liquidate all the assets.
Ham Radio went SK when Radio Shack stopped stocking the most widely used tubes. They should still stock “Free Replacement” tubes, and have increased their tube line to include all sweep tubes, and ALL tubes used in RF.
What is wrong with all of these companies that stopped manufacturing tubes? At one time, there were tons of small places selling radios and TVs, that did repair work, and had tons of tubes in inventory.
While we are on it, what “IS UP” with Drake Radio?! They stopped selling the C-Line!
We outta file class action law suites against all companies that make a profit!
73
Bob ; )>
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by RADIOWEENIE on December 21, 2002
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Yes, unfortunately, you are right. "RS" doesn't stand for "Rat Shack" for nothing!! But enough of that. Let's look at the bright side: "You've got questions? we've got batteries!!"
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AD2MA on December 21, 2002
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I own a Radio Shack dealer franchise. I could write a book about what went wrong with Radio Shack. The end was Len Roberts became chairman of Radio Shack. He was formally CEO of Burger King. He knew how to sell hamburgers. However he did not know the difference between a resister and a capacitor. He does not recognize service as a product. Sales have dropped severely because of the policy to sell to the non technical market. Mouser, jameco etc, are a better source of parts anyway. Radio Shack is dead and just has not fallen over yet.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KF8ZR on December 21, 2002
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I started going to Radio Shack in 1987.
I used to buy scanners and CB equipment then I got into ham radio and found it much more interesting.
The local radio shack near my doesn't supply any ham radio equipment or CB equipment but they do have rf connectors and some scanners.
I used to live in Michigan and the Radio Shack near me was also a big hobby shop and they had much in the way of ham radio and radio equipment. I could also get many parts for packet radio equipment and building electronic equipment.
I hate going there if I have questions because the slogan "You've got questions, we've got answers" almost now seems like "You've got questions, so do we!"
I asked questions there about their ham radio equipment and scanners but the people would always say "I don't know anything about it"
I guess since they have to pay people like Howie Long and others millions to advertise for them, they have no money left over to stock actual "radio" equipment and hire real people.
Radio Shacks are starting to sell more and more telephone equipment and eventually will become "telephone shack". That is rotten!
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RE: Bandwidth wasting duplicate article
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by KF8ZR on December 21, 2002
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It's not a violation if both magazines have an agreement to allow the same article and the author is aware of it
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N1RWC on December 21, 2002
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By the way, I went to the Mall in Holyoke, MA today. Inside was a Radioshack. I went to go in with my 23 Month old daughter, who was in a stroller. I only got 5 feet in the door and that's as far as I could get due to all the garbage they are pushing overflowing the aisles so anyone requiring a 18" or wide path could not pass. I spoke to the manager about it and he said" That's the Holiday Shopping Season for you." I asked what he would do if a handicapped person tried to buy something, he gave me a blank look and said" I haven't had any so far." I replied " Did you ever wonder why?" and left. By far, I know that Aisles get full at times, but this was rediculous. Especially when I was going to spend big $$$ there, instead I went to Best Buy and Target.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC0JBJ on December 22, 2002
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Wow, what a long thread. Obviously, RadioShack evokes strong feelings in a lot of hams, and why not? A lot of us grew up with the local Radio Shack being a great place to get inexpensive ham and SW listening equipment and accessories. My first ham rig as a novice in the 1970's was a Heathkit, but my first code key was the $2.95 cheapie from Radio Shack which I mounted on my own plywood base. True, I had to continually adjust it, but it was solidly made and stood up to my hammy fist! I think the same design is still sold today by Ameco for around $18.00!
I also used a R/S headset and when I wasn't hamming I was listening to Rock and Roll on my Realistic Portable Record Changer with AM/FM Stereo radio. I even took that thing to college with me, until my audiophile buddies convinced me that "components" were the way to go, and my Air Force Reservist pay went in chunks to the hometown Stero Supercenter, since "everyone knew that Radio Shack was junk".
Just today I was in two different Radio Shacks, and WHAT a difference! The first one I visited was in a strip mall, newly relocated from another one just down the road, but bigger and better stocked than the old one. Several clerks asked if I needed help, but were very gracious when I said I was just looking. I did not know about the switch to the cabinet stock and went looking on the wall rack for a particular co-ax connector. When I could not find it I asked the clerk and explained what I was looking for. He went right to the correct drawer and pulled out what I wanted. I also noticed that the ham equipment had a nice in-case display, with the sale prices prominently displayed. The shelf was well stocked with Technician license books (the one by Gordon West), however the higher class books were not to be found.
On the other hand, later, on a trip to the local large indoor mall, I happened to stop in at the R/S there. What a difference! The clerks were all much younger, more interested in talking to each other than to customers. I made an obvious point of stopping and staring at the ham equipment, with two clerks standing behind the counter, but they just kept discussing how they wanted Radio/Shack to pay for their college courses, one in EE and the other in Masrketing! The radios were very dusty, no sale prices were posted and the small counter and nearby wall rack overflowed with video game accessories. The store was totally disorganized with clerks falling overthemselves and product piled on the floor. I got out of there as fast as I could!
On the other (third hand) while Christmas shopping last week, I asked the manager of another strip mall store about a Sony PDA I had seen at Circuit City. I stopped in because R/S had been advertising a two-day sale with "all PDA's on sale". He checked and the price was in fact $20 (about 10%) lower on sale than C/C, so I said SOLD! But when he checked inventory, he had none and there were none showing anywher in our midwestern metro area. At that point I thought, OK, I'll just have to pay the higher price at C/C, but he said, "Wait a minute, sometimes we can call stores on the East coast, NY City or Florida, and they might have one to send us." Several phone calls later he said, yes, they found one and it would be shipped to my house, no extra charge. Now that is service!
Perhaps Radio Shack execs will wake up and smell the ozone. As one of my fellow Missourians, Mark Twain, once said, "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." That may be true for R/S in the ham market as well. I can only hope that R/S can work some of their buying muscle to replace (or add to) their Radio Shack branded equipment with Name Brand gear, at a competitive price. Even if they don't stock more than one demo at the store, being able to "twist the knobs" goes a long way. I would then be happy to slap my plastic on the counter and have them deliver it to my house! By the way, the only other "candy store" that sold new amateur radio gear in the St. Louis area is getting out of that business! I will bet that if R/S wanted to, they could take on AES, HRO, and the like and beat them at their own game.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC0JBJ on December 22, 2002
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BTW, I could not find that particular co-ax connector (a male "TNC" connector) at the local "communications electronics" store, which was owned by a couple of local hams, but mostly catered to CB customers. One of them had even previously offered to modify a 40 channel CB to work with 400 channels on the 10-meter band! With the connector from R/S I had my primary VHF/UHF antenna back up and running in a couple of minutes!
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WB9GYT on December 22, 2002
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I have a suggestion for all those bitching about the ignorant teenagers staffing Radio Shack:
Cut and paste your own posting on this topic to a GRAMMAR (not spelling) checker. Then cut and paste the results here. Then ask yourself if you'd like to be dumped on for not being able to correctly spell short words like "its", "their", "metal", "you're", etc.
C'mon guys, what do you expect from untrained, minimum-wage workers? I share your frustration with the Clearasil set, but all too often we hams embody the phrase "grumpy old men" combined with Mark Twain's observation that "there's nothing that so needs fixing as OTHER PEOPLE'S sins." What can be said about RS employees can be said with equal validity about the skyrocketing numbers of minimum-wage workers in this country. (See "Nickel-and-Dimed: On (not) getting by in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich.) Either you like capitalism, or you don't.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KD6NXI on December 22, 2002
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Info about radio shack. Radio shack is a horrible company to work for. You are routinely coerced to not take breaks or lunches. You make min wage unless you break commission which is normally set at 100 dollars an hour,, meaning that you must sell on average during the week 100 dollars an hour of goods. During christmas they make it harder for you by upping it to 130 or 150! You are constantly harrassed about "the numbers" and how we aren't exceeding our numbers for the same day last year blah blah. YOu are called by the district manager or secretary several times a day about the "Numbers" and you are told that the numbers MUST be made etc etc etc You are told to ring up cell phone accessories for a customer even if they did not ask for them. You MUST collect names and addresses to remain hired, likewise you had better be offering service plans. (ALL THIS IS TRACKED) through the point of sale system.
99 percent of radio shack salespeople have no technical knowledge whatsoever. You are given no traning of any real value in this area. You are rather told how to sell consumer electronics and most of all CELLPHONES! CELLPHONES! You can make bonuses selling phones but you've got to be a hell of a good "used car salesman" to do it and basically be dishonest..which goes for most of ratshacks stuff. If you do great you are rewarded,,sort of, if you get caught or the customer complains later on you get fired, double standard etc
The scanners are underneath the glass because they are stolen ALOT, in the store I worked on we had several stolen in one day which is what led to the underglass policy I think. People even steal the blue leds..
You must carefully inspect all things you purchase at the shack because most of it has been returned. If the box is nice and crisp/tight then it probably is new but ratshack is horrible about reselling used stuff. I did not do it myself but it was done, an unspoken rule of sorts.
As far as their ham gear goes, most people know it's g enerally junk. The 202 worked fine for some but when it got the radio shack brand name affixed it was no longer made by icom which is who made the early ones. The first 2 meter mobile they sold routinely overheated.
As an employee you are required to participate in inventory. This normally starts at around 430 or 5am for several hours and then you must continue to work out your shift on top of that. You are essentially workign as a slave during inven. because you have no possibility to make commission. You are also expected to go to the training meetings. You are supposed to be paid for this time and travel mileage but you must fight tooth and nail to get paid for it.
Your check will never match what you think it should, the ratshack accounting office is horribly corrupt.
Those RC cars are a big deal to the ratshack. You must learn to be a good car salesman ! :) You can make commission fairly easily selling cars if you get the kids to play with them,, then they'll beg their parents see?
I was too honest for radio shack and refused to practice the dishonesty that they preach to their workers so I left voluntarily. I worked one season there over christmas and was totally burned out by the 1st of january and left that day after my shift. There is nothing that will sour your outlook on christmas more than to work the "shack".
RatShack really does not want to be bothered by electical components. The markup is massive but hardly anyone buys those parts. And frankly they've never really carried the ones I needed anyway.
Nearly all district managers are alcholic divorcees
If you want more info on this subject visit radioshacksucks.com
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KD6NXI on December 22, 2002
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I'm glad they are doing away with that training if it is indeed true. You are forced to watch soem of the most embarrasingly stupid training videos which explain how to find out what the customer wants and then how to sell them something else more costly.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KA5SWC on December 22, 2002
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Signs of the time. No use in wailling. We will overcome and move on to the next new thing. Remember too, Radio Shack was a new thing, and I'm willing to bet there were a few of the "old timer's" back then that had their reservations about this young upstart company! Oh well, as to the quality to those who work there: I can imange that there where those who wanted to stay in the "vac tube" era when everyone else was going solid state. It is patently unfair to expect the young generation to be as versed in the parts WE are accostumed as it be to expected all of US to be equally versed in vac tubes. That simply is not the world that the VAST majority of youngsters are growing up. The world moves on, and for the world that Radio Shack is in it is called: Market Forces/Condictions. WE are not the entireity of the Radio Shack's market world. How many of you truly by enough from Radio Shack in those part and pieces to TRUELY make it viable. If it were truely viable, YOU can certainly bet they would not do what they did. Market forces would have dictated differently. And if the market forces warrant, you can bet that the company would see to it that they were better trainned. I, like many of you, have looked back with fondness over those by gone days and practice key ocillators, et al. I also started there! Today is not yesterday. How many truely believe that CW is the only way, or AM? That all other modes where a bastard child? I guess the bottom line is this: if someone can build the "better mousetrap," this is America, get to it! Thank you for your consideration, John
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WB4KVZ on December 23, 2002
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Guys!
It is true radio shack was not too much of a parts store, if you are old enough to remember going to a "real" electronic parts house. I can remember going down to the parts jobbers, seeing the lastest ham equipment, you could ever buy an EICO kit right out of the display case. I can remember parts clerks that really knew something about electronics, and were good elmers too, helping us young lads into our hobby. But business has pushed those guys out of the way, gone just like the corner grocery store and doctors house calls. What might be happening here could be the opening of a niche, a place where a small need could be met, if you are game to try it! Think about it.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KB9PET on December 23, 2002
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I agree you walk into a shack ask the clerk hey where are your varactor diodes and 10 turn potentiometers
the befuddled looks you get are comical yes its a shame that dss tv and car stereos have pushed all those wonderful parts racks away.Fortunately I have a friend who is a retired tv and electronics shop owner his garage is full of goodies.But these are far and few between.excellent article loved it.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W4XKE on December 23, 2002
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I recently tried to buy a dip chip from Intersil. They referred me to 3 of their distributers, all of which would only sell 99 pieces as a minimum. I gave up on that project for inability to buy the parts to complete it.
Later, I made an order to Digi-Key for some surface mount resistors capacitors and other components. I ordered online and it took quite a while for the search to generate the part numbers that both matched the parts I needed, met the minimum order figure and were legitimate stock numbers (many were discontinued). I bought a few extra things that I didn't need, just to get the order value high enough to avoid the service charge. When I received the order, some of the capacitors were micro, micro, micro mini size. You could lay one across a flat toothpick and see wood on both ends. It would sure have been nice to see what I was buying before I bought them. Oh well, using tweezers, a toothpick and 2 magnifiers, I managed to mount them onto the circuit board. (I cut a slice across some of the pads with a Dremel saw so the caps would span the gap.)
Then, my electronics instructor gave me a schematic my digital final project that required several dip chips and other components. Radio Shack sales said they are "out of these" "don't have any of them" and "we've never carried anything like that."
To acquire the few parts from Digi-Key, I would have to pay about $7-8 for shipping and an additional $5 for them to fill the order. Having just gone through the mill, trying to get parts for my previous project, I just gave him back the schematic and took a zero on the project.
If you build anything today, you have to want it awfully bad and it has to be something that can't be bought at twice the price it would actually be worth. Somehow the "digital stopwatch" project just didn't fit this description.
I don't know that I'll particularly miss Radio Shack. If they had all the parts you need but one, they might as well not have any because it means you'll have to mail order the components anyway. I sure do miss the old days in the late 50's and 60's when you could go to a local electronics components store and get sound advice, parts and even hang around just to smell the Mallory and Lafayette parts to get inspired on building some new ideas. Respectfully, Johnny W4XKE
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KI6LO on December 23, 2002
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Our local RS is so small that I know where everything is in the store except in the back where they won't let me 'take inventory'. When I go in, someone always asks "Can I help you" to which I reply "Nope, I'll find it myself" because (as most have noted in this list) that 'they' don't have it, don't carry it or don't even know what it is.
I worked my way through college as a saleman and later a repair tech for the Heathkit Dallas, TX store and am a firm believer in 'learning what you sell' be it toasters, cars or electronic parts. No Phd needed just know what it is, what it looks like and maybe an inkling of what it is used for.
Sometimes at RS, I feel I could as for a green fuzzy 6 toed tree sloth and get the same answers and looks as if I had asked for a simple component.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KG4OYF on December 24, 2002
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I have to agree that Radio Shack is a thing of the past for us hams.I myself have spent a couple of billion dollars on parts not because of quality but because of convience.I think it is sad that they have turned their backs on us but it will be their loss in the long run because you can only sell so many tv's and cell phones.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KE4-GTI on December 24, 2002
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I do not think you should blame RS. Also, some but few are not completely following this path. My local store, though new at least has a significant display of scanner and shortwave items/antennae. I bought a scanner to follow trunking and they still seemed very interested as well as providing print outs for programmming locally?
If you want to point the finger at the LARGEST contributing factor to HAM radio decline it is simple. The old knarled fingered gas passers who try to hold on to "their" sainted CW BS! Why SHOULD a young kid have any desire to peck away as a REQUIREMENT as well as written tests which can be interesting? Get rid of the "C" onfusion "W" ith STUPIDITY, promote what is possible, OPEN up the bands with test (written) only and see HAM flourish!
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N5NJ on December 24, 2002
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re: RS2002's excellent post
I am a Radio Shack addict. I have bought stuff from Radio Shack continually for over 30 years. I bought my first CW key from Radio Shack. I buy parts there today, and the new drawer/bin system is excellent!
Now, the employees. First, some people who work at Radio Shack do know what they're doing. I worked for Radio Shack twice - once in a dealer store, and once in a company-owned store. It was a great job for a young ham and I would recommend it highly.
Even so, there's one lesson that most of the employees don't learn and that is to not lie about things that they don't know. I hear these $6 employees going on and on about various products and they don't have a clue what they're talking about. Sadly, the customers usually don't know any better and make purchases based on what these know-nothings tell them, which results in ticked off customers who say "I'll never go back there again!"
Radio Shack: Teach your store employees to not be afraid to say they don't know the answer. This is much better than lying.
N5NJ
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KX8N on December 24, 2002
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Don't worry, the employees at our local store aren't afraid to say "I don't know". The have no problem with that whatsoever!
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KE3AD on December 25, 2002
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So!
Remember back about 1980, when RS began making their own computers, the TRS-80. It came to be fondly known as the "trash-80!" They have always been known as a junk store. I owned not one but two swl receivers bought at RS. The better of the two was actually marketed by Alliel Radio, and I got it right after RS gobbeled it up and sold off the stock cheap. They trashed a good company and turned it into a national electronics distributing company with a big catalog and big prices to match.
So it goes with Radio Shack, all the way back to its Boston roots, before Tandy got hold of it!
Bill/KE3AD
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N6JSX on December 25, 2002
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Lets understand some RadioTrash reality about their small parts. The electronics semi-conductor parts RS sells are lot purchased "rejects" from major IC manufactures. RS packages them and puts them on the shelf for sale. The quality of the IC is up for grabs - I've been burnt many times trying to use an already dead or partially dead RS IC. I take the IC back and it is a catch-22, cannot replace nor give money back if it's out of the package (as I may have cused the failure) but until I try to use it I'll never know if the IC works. NOT one RS store can pre-test an IC before purchasing. I gave up on buying semi-conductors from RS years ago as their quality/policy sucks.
But now look at even a more pointed picture of RS - RS sold LED bar graph drivers (so I could make remote S meters for our RDF radios)a number of years ago these two IC's went out of the RS inventory (LM3914, LM3915) they are back now but it was not due demand but availability. I remember making a run on RS stores buying up the 14's in the LA area when I heard they were discontinued in the late 80's. This IC was a staple to T hunting equipment. They are now back but I'll purchase them from Digi-key, Mouser, or others as I need the quality of "all" drivers working not 8 of 10 that I got from RS.
I, too, got my interest in electronics in the late 60's by buying the kits RS sold. As a kid/Boy Scout I could never get that darn cats whisker/razor blade radio to operate but I bought the RS kit and it worked. Then on snow days we got to listen/see the our high school shop teacher talking around the world on the school HAM shack. I was sold I got my Novice ticket from him and now 32 years later I'm still talking and building electronics projects. All from a kit I bought at RS that were discontinued in the mid 70's.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KB9YKG on December 26, 2002
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Ok, a couple of notes from an ex-Radio Shack employee. First, You guys are right, the large majority of Radio Shack stores are filled with pimple faced know nothings who are only interested in selling you a cell phone or satellite system. I can remember going into "the shack" many times before I worked there and thinking these people are retarded - they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. However, to my good fortune I did find one local store that was managed by a fellow ham. He went out of his way to keep ham equipment that had to be special ordered from most stores, and as many parts as possible in store stock. Despite constant complaints from above he did so until the last month or two when he was forced by the company to take all the parts off the pegs, and throw them into a big set of droors. All the ham equipment was discontinued, so he now has little choice about selling the stuff we all need / love to look at. At the same time, we are partially to blame for all this. About a year and a half ago, I needed part time work while completing an internship as a technician at a local factory. Fortunately, I was able to work at the store mentioned above until my internship was done. I couldn't believe how many people came into the store looking for parts - I thought I was the only one :) However, I quickly began to notice that the people coming into the store for parts all had a "better than you" complex. Every time I offered to help them find something they would brush me off, or roll their eyes at me as if to say "yeah right - you can't help me". I have a degree in electronics, a GROL, and professional experience in the two-way business. I was more than capable of helping these folks out, but they weren’t open minded enough to believe that this pimple faced kid in front of them just might know something they didn't. On a few occasions I did surprise a few people when they complained about not having something for their latest project. I could usually order anything they needed and have it shipped right to their door, or build it out of parts we had in stock. It is surprising how many people don't realize that simple circuits can be made with just a few components. For example voltage regulators can be built with a zener diode and a transistor - basic electronics knowledge, but you would be surprised how many people didn't know that. Anyhow, all I'm saying is keep an open mind, and be thankful for what parts remain in the radio shack stores today. I have one more quick addition to this post. I hope that I don't anger any of the fellow hams in the area that have helped me out so much over the past few years, but I have to speak mind on the no-code issue. I passed my technician and general exam on the same day. That gave me a year to learn the code without having to retake the general exam. No problem right? Wrong - I love amateur radio with a passion. Nothing else interests me as much as this hobby. However, going to school, working, and doing an internship didn't leave me much time for "dits and dahs". Even after I graduated from college, my life is just too busy to spend time learning code. I have passed the tech and general exams, and I passed the GROL, so I am fairly sure with a little work I could pass the Extra exam as well. I also have a degree in electronics, and have set up a repeater system in the area (when I was in the two way business), but because I don't have the code down I can't use hf. This means that not only can I not use CW on HF (which I really have no interest in anyway), but I can't try out psk31 on hf, or use voice on hf. This makes no sense to me - no wonder this is a dying hobby. We are telling new amateurs that they can do all the new cool stuff because they don't know the code. If we want to keep the "cb'ers" out of hf (2 meter is already infested with them, and there is no going back now) MAKE THE TESTS HARDER, but don't punish the people that understand radio theory, and are just uninterested in the code. Just my two cents - hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC8QVW on December 26, 2002
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Dear Mr. Cobb I know where you are comin from, I recently went into a shack store and asked for a pl239chassis mount they had moved everything into drawers and they had a spot for them but none was avalable, when I asked for them they said that it would be 2 weeks to get them in . I thought that I might as well go home and find them on the internet and it would not take 2 weeks either . It looks to me that the shack is going into more sellin of products like sears or some other stores that sell electronic componets.It is a sad day for the small town electronic buff with a local radio shack.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WB8NUT on December 26, 2002
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I went into the store looking for an short extension cable for a regular car radio. I was putting in the Christmas present I gave my wife (CD/radio) today. Anyway, I told the guy at the local Radio Shack store I needed a short extension cable for a car radio antenna. He asked what type of connectors. I told him I needed it to have a Motorola male on one end and a Motorola female on the other - I mentioned it was the standard car radio antenna connectors. He took me over to the Motorola cell phone accessories. Then I had to again explain what I wanted. He said they don't carry those anymore (they did have them as I bought them before) since they don't sell car audio anymore. I don't know what that has to do with anything. They have always been good at selling all those high mark-up items like parts and things to help you install all types of antennas. Heck the store was filled with toys, cell phones, and telephones. They hardly carry anything I want anymore - no wonder their stock price is in the dumpers - they are abandoning their customers. BTW, the guy suggested I go to an autoparts store - Pep Boys to be exact...and they had it! Pretty bad when you go to a radio store and can't find radio stuff, but you can find radio stuff at an auto parts store. What a crazy world! I wonder what happens when cell phones drop in demand...what will radio crap evolve into next? Computers, got out of those. Ham radio, just about out of that. Parts, going out the door fast. Car audio, don't have that anymore. Stereos and speakers, not much like they used to have. Etc. Etc. Etc.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WB7OFC on December 27, 2002
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Yuk. I'm glad Mr. Tandy isn't running the company any more. I was working at the Shack when I was in high school (and yes, I had my ham ticket, and when people had questions I did have answers).
Mr. Tandy was a rat b*st*rd and treated his employees like crap. He mandated lie detector tests as pre-employment screens (now illegal) and when a money bag turned up missing it was the high school kid that got hauled off for another lie detector test (it was found at the bank, no apologies to one very scared high school kid). When the store got robbed and the high school kid was handcuffed and held at gunpoint, the district manager made him finish out his shift alone until 9pm that night (after having high school kid cash his paycheck and loan the store enough money to open the till after the robbery).
I know a lot of those decisions were "local" but the spirit of a company comes from the top. The lieutenants take their lead from the generals.
The company has come a long ways. Their stock splits and relatively steady price (with respect to other retail stocks) is a testament to the "new" leadership.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N1CLZ on December 27, 2002
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I have as recently as 2 days ago been to the Shack for toroid mags to add to various wiring in my shack and found everythingI needed. What's all the concern. RS goes where the money is. If Ham radio is a small percentage of their business...so should be their stock.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KU4UI on December 27, 2002
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The facts are that local electronic parts or even radio stores are almost if not already a thing of the past and into the history books. There isn't enough local interest or sales to keep them going.
We as HAMS need not feel guilty as it isn't us or the lack of us that has created this situation, it is simply a fact of life!
Stop for a moment and look at how you live each day and where you shop for food or your other daily or weekly needs. Does Wal-Mart come to mind? Or just any other BIG store?
I am NOT attacking any store or way of life, but reality is that we all fall into the same pool of going to the cheapest and most convienent store to get our daily or weekly needs. We do it for cost and convenience. Think about Wal-Mart...shop for food AND get just about everything else while you are there, and if you are like me, you really can't beat the prices and the money and time you save running around between other stores!
If Wal-Mart had an electronics parts store and a section for HAM radios, where would you go? I know I would be there at least weekly!!! Would be a dream!
I don't have a solution, I grew up with a HAM radio store or two not far from home, Radio Shack, and other places to get electronic components even in Maine! But they all have gone away, and even Radio Shack was doomed years ago and I don't know how they survive today? They have done a good job, I think adjusting to the changing times, with computers, cel phones, and what ever would bring customers in, but they cannot compete with the GIANTS! I never went there for their changes to life style, I like you go there for parts...if they have them???
The other thing is that the internet has changed the world. The BIGGEST thing bad about that is that there still isn't a place or places that we as HAMs can go and get parts on the internet, ones and twos...without being a business and having to open accounts, or to purchase quantity when we find what we are looking for and only need one or two.
If it makes you or anyone feel better, I work for a large US company and we need parts on a daily basis and have needed one capacitor for example and after contacting a well known parts place, we were told that we had to purchase a minimum of 500 pieces.
This is really the focus on the Radio Shack or any local store that us HAMs would like around the corner...these stores cannot afford to stock what we need in the quantaties that we need and survive.
I would love to live near such a store, and I don't know one anywhere in the world or on the internet that has everything or anything we need.
Years ago, when you and I were growing up, we had a lot less things to deal with. Very simple with fewer radios and what ever was available, so the stock to support was minimal, then it sky-rocketed to so many products to support the ever-growing products exceeded the ability for anyone, even today to stock everything needed to repair the products available.
We've come to a society that doesn't repair much, but throws it away and replaces it. I don't agree with it, but must face it with you and the rest of the world.
We no longer fix TVs, VCRs, radios, and even test equipment, but rather throw them away and replace them as a unit.
Also at work for example, and if anyone working for Techtronics reads this I am sorry, but they make O-Scopes that once you buy one, almost the next day they have another model, and don't support the previous one. You wouldn't like to know how many O-Scopes our company turns into salvage because techtronics doesn't sell parts to repair their O-Scopes, even only after selling them for a few months! I must explain, the reason isn't a capacitor or transistor, or even an IC...it is specialized Hybrids that they make or have made for them and when they go bad you can only get them from Techtronics....I know I wouldn't purchase a scope from them after knowing what I do now. Other Scope manufacturers so far are not in that mode and the scopes are cheaper up front and the support is reasonable. This is not a sales pitch, but a fact of life.
Unfortunately, it is getting that way even with HAM radios. If you haven't had the unpleasant experience of trying to repair one then I don't wish it upon you or anyone else. If you are lucky and the radio is just a few years old, then you might get some parts, but normally short of canibalizing them from another radio you might as well make a stand to set it on to look at!
What is the solution? Grow up with the ever changing world and adjust with it. None of us can go back in time or take it back the way we were so fortunate to experience...we must push on.
Bottom line...if you are going to survive in the present world or the one we are heading into, you must adjust and plan for the future and NOT try and back step to the past.
Addressing the topic of trying to make HAM radio or electronics as we knew it appealing to the present generation, Radio Shack isn't the forum! The forum is to SIMPLY continue our use of the HAM radios and frequencies in an exceptionally professional manner, even MORE professionally then years ago, because now we are competing with computers and the internet and all the other interests for young people such as the X-Box, Play Station 2, and the list goes on. The WEB sites is a possible exposure to young people and to the public. Also through schools, public events, and even such things as a documentary on the Discover Channel...who knows??? ARRL listening? I don't know. I don't have all the answers, but I do know that I love and enjoy HAM radio, and everything connected with it when it is like it is suppose to be, and it is the way it is suppose to be when we ALL make it that way regardless of how it WAS or how we think it should be.
All I do know is that if we do not use it and we do not use it correctly we will loose it. There is an ever increasing demand for frequencies for commercial and other use and we can loose them if we are not carefull! That should be our "Prime Objective".
Even in this days technologies there is a lot of room for advancement in other areas of HAM radio possibly not even dreamed of yet...let's not drop the ball and think it is over, but push on and look for the future of HAM radio. Where are the dreamers and experimenters? Look at the space station, space, antennas never end...further computer interfaces...with a true HAM it will NEVER end...even if Radio Shack does! HF still rules!
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by W7PW on December 28, 2002
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Dunno...guess I'm just lucky that my local Radio Shack *does* have answers to technical questions. Of course it's now owned by W1YC!
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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WELL, I should not have been so hard on Radio shclock.
Its just business.
Buying parts on line will have to be the way to go.
I guess I miss the good old days. Lafayette Radio electronics, Canal street, all the electronic nifty stores near Chambers street.
I build a 1 watt TX (the Tuna-tin 2) years back. It was in QST. The great thing about the TX was every part was at Radio shack.
My ham chronies would all meet up at the local radio shack. The manager was not a ham, but he liked having us around. If people had questions...We had the answers.
It is good that ex-fast food workers are getting jobs at Radio schlock. It would be a good benefit if RS
paid them enough to go to a electronics trade school for an associates degree. Then if some one had a question...they would have an answer!
The first job I got in electronics was at DALE electronics. They just went out of business.
Too bad for ordering parts on line. This process
removes social skills. It was fun workng at REAL electronic stores. I made many business contacts that way.
73 MIKE
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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WELL, I should not have been so hard on Radio shclock.
Its just business.
Buying parts on line will have to be the way to go.
I guess I miss the good old days. Lafayette Radio electronics, Canal street, all the electronic nifty stores near Chambers street.
I build a 1 watt TX (the Tuna-tin 2) years back. It was in QST. The great thing about the TX was every part was at Radio shack.
My ham chronies would all meet up at the local radio shack. The manager was not a ham, but he liked having us around. If people had questions...We had the answers.
It is good that ex-fast food workers are getting jobs at Radio schlock. It would be a good benefit if RS
paid them enough to go to a electronics trade school for an associates degree. Then if some one had a question...they would have an answer!
The first job I got in electronics was at DALE electronics. They just went out of business.
Too bad for ordering parts on line. This process
removes social skills. It was fun workng at REAL electronic stores. I made many business contacts that way.
73 MIKE
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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WELL, I should not have been so hard on Radio shclock.
Its just business.
Buying parts on line will have to be the way to go.
I guess I miss the good old days. Lafayette Radio electronics, Canal street, all the electronic nifty stores near Chambers street.
I build a 1 watt TX (the Tuna-tin 2) years back. It was in QST. The great thing about the TX was every part was at Radio shack.
My ham chronies would all meet up at the local radio shack. The manager was not a ham, but he liked having us around. If people had questions...We had the answers.
It is good that ex-fast food workers are getting jobs at Radio schlock. It would be a good benefit if RS
paid them enough to go to a electronics trade school for an associates degree. Then if some one had a question...they would have an answer!
The first job I got in electronics was at DALE electronics. They just went out of business.
Too bad for ordering parts on line. This process
removes social skills. It was fun workng at REAL electronic stores. I made many business contacts that way.
73 MIKE
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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WELL, I should not have been so hard on Radio shclock.
Its just business.
Buying parts on line will have to be the way to go.
I guess I miss the good old days. Lafayette Radio electronics, Canal street, all the electronic nifty stores near Chambers street.
I build a 1 watt TX (the Tuna-tin 2) years back. It was in QST. The great thing about the TX was every part was at Radio shack.
My ham chronies would all meet up at the local radio shack. The manager was not a ham, but he liked having us around. If people had questions...We had the answers.
It is good that ex-fast food workers are getting jobs at Radio schlock. It would be a good benefit if RS
paid them enough to go to a electronics trade school for an associates degree. Then if some one had a question...they would have an answer!
The first job I got in electronics was at DALE electronics. They just went out of business.
Too bad for ordering parts on line. This process
removes social skills. It was fun workng at REAL electronic stores. I made many business contacts that way.
73 MIKE
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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WELL, I should not have been so hard on Radio shclock.
Its just business.
Buying parts on line will have to be the way to go.
I guess I miss the good old days. Lafayette Radio electronics, Canal street, all the electronic nifty stores near Chambers street.
I build a 1 watt TX (the Tuna-tin 2) years back. It was in QST. The great thing about the TX was every part was at Radio shack.
My ham chronies would all meet up at the local radio shack. The manager was not a ham, but he liked having us around. If people had questions...We had the answers.
It is good that ex-fast food workers are getting jobs at Radio schlock. It would be a good benefit if RS
paid them enough to go to a electronics trade school for an associates degree. Then if some one had a question...they would have an answer!
The first job I got in electronics was at DALE electronics. They just went out of business.
Too bad for ordering parts on line. This process
removes social skills. It was fun workng at REAL electronic stores. I made many business contacts that way.
73 MIKE
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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SORRY I GOT 2 CENTS 4X. COMPUTER GLITCH. DID NOT MEAN TO POST MY RESPONSE 4X.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on December 28, 2002
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SORRY I GOT 2 CENTS 4X. COMPUTER GLITCH. DID NOT MEAN TO POST MY RESPONSE 4X.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AG4QE on December 28, 2002
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Consider yourself very fortunate. In over 30 years, I have never found a store manager that could pass a 2nd class exam. The best guy I knew kept all his stuff stocked...until Tandy started shutting him down. He moved down the mall and was managing a shoe store last I knew.
Had a good friend that was always helping out the guys buying the odds and ends...always had the top sales. Tandy started pushing him to do better...he's now doing remodeling.
Sorry, but I've never felt Tandy as being interested in their personnel...just another pair of hands working for minimum wage.
I know a young lady now that is a manager. Never has a clue when stuff is coming in or what will show up.
With Mouser, Digi-Key, Jameco, et al, R/S could close up today and I'd never notice.
AG4QE
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K4NFO on December 28, 2002
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Rick,
You win! Absolutely the best post here... Get real folks, "the tail don't wag the dog"!
73 de George
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KD5UJX on December 28, 2002
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You've got questions? We've got Cell Phones! You've got guestions? We've got More Cell Phones and Chargers and Mini mags and ear phones and belt clips and 3000 minutes! and Free nights and weekends (starts at midnite friday though) All I wanted was one darn PL-259 and the only ones you have are CHROME PLATED for Gods sake!!! The solder will not even stick unless you scrape the chrome off!! I live 40 miles away from ANY kind of Electronic supply. They opened a RS in the next town (8 miles) but, it closed in 6 months. The only good place (Electrotex) went belly up. Of the two left, one stocks buisiness band stuff (coax, plugs, we can get it...) the other is now for computers. The closet Ham store is 145 miles away in San Antonio. People say this hobby is not going away. Well, why can't we support a store that would cater to us?
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WB2QQZ on December 29, 2002
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Gee, guys ... and YL's ... this is nothing new. It's been coming for years. I started into ham radio when I was 16, back in the 60's. Living in NYC, I had access to Cortland Street, Vessey and Canal Street ... better known as radio row. I used to go down after school, with my trusty flashlight and a cardboard box. My first KW amp was built from scrap WWII and Korean War Surplus. The final cost of the entire amp, including 3, 4x250f's and the oil filled 2000v 1 amp transformers was under $200.00. But it took time and knowledge to build this stuff.
Time and knowledge that most folks today don't have and are not interested in learning. I'm still an active ham today, though I spend more time scuba diving than on the air.
Today, it is too easy to sign a check than build equipment ... and surplus equipment is not as easily available.
Perhaps we need another war ... or major economic upheaval to get us back to building. Hams used to be the leaders, designers and inventors. Today, for the most part, Hams have become appliance operators.
When its cheaper to buy built ... why build.
It's going to be very difficult for me to retire and move from my home ... where the entire basement has become a "Canal Street," frozen in time.
By the way ... you don't have to be an Amateur Extra to be in my league. All these years, and I'm still a TECH..... THOUGH I DID MINE WITH 5 WPM CODE.
Steve
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by K0PD on December 29, 2002
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Big deal ...so Rag Shack is changing and does not want to deal with low profit and slow selling ham misc ......... as for the minimun wage employee's ,well at least they are working and since when has minimun wage been a sign of ignorance.I alway's thought ignorance as one who goes to colledge and won't work as they use as their excuse is i'm to good for low wages and the state or my parent's will take care of me till i find a job that suit's me.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KC2SSB on December 29, 2002
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<<First RS just came out with the new dual-band HT. Its has had great reveiws in CQ and QST. I got one myself they are the best built most easy to operate HT I have seen in years. All metel case (how long has it been since you have seen a all metel HT).>>
The Yaesu VX-5R TRI-band HT. All metal. Quite nice.
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N8ZUX on January 3, 2003
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Radio Shack is probably in business terms cut alot out in paper catalouges means Saving Trees ( for the Save a Tree people ) or in printing costs I could imagine how much money they are $aving money in advertising cost$ .
I myself own a HD1400 DOS yes I use it for packet, 12 V.D.C. I can say it serves purpose.
I don't know who is running the show But I e-mailed www.radioshack.com that we are discussing their dropping Amateur & Parts, more cost cutting, I 'll say this another company in Retail Grocery recently had their President then promoted to CEO & retired, he serves PT with another co. , word on the street has the old boys are being asked to come back why ? that store chain has grown, but not the way it use to run.
As to Radio Shack, too bad, I have bought non ham stuff and was going to purchase some stuff, but no longer available, I found in Grand Rapids, Mi area that each store is different, I needed a part and wound up buying from a Associate store in Wayland, MI. there is a old parts Associate in Otsego, MI but he's cranked on selling CB, Cell, Pagers & Car Stereos , Amps etc.. some computer stuff but also TRUCKER 11M. stuff.
I imagine that some shopping around what's available maybe you have to buy either by catalouge or give some TV & radio Shop some business, even the 2 way radio Guys are fair on some things, they will sell if they did not get into a $25.00 invoice to buy something, then you get some wet behind the ear kids who don't want to sell you a 5 dollar part and wants you to buy a Service tester or you work for a bulk buyer, the older guys I delt with are retired.
I guess it's time to deal with what is at hand Sorry for you people who have nothing local, I live in rural area myself, but I get what I can by online or whatever I can get.
73 and Hope all of you have a GR8 new year
Mark Holman
N8ZUX
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N2MWE on January 3, 2003
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Well, let's face it...Radio Shack was opened to be sort of a McDonald's fast electronics store. You could buy cute little electronics, i.e Weathercube, Timecube, etc. You could also get lots of electronic parts...I remember the catalog being full of them.
Alas, as McDonald's has changed, so has Radio Shack. Their average customer is no longer the amateur looking to repair his/her radio; the average customer is someone looking for a 1000 watt killer stereo system with Dolby Digital. When you run a business, especially a chain store business, you have to go with what makes money. Electronic parts, apparently, do not make much money for Radio Shack.
Hey, Radio Row in NYC was torn down years ago, and ham radio in New York didn't die! It is alive and well, and even without Radio Shack selling amateur equipment or parts, ham radio will continue to live. We have seen things come and go, and we will continue to see things come and go.
Relax...we had questions, they had blank stares. But when someone had questions for us...we had answers, and always will.
73 to one and all!
Kieran
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N1NJI on January 6, 2003
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*picks up axehandle and takes a swing*
ok, radioshack has rules about employees and online comments and that sorta thing.. but....
if people bought the stuff, we'd still be selling it,
the bottom line is, well... the bottom line.
<i>"one has to sell a LOT of blister pacs of caps, resistors, etc., to make up for the sale of one DVD player or cell phone. "</i>
not true, the margin on cell phones and larger items is no where NEAR as high as the margin on parts and cables.
how much can you mark up a $1000 computer?
not very much and we actually lose money on discontinued computers stting on the shelves.
(that's why we now have "built for you" where
we can customize a computer for you)
it's also why we try to get you to buy those nice $20 cables with that $60 DVD player, because there's no margin ont he DVD player, but the cables are 400% profit.
<i>"The long awaited catalog in Aug. wss an event.
No catalogs now. One must go on line."</i>
right, gone are catalogs that are out of date the month they're published.
we keep a case in the back for parts references,
but the online catalog has CURRENT products and CURRENT prices.
that means i don't have to hear you complain in
october about a price $5 lower in a catalog that was printed in march.
<i>heck, most of us are more familiar with where things are (that we need) than they are. When I have time, it's fun to answer them and say, "yeah, I just bought an Icom IC-706MkIIG to install in my car and I'm looking for a small speaker to install under the dash so that I can hear the radio, because I'm mounting it in the trunk". So they look at you and say, "uh, oh, um, well, we don't carry anything like that". So you follow with, "okay, do you have any small scanner speakers?". And they say, "yeah, we've got this one". </i>
i remember going into my local radio shack and being assaulted with "can i help you's?" and finally told the guy i needed an SO-239 because i'm building an antenna. while he went off to find a catalog (this was 5 years ago or so) i ent to the shelf and had it on the counter before he'd even gotten to the RF parts section.
now that i'm on the other side of the counter,
i KNOW that radio shack provides the training,
associates are tested on these training materials,
and if they don't know their stuff, rest assured their paychecks will reflect it, their sales numbers will reflect it.
radio shack has also restructured it's stores...
they have partsshacks and phoneshacks, etc....
my store is a parts store, we have the row of 4 parts drawers in the aisle, if your local shack only has two sets of drawers, it's not a parts shack, they don't sell enough parts to justify the space, so they shipped all their excess parts to another local store
which is now a parts store....
and yes, even with this parts store thing, a lot of parts have moved to the online store...
as for radios, shortwave etc...
i have a radioshack shortwave that is actually a sangean radio... but what do we get?
smug people who come and say "oh, all you have is a radio shack brand?"
so now we did away (for the most part) with the radioshack brand and we carry grundig and sangean branded radios. our optimus line and RCA products are made by the same manufacturer (they also make pioneer products) but no, the same people come in and say "all you have is optimus?" so no, now all we have is RCA.
same exact stuff, the only difference is we have to charge more now becuase it says RCA :)
so don't bitch about radio shack,
if YOU are a radio shack customer, it's your fault, because the customers decide where a business goes.
and if you're not a radio shack customer and never have been, well, you shouldn't be replying to this thread anyway ;)
and FYI, i've been a ham for quite a few years,
and my manager is a ham.
my favorite customer this week was the ham who came in because he wanted a three way pl-259 adapter. turns out he wanted to hook two radios up to one antenna.
no duplexer, just a t-connector....
after assuring him he'd fry one radio as soon has he keyed up the other, he notified me in no uncertain terms that he was a ham and he knew what he was doing....
at least he was man enough to swallow his pride and come back to MY store after he'd fried his brand new kenwood... :)
pssst, it works both ways, there are ignorant people on both sides of the counter
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WW2W on January 12, 2003
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Radio Shack - The name alone is a misnomer. It has been for many years. This is the year 2003 AD.
If you need caps, resistors and other discrete devices you can scoop them up for free by the gross pounds in all the relatively new electronic equipment that people are throwing away lately. I, myself have amassed enough stuff for 4 ham lifetimes not counting the special parts I get via mail order. Why the VCR's alone! Egads! I just found a "top loader". A Tip: Digital TV will be here in '06. Go visit Dan's parts, Mini Circuits, RF Parts, Amidon, NJQRP links etc... (google them, buy & homebrew) I remember the last post Radio Row [genuflect] here in NYC. It was along Canal street. Dozens of stores filled with bins and bins of stuff and books too. But as the rents rose, their prices went up until they disappeared altogether. A shame? You bet. But that is the nature of the animal of economic progress. It is all unapologetically Darwinian.
My last few visits to Radio Shack were unassisted. I found a #47 bulb for my Hallicrafters s-52 and a 12v hallogen for my dental lab bench light in a jiffy. It has all been very convenient. It is ok to wax nostalgic on this note. Last year I asked to see a 440 HT and I was handed a hand-held scanner. Ooops? Not really. I didn't get mad. I just felt sorry for the entire "institution" that was once the Great RADIO SHACK. Sigh indeed.
Radio Shack has evolved as we all have evolved. It only frightens us to see ourselves: Walking around like zombies with our little magic black boxes seemingly all talking and screaming to ourselves. Such mass-madness is highly profitable. We wonder where will it all end. Communications evolve. The change, whatever direction that may be, is happening all to quickly now. Will ham radio catch up? To go digital or not, it still uses parts. Can WE change?
That is my Question. Do you have answers?
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WR8Y on January 19, 2003
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That key's been silent for quite a while....
I have always known that the solder, cable and many other 'minor' items at Radio Scrap were seconds or rejects. Did you know that some major ham items are too?
I bought an Alinco DX-70 from RadioShack.com last March in an auction on Ebay. They announced it as a "closeout". I thought I would be safe, RS's good reputation for easy returns and all that....
Last week it developed a problem: 2-5 watts out on HF! I emailed them, they told me to contact Alinco. ATOC service said to contact RadioShack since they sold the radio. Radio shack said their warranty was only 90 days, Alinco's was 1 year. I finally forwarded emails from each company to the other. This went on for 2 or 3 days.
I finally called someone who cared at ATOC service. He set things strait with me. He told me the radios had no Alinco warranty, they are 'rebuilts' - but Radio Shack didn't reveal that in the auction listing. He apoligized for all the trouble and made me see the position this has put them in. (As they are the only warranty Alinco service center, this gets dumped on them.)
In the end I will be paying about (I forgot their exact rate) $65 an hour to get this fixed. I think it's worth it since I got the radio for about half price, but why couldn't RS be up front about this?
I guess my Alinco ISN'T my second new HF radio. I'll have to update my QRZ.com listing....
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WD8X on January 21, 2003
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Lots of surprises from RS. I love the store. Bought my first 2m rig there years back.
Yesterday was the last day of their internet coupon sale for the 25Amp Cont duty switching power supply. Regularly $120 the coupon was for 50% off. I bought two, my dad bought two, a ham in Lansing Mi, bought eight.
Don't be misled, RS can be a great source of components and equipment (ever heard of Vectronics?). Check the web site for coupons. Man, I'm starting to sound like my wife.....
73 de WD8X
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N0OFG on January 25, 2003
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(Waving arms side to side)
NAH-NAH-NAH,NAH! NAH-NAH-NAH,NAH! HEY,HEY,HEY, GOOODBYE!
Walked into the Salina, KS mall store 2 weeks ago looking for as many N female to UHF female adapters that I could find. Asked the clerk for a new catalog, he sarcastically asked me if I had internet. No catalog, it's all online.
I asked him about their commercial "White Book" and got this "you must be smoking crack" look from him.
I can walk into just about any store and know where everything is, but their clerk of 3 years doesn't know squat. And every time I find myself quoting Foghorn Leghorn 30 seconds after I walk in.
"Go away, son. You bother me!"
JH
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by VE7LGT on February 3, 2003
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Lets face it Radio Shack died the day they discontinued the P-box . For those to young to remember visit http://my.core.com/~sparktron/pbox.html
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by WA2JJH on February 7, 2003
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Same situation in NYC. A sales person told me the "BIG WIGS" at radio shack are considering producing a paper
catalog again. I guess the Radio sclock brass, after
much soul searching, realised that an old fashioned catalog is good for impulse buying.
The situation of the average radio shack is the same.
You got questions....We got batteries!
73 de mike
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by N9ACQ on February 12, 2003
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For people that dont know RS has discontinued their catalog. Parts are going into drawers that make finding items easier and use less space. Rs has never been a HAM store. Parts some simes if you needed a comon (spelled receiver) part. NO transmitter parts. RS only got into the HAM equipment when CB bottomed out and no code Tech license was introduced.
Now Allied Radio was another story but they wree bought out by RS. Such is life. Use to spend hours in their main show room at 100 N Western Ave in Chicago back in the 50's when I was in high school.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AA5RS on April 18, 2003
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First of all, RadioShack makes a very small percent of its revenue on what you describe as ham (hobby) items. Times have changed and the company is changing with them.
Second, most of the sales people at radioShack are not hams or electronic technicians. They have to be knowledgable about a great many products. Perhaps you should have asked them about home entertainment systems, PDAs, cell phones, computer accesories...products that bring in the lion's share of corporate profits. RadioShack is, after all, a publically traded corporation that has a responsibility to their share holders to return a profit on investment. Give the sales people a break and educate them when you can. You'd be surprised how open they are to new information, if it is presented in a non-confrontational, non-condescending manner.
Third, RadioShack has NEVER sold anything that was refurbished without identifying it as such. Not only is this unethical, it's illegal. All the Alinco products were new merchandise. I could go into an explaination on how companies buy products for resale (negotiating return percentages, etc.) but it would take more space than I have here.
If you are not treated like a valued customer when you visit a RS store, speak with the manager or contact corporate headquarters. If RadioShack doesn't have what you're looking for-including electronic components and amateur radio equipment-communicate this to the manager or contact corporate headquarters.
Believe it nor not, RadioShack DOES listen.
I apologize for being so long winded, but frankly I'm tired of seeing RS trashed. Yes, I am a long time RS employee AND a ham. And no, the company did NOT pay me to write this. Would I like to see RS carry more amateur radio equipment? YOU BET! But times have changed. To my friends in New York...Radio Row is not coming back.
73,
Greg AA5RS
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KDR5068 on April 29, 2003
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well comming from a cb and ham repair man also a cb ch 9 react member...this is bad for us you are telling the truth we can never find the parts when we need them close to us...I even have to order from another state for most of the parts I need to fix radios and try projects out with.....
Its sad but true...I grew up loving working on all radios and now my kids won't have that same ease of pace we all did when it came to finding and buying parts with our money we earned some how in the summer....
Donald
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KD5HIY on August 9, 2003
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I used to work at the ratshack and all they care about anymore is cellphones, and dish satellites. thats why when you go in there you might as well open up your mouth because your going to get one shoved down your throat.
KD5HIY
Chris
'73
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by KD7EZE on September 21, 2003
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If you have doubts about RatShack, this will explain it all. http://www.radioshacksucks.com
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by HAMINEGGS on August 13, 2004
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As an engineer with a BSEE in electronics, it hit very hard when my former employer was forced to lay me off, and due to Dubya's nonexistent domestic policies it was extremely tough getting a paycheck back (remember folks, the last two Republican pesidents were both Bush (league) and we had a war on our hands! Eight years of Slick Willie, while his foibles were entertaining-and self caused-we were relatively safe and secure. The nuts in the sand and rock countries waited until You-Know-Who got into office to spring 9/11 on us) But I digress and jump off my soapbox-J Freakin' K is no bargain either--. I now work for RS (at 1/5 my orig salary), the "You've got questions, We've got answers" mantra spoken ad infinititum for days on end-it saddens me that America has lost in it's youth the fire of experimentation. I see daily the dumbing down of our youth and the age-afflicting numbness of adults that come into the store. how many times have i giggled internally at the sight of a customer entering with the dead carcas of a phone and complaining that the thingy doesn't go ringy any more - and not have a clue as to how to PLUG THE BATTERY INTO THE PHONE. I can also remember the days when whole walls (!) were stacked with just IC's (!!!) , another WALL took care of my resistor/capacitor needs. Remember the ArcherKits, the P-BOX kits, the Kits where you bought the circuit board, then hunted for the parts in the manual to complete the PS, Amp, LED power meter, etc., etc.,?? You are correct on all counts. Radio Shack, like a Wallgreens or Wal-Mart/K-Mart/Tags/Home Depot etc., is a business who will sell you anything you want to buy. There's the rub. No buy, no sell. Easy. If people of our ilk continued to foster interest in electronics AS A FUN HOBBY, they would certainly still be selling parts. But they now sell phones (wired/cordless/cell) by the bucket load daily. They really need to rethink their name - PhoneShack? -- because i've yet to see ANYONE purchase a , um, RADIO, from my store. So let's see - no sales, no sell. Maybe if we who like and enjoy an electronics hobby weren't so caught up in the minutia of code/no code bickering, we could see the big picture - that of BPL killing what's left of the SW radio spectrum. Thanks for such a great site, remember, your mileage may vary!
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RE: RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by AI4DG on August 20, 2004
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This week, I went in, stopped the YL asking me if I needed help with "no, I know where everything is", discovered that they were out of stock of the size ring terminals I wanted, told her so on my way back out. She actually said, "well we have some really great deals on cell phones and batteries." I laughed right at her.
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RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio
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by HAWKDOME on December 15, 2005
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The DIPS there are only employees and managers who put up with them.
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