[BC] Radio Shack Hangs In There

Fri Apr 27 09:54:25 CDT 2007

Luckily, when I need a aprt, I have two engineers i can call on who either
A.) Have the part B.) Know exactly where to get it.

-- 
Paul B. Walker, Jr.
www.walkerbroadcasting.com
www.wabv1590.com

On 4/27/07, Stevan A. White <w5saw at pathwayz.com> wrote:
>
> So we pretty much agree that Radio Shack is the one we all love to
> hate.  Several years ago I would design a circuit for a project, go to
> RS to pick up parts, discover that they didn't have "X" number of the
> parts I wanted in stock, I'd look at what they had, redesign my circuit
> according to what was there, etc.  It got to the point that the
> employees knew who I was and what I was doing.  When I came in they'd
> simply say, "Hi Steve, let us know if you need any help," and go about
> their rat killing.  I can't even do that much now.
>
> So, the serious question is, where do YOU buy parts in a pinch?  Bear in
> mind, the Amarillo, Texas metro area has a population of well under
> 250,000, four RS stores (barely) and no other place to buy parts
> locally.  We dream of the day we might get a Frye's.  We'd all have to
> have our own private stock,  like Willie, to get by on a normal day.  So
> again, where are we to find what we need?  I need to set up an account
> some place I can get what I need and get it in a hurry when I need to
> solve a problem.
>
> Best Regards,
> Stevan A. White, W5SAW
> SW Commercial Electronics
> 928 South Crockett Street
> Amarillo, Texas 79102
> Phone 806-681-7228
> w5saw at pathwayz.com
>
> "The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person
> doing it." -- Chinese proverb
>
>
>
> Dana Puopolo wrote:
> > A good friend of mine worked for radio Shack for 29 years. He retired in
> > 12/2005.
> >
> > He is still VERY well connected there, knowing many of the local and
> district
> > managers. He says that Radio Shack is one of the WORST run companies
> he's ever
> > seen. Some of their screw ups could be considered MONUMENTAL, including:
> >
> > All staff (including managers) are now on salary, eliminating the
> incentive to
> > sell.
> >
> > When they cut their cellphone deals with Verizon and Sprint, they forgot
> about
> > exclusivity, which resulted in Verizon opening many phone kiosks in the
> same
> > mall that Radio Shacks were in. In many cases they were located right in
> front
> > of the Radio Shack store.
> >
> > When they walked away from Verizon, they did it in such a way that their
> > quarterly revenue check from them (Verizon) didn't have to be paid. Just
> this
> > one faux pas cost them something like 80-100 million dollars.
> >
> > When they cut their deal with Cingular, they AGAIN forgot about
> > exclusivity-and you probably know what happened (again!).
> > How a company could be so purely stupid to make the same mistake twice
> shows
> > how out of touch corporate is from the local stores (who were SCREAMING
> for
> > exclusivity).
> >
> > They sold their service organization-all service is now contracted out
> > locally, resulting in delays (because the contractors don't have ready
> access
> > to RS specific parts) and repair quality that varies all over the place.
> >
> > The eliminated their catalog-the best Christmas sale maker you could
> ever do
> > (why do you think it came out in October?). This one thing cost
> them  big time
> > Christmas sales.
> >
> > They cut the number of branded products by 75%.  Radio Shack used to own
> the
> > scanner market-now their share is down to under 15% (from over 45%
> before).
> > Their share of the CB market is down from 60 percent to 10%. Their
> stereo
> > receiver/speaker/CD player sales sit at under 10%.
> > They sold all their manufacturing lines in China, Taiwan and elsewhere-
> now
> > all their branded stuff is contract manufactured, cutting margins
> > significantly.
> >
> > Believe me, there's plenty more reasons to bas them-they should be used
> as a
> > Wharton School example of how NOT to run a busin ess!
> >
> > -D
> >
> > ------ Original Message ------
> > Received: Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:10:19 AM EDT
> > From: "Blake Bowers" <bbowers at mozarks.com>
> > To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
> > Subject: Re: [BC] Radio Shack Hangs In There
> >
> > Gosh, enough Shack bashing.
> >
> > Radio Shack has done nothing more than pursue
> > the course of profit, as is their responsiblity to their
> > shareholders.
> >
> > Yeah, it used to be nice having them around, but
> > of course back then everyone griped about them
> > still.  Quality used to be a big gripe.
> >
> > If the profit was there in parts, then Radio Shack
> > would still be seling parts.  If you have not noticed,
> > the local parts stores have all but disappeared too!
> >
> > There is no money in 19 cent cards of 5 carbon
> > resistors, not even at 99 cents.  Why bother with
> > a salesperson who knows what a Triac is, when
> > there is no profit there?
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Gary Glaenzer" <gglaenzer at hqradio.com>
> > To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
> > Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 7:00 AM
> > Subject: Re: [BC] Radio Shack Hangs In There
> >
> >
> >
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Robert Reymont" <robert at reymont.com>
> >> To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
> >> Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 6:38 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [BC] Radio Shack Hangs In There
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> Go to radio shack and ask for a triac.  Talk about blank a stare and
> >>> a stupid look.  You do get both with that question...
> >>> Robert
> >>>
> >> 'Radio Shack:  If it doesn't have a keyboard, we've got dumb looks!'
> >>