Does anyone else hate Radio Shack?

[Rabidhunter]

Radio Shacks are rather disappointing. Ever since stores like Best Buy came into being, they haven't been competing. It's rather sad really. I used to like Radio Shack as a kid, but now, it's depressing.

[Grant Matrix]

I made the HUGE mistake of going to Radio Shack looking for speaker wire when I got my Onkyo 605. They had a pathetic selection of their cheap brand of wire and the insanely overpriced monster. I asked where all the speark wire was and was told that's it. For a store I remeber exisiting for that kind of stuff, I was shocked and left the store cursing their name! Radio Shack should just cease to exist.

[Brian Cash]

people only appreciate radio shack when you buy something there cause the only reason you go there is to find something that no store would have

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Grant Matrix

... Radio Shack should just cease to exist.

You would not be alone in the sentiment. Everytime employee turnover occurs I am certain more people feel that way. The only reason I don't wish it upon them is because that would be thousands of people out of work. Not good in these troubled economic times.

But in all the years they have existed, they sometimes did not make corporate financial projections, but they NEVER have been in the red. NEVER. I'm not going to say they are doing something right because of the healthy financial status. As all the profit comes from overpriced merchandice, under paid employees, and firing of seasoned employees to cut salaries. Some businesses are a bit more generous. RS is all greed.

[tiger roach]

My only gripe with Radio Shack is that you always have to tell them your address and stuff for them to ring you up.

Hey, I'm just getting one package of AAA batteries man! Tell me how much it is so I can pay and we can get on with our lives.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by tiger roach

My only gripe with Radio Shack is that you always have to tell them your address and stuff for them to ring you up.

So they can send you ads and sell your mailing address to other companies.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by tiger roach

My only gripe with Radio Shack is that you always have to tell them your address and stuff for them to ring you up.

Hey, I'm just getting one package of AAA batteries man! Tell me how much it is so I can pay and we can get on with our lives.

They stopped that in my day. Shows me you haven't shopped there in 5 years or more. I do believe they will ask when it comes to returns. They want to stop habitual returners.

"Why does Radio Shack ask for your phone number to buy batteries?" - Cosmo Kramer / Seinfeld

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by tron3

You would not be alone in the sentiment. Everytime employee turnover occurs I am certain more people feel that way. The only reason I don't wish it upon them is because that would be thousands of people out of work. Not good in these troubled economic times.

But in all the years they have existed, they sometimes did not make corporate financial projections, but they NEVER have been in the red. NEVER. I'm not going to say they are doing something right because of the healthy financial status. As all the profit comes from overpriced merchandice, under paid employees, and firing of seasoned employees to cut salaries. Some businesses are a bit more generous. RS is all greed.

Does anyone remember how Radio Shack fired hundreds of employees in Texas BY E-MAIL about a year and a half ago? I never shopped there much before (unless I was in the mall, in a hurry, and needed batteries) but after that, why would I give my business to a company like that?

[quirkmanly]

Originally Posted by Grant Matrix

Radio Shack should just cease to exist.

I think for their small component items alone they are worth their place amongst the other B&M stores. I have had need in the recent past for quite a few items that simpy aren't stocked in other stores (or if they are, their employees were oblivious to the whereabouts). I don't like the "How may I help you" greeting stuff either though, so I just broaden my English accent, say something coloquial and they back away. Nearly every store I go to on a regular basis pushes something on me at the register, so I don't have a problem with them doing what everyone else seems to be doing too - I just say no. I probably have need to go visit a RS once every couple of months and it has never been a store that I worried enough about to either hate or love, although if ever we are need of a radio controlled Monster Truck, they will always have me covered!

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Stephie_is_a_dork

Does anyone remember how Radio Shack fired hundreds of employees in Texas BY E-MAIL about a year and a half ago? I never shopped there much before (unless I was in the mall, in a hurry, and needed batteries) but after that, why would I give my business to a company like that?

I remember that. I wrote a story on it.

They said the employee's know a lay off was coming and they wanted to find the way in the best interest of the employee not being mistreated. So THAT is what they came up with? Poorly executed and not even an apology from them, just a self vindication. It was about 300 employees. I hope they all went on to better companies and are now realizing being laid off was the best thing in the world for them.

[Sonny]

Those F*** heads never sent me my 50$ gift card. I hope they BURN IN HELL!

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Those F*** heads never sent me my 50$ gift card. I hope they BURN IN HELL!

Haa! That reminds me of a few stories. Sometimes customers would complain to the district manager and force the manager to take a return that was not legitiment in some fasion. The rub being the customer received a gift card.

I've heard of a few times where the manager took the retun and intentionally gave a BLANK gift card. Months later when they go to spend that card, who can verify what happened and why is it blank? No one can. The store staff has probably turned over completely, and the manager isn't about to remember anything.

[Rob71]

Well I have an oddball hobby. I collect and repair old arcade games from the 70's & 80's. If I'm in the middle of a repair and need a microswitch or a resistor I can usually find it there. But other than the odd electronic part I pretty much go elsewhere.

[nrose101]

They are still around?

[tron3]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Well I have an oddball hobby. I collect and repair old arcade games from the 70's & 80's. ....

Nice! What have you fixed? Do you ever need to flash the original arcade ROMs?

[dad2erin]

Originally Posted by tron3

As an ex-employee, I can defend that. Firstly, they want people to feel acknowledged with at least a greeting. They don't want people free roaming in the store. This is all to increase sales and hinder shop lifting.

My big issue with working there was I ALWAYS had to push cellular. This is making it an unpleasant place to work, let alone shop. Now, if you buy a battery operated device, I was supposed to offer the batteries AND the cellular. Does this make any sense?

The business model is not in the best interest of the consumers interest - let alone the employees.

I too am an ex employee, the push for cell phones and add ons were what they paid you on. They give SPIFFs (bonuses) for cell phones and other products. So there's a reason why the customer is always bombarded with 20 questions the sales people want to make sure they can get all the $ that they can make. I disliked that part of the job.

[dad2erin]

Originally Posted by tiger roach

My only gripe with Radio Shack is that you always have to tell them your address and stuff for them to ring you up.

Hey, I'm just getting one package of AAA batteries man! Tell me how much it is so I can pay and we can get on with our lives.

They have to ask that or their job is on the line. At least it was when I worked there. There is a quota/percentage that each store, employee, and manager has to meet. This includes add ons and warranties as well but that's the same with most commission sales jobs.

[tiger roach]

Originally Posted by tron3

They stopped that in my day. Shows me you haven't shopped there in 5 years or more. I do believe they will ask when it comes to returns. They want to stop habitual returners.

"Why does Radio Shack ask for your phone number to buy batteries?" - Cosmo Kramer / Seinfeld

LOL. The Kramer character is actually based on my life - true story!

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by tron3

Nice! What have you fixed? Do you ever need to flash the original arcade ROMs?

I've recently begun work on an Asteroids Deluxe cocktail. Some others are Phoenix, Pac-Man, Scramble, Carnival, and Joust. Ive got about 7-8 more in various states of disrepair, just waiting for the time to get to them. I haven't really gotten that far into repairs to flash the ROM's I usually just post a request on the arcade message boards and someone will usually have what I need for a good price or trade. I just recently re-capped my first monitor. Discharging it was a little scary.

[Thegide]

Originally Posted by tron3

This never really dawned on me until now. When you walk into any other electronics retailer you see something new and different. Sure, everyone has the clearance bin of $5 DVD's, and discounted stuff they want to sell off, but it turns over pretty fast.

In the time I had with Radio Shack, and even now when I walk in, I can still find the same toys they tried to sell from last Christmas, or even the years prior. Much of it is dirty, and you can often see old dusty stuff sitting on pegs for MONTHS. I made mention of a dirty, dirty store at a RS hate site and the corporate heads must have seen it. Word got out to all the stores to clean off the stock!

This has been the Radio Shack model for decades to my best memories. Walking into a Radio Shack is often like walking into the past. They should not be allowing that old dirty Christmas stock to be sold on the floor. Let alone those oddball electronics older than last year.

This is an incredibly bad business image. It's the mom and pop mentality of "we keep it until it sells". Meanwhile the package is filthy and fading from light exposure.

It doesn't matter how many stores you make over when you bring out the same old filthy stock from the basement or back room. In some cases covered in roach crap, or other excrement. Is RS TRYING to get a health violation? I bet some stores would be closed down for some of what they sell.

This is made worse by how RS is almost never on top of the trends of popular consumer electronics. Always a year late and a dollar more. Need I continue?

"Yes sir, I understand you are just buying batteries, but may we please have your address, postal code, telephone number and blood type for our system?"

Radio Shack needs to die. Period. I got hosed by them a long time ago when I went to replace studio headphones that died after only 7 months (90d warranty). They wouldn't do anything because I didn't buy an extended warranty, which I knew nothing about, because it wasn't offered to me at the time of the sale. Deceptive sales tactics, low-quality merchandise, and high prices have completely driven me away from this place.

On a side note, here in Canada, they are now "The Source, by Circuit City" but as far as I can tell, it's the exact same business model. I think the Radio Shack name may have done enough damage....