Does anyone else hate Radio Shack?

[tron3]

Originally Posted by dad2erin

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.

Ohh, another bad flash back. ALWAYS having your job in jeopardy for not meeting requirements. It's fear management based. Lots of bullying. Doesn't matter what you sold yesterday or even if you had a killer week. It was always, "But what have you done for me lately?"

My manager would fight for me because though my cell sales were below par, my PBA sales (parts, batteries & accessories) were very high. Considering the profit margin on that stuff, I was a worthy keeper.

One month our sales were down from last year, but I had killer PBA sales. The manger quiped that with me around sales might be down but profit is up. My PBA helped to raise the profit margin, even with DECREASED sales.

I believe that got back to the district office and they eased up a little on the cellular push. Pushed PBA a while.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by tiger roach

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

Do tell.

[Roland1919]

Places I hate, COCO's Aka CHOKE-O's, Radio Shed, Broaders, Sam "Not So" Goody, Game Slop, just to name a few...

On the flip side...I really enjoy....

Rubio's, Target, Chili's, CostCo...

Sorry for going off topic...

[jw]

I use radio Shack for those hard to find wires or connectors, thats it. Priced a scanner there, 400.00 and WM had a similiar one, less channles for 98.00 so for what I wanted it for 98.00 was GREAT!

[blu-ray fan002]

I worked at a Radio Shack store in 2005 and didn't like it, mainly because, as mentioned, we had to push cellular phones and I knew of better deals around the area than what that store had to offer. Also, if you tried to give a customer advice and they questioned you about it, the manager would be like "don't pay attention to that. tell them what they want to hear." Of course my response was that I wasn't going to lie just to get a sale. Yes it's making a sale but eventually they would figure out what you did and come breathe down your neck. I highly DO NOT recommend Radio Shack at all.

[zacko24]

Originally Posted by Ectoplasm

When we were kids, the neighbors and I would go into the local radio shack with a coupon for free batteries. It used to drive the manager insane. The purpose of the ad was to get you to buy something to put the batteries in (like a flashlight). We never bought anything... just went there to get the free battery. He hated us.

I'm not sure why, but this little story just cracked me up. Thanks!

[Marcusarilius]

I don't hate it Radio Crack cause I make a point to never go there.

[Maxell]

I like them. Sure there are not even in my top ten choices for popular electronics, but they are the go-to store for small internal electronical components. They sell some things that you will never find at a Best Buy or Walmart, or Home Depot, etc. They are just little shops located in so many places. If you dont like them then go somewhere else. If they all close down all you'll get is another Foot Locker or Gamestop or Subway in those very spots.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by blu-ray fan002

... Also, if you tried to give a customer advice and they questioned you about it, the manager would be like "don't pay attention to that. tell them what they want to hear." Of course my response was that I wasn't going to lie just to get a sale. ..l.

Kudos to you, my friend. Radio Shack robbed me of my dignity, it was a challenge for it not to rob my integrity.

Reminds me of guy I DID NOT LIKE. ZERO integrity snake and cellular cherry picker. I was so happy when he was transfered. I came close to striking him once because of his insults. I probably would have lost my job, but would have felt a lot better.

However I believe God caught up to this guy. Before the time I got my new job, this slimebag was promoted to manager and got his own store! When in my nice new job I received an e-mail from another RS friend that the slimebag had a stroke and will probably never work again. He could not have been more than 23 at the time, and he had a daughter out of wedlock.

Mind you, I did NOT like this guy, almost hated him. But after I heard this news I felt he suffered enough and forgave him without malice. Don't know what became of him after that. Maybe he got better, maybe not.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by tron3

Does anyone else hate Radio Shack?

Nope. I think you're the only one. Wierd huh?



At least you don't have Circuit City's replacement for them in Canada ("The Source by Circuit City"), which popped up when Tandy won the right to cancel the license deal with InterTan.

Nothing but wall to wall ultra-cheap Chinese crap, and overly expensive low end models of name brand stuff.

Gary

[john_1958]

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?

is that why radio shack is history where i live

i do hate futureshop because they have bad hdtv setups

[GarettP]

Can't say I hate since I never step foot in that place!

[haushausman]

I've often wondered how Radio Shacks stay in business. Tons of competition and they always seem empty.

But obviously they are doing something right. And when I need an odd ball cord, connector, or whatever it may be they always have it. Still though... $5 cords can't keep you in business.. or can they?

[Paint It Blu]

Radio Shack Now Featuring Color TVs!

[Stephie_is_a_dork]

Originally Posted by Thegide

"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....

I dunno about Canada, but the Circuit City image is shot to hell here in the states too. Not much of an improvement from Radio Shack.

[Deadset]

The only time I visit a radio shack is if I need solder, resistors, electrical components for building things (yea, im an engineer)

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by haushausman

I've often wondered how Radio Shacks stay in business. Tons of competition and they always seem empty.

But obviously they are doing something right. And when I need an odd ball cord, connector, or whatever it may be they always have it. Still though... $5 cords can't keep you in business.. or can they?

Their small sized stores help alot. Their daily budget (sales) goals are a fraction of what a Circuit City or Best Buy expects that same day. And Circuit City themselves are barely surviving.

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Historically, it has always been the place to buy hard-to-find items like electronic parts, components, transformers, fuses, LEDs, test and measuring equipment, tools & soldering equipment, bulbs & lamps, SPL meters, etc.

This is all I shop there for...even then if I have a question, the reps there have no clue what the hell I am talking about...

[U4K61]

If you want a cheap no name TV with a lousy contrast ratio, goto Radio Shack. They are still a good place to go for speaker wire, and I did get my $49 HDMI cable there.

They have updated the stores over the years. But whenever I go in, it feels a time warp back to the 80's. I keep seeing in my mind that flimsy Archer TV antana we got long ago.

Does anyone remember the Tandy TRS80 computer?

[tofur69]

Originally Posted by Rob71

I just recently re-capped my first monitor. Discharging it was a little scary.

Before I jumped head first back into the theatre business, I used to repair video games. I was the monitor guy and the pinball guy. I hated doing the cap sweeps on the old Atari cabinets (Pole Position comes to mind). If you did not discharge the monitor right the first time, you had a killer bite from the flyback. I have been zapped too many times to dare go back to doing that. I am surprised that I have not had any heart conditions related to the near electrocutions I have suffered.