Radio Shack is Back?!

Not all Radio Shack stores closed when the crisis came. And the company didn't fold, it just pulled way back and restructured.

They are indeed back, and I'm happy to see it. I bought a lot of stuff from them back in the day.

They are said to now be an online first electronic retailer.

Here in Fairhope, Alabama - a suburb of Mobile - we never lost our Radio Shack. It did shrink.

Glad to see that they are healthy - or at least trying to be. I do go there.

Looks like my closest is 50 miles and not a full sotre, just an "authorized dealer"

@Rich Melvin posted:

Not all Radio Shack stores closed when the crisis came. And the company didn't fold, it just pulled way back and restructured.

They are indeed back, and I'm happy to see it. I bought a lot of stuff from them back in the day.

Hi Rich:

Some years back when I was heavy into radio engineering, my fellow engineers and I were all on a first-name basis with the local Radio Shack folks. Some were former engineers themselves, and all of them spoke fluent electronics. Many had amateur radio licenses and played trains. We would discuss some obscure circuitry issue (transmitter, studio audio, or whatever) and toss around ideas on fixes. Then we'd sit at the counter, design some circuitry, and get all the parts on the spot. Said parts were reasonably priced and good quality; many were made stateside. Good times.

I certainly appreciate and am grateful for the internet and the global availability of everything. However, even as an introverted engineer, I do miss those days of productive interaction with the local Radio Shack crew.

I can't remember the last time I needed one of these!

Several Hobbytown stores are also Radio Shack 'Express' stores. No RC cars, phones. etc. Just the 'good stuff' Batteries, bulbs, fuses, transistors, diodes, resistors, breadboards, wire, etc.

Wow, how about that?  I really was under the impression they were gone. I certainly hope their retrenchment is successful.

RS was always my first stop for anything electronic. When they made the move to try and complete with the consumer electronics stores, they began to fall. I started to hate going in the store because I had to answer the same questions every time.....Do you need a new phone? Do you need any batteries?

No...I need 1K resistors, some diodes, and some 5K uF capacitors? Got any of those?

Usually followed by a blank stare.....

@Rich Melvin posted:

Not all Radio Shack stores closed when the crisis came. And the company didn't fold, it just pulled way back and restructured.

They are indeed back, and I'm happy to see it. I bought a lot of stuff from them back in the day.

Car stereos, CB, radios,  high end stereo equipment.   Antennas, rotors, cables. Watches.  Electronic toys, and yess batteries. Man I miss that store.

@RSJB18 posted:

RS was always my first stop for anything electronic. When they made the move to try and complete with the consumer electronics stores, they began to fall. I started to hate going in the store because I had to answer the same questions every time.....Do you need a new phone? Do you need any batteries?

I always hated that.  I understood they needed some additional revenue streams, but I still hated it.

Brendan

We have a Hobbytown store that is a "Radio Shack express" store.  Small section of the store dedicated to Radio Shack.  A few spindle displays around the store.  Nothing that would make you think it's a radio shack beside the small sign in the window.

Just checked their website, most Hobbytowns in the area are Radio Shack Express.

Most stuff related to hobbies, from bulbs, LED's, bridge rectifiers, battery holders ect is what they have at the Hobbytown stores.  Ours in Indianapolis has all of this.  Its nice to see since where I am at has no local source for these things, leaving mail order as the only option.  Sucks when the shipping costs are more than the AA battery holder I need.  So I wait till we go to Indy for other stuff and stop in and buy one.    I really miss Radio Shacks  Ham radio stuff.  I still use my HTX202  2 meter hand held to this very day.  They had quality stuff back in the day when they catered to Hams and hobbiests.     AD

Digikey, Mouser, Newark, Allied Electronics, etc. are where I shop parts now.  It's rare that RS would have what I need.

I used those Archer relays, along with a diode bridge and an insulated outside rail track for my postwar block signals. Much more relaible than the 153C contactor. I wonder if they still carry that kind of stuff?

I bought odds and end stuff from them on line during summer. Service was terrific.

@Rich Melvin posted:

Not all Radio Shack stores closed when the crisis came. And the company didn't fold, it just pulled way back and restructured.

They are indeed back, and I'm happy to see it. I bought a lot of stuff from them back in the day.

There was a RS around the corner from Houston Tinplate at Memorial City Mall.  It got a lot of business for the layout and members.

The ex-RS store at Shepherd and 11th got business from a Sta. Gauge guy. 

I did business at both.

But I am surprised RS did not market more in the model railroad and ham radio magazines.  For a while RS did ham when they sold a few ham rigs.  But like most American businesses, they do not know how to increase market share with the line of product they have.  No brainer.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I can't remember the last time I needed one of these!

Some people cannot REsist.

In Houston Ace Electronics off US 290 and 34TH and Antoine, plus EPO in the SW might have them.

@Pantenary posted:

Hi Rich:

Some years back when I was heavy into radio engineering, my fellow engineers and I were all on a first-name basis with the local Radio Shack folks. Some were former engineers themselves, and all of them spoke fluent electronics. Many had amateur radio licenses and played trains. We would discuss some obscure circuitry issue (transmitter, studio audio, or whatever) and toss around ideas on fixes. Then we'd sit at the counter, design some circuitry, and get all the parts on the spot. Said parts were reasonably priced and good quality; many were made stateside. Good times.

I certainly appreciate and am grateful for the internet and the global availability of everything. However, even as an introverted engineer, I do miss those days of productive interaction with the local Radio Shack crew.

Wow! Your Radio Shack employees sure knew a lot more about electronics than the ones working in local stores here.

I worked at a Radio Shack back in 1975. Fun times. My dad and I used to have a "contest" as to who know where the most Radio Shacks were. Hearing this is like finding out an old friend you lost touch with is alive and well.

@superwarp1 posted:

Car stereos, CB, radios,  high end stereo equipment.   Antennas, rotors, cables. Watches.  Electronic toys, and yess batteries. Man I miss that store.

And good low cost tools and hardware!

I could not have built my layout without the local store!!! 

Interesting as I wasn't aware that they are making a comeback at all.  I will have to peruse their website.  In a previous life I worked at Radio Shack 1994-95 and managed a store.  This Christmastime of year is digging through the cobwebs of my memories about all those holiday retail experiences and setting up the store to make a profit.  The failed Tandy Z-PDA comes to mind (the early prehistoric beginnings of today's smartphone and tablet).

Had a TRS-80, aka, the Trash 80 at one time. Got it from a friend second hand. Weren't they sold through Tandy/Radio Shack?

When I started my Layout I went to Radio Shack a lot, and over several years I bought dozens of Terminal / Barrier Strips.    I must have 50-60 under my benchwork and at the control panel.

Also Relays ,Bridge Rectifiers, Capacitors,  resistors, LEDs, Etc... for signals.

Here is a Relay set up for one of my Block Signals. All Radio Shack Stuff.  The Telephone Jack might be from the Hardware Store

I would Like to See Home Depot and Lowe's have the Electronic Drawers that Radio Shack had in there stores with all the Electronic components.   They have some stuff, but, not the wide selection Radio Shack had.

Steve

Steve, since you mentioned the big box stores, where does Menard's fit into the picture? Do they stock any electronic parts like this?

@Rich Melvin posted:

Steve, since you mentioned the big box stores, where does Menard's fit into the picture? Do they stock any electronic parts like this?

Do not have a clue.  Never been to a Menard's.   They do not have any here in Colorado

@Steve24944 posted:

Do not have a clue.  Never been to a Menard's.   They do not have any here in Colorado

Nor Houston.

My first contact with RS was in late 50's, when at grad school in Boston.  They had a large store on CommAve filled with all kind of stuff, including much old surplus.  Years later small stores opened up in NJ & VA, where I lived, and I frequently bought small components.  Looking on Google Earth, The building is still there, where the BU Bridge hits Comm Ave.

this is great. hope they still honor my free battery of the month card

I consider myself very lucky. A few years ago there were three Radio Shack stores within driving distance. They closed, and all I have now is All Electronics, also within driving distance.

Conway (Arkansas) had two Radio Shack stores. Each one had large parts cabinets where I found the stuff I needed for the many layouts (home and club based) built over a time span of 15 years.  Then they closed. However, an electronics store in nearby Greenbrier maintained one large parts cabinet with RS parts. What they didn't have I bought from Allied in California.

Now that my home O-gauge Lionel is now "finished" I won't need much, but if I do need something I'll go to their online site.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

I miss Radio Shack also, The only comeback (other than online) that I am aware of, is in Hobby Town USA stores they have about half an aisle dedicated to Radio Shack parts, Not much to look at or choose from in my opinion. I guess it's a small attempt.

Jeff

Radio Shack's were great stores.  There was always one around where we lived.  If I needed anything that had to do with electronics' I could find it there.  Now its a crap shoot when you walk into stores that claim they carry electronic parts.

I really miss them!

My understanding is/was Radio Shack would sell you the merchandise but it was up to you to sell it.  So you could have RS products but once you ordered stuff it was yours, no buy backs or discounts etc.  You weren't a RS franchise dealer, just someone ri$king their money on R$ produdct$, hoping to turn some profit$.  Where I worked the owner and I kicked around getting RS products but he finally decided he didn't want to sink money into it and it would be nickle dime and headaches.

I grew up on RS products, yeah pricey, but if you needed a part on Sunday, they could be a lifesaver.

@Rich Melvin posted:

Steve, since you mentioned the big box stores, where does Menard's fit into the picture? Do they stock any electronic parts like this?

None of the local Menards carry electronics except stuff to cable your TV set and phone, some small gauge wire.  Menards is really geared to the lumber side around here in Iowa (except at Christmas when they devote one whole side of a display rack to trains.)

We lost our Radio Shack. It was a very sad day. I always went in there and the employees were very knowledgeable. Now I ask a employee at Home Depot for crazy glue and tells me to go to the counter and they would tell me what isle.