Remembering Radio Shack (and why it faded)

rman posted:

Woodson posted:

Millennial bean counters at work.. Today, companies complain about "no employee loyalty"... What happened to company loyalty to their employees??  GONE..   Glad I'm retired!!

Originally posted by David1:

I pulled the pin at 67 then found out our company never paid into the pension fund.
 28,000 people left with little or no pension. Worked for them for 51 years. They are now out of business.
Nobody was ever held accountable.

Meantime the CEO's CFO's  get their "Golden Parachute"  Almost like "Slave Labor" to the masses who supported and got those CEO's and CFO's to where they were in the first place!

This is Why I left the Private Sector. But the Public Sector is not too fat behind either!

ChiloquinRuss posted:

Its an American retail store mentality, you start with bright energetic, KNOWLEDGEABLE staff, you grow your enterprise, you hire some BEAN counters, fire the folks that know something and replace them with CLERKS, get rid of the little items, replace them with larger more expensive higher margin items and then watch as your competition eats your lunch!  So lets see Radio Shack: Great staff, grew the stores, did away with small parts, added cell phones and appliances, hired clerks, and never had anything in stock.  Got it!  Russ

I could not have said it better.  Even fifteen years ago I couldn't buy a spool of solder at Radio Shack.  

I got my TIU connector cable from them the serial port to USB.  I noticed that most of their stuff as far as resistors and capacitors were really expensive.  I shop at Digikey and Mouser for things now.  

The old Radio Shack flyer items that are now on smart phones: http://www.deathandtaxesmag.co...-on-your-smartphone/

Firewood posted:

The old Radio Shack flyer items that are now on smart phones: http://www.deathandtaxesmag.co...-on-your-smartphone/

Assuming you have cell service.  If the network bogs down (think 9-11 level of hysteria), your cell phone won't receive much as an AM FM  (FM edited out after Rob's correction below was noted) radio without it, right?  (or have they added true AM/FM receivers into phones now that don't need to be via your data stream or some app to get the radio feed?)

Same for the scanner, etc. I know there are scanner aps out there, but that only helps you if there is cell service, right?  I don't think multi-band RF receivers (aside from cell bands to operate the phone, of course) are now being built into cell phones, right?

How do you do a round-robin type discussion with multiple friends (like CB) with a cell phone, especially if you are somewhere there is no cell coverage?

Note, depending on demographics, places with contents similar to what RS sells/sold can be successful.  In the Silicon Valley area of California, there is a store (Fry's) that caries nearly everything you can consider for home/consumer electronics, and also hobby stuff like the parts aisles of RS used to be.  The key is (i believe) that they are in a demographic area with a very high concentration of technical people to buy all this stuff.  I don't know if that chain exists too far away from Silicon Valley.  It seems they have something like 34 stores, half in CA, with a scattering of a few in other states.

-Dave

I worked at Radio Shack when it was an electronics/electronic hobby store back in the mid-1970's. I miss them, but they got away from what made their niche market -- parts, niche electronic items, supplies, kits, books -- and got into consumer electronics and cell phones (along with a zillion other competitors). Like someone posted above, it has all the look of a "bean counter" takeover.

AGHRMatt posted:

I worked at Radio Shack when it was an electronics/electronic hobby store back in the mid-1970's. I miss them, but they got away from what made their niche market -- parts, niche electronic items, supplies, kits, books -- and got into consumer electronics and cell phones (along with a zillion other competitors). Like someone posted above, it has all the look of a "bean counter" takeover.

To veer off topic somewhat.  It is like today's gas station that is a mini food market, and vice-versa in Iowa a grocery chain now has gas stations on their premises.  Ditto pharmacy is a mini department store of products with the drug counter is WAY back in the corner of the store, and Target, Wally worls are into pharmacies.  Seems everybody gets into everyone elses business.  And so likewise RS ventured too far from its niche roots and "flamed out".

On a personal note, my uncle who gave me the electronics bug, ran a radio, TV and small appliance store rather successfully for years that provided a nice home, car, money to well educate both children etc.  My dad however could see the handwriting on the wall with the large electronic appliance chains popping up in Pittsburgh area.  He advised my uncle (dads brother) to think of quitting while ahead.  "Nah, there will always be people needing repairs, buying radios, TVs and small appliances with personal touch"  Well he rode it out almost into bankruptcy, closed shop then bemoaned that he didn't take advice and quit. 

 Sometimes sticking to your knitting and doing what you know best without being all things to all people, and knowing when to bow out is good,  but then, what do I know??

Nate posted:

Radio shack is like model railroad hobby shops. Ain't no more . The ones remaining have nothing.employees know nothing and look at you in bewilderment if you ask a question. I went into an RS store some time ago looking for some tuner cleaner. Three sales people came over to help me. Finally one said to me that the store does not Carry any food products. When I told him what tuner cleaner was he said he thought I was talking about Tuna fish. I do not know if the store is there anymore. There is no reason for me to go back there.

Tuna Cleaner  ...........rolling on the floor with that one

Dave45681 posted:

  (or have they added true AM/FM receivers into phones now that don't need to be via your data stream or some app to get the radio feed?

All of our smartphones have FM radios. They require a headphones cord for the antenna.

Dtrainmaster posted:

Nate posted:

Radio shack is like model railroad hobby shops. Ain't no more . The ones remaining have nothing.employees know nothing and look at you in bewilderment if you ask a question. I went into an RS store some time ago looking for some tuner cleaner. Three sales people came over to help me. Finally one said to me that the store does not Carry any food products. When I told him what tuner cleaner was he said he thought I was talking about Tuna fish. I do not know if the store is there anymore. There is no reason for me to go back there.

Tuna Cleaner  ...........rolling on the floor with that one

Well you never know where that tuna has been.

ADCX Rob posted:

Dave45681 posted:

  (or have they added true AM/FM receivers into phones now that don't need to be via your data stream or some app to get the radio feed?

All of our smartphones have FM radios. They require a headphones cord for the antenna.

OK.  I learned something today.  Not using my phone often enough to justify a smart phone plan, I live in the dark ages with a prepaid flip that costs me maybe $100-$120 a year to keep active. 

I do have an iPod touch that I bought about 2 1/2 years ago, and it doesn't have an FM radio, but maybe that is another difference between the actual phones and similar generation iPod touch.

-Dave

And now we bring you Harbor Freight!  A new store every three days, really!    Is their growth internal by just stocking new stores or is it ? ? ? ?  Fortunately so far here locally at least one or two employees in each of our stores is actually knowledgeable.  Time will tell.  Russ

I think the lack of knowledgable staff is not limited to RS.  Went to an auto parts store for some 1/4 inch gas line to repair an old 1919 Faribanks Morse stationary engine and the clerk kept asking me what car it was for.  I kept saying all I needed was a length of 1/4 inch copper line.  Finally told them that it was for a 1919 Fairbanks Plugoscillator Throttle Governed engine.  The looked at me like I had bugs all over my face.

I agree that Radio Shack is not what it used to be.  Nonetheless, I was able buy (online) replacement soldering iron tips for my very old RS soldering irons.  So I'm glad RS is still around and supporting at least some of their old products even though I wish they were more like they were in their best years. 

Who remembers Lafayette electronics? They had a catalogue with radio kits and accesories. I think they were called Heath kits. You were able to buy a crystal radio for little money. They were endorsed by the shop teachers in school. Later on Radios Shack became a competitor. I am quite certain that Lafayette had a store in Manhattan. They faded out of existence. I wonder if one could find an old catalogue on eBay?

Lafayette Radio Electronics! I was going to post this last week but didn't think anyone else would remember them. They had a huge warehouse store in Syossett NY. My dad had a tube amplifier from them that he used for the stereo in the house when I was a kid. I believe that they sold Heathkit.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

rman posted:

Woodson posted:

Millennial bean counters at work.. Today, companies complain about "no employee loyalty"... What happened to company loyalty to their employees??  GONE..   Glad I'm retired!!

AMEN brother!!!  Same here.  After 9-11, my avionics company couldn't shed employees young and old fast enough.  From what I hear from those who are left is a work,work, work or else culture has pervaded its atmosphere.  Many oldsters counting the days until they"pull the pin".

 

Originally posted by David1:

I pulled the pin at 67 then found out our company never paid into the pension fund.
 28,000 people left with little or no pension. Worked for them for 51 years. They are now out of business.
Nobody was ever held accountable.

 

Meantime the CEO's CFO's  get their "Golden Parachute"  Almost like "Slave Labor" to the masses who supported and got those CEO's and CFO's to where they were in the first place!

But the Public Sector is not too fat behind eitherThis is Why I left the Private Sector.

"But the Public Sector is not too fat behind either!"

Might depend upon where you live. Here a company can close and say there is no more pension money and you are out of luck. Also here, and at least one other state, government employees have their pensions, cola increases, and health care guaranteed for life by the state constitution. Or as one friend put it, "the biggest example of discrimination allowed today."

It is amazing how CEO's and other execs never loose their bennies.

Nate posted:

Who remembers Lafayette electronics? They had a catalogue with radio kits and accesories. I think they were called Heath kits. You were able to buy a crystal radio for little money.

Sure. We had some Lafayette retail stores here (Maryland-D.C. area). I remember buying a combo AM/FM tuner with built in cassette player and speakers. It was a poor man's music system but I thought it was cool at the time.    Think I bought that "outfit" in '69-'70? 

In the 1950's and 1960's the US electronics business was state-of-the-art and booming. Many young people   started by building electronic kits and did science projects which prepared them for college education and good paying jobs in the industry.  The electronics stores selling parts were all over the place and focused in one section of Manhattan called Radio Row. I was such a hobbyist who later graduated from engineering school and had a good career in the high tech industry. Sadly there is little opportunity in the electronics industry today and the closing of Radio Shack just confirms that.

Radio Shack has become just another phone store and most are dropping the electronics components part of the business.  Only one RS in the Portland area still stocks some, but now we order on-line and pick up at the local RS.

Nate posted:

Who remembers Lafayette electronics? They had a catalogue with radio kits and accesories. I think they were called Heath kits. You were able to buy a crystal radio for little money. They were endorsed by the shop teachers in school. Later on Radios Shack became a competitor. I am quite certain that Lafayette had a store in Manhattan. They faded out of existence. I wonder if one could find an old catalogue on eBay?

Yep I do!!  Dad bought me a Lafayette regenerative shortwave tube (tubes - pre-transistors that glowed in the dark ) receiver kit.  I remember him saying we would work on it each night making 3 or 4 solder joints.  That lasted about a week before he decided I could follow directions and solder wires (with a Weller solder gun no less, amazed I didn't destroy parts with heat)  Sucker worked first time out the door!  Don't know what happened to it after I left for college though

Dennis LaGrua posted:

In the 1950's and 1960's the US electronics business was state-of-the-art and booming. Many young people   started by building electronic kits and did science projects which prepared them for college education and good paying jobs in the industry.  The electronics stores selling parts were all over the place and focused in one section of Manhattan called Radio Row. I was such a hobbyist who later graduated from engineering school and had a good career in the high tech industry. Sadly there is little opportunity in the electronics industry today and the closing of Radio Shack just confirms that.

Here in the rust belt we had Lafayette (LRE) as well as Radio Shack and mail order catalogs from Federated Purchaser Electronics.... and the usual supply of Heath Kits.

Radio Shack in it's heyday was  surely a treasure trove.  Rosin core solder in relatively inexpensive spools, great pencil soldering irons of various wattages and tips, soldering supplies, wire of all types, resistors and capacitors and transistors as well as metal boxes and knobs. 

I built my first transistor throttle in the mid 70's from plans in MR as well as parts from Radio Shack as well as a local electronics supply house.  The supply house was across the street from one of the nations foremost telephony labs and the counter parts guys were always friendly to help the young fellow whose dad dropped him off at the door.   It was nice to hear them explain to me the difference of NPN versus PNP transistors and what kind of power supply transformer I needed. 

The disappearance of Radio Shack simply echoes the broader society in that people are glued to TV/phone/game/computers and have little interest in the actual "infrastructure" of technology,  of much of which is now engineered and built offshore.

Yep, sadly gone are the days of school science fair projects, huge Christmas retail train displays and model railroading merit badges and that is reflected in things like the Shack's downward spiral.

Heathkit was a separate company headquartered in Benton Harbor, MI, and made all sorts of electronic kits including computers near the end. A friend of mine built a FM Tuner and pre-amp/amp combo unit when we were in High School. I liked Eico better for the money so I built a HF-81 in 1961. It still works for the train room with a couple of homebuilt plywood "Atlas" speakers. It is very well regarded to this day which is not bad for $69.95 back in the day (Of course $69.95 then=$568.54 today!):

"This d*** thing does not sound anything like it should; it's just too good! I have not heard this much bloom, soundstage, naturalness, and soul from anything less than $1200... maybe more! The big name drones need to study up...Can $100 really buy this much soul?"

http://home.earthlink.net/~eico_hf81/

Heath also had retail stores and in 1974 I wanted to build one of their color TV kits so traveled the100miles or so to the Maryland suburbs to see one in person before laying out the $650 for the 25" chassis and another $170 for the dual speaker all-wood cabinet. Prices look high today ($820 then=$4,439.71 today!):but for a rectangular 25' Color TV dual-speaker "console" it was actually cheaper than a RCA/Motorola/Zenith of the day and I saved not having to pay for all of those pesky "alignment" and "de-gaussing" service calls. Took a couple of weeks to build (never saw so many circuit boards but photostream below will give you an Idea) but I could repair it myself and it worked for 16 years until the fly-back went out and I could buy a brand-new TV for $400 in 1991.

Copyrighted Heathkit GR-2000 TV Chassis Pix from another owner but you have to copy and paste the whole URL to get there:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34737609@N07/with/3259562732/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/34737609@N07/3259562858/in/photostream/

My cabinet is in the background of this 1977 Catalog Cover and I did buy the on-screen clock board which really amazed people at the time..

Same here Woodson

I received my replacement soldering iron tips from RS via on-line mail order today.  I am happy.

RS on-line may continue to be a good source for electronic parts.  Everything seems to be going on-line today.

NH Joe

It seems things are churning again.... We will have to see what may survive this time.

Bankruptcy for Radio Shack, part two.

-Dave

It's circling the bowl, there is no way out!

ADCX Rob posted:

Dave45681 posted:

  (or have they added true AM/FM receivers into phones now that don't need to be via your data stream or some app to get the radio feed?

All of our smartphones have FM radios. They require a headphones cord for the antenna.

Yes, but many have them disabled.

The Hidden FM Radio Inside Your Pocket, And Why You Can't Use It

The final nail in the coffin....

http://www.usatoday.com/story/...econd-time/98943636/

A Chicago based electronics company named Allied Radio & Electronics was another fine catalog store that sold Knight Kits...mostly shortwave radio kits but they had a few others. They were a great source for parts in the 1960s.

Heathkit!

My first 2 stereos were Heathkit (that I built); the first being 1967. The technical high school I attended, had the students (including me) assemble Heathkit oscilloscopes and signal generators.

That was the start of my career in electronics.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

ADCX Rob posted:

All of our smartphones have FM radios. They require a headphones cord for the antenna.

Yes, but many have them disabled.

The Hidden FM Radio Inside Your Pocket, And Why You Can't Use It

Ours all work. T-Mobile has free(no data charge) music streaming anyway, and we have all unlocked Nokia & Blu phones. But I can see the reasoning from the perspective of lesser carriers.

The Radio Shack in Seymour Indiana is closing also. Radio Shack built their own coffin, nails and all when they turned it into phone shacks. There is a phone store on almost every corner. They should have kept it the way it used to be. You don't change something that works.

Kerrigan posted:

Radio Shack has become just another phone store and most are dropping the electronics components part of the business.  Only one RS in the Portland area still stocks some, but now we order on-line and pick up at the local RS.

Exactly the uniqueness and the Radio Shack company roots were cast aside and what remained was an ordinary electronics CATV, internet and smart phone appliance store, trying to compete with the nations largest retailer-WALMART?  Are you kidding me!  Its a difficult time for any business right now. The latest casualties are the Ringling Brothers Circus and Staples. Perhaps the days of the multi-national retailers and shopping malls are also coming to an end.

Warning:  Sensitive folks that just happen to be baby boomers read at your own risk: 

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I'd like to add a different perspective to this forum topic.  Radio Shack ultimately collapsed because of A) the way Americans began purchasing their consumer goods (going back to the 70's) and B) changing demographics (ie: aging baby boomers).

My grandparents built things, saved their money and occasionally would purchase some of the things they built:  you know worked in factories, saved money and paid a little extra for American made products while living in houses that were around 1,000 square foot.  Most people of my grandparents age also bought a car and maintained it themselves and kept if for 5 to 10 years.  My  grandparents generation bought their small houses with 20% down, financed for 10 to 20 years and usually saved up and paid cash for their cars.  They did this while on average, had 5 kids to feed and raise.

Here's an article that shows home size by decade:  http://www.newser.com/story/22...ecade-by-decade.html 

My parents generation: aka, you guys , or otherwise known as the baby boomers or the me me me generation built houses that were nearly twice the size as that of my grandparents (with 30 year mortgages and usually nothing down), bought cars with credit (and financed over 4 to 6 years).  Additionally, the average baby boomer family consisted of only 2.1 kids. 

Essentially, the me me me generation (aka you guys) demanded instant gratification.  Couldn't wait for that giant suburban cookie cutter McMansion and couldn't wait to have a giant SUV for you and spouse parked out front.  The only problem with this is that generally speaking, the baby boomers couldn't pay for most of this stuff so they financed everything. 

The must-have-now mentality embraced by you boomers is what ultimately led to all the factories being sent to China.  Your insatiable lust for instant gratification and more/cheaper junk is what led to China's rise.  Let's face it man, most Americans aren't going to go work in a factory (assuming they had the choice or chance to).  So, due to this, most Americans of  your generation would rather buy Chinese junk and just replace it if it broke.  I saw all of the above happen before my very eyes growing up as an 80's  kid. 

And because you guys bought everything on credit and with nothing down, you primarily caused the housing collapse in 2009 (along with the government and the Banks help).  Now, my generation is still paying for that.  So yeah, thanks for that. 

Additionally, because you guys only had 2.1 kids on average, my generation (Gen X that is) is going to have pay a lot more to sustain your over-inflated retirements....  You guys had 5 people to pay for 2 retirees, my generation has one person per retiree.  So yeah, thanks for that.

This is why Radio Shack is no longer around.  Just my 2 cents.....

And excuse my lack of brevity here. 

You're welcome. 

Is it really any wonder why we stopped at 2.1? 

Too bad. I remember when Radio shack use to be a real electronics store. Had a couple of Realistic CB radios from them as well as numerous parts & tools.  It's time has come and gone. 

TrainGuyMcGee posted:

Warning:  Sensitive folks that just happen to be baby boomers read at your own risk: 

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I'd like to add a different perspective to this forum topic.  Radio Shack ultimately collapsed because of A) the way Americans began purchasing their consumer goods (going back to the 70's) and B) changing demographics (ie: aging baby boomers).

My grandparents built things, saved their money and occasionally would purchase some of the things they built:  you know worked in factories, saved money and paid a little extra for American made products while living in houses that were around 1,000 square foot.  Most people of my grandparents age also bought a car and maintained it themselves and kept if for 5 to 10 years.  My  grandparents generation bought their small houses with 20% down, financed for 10 to 20 years and usually saved up and paid cash for their cars.  They did this while on average, had 5 kids to feed and raise.

Here's an article that shows home size by decade:  http://www.newser.com/story/22...ecade-by-decade.html 

My parents generation: aka, you guys , or otherwise known as the baby boomers or the me me me generation built houses that were nearly twice the size as that of my grandparents (with 30 year mortgages and usually nothing down), bought cars with credit (and financed over 4 to 6 years).  Additionally, the average baby boomer family consisted of only 2.1 kids. 

Essentially, the me me me generation (aka you guys) demanded instant gratification.  Couldn't wait for that giant suburban cookie cutter McMansion and couldn't wait to have a giant SUV for you and spouse parked out front.  The only problem with this is that generally speaking, the baby boomers couldn't pay for most of this stuff so they financed everything. 

The must-have-now mentality embraced by you boomers is what ultimately led to all the factories being sent to China.  Your insatiable lust for instant gratification and more/cheaper junk is what led to China's rise.  Let's face it man, most Americans aren't going to go work in a factory (assuming they had the choice or chance to).  So, due to this, most Americans of  your generation would rather buy Chinese junk and just replace it if it broke.  I saw all of the above happen before my very eyes growing up as an 80's  kid. 

And because you guys bought everything on credit and with nothing down, you primarily caused the housing collapse in 2009 (along with the government and the Banks help).  Now, my generation is still paying for that.  So yeah, thanks for that. 

Additionally, because you guys only had 2.1 kids on average, my generation (Gen X that is) is going to have pay a lot more to sustain your over-inflated retirements....  You guys had 5 people to pay for 2 retirees, my generation has one person per retiree.  So yeah, thanks for that.

This is why Radio Shack is no longer around.  Just my 2 cents.....

And excuse my lack of brevity here. 

 

Well said.  I believe another factor is the internet and its "eye candy" ads enticing the viewer you can have it now with that credit card number.

Interesting thread but I suspect Rich will shut it down unless we get back to build our locos and cars and bend our rails as we lay them, saving our pennies until we can afford them no easy credit card here, since we already use "Chinese junk" trains on our layouts for the most part (yeah I know there a few American built ones, but that's another subject).

My two cents observation.

billshoff posted:

A Chicago based electronics company named Allied Radio & Electronics was another fine catalog store that sold Knight Kits...mostly shortwave radio kits but they had a few others. They were a great source for parts in the 1960s.

In the late 1960s Radio Shack's parent company, Tandy, purchased Allied, which was a real surprise, as Allied was a pretty serious supplier to business and commercial customers as contrasted to Radio Shack which was hobbyist and consumer oriented. Allied was subsequently bought and sold numerous times, I forget who owns them now.

After Tandy divested Allied, they tried to get into the commercial market again in the 1990s with an operation called Tech America, which was sort of an Allied Radio "Lite." Didn't work out, they were clobbered by DigiKey and Mouser who were both rising at the time.

My parents generation: aka, you guys , or otherwise known as the baby boomers or the me me me generation built houses that were nearly twice the size as that of my grandparents (with 30 year mortgages and usually nothing down), bought cars with credit (and financed over 4 to 6 years).  Additionally, the average baby boomer family consisted of only 2.1 kids. 

LOL, I'm a tail end boomer, and can agree with most of what TrainGuyMcGee wrote.

But then again, the real houses that are being built these days in my area are still fairly large, and often extravagant. I doubt that Boomers are the main customer. (there are "tiny homes" but how many are really out there).

If you want to generalize, the children and grandchildren of boomers are not into do-it-yourself hobbies. They spend their free time playing video games.

I think there were two other factors in the demise of Radio Shack:

shrinking market - Few want the types of product Radio Shack sells.

Overpriced, lesser quality goods - Those who are interested in that sort of product can get better goods at lower prices elsewhere.

We still have a Radio Shack nearby. The only product I can see myself purchasing there would be one or two semi-conductors. I wouldn't buy anything else from them, not even switches or any other parts.