I happened to be wandering through YouCrack not long ago, and stumbled upon a video a guy posted saying that he had found a RadioShack store that was actually open (in Indiana). I assumed it was a novelty, someone with an old sign, or clearing old inventory or something and did not take it seriously. Then, the other day, I was driving through Hamilton, Montana (Where they filmed "Yellowstone") and there was a RadioShack store with an open sign. I almost left skid marks dodging into the parking lot and jogged in, my mind filled with the memories of discrete components and perf board I bought there so regularly.
There it was, with almost all of the inventory I remember it having around the time the stores in my area closed. The very nice fellow there indicated that RadioShack never actually went totally out of business, and that there were 500 "Mom and Pop" stores still open. He said the new owners of RadioShack was soon going to be opening new stores across the US, and greatly adding inventory to them each month.
From the website:
"Unicomer Group, through its affiliate Global Franchising Corporation (GFC), acquired RadioShack's intellectual property assets and domains in about 70 countries around the world, including the United States and Canada, Europe, and China.
RadioShack is coming back in the US with an extensive product selection that ensures our customers they will find exactly what they need to carry on with day-to-day lives or transform their home and office. Our electronics range including: music and audio equipment, gaming equipment, business traveling products, dependable computer accessories and more."
There it was, with almost all of the inventory I remember it having around the time the stores in my area closed. The very nice fellow there indicated that RadioShack never actually went totally out of business, and that there were 500 "Mom and Pop" stores still open. He said the new owners of RadioShack was soon going to be opening new stores across the US, and greatly adding inventory to them each month.
From the website:
"Unicomer Group, through its affiliate Global Franchising Corporation (GFC), acquired RadioShack's intellectual property assets and domains in about 70 countries around the world, including the United States and Canada, Europe, and China.
RadioShack is coming back in the US with an extensive product selection that ensures our customers they will find exactly what they need to carry on with day-to-day lives or transform their home and office. Our electronics range including: music and audio equipment, gaming equipment, business traveling products, dependable computer accessories and more."
I still have RadioShack components still in the packaging in my drawers that I have refused to open and use because I did not want to lose the memories. I'm pretty sure it's early enough if we exert some influence as a community we can help to steer some decisions on what to stock. Vote with your dollars I always say.
Legacy or newbie- RadioShack has been and can be a touchstone in our electronics journey. I have always been amazed at how you can make the eyes light up in most of us "old farts" by talking about RadioShack or Realistic or Tandy, or Optimus- we all have our stories and memories of better times.
Personally, I was a proud member of the "free battery" club from a very early age. We got a lot of toys for birthdays and Christmas that used batteries, and the parents were never very excited about having to buy new batteries for all of it, so this was empowering for a youngster- a compelling reason for Mom to drop you off at the store to have a good look around, and come home with a battery for my transistor radio without having to spend my allowance or bug Mom for it. I am certain that this played a big role in pointing me on the path of engineering and electronics, and had a big impact on my life, so yeah, we old farts have some fond memories of the good ole days.
RadioShack also for many years used to be the hub of "come and try it, see what's new!". I remember being able to try out the speakers and amplifiers there, and that was where I had my first "audiophile tingles" experience- hearing Pink Floyd on CD for the first time on high end Optimus speakers- I remember that and feel the chills like it was yesterday, and that also sent me down this audiophile path.
Time change, quality changes, and you can never really go back, and I know RadioShack will be different, and probably not for the better, but I know the impact it can have if they do it right, and I have high hopes.
Personally, I was a proud member of the "free battery" club from a very early age. We got a lot of toys for birthdays and Christmas that used batteries, and the parents were never very excited about having to buy new batteries for all of it, so this was empowering for a youngster- a compelling reason for Mom to drop you off at the store to have a good look around, and come home with a battery for my transistor radio without having to spend my allowance or bug Mom for it. I am certain that this played a big role in pointing me on the path of engineering and electronics, and had a big impact on my life, so yeah, we old farts have some fond memories of the good ole days.
RadioShack also for many years used to be the hub of "come and try it, see what's new!". I remember being able to try out the speakers and amplifiers there, and that was where I had my first "audiophile tingles" experience- hearing Pink Floyd on CD for the first time on high end Optimus speakers- I remember that and feel the chills like it was yesterday, and that also sent me down this audiophile path.
Time change, quality changes, and you can never really go back, and I know RadioShack will be different, and probably not for the better, but I know the impact it can have if they do it right, and I have high hopes.
Well that is amazing - goes against just about all other good sources going out of business or selling something different over the past years.
So was I! I earned my Novice Ham License taking classes at night at the local Radio Shack, even took the test there with 20+ others.
Their consumers dedicated brands Realistic and Tandy were largely available here in France, they had franchises albeit not with
the RadioShack name, they disappeared fom the business scene long ago along with all brick and mortar components shops,
there were 4 in my urban area at the time and only a single one is left, i got there a few days ago to buy some generic products
and components, i talked with he owner and he told me that electronic components are now a marginal part of his sales while the computers sales have been captured by general stores and hypermarkets, there could be a surge again as people still prefer to have physical shops if available with competent workers.
the RadioShack name, they disappeared fom the business scene long ago along with all brick and mortar components shops,
there were 4 in my urban area at the time and only a single one is left, i got there a few days ago to buy some generic products
and components, i talked with he owner and he told me that electronic components are now a marginal part of his sales while the computers sales have been captured by general stores and hypermarkets, there could be a surge again as people still prefer to have physical shops if available with competent workers.
This was a very frustrating thing about RadioShack as it was being mis-managed and run into the ground years ago. Electronic discrete components are so tiny, even a small location could have cabinets with thousands of part numbers available, but it would require an employee to go fish the part out for you. For some dumb reason they started packaging every transistor and capacitor in that bubble-packaging, and putting it up on the wall, taking valuable sales space, and charging many times what it should have cost. With that bad strategy they HAD to shrink inventory, and with the available selection dwindling below a critical mass, they no longer had the part I needed for even basic projects, and their answer was "we can order it online for you and you can get it in a week". My response was "IF I have to wait a WEEK, I can order it online myself and for much cheaper". Having a GOOD selection of parts together in one place made me want to come and shop there, even if it cost a little more. I don't think the bean counters understood that.
Radio Shack was also a place for technology and learning, as well as demonstration. I think their best chance for success is if they embrace student education- having classes, kit building sessions, possibly an adjoining "maker space" to encourage young people to take up this type of hobby. In store demonstration is also key- getting to try out speakers and components, maybe have a 3-D printer on site for kids to make a free key chain, maybe a couple of drones for demonstration, etc. We'll see.
Then you will REALLY love the Radio Shack Catalog site- just about EVERY catalog printed going back to the '50s
I was a battery club member as well. My stay at home mommy always told me to get the C cells and she would make my favourite dessert.
I love my mommy.
I love my mommy.
They would exist if it was a requirement to be hired, but nowadays companies prefer to recruit competent scammers
who manage to sell whatever trash that is in inventory.
The shop here is still working this way mind you, when i get there i prefer to buy a lot of same components even
if i need just a few.
A large choice cost a lot in inventory, and that s what the guy told me, that people should buy some quantities to help
reduce the stock cost instead of buying them one by one, because it actualy happen.
At the time he had all schools who bought components, 15 years ago they still did it for the 14 years old to teach them
some basics of electronics, but currently he said that all this is done virtualy with PCs and softwares, nowadays the youth
dont even know what is a soldering iron, let alone how to hold and use it.
That s a global regression and the reason is that circuitries are now using ultra miniaturised SMD, so there s nothing to repair,
just whole boards that are swapped even if there s only a single 10cts component that failed.
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I found "Radio Shaek - 276-15N" board in Amazon YUNGUI store. It has a good strip pattern with rails down the middle.
The website doesn't discuss component level stuff. It would be great to have the real deal. HeyBill
When I was in the actual store, they still had the metal drawer cabinets with all of the discrete components, and the fellow said they were going to be expanding that back out. They had on the walls the bubble packs of connectors, adapters, etc.