Radio Shack is not folding. They submitted a poor earnings report to Wall Street today and are closing 400 to 700 stores as part of a turn-around plan.
Bobby
Sorry, but if I need a 1K resistor, where else can I go? Sure, it’s 3 cents on line, plus $7.95 shipping and handling. Radio Shack has been a local business, even though it’s a franchise, for the 25 years I’ve lived here. I hope mine stays in town.
I built a capacitive discharge system with RS parts, for around 8 bucks. I could have had one in a box from my LHS for $40. What other retail stores sell this kind of stuff? All the “electronics warehouses” in my area disappeared years ago.
I seem to recall that, back in the 60s there was “Allied Electronics / Radio Shack”.
Of course, I also remember Heath Electronics… (sigh)
Only in Canada you say … Pity.
They did the switch about two months ago and from what I’ve seen it’s business as usual except you can’t get those neet electrronic parts you use to get.
Fergie
I do agree that they no longer stock some items that I could always get with them like stage sound equipment and small electronic hardware. The last time I checked they were still cheaper than walmart or any hobby shop for wire. Service I always had someone come up to me as soon as I walked in the door. I will notice if they close.
mark , thanks for the more detailed explanation .
Hopefully that “turn-around plan” will involve going back to what they were good at–selling electronic components–and leave the toy business to Toys-R-Us and the like.
RS back in the 60’s and 70’s were very good stores.i’ve used them for many years but the last few years i haven’t been buying from them.the one here in our town always charges more than what the price on the display board says.i hate paying $3.19 for a five foot spool of desolder wick.other products are very expensive also.i didn’t know they were in trouble financially.the store in st.joe,mo has several young but knowlodgeable(sp) employees,and that store seems to do a brisk business.terry…
“Radio Slack”…“you got questions,they DON’T have answers”
I haven’t shopped in one lately but I used to frequent them when I was in college. Remember the Radio Shack Battery Club? Got a lot of free batteries that helped stretch the budget. I used to use the vacuum tube testers on occasion too. Unfortunately the stores I’ve seen around here are now pretty thin on electronic parts, as others have said.
Hmmm… maybe I should stop in and see what kind of scanners they still have?
I am amazed they managed to stay in business this long. Sounds like they are really going south now with no U-turn likely.
Have you ever mistakenly mentioned Kresge’s or Woolworth’s to a teenager? How about K-Mart…at least, they are long gone in Canada. Nothing lasts forever.
Even our longest-lived retail giant, Hudson Bay Company, was recently bought out by an American financier. I hope he knows what he is doing!
I believe K-mart is a descendant of Kresge’s.
Radio shack is going down hill[:(] my brother in-law works for one and his store is doing away with the electronic parts section and they are just going to sell computers , cell phones and specializes electronic devices and of course toys. I did buy my Sirius satalite radio from them this december. I hope they don’t all close they are the only place I know of to get odd batteries and electronic parts.
bill
That would be correct!
We have 4 Radio Shack stores here in a city of around 40,000 population, if you figure in the military stationed at Fort Huachuca. Two of them sell nothing but cell phones, toys, and automotive stereo blasters. One sells only computers. The last of the lot sells a few electronics components, but nowhere near what Radio Shack originally specialized in. I wouldn’t miss the first three at all, because I only go to the one that still sells resistors, LEDs, capacitors, switches, etc., even though their stock is now limited to only one corner.
Despite all of the doom and gloom about Radio Shack stores being closed, they do have a Web site where you can order by mail – and pay through the nose for shipping and handling. I’m faced with the prospect of resorting to mail order from another source or driving 70 miles to Tucson to get anything if the one store that still handles components is closed.
K-Mart filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy about 10 years ago, and has made such a turnaround that they purchased Sears last year.
Who has even gone INTO one of these in the last few years?
The market place has spoken, and a lousy store does not survive forever.
That’s gona realy suck. I buy most of my Scanner Radio’s at Radio Shack and I like em.
Well… Looks like im gona have to take real good care of them now. I have 4 Radio’s that have the Radio Shack brand name. Allan.
I worked there for about three weeks berfore I realized I’m not a salesman. This was back in the late 90’s during economic boom. The store and managment performed poorly even then and I don’t forsee any turn-around for them any time in the future. There’s just too many other sources to find what you need now adays…J
We have about four RS in my area,I think it is sad that they are closing,I’ve brought a lot of stuff from them,our local elecontics supply has out ragious prices,but i do save on srink tubbing there!
JIM