It is disheartning to go into the local "shack" and ask for something and have the Cells person..I mean sales person look at you like you are speaking a foreign language. But i guess to them you are.
I had that happen once when I asked about a 12 volt regulated power supply & they took me to where they had car chargers for cell phones
We still have one in town. They could have been a player but chose a different direction and soon they will be nothing more than a memory.
Even more comical when you ask a "sales associate" (remember, they are no longer clerks!) where the parts drawers are- even though you know darn well exactly where they are located. Even funnier- ask them about wire in a specific gauge!
Cedarwoodron
We have one in town. Their parts, soldering supplies, etc. are very minimal. The front half (maybe 2/3rds) of the store is cell phones.
While I miss the old Radio Shacks, I won't miss this one if it closes.
Paul
Radio Shack has been getting smaller each year. They basically abandoned the kit builder and parts supply just like model railroad suppliers - Everyone want's 'RTR' - Right.
Unfortunately for Radio Shack, they have based their business model on low end R/C stuff and cell phones - All basic consumer stuff that can be sold anywhere(and at better prices). They lost their unique sales/service status and had to compete with the likes of Walmart - And they will lose every time as Walmart & the Internet are the low price providers on this stuff.
We used to have two Radio Shacks here in Rochester, MN(100.000 population), and are down the base store in the local mall - It just keeps 'shrinking' in size and while they still have 'parts', it is mainly small pkg's of an assortment of LED, or resistors and some wire - But the they have plenty of batteries, R/C stuff, and cell phones. It is really sad to hear their 'experts' walk folks through the operation of a cell phone....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
73
Bruce in the Peg
Not a big deal at all. DigiKey, Mouser Electronics, many on line supplers of parts around. I have not bought parts at RS for some years.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I only ever bought the pointed finer 35 watt soldering pencil tips from them, a twin-pack about every six years. Can't say I did them much good.
Radio Shack discontinued electronics components in their stores several years ago except for a few minor items such as resistors and capacitors, and became nothing more than a cell phone and video game store aimed at a teen audience, so they won't be missed by me.
We used to have 3 Radio Shack stores here -- only one remains in a mall, and it might be one of the ones that is going to be closed due to the high cost of rent and so many competing cell phone dealers within the mall.
On the few rare occasions I have been there, I was usually the only customer in the store, so they sure weren't paying the rent on my purchases.
Today, on several news outlets online, is a story that Radio Shack is planning to close 1100 stores nationally. The last redoubt of local parts access is soon to be reached. Notwithstanding that I order bulk LEDs and resistors online, but those projects that require "just one of...a capacitor or diode of a certain spec" will be harder to accomplish. I just can't seem to figure out why I would bulk order (online) 100 bridge rectifier diodes or capacitors, without the requisite number of car lighting projects to do. After all, those tank cars, flat cars and box cars are rarely lit when running !
Anyway- it is sad news, but then- I was perhaps only one of every 1000 customers in their stores actually looking in the parts trays buried in the rear of each store, so I guess I won't be missed! Most of their mall stores will probably close (high lease costs) and those metro areas of medium or larger size will probably have no more than one store remaining.