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RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

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RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby duke3522 » Sun 19 Feb 2006, 03:03:35

REUTERS Article


Maybe this is a sign that the middle class is begining to feel some real economic pain.


I know I have not bought anything at a Radio Shack in years. Batteries are always cheaper at WalMart.

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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby TommyJefferson » Sun 19 Feb 2006, 11:40:41

The internet really did kill Radio Shack.

They owned the electrionic hobbyist and enthusiast market for years. It was the only place a person could purchase capacitors, radio antennas, and obscure electronics equipment like police scanners and multimeters.

Instead of focusing on that market, they tried to compete in the consumer electronics market for TV's, computers, and cell phones. Other retailers could do that far better.

Now the only place I will be able to buy solder and electronic fittings will be mail order.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby zoidberg » Sun 19 Feb 2006, 12:30:00

Working as a cable guy I know when people buy shoddy cable equipment, it get derisively referred to as "radio shack" equipment. Them and they're bloody gold splitters really arent worth spit. Maybe thats why ;)
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby TheTurtle » Sun 19 Feb 2006, 13:48:06

I'm always amazed to see the local Radio Shack store still in business. They stopped being cutting edge sometime back in the early 80s.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby TommyJefferson » Sun 19 Feb 2006, 15:19:30

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zoidberg', 'T')hem and they're bloody gold splitters really arent worth spit.


That's true, but I remember when adding a second cable outlet in your home was forbidden by the cable companies. Radio Shack was the only place one could purchase the necessary fittings.

I remember when telephone companies frowned upon self-installed extension phones. Radio Shack was the only place to buy the hardware.

In today's marketplace it is simply impossible for a brick-n-motor retailer to compete against online retailers in obsure niche market products like electronic components.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby smallpoxgirl » Sun 19 Feb 2006, 15:55:45

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', 'N')ow the only place I will be able to buy solder and electronic fittings will be mail order.


Fortunately Missoula still has a mom and pop electronic parts store (oddly electronic parts and precision weighing instruments), but yeah. What you said.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby JeeBoomba » Tue 21 Feb 2006, 00:14:38

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('duke3522', 'M')aybe this is a sign that the middle class is begining to feel some real economic pain.

Radio Shack has been mis-managing itself out of business for years now. This doesn't really have anything to do with the larger economy.
Go read radioshacksucks.com and you'll get a good idea of what I'm talking about. No one has a kind word to say about that company's corporate strategies.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby Vexed » Thu 23 Feb 2006, 23:50:24

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zoidberg', 'T')hem (Radio Shack) and they're bloody gold splitters really arent worth spit.


That's true, but I remember when adding a second cable outlet in your home was forbidden by the cable companies. Radio Shack was the only place one could purchase the necessary fittings.

I remember when telephone companies frowned upon self-installed extension phones. Radio Shack was the only place to buy the hardware.

In today's marketplace it is simply impossible for a brick-n-motor retailer to compete against online retailers in obsure niche market products like electronic components.


With a large amount of experience in "obscure niche markets" I can tell you, your post hits the nail on the head. Radio Shack closing 10% of their stores is NOT about weakness in the larger economy.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby strider3700 » Fri 24 Feb 2006, 02:09:49

radio shack should still be able to out do online by beating the prices after shipping is taken into account. I've been hunting for a couple of DC motors for awhile. I find some for $10 each
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?U ... e=electric
but shipping puts them at $35 each. Never mind any duties or anything else that will get added on as it crosses the border. A local shop should be able to do better then that.

The major issue I find is radio shack doesn't have anything in it worth looking at. It's all consumer crap that can be found elsewhere. Oh and radio shack up here was bought out last year and is now "the source by circuit city"
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby Vexed » Sun 26 Feb 2006, 01:50:22

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('strider3700', 'r')adio shack should still be able to out do online by beating the prices after shipping is taken into account. I've been hunting for a couple of DC motors for awhile. I find some for $10 each
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?U ... e=electric
but shipping puts them at $35 each. Never mind any duties or anything else that will get added on as it crosses the border. A local shop should be able to do better then that.


Have you gone to a local shop? Sounds like you are more aware of what is available on-line.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he major issue I find is radio shack doesn't have anything in it worth looking at. It's all consumer crap that can be found elsewhere. Oh and radio shack up here was bought out last year and is now "the source by circuit city"


I remember when Radio Shack was aisle after aisle of esoteric electronic crap. Is it possible that the "consumer crap" you have recently been confronted with was a last ditch effort by Radio Shack to reverse their losses? I noticed, especially this last x-mas. that their selection was more mainstream than ever.

Do not underestimate the effect that on-line retailers have had on real-world retailers.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby Tyler_JC » Sun 26 Feb 2006, 02:00:42

This is not a news story. It is not important.

Capitalism means creating new companies by destroying old ones.

All of the growth in the internet retail sector comes from destroying the traditional retail sector.

The internet is a better way of selling things than brick and mortar stores. Better means more popular/easier/faster/cheaper/whatever.

Radioshack will disappear along with BlockBuster and General Motors.

These will be replaced by Online Electronics Inc., Netflix/Digital Cable, and Toyota.

It's all part of the cycle.

Peak Oil will mess up the cycle, but we haven't started falling off the energy cliff yet. So don't take this as some kind of "The End is Near!!" sign.
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Re: RadioShack to close up to 700 stores

Postby Vexed » Sun 26 Feb 2006, 02:15:51

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Tyler_JC', 'T')his is not a news story. It is not important.

Capitalism means creating new companies by destroying old ones.

All of the growth in the internet retail sector comes from destroying the traditional retail sector.

The internet is a better way of selling things than brick and mortar stores. Better means more popular/easier/faster/cheaper/whatever.

Radioshack will disappear along with BlockBuster and General Motors.

These will be replaced by Online Electronics Inc., Netflix/Digital Cable, and Toyota.

It's all part of the cycle.

Peak Oil will mess up the cycle, but we haven't started falling off the energy cliff yet. So don't take this as some kind of "The End is Near!!" sign.


With respect, you are as in touch as any one these days Mr. Tyler_JC.
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