The AM Forum

Here is a financial article that picks 5 companies that may not survive 2014.  One of them is Radio Shack :

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/five-companies-may-not-survive-094500643.html

I just happened to go in my local Radio Shack store a couple days ago after not being there for a very long time.  I had discovered that my freeze-mist can is practically empty so I figured that I would stop in there for kicks first.  They don't carry freeze-mist.  The guy showed me De-Ox-it and thermal compound, their closest products relating to thermal and chiller spray.  I asked if they had the De-Ox-it oil that you are supposed to use after using De-Ox-it. He said no.

So I have a freeze-mist product in my Amazon cart.  This is how I buy most of my miscellaneous items now.

Stock news item for the last several years, used to fill space at New Years.  :)

My Radio Shack is doing great.  Store was busy the week before Xmas, when I stopped there.  

I noted they are carrying a PCB layout kit with dry transfers again after several years absence from the RS stock.   The parts bins are well stocked; they had new Arduino components for 'Makers', and a new "Engineers' Mini Notebook" series by Forrest Mims III.

RS got a new CEO last January.  They shed their old manufacturing facility in China last year and are now procuring parts and products on a competitive basis.  As of two weeks ago the stock price was higher than Jan 2013.

I haven't seen any morse keys there but I still have my first one I got there in 1975.  I spliced it into the speaker line of my Halli S-38D and could practice my code by tuning in a nice carrier heterodyne.  :)

Good luck to RS!

p.s. In my little Kansas prairie town, my neighbor owned 'THE' TV-Stereo-2-Way Radio (and microwave ovens and VCR;s when they appeared) shop.  His Radio Shack franchise consisted of a six foot wide peg board with everything hanging on hooks.  I got all the used Admiral color TV's I wanted free, and disassembled them for parts in the cold garage with a Weller soldering gun.   Variable caps, enamel wire and crystal diodes came by mail from that giant, Burstein-Applebee in exciting Kansas City.

i just needed a cheap section of rg-58, so i figured id stop into rs and grab some. they had no idea what rg-58 was, i explained it was coax. so he ran over to the coax section and said we have rg-6. i said thanks and left... seriously? not a single old dusty box of rg-58 left in any rs store? oh well

You probably should have asked for some CB antenna cable which is RG58A/U.

RS discontinued bulk RG-58/Mini-8 coax about six years ago.  I bought the last box at my store.  

About two years ago, they started carrying terminated lengths in the online catalog/website.   My store has some.  One ham in Texas tells me that his store never stopped carrying bulk cable, although it was not RS brand.

Your local store manager determines much of what will be stocked or not stocked.  If you don't see it, ask for it.  They will gladly check nearby stores for transfer of stock or order from the warehouse.  That's how I go my last bottle of Ferric Chloride.

Don't blame the entire RS empire if you store is poorly stocked (or not supported by local customers)!

I've seen far too many hams complain about RS stocks and then in the next breath tell how they refuse to by a connector because they can get it from a ham vendor or distrubutor cheaper, or at the next hamfest (in 4 months).  If people don't buy local, there won't be any local stock, or store.

thanks for the advice guys.. i guess its more disappointment than a complaint. plus i guess it shows how often i go into a rs if it hasnt been carried in at least 6 years. i did check 3 rs stores here in ri and none of then carry it. i figured it was an online order only item now as when i asked for it they didn't know what it was and didnt offer to order it for me once i told them what it was. 73 kd1nw

I'm not throwing any stones!

It's a sign of the times.  People don't buy coax or components (at least locally) like they did back in the 'good 'ole days'.   The internet is a big factor.

Just looking at how markets change, yesterday I saw that I can buy LMR-400 equivalents cheaper than the absolute price I was paying back in 1993 for Mini-8 from Radio Works.

good point about the internet.. i guess its better for retailers to stock a warehouse or two with tons of components instead of trying to keep all the retail stores stocked with the various things..

..been gone from canada about 10 yrs...
..sk..

Everybody in the store I went to last Saturday was either buying or complaining about a smartphone. They are making money on phones. How can they expect people to drive there and pay 20 dollars for a car plug adapter that is 2 bucks online or 25 bucks for the 5 dollar HDMI cable on line?

Without flat screens, I think Best Buy would be in the same boat. Circuit City is gone and Staples is about gone too.

From a peak of about 80 in 1999 to a present price of about 2.60 per share.

T

An RS opened up in my town a few years ago. The folded up about 6 months ago. They carried very little in way of parts and cable and what was typical many years ago. When the business model changed way back when my visits were few and far between. I could probably count on one hand my visits in the last 10 years.  I won't even buy from them on the net.  They're not worth the trouble.

Bob,

Maybe you do, but probably not a lot of local CT hams know about this fine business electronic parts store in Newington near McDonalds. The name, "Cables and Connectors" is deceiving.  They have rows and rows of inexpensive small parts, kits, closeouts, etc., and at good prices.  I try to go there instead of Radio Shark even though its a longer drive.

You won't find any big mawl parts though... ;D

Look at the listing of parts of the left side.  Check them out if you haven't already:

http://cablesandconnectors.com/index.html

(Check out "Electronic Components")


T

Tom,
Thanks. Bookmarked! 

Nice selection of metal encased power resistors and multipaks and a whole bunch of other stuff.

For all the times I go to or through Newington passed the McD's I never knew this establishment existed.  I think I've been to their website on a few occasions but never realized they're CT based.  I'm headed to Newington today as luck would have it.

I wonder how long they've been around.

bw

I loved that place but U DO IT would charge 50 dollars for the 5 dollar part. That place always catered to the MIT engineering student.

I used to hit the RS store in the Fredricksburg VA mall just to kill time while XYL was shopping.  One day I scored a 10 meter RS rig for $42 dollars.....NIB on closeout.  Another day, the store mgr grabbed me and said, "I noticed that you buy this coax from time to time...would you be interested in the entire roll?"  I said sure and he let me out of there with almost an entire spool of their bulk RG-8/U for about 50 cents--he just wanted to get rid of it--they hadn't sold much to anyone else.  So here I go lugging this huge spool of the stuff heading towards Macy's to find XYL and get car keys <hihi>.  Still have it.  Unfortunately the store closed a few years ago. 

As for local electronics emporiums, I've been luckier out here in So CA.  Have Orvac's right in here in Fullerton--no old buzzard parts but plenty of components, NTE, Philmore, etc.

Also have Torrance Electronics and Signal Electronics over closer to LA--both good places but also a dying breed. 

Orvacs seem to cater to alarm installers and the pro audio/video guys in addition to hobby crowd.  Lots of em in there so I'm hoping it stays in place. 

Sourced most of my parts for my "PW Mini-Maul" (5763 modulated by 6AQ5W's) over there--less old buzzard components from junkbox........mod tranney, tubes, variable caps, xtal,.........Great place to spend a saturday morning browsing!

73's
Geo W8VG
Fullerton CA

So that's the real name? Most people I hear in conversation about that place refer to it as YOU BLEW IT

Local guy had two RS franchise stores for years, one up the mountain and one nearby in the valley. He just closed the nearby store, and now has one. Don't know if this is related to their slump.

Qualifications to work at Radio Shack=body temperature 98.6

Sometimes that works for the store, Burt. If someone wants some technical advice the employee would recommend something and if it didn't work out no hard feelings. Then they would try to convince the frustrated customer to buy a Sprint cell phone.
When I worked there I could never hit the sales needed to get commission. I was not a BS artist to push cell phones. That product line had the greatest value to get to commission. There were 3 employees that made huge commissions, but were gambling that the cell phones they sold would stay in the customer's hands. Many many returns on Sprint cellphones..
I enjoyed the employee discounts on goodies. I bought a HI-Resolution RCA 32inch CRT TV with DirecTV receiver that could decode OTA HD TV (the very beginning of HDTV). It did not have the 16:9 aspect ratio tube. The picture was not what we are seeing these days with flat screen TV's.
Their audio equipment and speakers really was very good quality for the price.
Lately, the last five years, the prices of TV's and audio equipment I see in RS is very high priced.
We have two in our small city and they have bailed me out with small parts and project boxes and wire.
Their batteries are no longer what they were 5 yrs ago. RS batteries were tested by several consumer groups and found to be of very good quality and the freshest battery available.
Fred

Over the holidays I stopped into a local RS store in Lancaster PA.  I had picked up one of their small 120 VAC panel meters a few years ago and figured another one with its small form factor would fit a current project.    As I walked in I was greeted by the peppy sales girl who seemed eager to assist a new potential cell phone customer.    I told her I was looking for a 120 volt AC panel meter.   Without hesitation she said “Please wait while I get the store manger”.

No problem.   I probably knew the location of pieces and parts equal to or better than she did so I ambled over to said location and started looking around, wondering if the manager was calling Homeland Security or the FBI because I wanted an electronical part and braced myself for the arrival of the local SWAT Team.   But, as it turns out, my fears were unfounded.

The manager quickly appeared and seemed eager to assist a new customer.    Again I said I was looking for a 120 volt AC panel meter.  He went deep into thought and after a few seconds said “Is that like a multi-meter?”    Well, at least he was in the ball park.  I said kinde of, but it’s a small meter that people would mount on project boxes to measure 120V line voltage.

Again, he went deep into thought and finally replied that he didn’t think they carried any of those as “We’ve recently reformatted our store” and patted the pile of big LCD TVs he was resting his arm on.  Well fair enough I thought, at least he’s being honest.   So, I just said thank you and said I’d look around.

It was soon apparent they didn’t have that for which I quested, so I was leaving the store and the manager stopped me and asked if I’d found what I was looking for.  I said no, but it was perhaps because they no longer stocked the item.  He replied

“I’m sorry to hear that; I would have liked to see what one looked like”.

I just smiled and left the store; looking hither and yonder for the Men in Black with zapo ray guns.  Seeing none, I ambled over to my trusty Jeep and drove off into the sunset…..

Big changes through the years. I guess I was one of those 98.6 guys Burt was referring to, but back in the day - mid 70's before the whole "you want a cell phone with that?" craze. The one I worked in was an independent franchise store and I worked there for a few months during the holiday season and beyond. Back then, we were actually able to give folks good advice about electronics parts, scanners, tubes(!) and stuff, and about TV antennas and cable. Most of that fell to me with my ham radio background. I also had a small repair spot setup in the back. Often we'd get in some device that wouldn't function. Before we'd ship it back, I'd take a quick look and found that maybe 70% of them could be fixed with a touch of solder or replacing a crystal or something simple that got broke in shipping or wasn't done right at the factory. The boss liked that.  ;D

Was an interesting experience and always left me with a soft spot for RS. But they certainly are a shadow of their former selves, and it's always a giggle to see what happens when you ask the eager beaver salesdroid for a part or anything that isn't a phone or TV. I used to find myself offering advice when I'd hear one of the salesfolks misleading a poor customer down a dark alley away from the solution when they didn't understand the question and were just flinging BS.

 Still, it's handy to be able to stop there for a run of the mill part like a switch or box. I will miss them if they go.

It started to change for me back in the 80's.  I remember hearing the doorbell chime, then axing the Disco Duck behind the counter if he had any  455 kHz IF cans in stock.  (They used to have them on the wall)  He looked at me puzzled and said he never heard of it, but what was I going to use it for?    

After that adventure, I got that question often. "What am I going to use it for?"   Should I spend the next 5 minutes explaining Dick the Bruiser, Rico Suave or Fabio II to you?

Yes, there was a time when we could go to that white pegboard at the shopping mall and build a lot of good stuff.  But now it's a throw-away society and surface mount mentality.

T

(BTW, in 1973 during college, I worked at RS for 6 months)

While standing in line, the RS store manager was helping a customer. He had some batteries in a de vise  and he said the de vise was not working. The helpfull manager offered to test the RS batteries the customer had. She got out the batterie tester, tested the batts, they measured around 1.5 volts. She sent him on his way. I mentioned that testing the batts without a load may not give an accurate reading. She told me that she had a smart tester, and the batts were good. So I guess the auto ranging dvm is now a smart device.

I feel so stupid.

klc

At my local RS store I once asked if they had any diodes? He went in the back room and fetched a big box of all the stuff no longer for sale on the shelf's. I found what I needed. I should have made him an offer on the whole box! Don't be afraid to ask about what is in the back room is the lesson I learned about RS.

The RS in New London CT was my hang out when I was a kid back in the 70's. I don't know if he was a manager or a sales person but his name was Red. He was a hippy. This guy was the nicest guy and bent over backwards for me and my brothers when ever we stopped by. He was somewhat knowledgeable and my Mom liked him because she didn't consider him a creep and was just very personable. I don't know how much stuff I bought from him but he was always helpful and curious with my projects. I'd stop in with my Popular Electronics magazine articles to collect parts and pay for them with my allowance. He'd help anyway he could to see me through.  Then one day he was no longer there. My visits then became few and far between.  Another electronics store opened up in the area and I frequented them and they're still in business to this day but they were next to a hardware store that was a fixture in New London. I never forgot about Red. Many years later I had to fix something at my parents house and went to a local hardware store. This store was like an old RS. It had everything. Guess who was working behind the counter, Red. I did not recognize him at first as he put on a lot of weight and cut his long red hair but he recognized me when I stopped in. He asked about my Mom and brothers then it clicked. I don't know what happened to him but won't forget him on how he treated me.  The hardware store went out of business and of course the New London RS changed and I move away but that place has good memories.

A wonderful story Bob.

Thanks.

Looks like it's not just the typical new year chatter after all.

Sharks are circling; option puts and short sellers are very active.

http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post--is-this-the-end-for-radioshack (http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post--is-this-the-end-for-radioshack)

On Saturday I helped a ham repair a Hallicrafters HA-1 "TO" keyer, the power transformer had shorted AC to ground. We used a N.O.S. 15 VA 1:1 isolation transformer (small Stancor) for plate voltage. For filament, though, there wasn't much room left on that chassis. RS has had a line of 12.6 VAC CT transformers for years, 300 mA, 1.2 Amp, 3 Amp. The TO keyer has 4 x 12AU7 in it, so need about 600 mA at 12.6 VAC. A call to the nearby Shack proved success, they had them all IN STOCK. Steve and I bought all they had, as the items were on the bottom hangers in what used to be the parts row and were dusty. The keyer was fixed. Later that day I was across Santa Fe and happened upon Radio Shack # 2, went and found the same few dusty transformers on the bottom hangers. I bought a couple more, and asked the manager if that was the end of the small parts. Surprisingly, she answered no and said they had run low on inventory over the holiday and were expecting a shipment this week. In my mind, however, I think she didn't know what a transformer was, as those were not hot items that sold out over holiday, but dusty remnants of the better days of the Shack as a source for electronic parts. I believe she was thinking of small parts with things like smart phone covers and screen protectors, bluetooth speakers and such. Keep your eyes open for some good sales in coming months, if they indeed go worse into the red.

I heard on the radio on the way home tonight that Radio Shack will close up to 1100 stores.  They lost $191 million in the last quarter of 2013.

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25271292/radio-shack-close-more-than-1-000-stores

IIRC RS ran a superbowl commercial this year...then the next day closed a bunch of stores.  That made some headlines. Yup...they are not long for this business world.

Stopped in at U-Blew-It Electronics a few weeks back...was disappointed in their stock.  They did not have an RG8X connector. 
p

The report also said: "CEO Joseph Magnacca said the closings would leave the company with more than 4,000 U.S. stores. That's still far more than Best Buy, which has roughly 1,400 U.S. locations, and makes RadioShack stores nearly as common as Wal-Mart. "

You get rid of stores that are just not profitable and are just there creating more overhead expense to the Company. Very wise thing to do if you want to succeed.

I stopped in at the RS around the corner not long ago and was pleasantly surprised that the guy actually knew a great deal.
The stock of discrete parts was good and I easily found what I needed.

Sometimes ya just never know what you're gonna find!
 

For RS to survive they are going to have to pick a clear strategy and stick with it.  It is very late in the game already but they can be guaranteed of failure if the zigging and zagging of the recent years continues.

At the time of their failure, W.T. Grant held the record for the largest retail bankruptcy.  They also adopted 7 significantly different retail strategies in their final 5 years confusing potential customers and employees alike.  Providing credit to anyone who could fog a mirror wasn't one of their better ideas and Mitsubishi motors provided empirical evidence that this was still a bad idea several decades later :)

Went in yesterday and they're not carrying ATC/ATO fuses anymore......one less reason to go inside.

Yup, I asked the clerk at my closest RS what the future looked like for his store. He said that they received a directive from the regional headquarters to start shipping all their unsold inventory of cellular products back to the distribution center. I guess they will try to sell whatever is left and then close it up.

Back in the 70's I walked into the West Hartford RS to pick up one of the assortment packs of disc ceramic capacitors with low values that would yield a few 100 pf caps. The manager behind the counter asked me what I was looking for and I said I needed a couple of 100 picofarad capacitors. He yelled across the store to a couple of clerks roaming the aisles and asked them if they could see any picofarads back there. That cracked me up but to his credit he eventually tracked down what I was looking for.

Rob W1AEX

The RS near me stocks resistors, capacitors, LEDs, IC chips, audio & RF connectors, switches and other parts for the hobbyist -very convenient when I need something quickly AND they have the correct component value.  About 10 years ago RS seemed to shift its focus to selling cell phones & plans. I'm guessing that competing effectively with the big players in that business isn't easy.

Competing with Verizon and the cellular big guns is like RS marketing their TRS-80 computers in the late 70's and 80's - the big guns eventually took them out.

Just cuz someone is first to the marketplace doesn't mean they will be first in the future.  Look at AOL, Yahoo, Xerox, Marconi, Studebaker.  

But sometimes it does work - look at Bill Gates.   He was first -  and recently the richest man in the whirl. And the more recent Facebook, very late in the game but still made $billions.      

Oh, where did I go wrong?   :-)

T

I see that RS is running a new campaign called "DIT" (instead of "DIY")  Anyway it stands for Do it Together.  I guess they are trying to stir up the Do it Yourself and electronics hobbyist business.  I wish they would get the point that their business suffered greatly when they dropped their extensive racks of blister packs of goodies and surplus parts that we all used to really count on for projects.  Now most of the available parts are contained in a couple of cabinets with drawers.  Most of the drawer contents are over-priced and insufficient to meet any but the most basic needs.  Ham Radio is only one of many electronics-oriented hobbies that require parts and supplies to pursue.  Seems like all the audio/video guys, computer nerds, and "Makers" would represent enough of a market to justify carrying parts. ???

73,  Jack, W9GT

Good old fashion retail salesman inside joke humor. We use to do all the time with customers at Lafayette.

It appears to be working just as well at Radio Shack as it did at Lafayette.

Instead of concentrating on making billions, you were having fun on AM hanging with us :-)

So, ultimately, aren't you glad you focused on what you enjoy instead? 

I worked for both Lafayette and Radio Shack.  The one that treated its employees and customers best was Lafayette.  I never had a bad word for Lafayette when I left.  I can't say the same for RS.  The best is not always the survivor in the business world.

All I want from Radio Shack is that good cigar scent which came along with the Archer Space Patrol base station I got for Christmas in 1971.

Better than new car smell.

Was that the big box (with little in it) tunable RX and the cw jey on the front?

That was my first rig ever.

Yes. I still have one and should put it on ten :D

Had to laugh recently, or maybe I just shook my head in disbelief. Getting old, can't remember which. Where wuz I....

Oh yes, I was building up a quick and dirty battery tray for testing an old 1 tube Regen. Since I'm out in the sticks and wasn't in a hurry, I shopped online and ended up on epay.

Purchased a little cheapy plastic D cell holder from Rat Shack of all places, the kind with the wires crimped instead of solder. A whopping $1.49 plus .10 NC tax. Amazingly, shipping was FREE.

Not only that, they shipped it FedWrex ground to the PO who delivered it to me. In a box that could've fit 20 or more of them.

$1.49!!  Gas to and from the nearest store would've cost me several times the purchase price. Would've been happy to spend a couple bucks for shipping.

With that kind of business plan, it'd be no surprise if they went belly-up. I mean, sure - some Chinese prisoner probably built the thing and Rat Shack probably paid a nickel for it, but still... after the shipping, where's the profit? Are they hoping that overwhelming sales will offset it?

Todd,

I did the same over Christmas since buying some phenolic perf board via the RS ebay store was cheaper and far more convenient than driving in to Bloomington to pick it up at the store.  I notice sometime in the last few months they closed the store in Bloomington/Normal that was most convenient to me.  I think if I had shopped there a few more times I could have started becoming fairly fluent in Spanish :)

Aren't most of the stores local franchises?  They probably have a number of "company stores", but I wonder what determines which ones they will close? We have several stores in the Fort Wayne area, but they will probably close the one that is closest and most convenient for me, since Murphy usually prevails.

73,  Jack, W9GT

I think a lot of the franchise locations have closed over the years and the company took over other locations from the franchisee.  I expect the franchise locations were the first to go under as the company's fortunes took a turn for the worse years ago.

I didn't hear you on the net this morning.  Hope all of the rigs are OK!

Here in my town we had an RS open up about 2 maybe 3 years ago. It was a franchise.  It didn't last long. It closed about 6 or 7 months ago.  Didn't have anything worth a damn.  It was in a poor location and signage was non-existent. 

Stores closing aren't just at Radio Shack:

Reported 3/10/14: "As part of a plan to cut costs by $500 million, Staples says it plans to close up to 225 North American stores by the end of 2015. But on Staples.com, where sales are up despite a drop in the retailer's total sales, the company increased its selection to 500,000 products as of the end of 2013, up from 100,000 a year earlier."

A future in retail sales isn't what it use to be.

" A future in retail sales isn't what it use to be. "

Well, I have to dress up and go to WallyMart now. On top of that, they have this thing called 'self check out'. So not only do we buy our stuff from China, we check ourselves out (kill that job) and go our merry way.

Except when I buy beer. So, the check out person runs over, and cant figure out my selective service card. No picture. So after a while, I find my drivers licence. Does she thank me for helping to save her job? No! Yo soy malo.  So, then I go on my merry way.


klc

Even before the growth on online the U.S. was severely "over-stored" and that just became much worse with increasing online sales.  It doesn't mean every category of retailing is equally over-stored so we have to be careful using some global statistic to explain every retail contraction and/or failure.

Today I tried to kill 2 hours in a mall in Champaign, IL while waiting for my dog to be spayed at the University of IL and I bought a new pair of deck shoes and that was the extent of finding any "guy stuff" there.  There were lots of stores with a tremendous amount of duplication and most of the activity consisted of elderly mall walkers and a few folks at the food court.  That last bastion of "guydom" at the mall, Sears, apparently had closed down many months ago although all of the mall directories indicated they were still there.  I ended up leaving and going to Menards but lengthy shopping even there wasn't fun although I finally remembered to get some finishing washers that I need for a couple of projects.  It was a long day but Cheyenne came through surgery fine so today was a good day.

I used to teach the retail management course at Illinois State U early in my career but that was because I was the only marketing prof with any retail background ( a couple of years at ComputerLand).  Even then I hated seeing students headed for corporate retail management because the long term prospects for most were poor. 

Meanwhile McDonalds continues to build new stores.

"There were lots of stores with a tremendous amount of duplication and most of the activity consisted of elderly mall walkers and a few folks at the food court."


I have wondered for years how some of those useless clothing and trinket mall stores break even, never mind make a profit.  Their prices are usually inflated and most nights there's nobody there.  Imagine carrying a top dollar $$ lease, employee salaries, insurance, stocking merchandise and then trying to make a profit. And most are franchi$e$. The store "owners" had to front $100K++ to use the name.   Insane.  How these stores survive is beyond me.

There was a toy store here in town that made a go of it for two years.   Same deal. Nobody ever went in there and they carried a lot of board games, stuffed animals and green puke. I thought maybe it was a front for a cat house. But alas, it's dark now.  The poor bastards finally threw in the towel. So predictable.

Unless a store has the potential to rock all day like a MacDonalds or Walmart, why waste time and money starting it?  Service businesses rock too. The yuppies don't want to get their hands dirty and will pay up the a$$ for hard-core services.  

T

As it turns out Radio Shack did survive 2014, but filed bankruptcy Chapter 11 today, February 5, 2015.

Share price - 10 cents.

Really?

The old running joke was a catch phrase we came up with over 20 years ago when scrambling for last minute parts sourcing.

"Tandy is handy."

Now, with the only other parts store in town eradicating it's small parts sales beginning the first of this year, it looks like either ordering online for the simplest of things or waiting for the first available hamfest to keep the bins stocked up.

Guess now I'll have to actually hunt for the stuff that I know is here instead of giving up and just making a trip to the Rat shack!

Phil
   

The fact that they filed bankruptcy (which they said a month ago that they would probably do in February) doesn't necessarily mean they're disappearing off the face of the earth. It just might be harder to find one of their retail stores nearby your location.

15 years ago there were 5 stores within about 40 miles of me. Last month there were 3, and last week one. Monday, in the remaining one (35 miles away), I made the off hand comment that I was shopping while they were still open. The reply- "we aren't closing..." was stated with conviction in spite of the fact that there was much obviously empty shelf space. Today, there are signs saying "25% off storewide" and more than half of the shelves are bare, with most stock left being batteries, cellphone cases and various cords. I expect they will close before the end of February.   

I had the very same experience with the clerk in our local store about a month ago.  I was the only customer in there.  He seemed very defensive, almost offended, when I made the "while you're still here" comment.  

So it seems that the plan, if the BK trustee approves, is to be co-branding of Radio Shack-Sprint locations for something less than half the stores.  That seems like a win-win for both parties. However, Radio Shack, even in some reduced form, is basically over and will probably end up as a few rows of batteries, chargers, and patch cords.

A statement from Sprint tonight:

"Under the terms of the new agreement, Sprint would effectively operate a store within a RadioShack store, occupying approximately one third of the retail space of each location. Sprint employees will sell mobile devices and plans on all Sprint brands including Boost and Virgin Mobile. The stores will be co-branded with Sprint being the primary brand on storefronts and in marketing materials"


73,
Jim
WA2AJM/3

When Lafayette went through its final bankruptcy proceedings, five stores remained open. They were renamed Lafayette Circuit City.  Circuit City was trying to capitalize on the name as it tried to enter the local market area of each remaining store. As indicated, Sprint will be doing the same thing. As far as your local parts store in the future, I think it will a thing of the past. There's no real great profit margins at the retail level in selling resistors, capacitors, LED lights, etc. I also suspect that any products you see in these future stores probably will not a Radio Shack brand stamped on them. The online marketplace gathers more traction with each passing year for all your electronic commodity items.

As of yesterday I still have two RS stores within 15 miles. Thankfully I also have a Fry's store about 15 miles away as well. Fry's has a good assortment of "stuff".

Ken
N4zed

Today bought a 250W PA amplifier from RS. Signs said  closing, everything must go, and 20-50% off everything.

Stores usually stock just one of these.
Despite the good fidelity, average consumers do not understand it is a basic hi-fi stereo amp.
I have heard these before as PA for vocals in small bands and as a simple hi-fi amp and they sounded fine to me.
250W RMS, I believe 125 per CH into 8 Ohms 20-20K according to the box label.
Has a fan on the back, several XLR mike inputs and line, in out etc.. 
It is heavy enough for 250W, and has a 7A line fuse. Rackmount.
Being a PA amp it is probably better made than a consumer stereo/5 ch amp.

Note on the receipt it said:


3200028            $131.27
RADIOSHACK 250W PA AMPLIFIER
30% off Phase C     ($39.38)
Net Price                $91.89
-------
Subtotal   $91.89
Tax          $7.58
Total       $99.47

OK so they are in "Phase C".
Phase C. What happens in Phase D? Lower prices? Don't be greedy!
At some point the inventory has to go to a warehouse and likely be sold at auction. I wonder what Phase that is.

This is not a RS advertisement but just a report - I like these amps and my point is this is a whole lot of amplifier for $100 and the time is now to pick one up if anyone wants one. This said they are sometimes on ebay for less, but who knows where they have been, at some booming rapper or dubstep DJ's mercy.. heh.