The AM Forum

Recieved this fowarded email today....
Wonder if it will happen....??

> Subject: [QRP-L] Rather Big News Re: Radio Shack
>
> I don't know if this has been posted here or elsewhere yet, but a
> friend who is a Radio Shack manager said that some recent corporate
> communications sent to him bode well for hams and other experimenters.
> The new CEO of Radio Shack has openly questioned why RS ever thought
> that cutting back or getting out of the small parts business was a
> right thing to do.  Further, he has expanded the "buy" allowance for
> store inventories, and encouraged (read "required") all stores to
> eventually carry ALL of the parts in the RS small parts corporate
> inventory.  The CEO stated to the store managers what we all knew to
> be true before:
> the sale of small parts leads to other sales, AND the aggregate profit
> margin for small parts is actually greater than the margins for Ipods,
> etc.  The bottom line is that RS will be expanding the small parts
> lines and doing more to ensure that all stores have all items.  My
> friend says that it may take a few months to fully implement, but that
> change is on
> the horizon.   I'll take that as rather good news any day.  My 
> source on
> this info is someone I know to be trustworthy.
>
> Steve
> W9HC
>

That is really good news.  Even though the quality of many of their items might have been questionable, at least it was a good place to pick up a needed small part or item not available any where else locally.  Especially on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, when no other parts place was open.  Now, with the loss of most local electronics service parts emporiums, Rat Shack was our source of last resort.  The only alternative then was mail order or wait for the next hamfest.  This will be a good reversal of what seemed like a real dumb step backwards when they dropped most of their parts line.  I don't expect to see many tubes stocked, however.   ;D

73,  Jack, W9GT

I would contact the author, W9HC, for confirmation that this is a legit chain letter...

    When they star selling 20h 600ma chokes and 4000v 4mfd oil caps I'll go back to the Shack. All I saw there last time I was in was plastic JUNK and 18 year olds who didn't know a diode from a lockwasher.

I just love those that P&M about Radio Shack.  Would you rather have them, or rather not?  If not, what harm are they doing you?

As previously mentioned, they're a great and convenient place to pick up all sorts of good schtuff in a hurry.  I don't find their quality any worse than anywhere else.  Never gotten a bad part from them.  I, for one, and extremely glad they're still around and in the parts business, however small.

My local Radshack had what I was looking for. A MPF102 fet for 99 cents. Nice not having to mail off for it. Clerk knew what it was used for too. (D-104).

I've never had a problem with RS small parts. They are no worse in quality than NTE or any of the other component suppliers. But I do agree most of their staff wouldn't know squat even if they did bring back their line of small parts. 9 out of 10 times I walk into the store I know more about the product I'm looking for than the clerk. If I didn't know exactly what I'm looking for chances are I'd never find it with any help from the clerk.

"You've got questions, We've got answers" Even if they don't have an answer, they're likely to make something up!

Tandy has been competing with the mass market chains like Best Buy and Circuit City, Etc. for years now and they've lost the game. It's about time they realized that they dropped the only niche they ever had. I'd really be surprised if they did cut back on the retail relabeling of electronic appliances and focus more on the nic nak electronics.

Honestly, whay would anyone go to RS and buy a Realistic Stereo or DVD player when they can buy a Sony or JVC, Etc. for less at another chain appliance store when in reality all they're buying is the same item that RS has merely bought the rights to sell it with their Realistic, Micronta, Optimus, brand name stamped on it in doing so you can count on paying a share of the licensing costs.

I have noticed in this area there were several stores and they've cut back dramatically and closed stores due to low sales quotas. I wonder if they've gone too far under or if a move like this, if true, would bring them back.

Rat Shack audio connectors and tools are junk...pure and simple. And as for their consumer products.....as has been stated already, you can by the stuff cheaper elsewhere. But if u need a resistor, diode or similar device, I guess they will do in a pinch.

"They are no worse in quality than NTE or any of the other component suppliers."

Since RS buys from the same manufacturers as most other suppliers, it makes sense. This idea that RS stuff is junk is baloney. Their stuff is not better or worse than similarly priced stuff from other suppliers.

I bud of mine picked up a Sangean portable SW radio at the Shaft. Except it was labeled as a Realislick. The Sangean came with a wall wart and a cheep plastic "viewing" stand.  The Shaft model came without the stand and without the power supply. It was also more expensive than the Sangean...  This is the type of crap ratshaft has pulled in the past. Its no wonder that they've gone downhill so fast..    << I still hate them for the 2-pack of resistors>>

As far as the parts, well, they really are crap, but thats whats happened to the lectronick biz...  Most places dont have a real electronics store anymore, and the cost of stocking quality components must be quite high, relative to the amount of sales.  MY idea is something like an in-store online center with overnite/one day delivery for 'quality' parts.. RS did somthing similar in the past.......

The Gold plated audio stuff is 'gud' quality, its somewhat pricey.. .    I have RS parts, and 1/2# of solder, clipleads, etc .. sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do..  Locally, there is  a RS sharing a bldg with an Adult novelty store...  Must be locally owned, as the sales people seem to be the same when I go there.  < the radio shaft store, not the novilty store>  One of them actually said "I don't know what you are looking for." ---The first step to enlightement.--- They still sell parts and small ratshack kits... like in days of old....  When I'm bored i'll stop in and spend a few $$ just to keep this store open. I hope.................   klc

"Must be locally owned, as the sales people seem to be the same when I go there.  < the radio shaft store, not the novilty store> "

OK, but how do you know they're the same people if you're not taking a peep next door?? ;) LOL

Well, its simple... the novilty store doesn't have a peep show.................

We have a nail salon next door to ours.   Coil dope is right next door, um hmmm.

Yeah, went to the local shaok-o-rack today to pick up a mpf102, since everytime I hot switch the mike from one rig to another, I pop em.. ..(yeah, a couple of diodes strapping the millivolt outpoot would cure that, but oh well..  get around to it some day.)

Anyway the last poor lil' mpf102 gathered dust in the bottom of their 'transistor' drawer.  Can't find 4 pin mike connectors anymore either.   

But I did stay at the Wilsonday Inn last night.....

Maybe on some things but their connectors....  Try slobering one of their cheapass PL259's, in less than 10 seconds, the center pin will fall out before the slober hardens.  I'll take an Amphenol any day even if it's 3x or more the price

Too late here too. We closed three stores in Manchester including the one in the mall and my local one up the road. We now have 1 instead of 4.

They still sell all of the parts for the TCS carbon Microphone replecement, even the darlington transistor, after all of these years. Lucky parts selection..

Mike WU2D

You're right Bob. I hate trying to solder anything but good silver teflon types.