[2ndDivisionVet]

I’m just amazed we’re still talking about them in the year 2017. What is their function? Who still buys electronics parts to build things as a hobby?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The Keith Richards of businesses. I'm surprised they didn't die out sooner.

Should have been in talks with Best Buy and get bought out or something.

[cyclotic]

I was in a store yesterday. The clerk said he didn’t know the plans but I noticed there were no laptops, tablets or phones on the shelf. Just small accessories.

[PAR35]

One in Richardson, Tx, has been having its going out of business sale for several weeks now. They’ve had a ‘One day left’ sign up for about a week. I keep going by to see if there are any deals, but their half off closeout appears to be about the same on most items as the everyday price at Fry’s. If they get to 80% or the $1 for everything in a bag final hours sale, I’ll probably drop a few dollars.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

I thought they went out of business years ago right about the time Hollywood Video and Blockbuster disappeared.

[JoeProBono]

[TaMoDee]

Nothing but cell phones etc and the “clerks” ie: “jerks” had no knowledge of anything!

[eyedigress]

I hate to see them leave. Should have started selling
Cable TV and Internet.

They sued AutoShack and won back in the day.

Hence AutoZone.

[HonkyTonkMan]

1. Execs were a big circle jerk. I knew one of them who wasn't worth the $$$ they paid him.

2. None of the staff liked the exec team, holed up on one of the floors and locked the doors everyday.

3. Investing in redesigning stores.....Doesn't matter if nobody shops there!

4. How did they miss the "maker" revolution? More than ever people are doing home products and working with electronics.

5. iPhones are a no mark-up business. Selling cellphones when the iPhone is a top seller doesn't generate much revenue for RS. Apple took home the profits.

6. Staff clueless about electronics.

7. It was over when they stopped the flashlight club.

I have visited RS stores 5-6 times in the last year. Each time I leave disappointed and empty handed. It's been a long slow spiral. Sears, KMart,JCP, RS held on, but they never adapted to new markets.

[BamaDi]

A friend of mine went to HH Gregg today since they’re about to go under thinking he’d get a deal on a new dryer - 10% off and still high as hell.....he laughed and left.....

[Phillyred]

Useless employees kill businesses. I tried to support my local shack, but they just didn't want my business. Oh and customers aren't big on filling out their life history to buy batteries.

[SaveFerris]

Kramer: Why does Radio Shack ask for your address when you buy batteries?

(well it mattered on Forensic Files.

[lacrew]

When they started hiring minimum wage employees, their fate was sealed. Of course they don’t know anything about electronics...buts its worse than that. I’ve found myself waiting by the store in the morning, waiting for the slow motion clerk to drive up 10 minutes late. And the most unhelpful employees in the world - I could show a clerk their ad, showing they carried a particular phone...and just get a shrug. No offer to look it up, perhaps order it...maybe call another store...just a shrug.

And never in my life has a clerk pointed out my phone and criticized it for being outdated...except of course a clerk at Radio Shack - because of course their store was really no different than the phone kiosk at the mall, and selling phones is all they really cared about.

[Billthedrill]

Sad to see it but not surprised. God, did I ever have fun in those stores! I made a belt and a pair of moccasins from Tandy kits. Oh, and...

Yeah, this. They had this silly idea that ordinary people would spend money for computers.

[nickedknack]

Rebranding & reopening as a string of head shops, “BakedShack.”

[vladimir998]

It’s a shame that so many great old businesses are dying out, but I guess the internet will kill plenty more yet.

Twenty-five years ago (perhaps a little more than that) I bought a Realistic DX 370 AM/FM/SW radio from Radio Shack. It’s incredibly reliable, durable. I’ve used it almost every day since. They just don’t make products like that much anymore.

[greenishness]

I was there about 1 month ago. I bought a USB thumb drive extension cord, this 1’ cord plugs into side of tv so you can plug USB thumb drive in front of tv.

[henbane]

Here's a Radio Shack item from the late 60's--when rioting in the urban centers was a big focus of attention.

[Mobilemitter]

Ah...how about DigiKey, Mouser (part of TT Electronics, Berkshire Hathaway), Adafruit, MCM, Parts Express, Sparkfun, MakerShed, and several dozen more? ELectronics as a hobby ais bigger than ever. People even make their own 3D printers, ya know? ;-) And with open source software and cheap building blocks like Arduino and Raspberry Pis, hobbyists are making more things that turn into small businesses, often sourcing PC boards, wi-fi, bluetooth, and GPS modules, and other components directly from China and performing the value-added processes here. All good. Radio Shack simply ran itself into the ground trying to sell phone plans instead of riding the S-curve of the Next Big Thing.

Well said! Altex is one of our local suppliers. Radio Shack abandoned their hobbiest 15 or more years ago and forced many of their smaller owners out of business with an 'improved' marketing strategy that cost thousands just in changing colors, carpets, signage, etc., while ignoring customer demands for actual electronic components. Some genius decided they could make a fortune selling the same products you can find at hundreds of other local retailers or direct from China for half the cost. Really?

[The Toad]

My wife went to Radio Shack to buy a VGA to HDMI cable for her laptop. They were going to charge her over $30 for it plus they said if it was the wrong cable she could not return it. I told her not to get it.

I found one on Amazon for $7.

I wonder why they can’t make any money.....