[Washi]

I remember them from my youth as the place you’d buy small electronic parts for hobbies. Not anymore.

Yep. Like an up-thread poster, I call them "Cell Phone Shack".

I also resent that I'm badgered for personal information when I attempt to buy anything (including batteries).

[relictele]

Their lazy, intrusive marketing practice backfired over time to the point where they had to post a smarmy notice at the registers from the company president about why they did it - but they still asked for the data (!?!). The mind boggles. I support free enterprise but some of the decisions made in the boardroom vacuum are insane.

In the end, it cost them more customers than it retained since Radio Shack became synonymous with tedious data entry of personal details.

Radio Shack is now trying to be Best Buy in 10% of the floor space so you can imagine how that’s going. Pricing on many computer accessories, cables, etc. is highway robbery and they are obviously going for the ‘over a barrel’ customer whom they can gouge.

[COBOL2Java]

I also resent that I'm badgered for personal information when I attempt to buy anything (including batteries).

Whenever they ask for my zip code, I tell them "90210" (old TV show) or "20500" (White House zip code).