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RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

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Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#11

Post by orbitingpluto »

marpstar wrote: post #6
sfeng wrote: post #3

This is somewhat tragic, because you can actually buy a wide variety of electronics components at RS which you can't get locally anywhere else. Sure, the internet is better in many ways, but it is a loss.

This comes up every time a Radio Shack article is posted, and the consensus has been that even Radio Shack isn't a reliable supplier of electronic components anymore.

And modern electronics shops now are packed with dedicated hobbyists.... small but loyal clientele. Radio Shack has always overreached.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#12

Post by NegativeK »

ekidd wrote: post #10

This is disappointing, especially since our local RadioShack has recently added a ton of great hobbyist electronics: They carry RaspberryPi starter kits, 4 models of Arduino, Beaglebones, about 8 kinds of shields, tons of robot kits, littleBits, and the usual drawers of random parts. I picked up an Arduino-compatible camera board for $12 on clearance. I have no idea how big the local market for cool, modern electroni…

They tried to catch the home hobbyist movement again -- they really did. I remember being excited about Arduinos showing up and guaranteed component stock.

Then I needed some parts on short notice. Their supply was present but incomplete enough to be frustrating, and when I asked one of the employees about their inventory, I got "I'm sorry; I'm not sure. You're likely to know more about that than I do." I really appreciate the employee being up front with me instead of jerking me around, but it's disappointing that Radio Shack couldn't (or wouldn't) commit to having at least one employee educated in the hobbyist electronics section.

Now, I pay a monthly fee at a hackerspace and have better access to component stock and knowledge than I expect any brick and mortar store to provide.

The community finds a way.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#13

Post by spiritplumber »

NegativeK wrote: post #12
ekidd wrote: post #10

This is disappointing, especially since our local RadioShack has recently added a ton of great hobbyist electronics: They carry RaspberryPi starter kits, 4 models of Arduino, Beaglebones, about 8 kinds of shields, tons of robot kits, littleBits, and the usual drawers of random parts. I picked up an Arduino-compatible camera board for $12 on clearance. I have no idea how big the local market for cool, modern electroni…

They tried to catch the home hobbyist movement again -- they really did. I remember being excited about Arduinos showing up and guaranteed component stock. Then I needed some parts on short notice. Their supply was present but incomplete enough to be frustrating, and when I asked one of the employees about their inventory, I got "I'm sorry; I'm not sure. You're likely to know more about that than I do." I really appr…

In fairness, people who buy this stuff generally know what they're doing... I'd be happy with a full parts bin that's organized sensibly.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#15

Post by InclinedPlane »

sfeng wrote: post #3

This is somewhat tragic, because you can actually buy a wide variety of electronics components at RS which you can't get locally anywhere else. Sure, the internet is better in many ways, but it is a loss.

Do you happen to live near that one radioshack in san francisco that is actually well stocked? None of the others are. Most of the time you're better off going to a Fry's to find electronics components.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#16

Post by batbomb »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #15
sfeng wrote: post #3

This is somewhat tragic, because you can actually buy a wide variety of electronics components at RS which you can't get locally anywhere else. Sure, the internet is better in many ways, but it is a loss.

Do you happen to live near that one radioshack in san francisco that is actually well stocked? None of the others are. Most of the time you're better off going to a Fry's to find electronics components.

Have you ever lived outside Silicon Valley and looked for electronic parts? If you're in a small town in most places in the US, RadioShack is quite possibly the ONLY place you will be able to find a resistor, potentiometer, or even a fuse or soldering equipment half the time. The other places you may have luck are WalMart or Sears.

In a few small towns I've spent a lot of time in, there's joint Ace Hardware-Radio shack stores which are pretty useful.

It ain't no Fry's (and even Fry's is pretty crappy compared to dedicated component stores), but it's better than nothing.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#17

Post by mgkimsal »

jones1618 wrote: post #5

Calling Steve Wozniak and AdaFruit: Why don't you get together and buy the other half of RadioShack stores and turn them into Maker spaces? They could continue to sell cables, batteries and universal remotes to consumers to help pay the bills while creating a place to learn and buy supplies for tinkerers, robot clubs, hobbyists etc.

How about just turning their store in to iPhone/iPad/iPod repair outlets? Replacing screens and selling bling would probably bring them more business than most of the RS stores I've seen in the last few years have.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#18

Post by toomuchtodo »

ekidd wrote: post #10

This is disappointing, especially since our local RadioShack has recently added a ton of great hobbyist electronics: They carry RaspberryPi starter kits, 4 models of Arduino, Beaglebones, about 8 kinds of shields, tons of robot kits, littleBits, and the usual drawers of random parts. I picked up an Arduino-compatible camera board for $12 on clearance. I have no idea how big the local market for cool, modern electroni…

Could not hacker/makerspaces sell this inventory as non-profits? And use the funds to help fund themselves?

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#19

Post by wglb »

sfeng wrote: post #3

This is somewhat tragic, because you can actually buy a wide variety of electronics components at RS which you can't get locally anywhere else. Sure, the internet is better in many ways, but it is a loss.

This used to be the case, but last few times I checked it out, not so much.

Check out octopart, sparkfun, adafruit, and so on. Much more fun these days.

Re: RadioShack in Talks to Sell Half Its Stores to Sprint, Shutter the Rest

#20

Post by vonmoltke »

mgkimsal wrote: post #17
jones1618 wrote: post #5

Calling Steve Wozniak and AdaFruit: Why don't you get together and buy the other half of RadioShack stores and turn them into Maker spaces? They could continue to sell cables, batteries and universal remotes to consumers to help pay the bills while creating a place to learn and buy supplies for tinkerers, robot clubs, hobbyists etc.

How about just turning their store in to iPhone/iPad/iPod repair outlets? Replacing screens and selling bling would probably bring them more business than most of the RS stores I've seen in the last few years have.

Around here in DFW, at least, those places are a dime a dozen.
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