Who is responsible for this garbage?

[shardian]

My local Radio shack is managed by a guy who has been there since day one and is a HAM radio hobbyist. I found this out one day when I asked him for a cap and he said "Radial, or axial?". I was so caught off guard, that I temporarily didn't know how to answer him (radial is what I needed).

We talked for a while, and learned that he had special permission from corporate to take on all of the component inventory from other regional Rat Shacks that were being cleared out.

...they still don't have much though.

 

[PhoenixStar]

I find the marquee lighting has been cut. Despite the fact that there is a big Molex connector less than a foot away, they decided it was easier to cut the line. Fine.

Welcome to the Stun Runner Club. You can already tell that your game has a history of being around the block at least one time or another. Rocket scientist owners would cut the marquee off (lighting), because it was it was about a few inches too tall to fit into any van. So rather than take the time to unplug, they would just cut and snip to fit it in.
Also, check your sound board for missing sounds. Id say 85%+ of stun runners left have missing sound files or no sound at all. Go into your diagnostics, and soundfiles, and you can click on all 106 sounds individually to see if they work. If they all work, then congrats, you have a gem!

 

[Grey]

I'm only 19, but we've had a Radio Shack in town for the 11 years that i've lived here, and i've had to watch it slowly change from the wonderous place it was when I was 10 years old and fascinated with eletronics to the little more than a cell phone and home theatre store that it is today.

It really used to be a great place that helped further my early intrest in computing and electronics, my dad was a DIY guy so we we're always going up there for him and I would tag along.

Luckily we have a Fry's Electronics in Indianapolis which is about a 30 minute drive from here, and it hasen't changed a bit. It's got to be the only place I would actaully consider asking one of the employees for help because they know thier shit.

 

[Spunkmeyer]

Does Radio Shack even still sell all those "101 Electronics Project Kit" type things anymore? Or is it all remote control toys and cell phones now? I know I have my old "Armatron" kicking around somewhere in my attic...

 

[LyonsArcade]

There are different types of radio shacks. Near me, the newer ones are just shitty. HOWEVER, if you look around you can find a good one.

There's one on Cherry Rd. in Rock Hill, when you go in, they do not bother you. They just say Hi. They don't ask if they can help, they don't say a damn thing and they stay behind the counter. It's about twice the size of a regular one, and has extra stuff. It DOES have those little project things, I couldn't believe it when I saw them in there the other day.

 

[SuperSprint]

I'm only 19, but we've had a Radio Shack in town for the 11 years that i've lived here, and i've had to watch it slowly change from the wonderous place it was when I was 10 years old and fascinated with eletronics to the little more than a cell phone and home theatre store that it is today.

It really used to be a great place that helped further my early intrest in computing and electronics, my dad was a DIY guy so we we're always going up there for him and I would tag along.

I'm 20+ years older than you. You missed the great days when you could buy components there and actually build your own stuff. I actually looked forward to the annual issue of the "Semiconductor Reference Guide" and owned everything on their shelves written by Forrest Mimms, et.al. No way you could do it today, but at one time I would give you 50/50 odds on being able to replace every component on a chassis except the flyback. Later in life, I would realize that they lacked a lot, but as a 13yr interested in electronics it was like Toys R' Us.

 

[Mike Doyle]

Ugh. That's awful. You'd think if you made a living off of something, you might want to know a little bit about it.

Then again...

I was in Radio Shack last night. To script out the exchange that occurred next...

Me: "I need a header pin style connector"
Guy: "Won't those work?"
Me: "No, header pin style."
Guy: (blank stare)
Me: "Do you know what a header pin is?"
Guy: (chuckling and almost reveling in his stupidity) "...Ummm, no."

You have to be lying....it's more like this:

Me: "I need a header pin style connector"
Guy: "Who do you currently use for a cell phone provider?"
Me: "No, I just need a header pin style connector"
Guy: "Right now we're running a special on Motorola Phones with a 2 year contract"
Me: "Do you understand what I'm asking for?"
Guy: "Would you like to step over here and take a look at our selection of phones?"
Me: (thinking to myself) F-it, I'll just grab a couple packs of fuses and get out of here.
Guy: "Would you like to be on our mailing list and receive valuable coupons?"
Me: "no, I just want to buy these fuses"
Guy: "okay, I'll just need your name, address, and phone number"
Me: "GAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! OMG, WTF!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cadillacman]

OH, same guy, bought a pinball from him, the machine would spit out 3 pinballs into the outlane everytime you played it. He couldn't figure out what was wrong, damn guess you're going to have to fix one of the boards, blah blah blah.

When you take the lockdown bar off, it says "Please install 3 balls" and of course he had installed 5. It'd been doing this for months, he couldn't figure it out. He's operating games, and has been for over 20 years.

why oh why cant i find an op like that locally. Id be happy to take his "unrepairable" stuff!!

 

[SuperSprint]

Guy: "okay, I'll just need your name, address, and phone number"

LMAO. That has ALWAYS bugged me. Not so much that I had to provide, but for years it was the same guy behind the counter and I was in there twice a week. I always wanted to scream; "Larry, my address hasn't changed in 10 years!!!"

Interestingly, I just realized that I actually remember that guy's name after all these years...

 

[AllenBomber]

You have to be lying....it's more like this:

Me: "I need a header pin style connector"
Guy: "Who do you currently use for a cell phone provider?"
Me: "No, I just need a header pin style connector"
Guy: "Right now we're running a special on Motorola Phones with a 2 year contract"
Me: "Do you understand what I'm asking for?"
Guy: "Would you like to step over here and take a look at our selection of phones?"
Me: (thinking to myself) F-it, I'll just grab a couple packs of fuses and get out of here.
Guy: "Would you like to be on our mailing list and receive valuable coupons?"
Me: "no, I just want to buy these fuses"
Guy: "okay, I'll just need your name, address, and phone number"
Me: "GAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! OMG, WTF!!!!!!!!!!

LOL! It probably would have been, but I walked in at about 8:55, so they weren't trying to sell me on much, just get me out the door.

Every time they ask me for my name and phone number now, I think of this SNL bit:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/147972/saturday-night-live-census

 

[Blades]

I'm 20+ years older than you. You missed the great days when you could buy components there and actually build your own stuff. I actually looked forward to the annual issue of the "Semiconductor Reference Guide" and owned everything on their shelves written by Forrest Mimms, et.al. No way you could do it today, but at one time I would give you 50/50 odds on being able to replace every component on a chassis except the flyback. Later in life, I would realize that they lacked a lot, but as a 13yr interested in electronics it was like Toys R' Us.

Yea, the reference guides were a hoot. Also I really like their catalogs that they would put out every year. It was a blast looking through them.....in fact if I remember right....yea, here it is a website with most of there old catalogs. I came across a while back. It's a blast to look through. Whoever scanned and copied all this to web and archived them, did a hell of a job. Here is the link...

http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/



Enjoy!

 

[AlkalineJay]

A lot of employees of places like BB and RS aren't trained worth a damn.And it seems they just hire someone as a warm body more than an expert in something.Seriously,most of the employees I see at my local BB or RS are college students so I expect their product knowledge to be little to none.And on a side note,it's pretty sad that a lot of people hired in the customer service industry have poor to flat out zero customer service skills.But in defense of customer service people,they do take a whole lot of BS from a lot of shitty lowlifes.

While I somewhat agree with you, I do have to say Ive worked for best buy for five years, and can say Im pretty well trained, but then again, im not the run of the mill "college student". Im an actual install tech, hence the much higher pay and intensive training than the common in-store employee..

 

[AlkalineJay]

15-16 years ago they tried to get into the huge electronic store chain business as they had stores called "Incredible Universe" These stores were massive and even had their own McDonalds in them but they were definately before their time as they closed down beginning of 96. This was right when Best Buy opened up their 2nd store in the Columbus Area.

Radio Shack, ie Tandy failed because although their stores were unique, their strategy was 1 store per area and everyone would drive 20-30 miles to shop there. Its funny as i went to my first Fry's in December and my instant thought was OMG this is Incredible Universe!

Dude! I remember Incredible Universe! I grew up in Columbus. That place was unnecessarily massive. I actually went into the current store that is in that building while I was in ohio last month, after my girlfriend and I went to Dave and Busters. Pretty neat stuff in there.

 

[toolguy]

Back on topic...

It's the lazy ass people that just want the game to play and not have correct parts, be restored, or care to do it right. I hate these types! Similar to the peoople that say "my machine is restored". Really, why are both coin reject bulbs burned out and the coin door looks like crap? Details!!!!!!!!!!!!

Off topic...

Radio Shack is piss poor. When I get to the counter, I always say I have a work phone and I do not need batteries, because I'm always asked those two things when I go in!

And yes, they do not help you when youy go over to the components, or say you need them, because they have no clue on what they are!