be carefull at ratshack!

[Bird]

My favorite was when I tried to buy something at Radio Shack with my charge card. The kid asked for my phone number and I said it was private. He said then he wouldn't take my charge card.

I needed the item, so I paid cash, but I was furious. Very rarely go there now unless I need something right away.

For the 6 years we were full time RVers, we did not have a cell phone or even a permanent address. Our mailing address appeared to be a normal street address and apartment number, but it was actually a mail forwarding service and what appeared to be an apartment number was our account number. And we could use their phone number, since they would take messages for us. However, in traveling around the country, I don't know how many people asked for a phone number, and I ALWAYS answered simply, "I don't have one." And I never had anyone question any farther or refuse my credit card.

 

[Travelover]

And I never had anyone question any farther or refuse my credit card.

This was a first for me, too. I think the kid needed his butt kicked. :laughing:

 

[dmccarty]

...
I guess everyone has just gone to the Apple store.

Not me! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

I liked the post.

I have a dwindling supply of 8 inch floppies AND 80 column cards!

Later,
Dan

 

[California]

I probably average $5/year at RS for odds n ends - watch batteries etc - and have the usual frustration with clueless clerks.

But we spent some serious money there this year when they had the new Samsung Galaxy S3 phone for $50 less than anyone else. ($150 w Sprint plan). We bough one for my daughter in college who was missing out on some last-minute-planned social engagements for lack of a smartphone, and one for my wife. RS's store in DC had an excellent, knowledgeable saleswoman who showed endless patience walking my wife through her first smartphone. I was impressed, this was first rate service.

My wife loves her new toy, finding lowest gas prices and highway congestion maps, and checking the weather forecast, as we roll down the road. I really am impressed with the breadth of aps in the Android world.

I just looked online while drafting this. It looks like RS now has that $600 phone starting from $50 (plus contract).

It may be years before I spend another $5 at RS but that one transaction was the best bargain in the US so far as I know, not only for price but also for the excellent training that accompanied the purchase.

 

[daugen]

I know the local RS manager well enough to say hi to, but not much more. He's capable and experienced. Ten dollar an hour store clerks are usually not.
I got lucky in my store in befriending the local rescue squad's tech guy who was also usually a chief, and he worked for me part time. I did a fair amount of "book learning" to know what a thermistor
was, and even took "shocks for jocks", an elective basic electronic circuits class at Brown. I've forgotten almost all of it now. Including the rhymes to remember resistor colors.

I also went to the local electric co (peco) gas and electric
fireman's training, and learned that running away quickly was a good idea when the pipeline burst, and we had a major LNG pipe line (Texas Eastern at one time) go through our local township.
And that AC was serious and could do you in while DC normally would either burn you or scare the crap out of you. Or other wise tidbits. And this was before EV's on the road.
But not before the last of the PCB laden transformers were taken down, so we remained wary when one of those cooked off. Learned to use the Scott-Pac a lot more, because the products of combustion are not all that pleasant.

I hope Radio Shack survives and continues to find a decent niche. Competing with Amazon.com, etc is not easy.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

When I was younger I loved going to Radio Shack. I still have my original RC truck from Radio Shack that was given to me as a christmas gift (doesn't run but I can't get rid of it for some reason). My local Radio Shack is still around, I don't know how well they are doing but one thing I do know is that if I need something that Walmart or any of the other stores don't carry electronic wise I can find it at Radio Shack still. It may cost a little more then online but there is no shipping and I have it instantly. But I don't have too much need to shop there anymore. I have enjoyed the memories this thread dragged up for me though.

 

[Soundguy]

since I don't need a new cell phone except when they change technology I don't go in often now.. maybee an odd component or two.

( yes.. the last 4 cell phones I've had were only changed when tech changed. ie.. analog to digital.. the tdma.. cdma.. and other standards stuff.. each change made me get a phone.. ) I probably have one of the oldest iphones there is..

 

[Tig]

Not me! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

I liked the post.

I have a dwindling supply of 8 inch floppies AND 80 column cards!

Later,
Dan

I've got a supply of both, along with a card saw and a card gauge. My first big break was when I was bribed to to jump ship and follow a UNIVAC 1004 high speed card punch into third party maintenance. I still have a few parts kicking around. The date of manufacture stamp on them is two years after I was born.
That was a great machine to tune. I can still hear it, kawhumpa wumpa wumpa.....

 

[dmccarty]

I've got a supply of both, along with a card saw and a card gauge. My first big break was when I was bribed to to jump ship and follow a UNIVAC 1004 high speed card punch into third party maintenance. I still have a few parts kicking around. The date of manufacture stamp on them is two years after I was born.
That was a great machine to tune. I can still hear it, kawhumpa wumpa wumpa.....

The first mainframe I programmed was a UNIVAC. I have some of my programs in a box somewhere. The programs are on paper tape. :shocked::laughing::laughing::laughing:

I need to find that box to find those tapes so I can show the college kids.

I am NOT REALLY THAT old. :laughing::laughing::laughing: Right?

Later,
Dan