be carefull at ratshack!

[k0ua]

Depends on the store. There are a few with knowledgable people but most are low paid and electronically incompetent. I was in a store a few weeks ago and the clerk was trying to convince (hard sell) one of his customers to buy very expensive gold plated cables for his stereo. I was minding my own business until he started spouting off about the conductors being oxygen free and electronically neutral and quoting numbers about how much better gold was as a conductor than silver or copper. I couldn't take it anymore and then butted in and said "Tell you what, I'll bet my paycheck against yours that copper conducts better than gold". Talk about back pedaling. I then explained to him that gold is used as a plating for its anti oxidizing effects not its conductivity. Silver is even better as a conductor and although it oxidizes easily the oxidation still conducts. The customer thanked me for the info and bought the less expensive cables; the clerk gave me dirty looks; and my wife told me I embarassed her. Well two out of three ain't bad

John
KC3LX

There you go spouting off truth and facts when BS to make a sale was what was called for. Yes we all remember when actual knowledgeable people worked at "the shack" A lot of my ham buddies used to work there.. Of course most of the help at radio shack nowadays would not know a resistor if it was stuffed up their nose. You used to be able to buy a lot of "experimenter" type components and supplys. but they are down to the minimum now on components. Like you have all said, mostly RC toys and cell phone stuff. Oh well it is what it is.. One nice thing is when I walk in the store, (and it is on a have to basis only) I know I am the most electronic knowledgeable guy in the store:shocked:

73
James K0UA

 

[Soundguy]

I have a Radio Shack within 2 miles but I'll usually make a 15 mile drive to a store named Hoopers Electronics in a "not so safe" part of town. Talk about what an electronics store should be... stuff piled everywhere and 2-3 old guys (older than me) that know where all of it is and what it's used for and what can be used in place of something else. I'll miss it when it's gone.

nice!!!

 

[mjarrels]

I never shop there, but from reading all the replys, I would guess they work on commision. I once worked for lance snack foods and was told that if I wanted a raise, sell more crackers. Didn't work there much longer.

mark

 

[Soundguy]

have to ditto that entire post.

I remember learning and practicing 'basic' on one of the store display computers in the next city up from where i lived. ..

There you go spouting off truth and facts when BS to make a sale was what was called for. Yes we all remember when actual knowledgeable people worked at "the shack" A lot of my ham buddies used to work there.. Of course most of the help at radio shack nowadays would not know a resistor if it was stuffed up their nose. You used to be able to buy a lot of "experimenter" type components and supplys. but they are down to the minimum now on components. Like you have all said, mostly RC toys and cell phone stuff. Oh well it is what it is.. One nice thing is when I walk in the store, (and it is on a have to basis only) I know I am the most electronic knowledgeable guy in the store:shocked:

73
James K0UA

 

[Travelover]

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.

 

[dmccarty]

I never shop there, but from reading all the replys, I would guess they work on commision. I once worked for lance snack foods and was told that if I wanted a raise, sell more crackers. Didn't work there much longer.

mark

When I worked at Radio Shack I worked on commission. Even with minimum wage being barely about $3 and hour it was very hard to make more on commission. I worked in a small strip mall store where a $400 day during the week and $800 on a Saturday, for the entire store, was doing good. The big mall stores could pull down some revenue though.

Later,
Dan

 

[Wood_Butcher_Dav]

How many of you remember the resistor color code?
0 Bad
1 Boys
2 Rape
3 Our
4 Young
5 Girls
6 But
7 Violet
8 Gives
9 Willingly

1% Get
5% Started
10% Now

Dave

 

[Soundguy]

When I worked at Radio Shack I worked on commission. Even with minimum wage being barely about $3 and hour it was very hard to make more on commission. I worked in a small strip mall store where a $400 day during the week and $800 on a Saturday, for the entire store, was doing good. The big mall stores could pull down some revenue though.

Later,
Dan

we used to have 3 stores within driving distance. 1, 1 city up from me, 2 others the next further city up. ie.. 30m drive to further store.. 15m drive to close store.

close store was in a small town.. had low stock.

of the 2 fartehr stores.. one was in a mall.. small store.. but had all the new items.. but only 1 of them.. IE.. if you wanted a PAIR of speakers.. you had to order or find at another store. other store was in an old 'pool / spa' building on a side road off a hiway.. a week after moving in they elevated the hiway.. so the store was only accessable by bypassing off the hiway ad driving a zig zah path around to it. it was a huge store.. lots of inventory.. but near 0 traffic. was called the store i the 'hole' by the other 2 stores. It's main source of moving inventory was transfering it to other stores. I had a friend that worked in the close store and on many days I;d ride with him to the other 2 stores doing stock xfers.. he had an 8track in hs car.. so we were in style.. was some big lincoln land yacht..

 

[Soundguy]

in school we had to replace

2 = race
8 = gladly
9= wins

 

[MossRoad]

in school we had to replace

2 = race
8 = gladly
9= wins

Yeah, we were taught the "naughty" way by the "old" guy when there were no women in class.

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, we were taught the "naughty" way by the "old" guy when there were no women in class.

GEEZ! that was 30 years ago!

 

[Soundguy]

Yeah, we were taught the "naughty" way by the "old" guy when there were no women in class.

my first instructor was an old 'army air corps' radar tech.. he taught us the naughty way too..

 

[caps]

I learned the naughty way too - in a catholic school taught by brothers. 48 years ago! The last three however were:
Virgins
Get
Wed

John
KC3LX

 

[Soundguy]

too funny!

 

[Tig]

"Sparky" Schwartz taught us the "classic" way. I vaguely remember that a clean alternative did exist.

 

[The kid]

I'm banned from my local store... they wanted my info for a simple transaction, and... well... then... were off to the races.

Drop a dime on them to thier corporate office will put a stop to that. They have asked for my phone number before. I gave the kid thier own number. He didn't know.. :laughing:

 

[k0ua]

How many of you remember the resistor color code?
0 Bad
1 Boys
2 Rape
3 Our
4 Young
5 Girls
6 But
7 Violet
8 Gives
9 Willingly

1% Get
5% Started
10% Now

Dave

I think I learned that when I was about 8 or 10, I probably wasn't sure what it meant, but I remembered it forever.... do you remember the order of colors of white light? when broken out with a prism? Roy G Biv. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.

James K0UA

 

[MossRoad]

Sadly, my instructor was the first gentleman I met with prostate cancer. Not sure what happened to him after I left school.

My other instructor tried to talk our class into buying shares of a little company called Intel.... boy am I glad I didn't fall for THAT!
:banghead:

 

[RobertN]

Or, 867-5309

"Jenny I got your number..." Works out west in Safeway Grocer if you do not have their Clubcard

Drop a dime on them to thier corporate office will put a stop to that. They have asked for my phone number before. I gave the kid thier own number. He didn't know.. :laughing:

 

[EE_Bota]

I have a TI calculator that has an "EE Pack" with it that knows the color codes and lots of the EE equations and data. It also has available a downloadable ME pack.