The Internet killed it. And not just Amazon. Just about anything that you might want is just a click away. But it's sad
Me too, I used to buy moccasin kits there when I was a kid before it got into electronics in a big way.
Here in Australia we used to have RadioShack stores under the name Tandy. However they were taken over by Woolworths who also owned competitor Dick Smith Electronics. According to Wikipedia the Tandy name was retired in 2009. The sad thing is that Dick Smith has these days has just become a consumer retail store, and does not sell hobbyist electronic parts anymore. A year or so ago I rang up the closest Dick Smith store looking for a multimeter, and the salesperson had no idea even what a multimeter was, but not so helpfully informed me that they sold multimedia players. Such a shame.
The loss of radio Shack is no big deal; they had made themselves irrelevant due to high prices, unmotivated staff, and shortsighted planning over the years. Except for the occasional Saturday morning need for a particular battery or hook-up cable, Radio Shack offered absolutely nothing on a competitive basis. Losing Radio shack will change nothing except for numbers in the unemployment line. That is really the only sad thing about this event.
They started out as Tandy Leather. Check out the Wikipedia listing, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandy_Corporation. My brother had one of the original TRS computers, loaded from a cassette, played pong on it. I wasn't impressed with it at all Too bad about their closing down, I'm not surprised though, I stopped at a store over Christmas and they wanted $70 for something that Amazon sold for $30. Too bad for the loss of jobs for people, like wtsinne said, they had lost touch with reality. Kmart will probably go down soon for the same reason. edit: From imgur: http://imgur.com/iG5Hj7g
There prices are outrages for sure but I liked that store, they always had the gadgets and doodads you needed.
Based on what appears in their five year comparative balance sheet, I'm thinking Best buy isn't far behind, nor is JC Penny, Sears, and the aformentioned KMart (which- after all- merged with Sears in 2005). As far as I'm concerned, they all should cease to exist as business entities because all could do much better but refuse to make the tough choices and take real and aggressive action to make them competitive. I can envision a sky filled with golden parachutes carrying the management-elite while the rank and file employees are left with only their resumes, the share holders with pretty much nothing. -Additionally- DirecTV is being pursued by AT&T, Comcast is looking to swallow Time-Warner Cable, mergers and acquisitions are consistently narrowing the field of banks and airlines, and Walmart kills small businesses anywhere they build. Radio Shack may very well be just the tip of a very deep iceberg
In my country (England) they appeared in the '80s IIRC as a chain selling budget electrical/electronic goods. I only recently discovered how they started. I did know that they were marketed as Radio Shack in the US. In fact 'Tandy' became a byword for cheap tape recorders and the like in the UK just like 'Radio Shack' did Stateside. The same thing is happening here in many ways. British Telecom (my ISP) have just announced plans to buy EE/Orange (my mobile phone provider). Many of the British equivalents to Tandy/Radio Shack have either been bought out, amalgamated or disappeared. Currys is owned by Dixons Carphone now. I bought a Saisho (designed by Currys in the UK but built abroad hence the vaguely Asiatic brand naming) portable colour TV off my brother once. It lasted me over 20 years and I only got rid of it when they pulled the plug on the analogue signal. I tend to buy almost everything from Amazon myself now. Times change.
RadioShack prices tended to be higher , but once in a while you could find good deals on specific items marked down or on closeout. Bought a pair of surround sound speakers for $5 each. I think the packaging material cost more. K-MART is already closing stores in U.S. and now hear that TARGET is closing all stores in Canada.
In my recent trip to the US I was looking to buy a new laptop. So I visited several chains (bestbuy, staples, target, tigerdirect, etc). Well, I must say none of them reached the assortment of a big European chain like mediamarkt. This was kind of disappointing, because I remember some year ago those chains (especially the ones focused on electronics) were much better. As said above, I believe there in the US you are about 5 years ahead of Europe in buying stuff on-line. I mean, if I think about mediamarkt (high prices, poor support from staff, etc.) they might end up like radioshack on the long term.
In the Boston, USA area, I just go to "You-do-it" Electronics which is very reliable and cost effective for the consumer. Recently, for the 2nd time since 2008, I had to purchase a Backup Battery for my FiOS BBU, and again the cost came in at less than $20 with tax (Note: I live within a reasonable distance of the store off Rt. 128 and go in person). Take a look at their Products and Manufactures links from their home web page both of which are very numerous. Shipping is only available within the US, but they can ship to exporting companies (in the US) of your choice. -- Tom
Radio Shack Nostalgia Syndrome: I do for the most part agree with those who have stated that Radio Shack has pretty much lost it's relevance. BUT: For me it had served as a hint of a reminder of what The Radio Shack had been, (and even today I still visit a small branch store a few blocks away from my home to pick-up some minor electrical component or PC cable or accessory.) I was born in Boston.MA. Boston was home to the Original Radio Shack Store, a far different place than what it has become. The Original Radio Shack store was huge and, in addition to a complete inventory of electrical, radio and "hi-fi" components, sold all sorts of unique electronic gadgets and build-it- yourself kits, including the one of the first DIY primitive computer kits (I think it cost $19), that were available nowhere else. It also sold pre-built low priced/good quality consumer electronic items of it's own as well as some made by other radio and amateur radio manufacturers.. My father had since he was a child also had an interest in radio, building "crystal radios" and such. One of my favorite outings was to go with my father on a Saturday afternoon, to The Original Radio Shack Store in Downtown Boston. I always eagerly anticipated the release of their Annual Catalogue and ad flyers. Perhaps there is a comparable brick and mortar store somewhere now, but I personally know of none since the closing of EEB Radio, here in Northern Virginia many years ago. Clearly, the rapid acceleration of tech required a change in Radio Shack's inventory and business model resulting in it's current schizoid mix of cellphone/TVs and Hi-Fi/PC periperals/electrical components/Toys/Tools/etc.. I do not believe that Radio Shack itself knew what it is anymore. It had lost a true identity. The days of the likes of The Original Radio Shack, Lafeyette Radio, and Heathkit are now a fond nostalgic memory. (Heathkit still exists, primarily as an Electronics Education Company, but the original Heathkit was shut down after it was purchased by Zenith. I believe some of the original Heatkits still appear from time to time on eBay at extreme prices.)
They became "The Source" here in Canada some years ago. I remember the late 70's, very early 80's how excited I was to open one of their (Radio Shack's) 50/75/100/150/300 in 1 kits on Christmas morning Always a staple on my wish list and the only gift that really mattered to me.
