Radio Slack!!!!!
My experiences start off with the pathetic search engine they have on their web page since they no longer print out paper catalogs. I end up having to go to
Radio Shack Catalogs - General Catalogs
click on one of the catalogs, go to the index within that catalog, find the part and the RS#, and then go back to the Radio Slack webpage and enter the RS# into their search feature for pricing and local availability.
Then I go to the local store with my RS# and price and am greeted. When I am not there for a cellphone, toy, HDTV, DSS Dish, or a GPS, they get very disappointed and then they can't find me the part until they realize that components, jacks, RF adapter's etc. are located in those grey pull out drawers. After that, they quickly make the financial transaction because
(1): they know they can't "bullcrap" me.
(2): They make very little commission (if they are paid commission) on a $3.00 RF plug adapter.
Or worse is when I go in the store and actually find the part and go to the register but the salespeople are way too busy trying to sell the cellphone, toy, HDTV, DSS Dish, or a GPS to another customer and you wait and wait for someone to even acknowledge you.
The stores need someone that only does store cleanup and the register and someone else who can handle the 'questions'.
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I miss the day in rural towns where you could find RS as an "added product line" in mom-and-pop locally-owned businesses. I knew a family in a rural area that had that type of setup for over 25 years that was based inside a "small-engine (gas weedeaters, B and S, and Tecumseh) and marine outboard motor repair shop" the family owns until RS corporate decided that the RS needed to be 'standalone" ran as it's own separate business in a strip-mall environment wearing dress shirts and ties while raising the franchise fees. The family gave the RS up.