*Radio Shack Store Closing Thread* All posts about Radio Shack closing go here.

[yaesu_dave]

While I'm very sorry to hear about the fate of "the Shack," I can't say that I'm surprised. Monitoring Times and Pop'Comm are dead, and CQ is in its death spiral as has been discussed elsewhere. (Just got my December 2014 issue in today's mail!) I used my RadShack CC for the first time in years last year when they were closing out the DX-398 clone shortwave receiver for $31.97 and free shipping. I was surprised to discover that Radio Shack still sold SW radios--thought they had abandoned that market years ago. Oh well, I'll always have fond memories of the countless hours I spent hanging out at the Radio Shack at the now-demolished 7-Hi Shopping Center in suburban Minneapolis in the 70's. Those were the days, indeed!

 

[bravo14]

I see one is on the list in my area. I had a feeling about it for 6 months about this one store now there is 2 in my area. I'll go see what they got for store closing sales.

 

[SCPD]

As a kid .. even as an adult I loved Radio Shack and remember the TRS-80 that I thought was so cool in grade 9 and scanners, every thing from my first crystal scanner to something more modern. It was good, but as time went on ... they just had less and less fun things.

They have not been here in Canada for 10 years now .. and well I don't think other than the scanners and other such unique items anyone noticed they left. It is all about cell phones .. and tablets now when I went into their replacement here. Sorry can buy all those things .. elsewhere for less.

They did some good things over the years and as a ham / scanner nut it was fun. But sadly .. they do not offer anything unique now. I think the only thing they have going for them .. is their network of stores, which could be a blessing or a curse.

I do think they need a new name ... the old one has run its course. But seeing as how probably most every one already has a cell phone of some sort, I don't know how successful their Sprint marriage will be.

 

[kb2hpw]

Thanks for the store closing list. A few in my area it seems, I may have to check them out for clearance sales. Judging by the fact this thread is already 5 pages long in only a few days says the RS loss hits a nerve for sure. I think all of us have some kind of fond memory of having the RS store handy for whatever electronic/radio/computer stuff we did. That's the part of getting old that really stinks, losing something you always counted on would be there. Was RS more expensive? Often yes. Quality top notch? Not always. But yet we always bought stuff there.

Staff were once very knowledgeable, at least helpful. First experience was mid 70's (I was 10 in 1976) I brought my 10 in 1 kit to the store for some help, couldn't get the projects to work anymore. Guy behind the counter grabbed a meter and figured out I had killed the NPN transistor on the kit. He goes to the wall, pulls a pack of gen purpose NPN's and put one in, wires up the code oscillator ckt, bingo it works! "Pay attention to the wiring instructions kid!" and sent me on my way, no charge.

In later years (1980's) when I got into ham radio even some of the staff who were not hams, knew enough from many of the other hams that would drop by. In the late 80's the sunspot cycle was hopping and they introduced the 10m mobile rigs, ham radio had somewhat of a resurgence, Gordon West license tapes and books, etc. Often you'd meet another local ham there on Sat mornings, chat with the store guy, find out what new things are coming out. Of course the scanners and Police Call freq books. Most stores would carry a stack of photocopied sheets of local scanner freqs behind the counter. Many still had crystals for the locals. I used to buy the SSI-202 DTMF decoder chips there, and the 74154 4-16 converter chips, colorburst crystal, and all the other stuff to make DTMF remote control. Field Day site was a good 10miles away from a store but for a barrel connector or 50ft of coax it was helpful. Good memories? Yeah you bet.

 

[rk911]

Unfortunately that's not a very good on line deal..

a quick check of the RS website revealed that the Pro-651/652 are no longer listed. it does show the Whistler branded equivalents and the Uniden models.

 

[buddrousa]

A quick check as of 10:17am shows in stock $349.99 for the 651 and 652 and the 668 is $424.99

 

[ten13]

To look at RS's web site, you'd think they were still in a position to make a profit and pay a dividend on their stock.

There's no real bargains, and they are selling the x36 radios as if they came out on the market yesterday, and they were the only ones who were selling them.

I guess they haven't heard about that new thing, that web site where you sell things on the Interweb...er...eBay, or something like that...where you can get those radios a lot cheaper.

With management foresight like that, it's no wonder that they went down the tubes.

 

[Ronaldski]

a quick check of the RS website revealed that the Pro-651/652 are no longer listed. it does show the Whistler branded equivalents and the Uniden models.

They are still there - Scanners, Patrol Scanners & Handheld Scanners | RadioShack
There is a 2nd page listing where the 651 is located.

 

[VE5JL]

These Are The RadioShack Stores That Are Closing

It's a sad end. A list of stores closing.

It was only a matter of time. We've gone from musing to amusing.

 

[rk911]

A quick check as of 10:17am shows in stock $349.99 for the 651 and 652 and the 668 is $424.99

I need new glasses. thanks!

 

[ecps92]

They are still there
http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-pro-652-desktop-radio-scanner/2000652.html#.VNehGfnF98E

http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-pro-651-handheld-radio-scanner/2000651.html#.VNehKPnF98E

a quick check of the RS website revealed that the Pro-651/652 are no longer listed. it does show the Whistler branded equivalents and the Uniden models.

 

[N2JDS]

Here is a listing of closing stores.
Here’s A List Of Proposed RadioShack Store Closings
https://consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/rs-store-closure-list_020415.pdf

 

[kb2hpw]

Something I want out of one of the stores is their "pigtail" of coaxial power connectors they have behind the counter A few times I've gone in with a device and not really sure what size power connector it requires. So the guy grabs that pigtail and starts trying one by one to get a good fit. I love tools like that, like my screw thread checker.

Stores used to have "clearance bins" or similar, sometimes outside on the sidewalk. I used to dig thru them for IC's and other neat stuff. Wonder if they'll start doing that with their short-timer stores?

I also remember some Radio Shacks inside of another store. In Hoosick Falls NY (small village near NY/VT border) there was an appliance store with a Radio Shack in the other half. In Glens Falls NY there was a R/C Hobby Shop also with a Radio Shack in the other half of the store. I know the appliance store is gone in Hoosick Falls, I'm sure the one in Glens Falls is too. I think it was Martinsburg PA where I saw a RS in another type of shop too when I was out that way 6-7 yrs ago. I think it was in with a hardware store. Which when you think about it is a neat idea for the more remote areas. Putting the RS parts and even electronics inventory in with your hardware store can give you more customer reach.

From a business perspective, the only stores anymore that cater to people who "tinker" are hardware, automotive, craft, etc. I don't see Home Depot for example carrying RS type stuff, but a True Value locally might. But then again very few people tinker with electronics anymore (except the people reading this).

 

[Robotech2112]

Well stated.

 

[mangowest]

it was radio shack thay got me into scanning and shortwave listening all those years ago.my first radios were the patrolman 2.so for now it is all but gone with the wind and we are so into the future that we cannot look back again.

 

[kb2hpw]

Ah yes Patrolman multi-band radios, I have a couple of those. Wonder if those will now become collectors items? have to hunt down all the flea markets this spring...

 

[RRR]

I just had the local store manager (who's store is in the process of closing = 60% off) that he found out this morning that within the next few months, all the rest of the Radio shacks (which they said would remain open) will be closing.

Just stating what he said.

I've already cleaned out what I wanted from the parts bins....

 

[cmdrwill]

I've already cleaned out what I wanted from the parts bins....

What parts bins, they have gone for years in our RS's.

 

[ND8D]

I visited no less than 6 of the "closing" radio shack stores yesterday. I found a few deals on bits and pieces, but I was looking to see if I could get a Pro 652/651 scanner for a bargain. The cheapest I found was a pro-651 open box for $250, I passed on it though.

Some stores had them new marked down to $330, but I am holding out for lower. I want to take a step into the scanning realm.

 

[Dude111]

radioshack.com is also down. I did check those 'is a website up or down' an they confirm unable to either

It loads now.....