My Local Radio Shack

[OCO]

KK:
I count 9 currently available RS branded scanners on their web page that are available in store (probably not all in stock, but they are not Internet only units). That's just RS branded, and includes a brand new unit. RS dropping scanners? Don't believe everything that you read in these threads..

 

[lbfd09]

I guess I have to chime in on this silly "Memo" stuff.

I am having some issues on my Pro-197. I was told to take it to my local RS store and the will program it, and they will show me how to operate it and program it myself. Hmmmmm - that in itself was funny - I had hte unit programed and the issues were not programing; but that's not not listening to what the customer is saying is not the point of the tale. I did call the local store, I ended up calling some 2 to 3 metropolitan area stores. NOT a one know how to program or troubleshoot a scanner. Not bad for stores in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Ended up calling the regional Office, Had to spend about 2 hours raising a stink on the phone to get anywhere. What did it get me. About 2 weeks later the Regional Manager of Northern California did call, and said he'd have his store manage who was a scanner guru call and try shedding some light on the matter. That was over a month ago. A NO time did anyone state that they were no permitted to program, nor permitted to show me how to program the scanner. I am glad there are some RSs that still do provice the good old RS customer service that Charles Tandy demanded and know how to Luis Kornfield's lessons on "To Catch a Mouse Make a Noise like a Cheese." It's a shame no RS stores our west that I have been to recently have not heard of these two gentlemen.

Ah, but that is ture in more Big Businesses today - Who at Bank of America know who AP Giannini is?

To the old fashion customer service providing managers at RS here God Bless ya and keep up the good work. You are a rare breed.

I feel better know.

 

[Cruiseomatic]

Point is, No RS employee can persuade alot of us to walk back into another "store". None of the kids know what the hell is going on and its true, RS should change their name to Phone Booth since all that is carried are phones. Depressing as it is, RS is not for radio's any longer. Hell, they can't even identify what a 102" SS whip is after its explained to them 6 times... The only reason I have the scanner I do is because my ex-wife's friend, her boyfriend worked at the store and we knew each other, I had no problems and he even gave me a employee discount. That was months ago though. The ones around here now are worthless. And this "document", Either bring it or sing it. Lack to provide evidence is grounds for credibility loss and lookin' like a Jack@ss. To make a claim as such, Credible evidence needs to be brought to the table otherwise no one will take you serious. Period. This is getting off topic and ridiculous.

 

[KC5EIB]

Point is, No RS employee can persuade alot of us to walk back into another "store". None of the kids know what the hell is going on and its true,

Sir: I for one, am not a kid so please, DO NOT make such a broad statement.

Yes, I did work for Radio Shack in the 70's and made it to manager level, left and have now come back after retiring from another company. In the store I am in, we have over 50 years of RS experience between two sales associates (also called bobble heads by another on this list). While the stores in my area do not know much, if anything, about scanners, they do know to refer customers to the store I work in. Just about every area has a employee that knows scanners or can get a customer in touch with someone that does.

There is at lease one poster on this list that, while not a RS employee, has stores refer their customers to him for scanner programing. Why don't more posters here step up and provide their EXPERT level of programing service to the stores in their area.

 

[Cruiseomatic]

Sir: I for one, am not a kid so please, DO NOT make such a broad statement.
...snip...
There is at lease one poster on this list that, while not a RS employee, has stores refer their customers to him for scanner programing. Why don't more posters here step up and provide their EXPERT level of programing service to the stores in their area.

I for one, Did not say YOU were a "kid". But, Show me one store that does not have some incompetent kid working there. Also, instead of people volunteering their time to do that, Why does'nt RS just hire knowledgeable people to do it to begin with?

 

[fxdscon]

Why don't more posters here step up and provide their EXPERT level of programing service to the stores in their area.

I'm sorry KC5EIB, but once again I must ask you,

Why in the world should other people be responsible for educating people about Radio Shack's products???? What kind of business model is that??

Maybe it's that kind of thinking that has earned Radio Shack the reputation that seems to be on the vast majority of people's minds that are responding to these threads.

Ya Think!!! Sheeeesh!! :roll:

 

[KC5EIB]

Because they are not out there, almost everything is plug and play today, For most kids today, if they can not get it working using a on screen menu, it is not worth their time or energy. The Home Patrol series and the Pro-107 and Pro-18 are answers to the programing problem and making scanners as easy to use as when they first came out with only 8 crystal controlled channels

 

[KC5EIB]

I'm sorry KC5EIB, but once again I must ask you,

Why in the world should other people be responsible for educating people about Radio Shack's products???? What kind of business model is that??

Maybe it's that kind of thinking that has earned Radio Shack the reputation that seems to be on the vast majority of people's minds that are responding to these threads.

Ya Think!!! Sheeeesh!! :roll:

Why do companies have consultants do work for them instead of hiring people to do the work?

Why are their classes, not put on by the manufacture, to learn how to use products made by a company?

Training and opportunity to learn, is available but unless the person wants to learn, it is fruitless. Like teaching a teenager to clean up his or her room, do the laundry, really cook for them self (not just throw a precooked meal in the microwave), put gas in the car with their own money, ......

 

[fxdscon]

Training and opportunity to learn, is available but unless the person wants to learn, it is fruitless. Like teaching a teenager to clean up his or her room, do the laundry, really cook for them self (not just throw a precooked meal in the microwave), put gas in the car with their own money, ......

Then those people shouldn't be behind the counter at Radio Shack or anywhere else.

If the sales associate doesn't know enough about the product on the shelf, that person shouldn't be selling the product, or that product shouldn't be on the shelf. End of story. To suggest that other customers should be responsible for the sales associate's lack of knowledge and professionalism is laughable.

Poor sales associates reflects directly on management. Poor management reflects directly on coporate policies.

There are plenty of people out there these days that would be glad to have their job.

Here is a direct quote from Radio Shack's own web site:

RadioShack Corporation - The Shack

"We’re looking for friendly, knowledgeable people who are passionate about meeting the customer’s needs and are willing to take the time to solve problems. As a Retail Sales Associate, your contribution is crucial to the success of our company. That’s why we offer extensive training and ongoing support that allows you to be the best associate possible."


And another:

RadioShack Corporation

"Inside our comfortable and easy-to-shop stores, you'll find industry-leading support and expert advice that makes it easier to choose just the right solution for your lifestyle needs."

Is that what most people see when they walk into a Radio Shack store these days? It certainly hasn't been my experience. And not according to the vast majority of posts in this thread and others, not by a longshot. Not for many years.

I'm not saying that there aren't any exceptions, you seem to have knowledge and passion for your job. I hope if I walked in to your store sometime, I would be pleasantly surprised.... As I used to be in every store years ago.

 

[sandman1991]

ha ha radio shack in my town doesnt know the differance between a nicad battery and there generic enercell . say nothing about digital scanners or how to program one. i have therr digital scanners and learned the hard way., and am still learning. luckly i have a good freind in the claremont n.h. store that showed me

 

[KC5EIB]

ha ha radio shack in my town doesnt know the differance between a nicad battery and there generic enercell . say nothing about digital scanners or how to program one. i have therr digital scanners and learned the hard way., and am still learning. luckly i have a good freind in the claremont n.h. store that showed me

The joke is on you, That is not a real Radio Shack in Springfield Vt, It is a franchise operation What about the company owned store across the boarder in Claremont, NH

 

[sandman1991]

joke on me?

i know that store in claremont very well as do i know doug but during irene i needed more batteies and like a fool i went to the springfield store( not a store) no i do alot of buissness with the claremont store

 

[K4APR]

I have been reading these posts and getting a good laugh, but also have some memories coming back to me.

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with working at RadioShack when I was old enough. I spent countless hours in the local stores where I grew up, looking at all of the "toys" and yes, I pestered the people working there just to get a chance to turn on the scanners, amateur gear and so on.

Fast forward to 1999 and I got my wish. My manager was a ham and as soon as he met me, he started to ask about my background. When I mentioned I was amateur licensed, we started to talk more tech and he said I was perfect for the job. One thing I learned was, if you were going to be a RadioShack manager and you cared about your employees, you were never going to make it. Our DM made his life hell because he always put us first, above the stupid policies they would hand down over the most petty things. He quit and then there was a string of high school drop out managers (including an ex-con). Things just got worse.

The part I got sick of was, most of the people I worked with were exactly what others have described "You've got questions, We've got stupid looks". The other people I worked with were twice my age, minimal education and dumber than a box of rocks. They were the first to grab every customer that came in the store, if the person was looking for parts, they sent them to me so they wouldn't get tied up with that while they could peddle a cell phone, sat system, ect. This sucked for me since I was already part time and making a lower commission rate than they were. However, those same people knew when they came into the store who to talk to for real answers.

The upside to this was, they were usually hams, scanner guys or some other RF related hobbiest and they bought a lot of CB/Ham/Scanner gear from me. Not to mention, I would program scanners for them and they always took care of me under the table (not allowed by RS policy, but I think the statute of limitations is up on that now ).

Sometimes the customer would work with one of the other salesman for a while, then I would get called over to answer a technical question like how to hook something up. This usually helped seal the deal, since the customer now had a better feeling about what they were buying and felt like they wern't in the dark about how it worked, ect. Of course, once they decided to buy, the same dumb-*** salesman would walk over and take complete credit for the sale. Usually some high dollar items like a TV, DVD and surround system. Easily adding up to over $1000.

I quit when I was offered a job with Motorola. Never looked back. Now days, if I go into an RS for anything, I go in with the specific thing in mind and where to find it. If I can't find it myself, I leave and find it online, elsewhere...usually cheaper.