No More Radio's at THE SHACK ??

[letarotor]

Stopped into my local "The Shack" (what a getto name!) Friday afternoon. No scanners on the Black Friday list this year. Surfing BlackFriday.com it appears stores are holding back this year. More of a teaser on a few items just to get folks in the store and shopping. I'll be staying home this year.

 

[knightrider]

It's all in how they advertise and market. Since Mr. Tandy passed, there is no one with any interest in the folks out here. We don't even get a "Flyer Side Chat" anymore. I could care less about the latest and greatest mobile phone. I have one that does voice, text, photo's, and a bit of the net, and is more than suitable for me. I have no real interest in any digital scanner, other than the local S.O. has taken the plunge, and has trouble with it all the time. I have a TS-130 and TS-670 for my Ham use, but prefer the Swan 250 and 350 to do the same thing. I have a stock of parts for all of those radios, as well as my old Yaesu FT-2400 and Alinco DR-110, 112, and 1200. I still use MFJ and Kantronics TNC's. The Shack really has nothing for anyone like me, and the good old Radio Shack has long gone. I have no interest in adding to, or taking from their bottom line. I feel the same way with many other companies. If they bring jobs back here, and actually do something to support the U.S.A., then I'll change my mind. I'm a combat veteran as well as a retired Texas Peace Officer. I've served this Country, and am waiting for the return...

 

[abqscan]

I went into my local Shack recently to order some RSU scanner parts. They had only two scanners in stock, and I had to ask to see them. They were not visible to the public and were two of the $99 units. No PRO-164 or digital scanners.

I asked the manager what gives and he told me "that is all corporate will let me have". He said if I wanted to purchase one that he would send in a special order. Otherwise corporate did not want him selling scanners. WEIRD.

Apparently this manager doesn't have a clue how inventory management works. I have many problems with this statement besides this manager calling corperate "them" vs "us." along with the store not having their product on display. Last time I checked, customers can't shop in the backroom.

Since were talking about inventory management, lets hypothetically talk about the way it might work @ The Shack.

Lets say the warehouse has 3,000 widgets, yet has 5,000ish stores to stock. Since we can cut widgets in half, there has to be a plan on how divide the widgets up between stores. My guess is that the warehouse would analize the sales of its stores to figure out what stores are actually selling the widgets in the first place. It wouldn't make sense to send a widget to a store that didn't sell it now would it! Now that we have an idea on what stores should get some widgets, we need to divide them up strategically. The warehouse can't send out all the widgets for two reasons. First, they have an online store and would need a supply of widgets so they can fufill these online orders. The second reason is to support the ship it to your door program thats in place so the stores that do not have a sales history of widgets, but on occasion has a need to order one for a customer, can do so and satisify the customers needs.

So i'm pretty sure corperate DOES wants him to sell scanners along with every product in the store. However, if a store doesn't have a high sell rate of specific products, the company is smart and doesn't waste inventory dollars sending merchandise to stores where it wouldn't get sold. If they did, it would be like sending a bunch of winter jackets to cities that never get cold. Gee, why aren't we selling any jackets??? DUH!!!

 

[KC5EIB]

Since were talking about inventory management, lets hypothetically talk about the way it might work @ The Shack.

Lets talk real world. 5 years ago when I started working part time at my local RS, they carries only 2 scanners. 1 for aviation and one non trunked scanner that was discontinued. Since I have built up the scanner sales in this store, we received 3 of the Pro107 in the first shipment while most other stores in the area received 1 and some received none. Why, my store sells more scanners than any in the area.

 

[DonS]

Since were talking about inventory management, lets hypothetically talk about the way it might work @ The Shack.

Another problem with that method... what do you do with a product like the PRO-107 that is intended (by RadioShack itself) to reach an entirely different market segment? You can't base allocation on "how many scanners that store has historically sold", because the whole point of the PRO-107 is to reach customers that have never before purchased a scanner.

 

[SCPD]

And.... NO method is perfect???

 

[gmclam]

Lets say the warehouse has 3,000 widgets, yet has 5,000ish stores to stock. Since we can cut widgets in half, there has to be a plan on how divide the widgets up between stores. My guess is that the warehouse would analize the sales of its stores to figure out what stores are actually selling the widgets in the first place. It wouldn't make sense to send a widget to a store that didn't sell it now would it! Now that we have an idea on what stores should get some widgets, we need to divide them up strategically. The warehouse can't send out all the widgets for two reasons. First, they have an online store and would need a supply of widgets so they can fufill these online orders. The second reason is to support the ship it to your door program thats in place so the stores that do not have a sales history of widgets, but on occasion has a need to order one for a customer, can do so and satisify the customers needs.

So i'm pretty sure corperate DOES wants him to sell scanners along with every product in the store. However, if a store doesn't have a high sell rate of specific products, the company is smart and doesn't waste inventory dollars sending merchandise to stores where it wouldn't get sold. If they did, it would be like sending a bunch of winter jackets to cities that never get cold. Gee, why aren't we selling any jackets??? DUH!!!

Another part of the story, each time I have been in the store over the past two years (perhaps 4 times) there has been a totally new manager. So the manager now "running" the store has no track record per se .. and shouldnt be disallowed scanners because the prior manager did not sell them.

 

[aspclay]

Radio Shack

Isn't this kind of like complaining that your local grocery story only has turkeys for sale at a discount and you'd really rather have ham? Just because a sale flyer doesn't list something doesn't mean that the store doesn't have it for sale. When was the last time you saw solder in a Radio Shack sale flyer, but you'll most likely find some when you visit the store.

I think the point was that RS is getting out of the Scanner business and other traditional things that we have always purchased from them over the years. I was in there 2 days ago for something else and noticed they do not carry any type of outdoor antennas for home or car for my scanner anymore.

Perfect example: What happened to the "Radio" in Radio Shack, it aint there anymore!!! It's now "The Shack"!

 

[SCPD]

I think the point was that RS is getting out of the Scanner business and other traditional things that we have always purchased from them over the years. I was in there 2 days ago for something else and noticed they do not carry any type of outdoor antennas for home or car for my scanner anymore.

Perfect example: What happened to the "Radio" in Radio Shack, it aint there anymore!!! It's now "The Shack"!

And this is how rumors are started.....

 

[aspclay]

And this is how rumors are started.....

Rumors or facts??? Guess you havent been in RS for some time. All the things you used to be able to get in there , MOST are no longer even offered. As one post said...if it's not an ipod or cell phone, they probably dont have it anymore. I remember when they offered a wide variety of radios, scanners, CB's etc.... where are they today??? NOT IN RS !!!! FACT!
: )

 

[DonS]

Rumors or facts??? Guess you havent been in RS for some time. All the things you used to be able to get in there , MOST are no longer even offered. As one post said...if it's not an ipod or cell phone, they probably dont have it anymore. I remember when they offered a wide variety of radios, scanners, CB's etc.... where are they today??? NOT IN RS !!!! FACT!
: )

I suspect AlabamaRS was primarily referring to this:

the point was that RS is getting out of the Scanner business

That's clearly not "FACT", given that RadioShack introduced a brand-new scanner less than two weeks ago.

 

[aspclay]

I suspect AlabamaRS was primarily referring to this:


That's clearly not "FACT", given that RadioShack introduced a brand-new scanner less than two weeks ago.

Point is, They do not offer the things they used to and are getting further and further away from the store of the past.I don't blame them for "widening" their customer base, but don't leave the ones that brought you to the dance.

As far as their new scanner, (one of the ugliest I have ever seen-but that is another topic, I'm sure it works well) I'd bet it's the last scanner RS will ever offer. I'll go to the ham shacks from now on to buy scanners, or one of the many websites that offer them now.

 

[hoser147]

Rumors or facts??? Guess you havent been in RS for some time. All the things you used to be able to get in there , MOST are no longer even offered. As one post said...if it's not an ipod or cell phone, they probably dont have it anymore. I remember when they offered a wide variety of radios, scanners, CB's etc.... where are they today??? NOT IN RS !!!! FACT!
: )

Cant agree with that, usually have what Im looking for. Is the store you frequent a interdependently owned or corporate owned? Ive seen some that only carry the bare bones, and others that seem to have it all. Guess Im lucky to have a good one within a few miles. Even remembering when they carried all kinds of radio's, scanners and Cbs etc. you have to look at how the markets have changed. IE Cell phones have replaced Cbs etc. As far as scanners go they have a few, but can order you one, just as the other major scanning companies can do. Scanning is not a major player in todays market either, but a small piece of the pie none the less. And as a boost to the scannist out here, they gave us a darn good price on a quality digital scanner. Hope they do it again...

 

[abqscan]

Another problem with that method... what do you do with a product like the PRO-107 that is intended (by RadioShack itself) to reach an entirely different market segment? You can't base allocation on "how many scanners that store has historically sold", because the whole point of the PRO-107 is to reach customers that have never before purchased a scanner.

Just like any other new widget that might be new to a store. They will take a look at similar products, and use that data for this purpose. Is it perfect, no, yet, every store has the ability to D2U any new product. Once a store creates a history of selling the new product, the computer will automatically start sending it to the store. This gives every store the right to earn what products are stocked on the shelves.

 

[abqscan]

Point is, They do not offer the things they used to and are getting further and further away from the store of the past.I don't blame them for "widening" their customer base, but don't leave the ones that brought you to the dance.

The reason that some of the products they used to sell and no longer carry is because of the lack of sales to support stocking the item in the store. In case you haven't noticed, their stores are small compared to say a Wal-Mart, thus they have to be very selective on what they do carry. You act like they don't carry anything anymore. Just because you didn't "see" something in the store, doesn't mean they don't carry it. Did you ask an employee for help? Or did you choose to create your own reality and spread it?

 

[abqscan]

Another part of the story, each time I have been in the store over the past two years (perhaps 4 times) there has been a totally new manager. So the manager now "running" the store has no track record per se .. and shouldnt be disallowed scanners because the prior manager did not sell them.

The Shack has several tools in place to help these new managers get product they CAN sell in their stores. It's up to them to utilize these tools.

 

[DonS]

As far as their new scanner, I'd bet it's the last scanner RS will ever offer.

Unless there's some kind of major shake-up at RS "corporate", you'd almost certainly lose that bet.

I'll go to the ham shacks from now on to buy scanners, or one of the many websites that offer them now.

Then you shouldn't bemoan the "fact" that RadioShack stores don't seem to devote as much shelf space to scanners as they used to. After all, if everyone followed your lead, it certainly wouldn't be surprising if RS stopped selling scanners altogether (or, at least, stopped devoting valuable shelf space to them and only offered them online).

Based on your sig., your "newest" scanner is the PRO-96. Since that model was released in late 2003, RadioShack has introduced several new models. From just one manufacturer, we've seen (at least): PRO-97, PRO-2055, PRO-106, PRO-197, PRO-164, PRO-163, PRO-404, PRO-107 - six of those are from the last two years and are still offered. The number of new RadioShack scanners in the last 6 years and the intervals between releases don't support the premise that "RS is getting out of the Scanner business".

 

[DonS]

Just like any other new widget that might be new to a store. They will take a look at similar products, and use that data for this purpose. Is it perfect, no, yet, every store has the ability to D2U any new product. Once a store creates a history of selling the new product, the computer will automatically start sending it to the store. This gives every store the right to earn what products are stocked on the shelves.

I agree that until there are more units available than there are stores, they have to be allocated in some way - and "prior sales of similar products" is probably the only available method for that allocation.

However, that does kind of violate the entire reason for this (PRO-107) scanner's existence: it's supposed to reach those [potential] customers that walk into a store and "want to listen to the Fire Department". These people don't have (and likely never will have) any knowledge of trunking systems, limitations on sites-per-system or talkgroups-per-system, or any of the other things "we" have all learned over the last several years - and sometimes have to re-learn for each new scanner. These [potential] customers have never purchased any scanner before and probably would not purchase any other "conventional" scanner - because they're "too complicated". The target market for the PRO-107 is almost completely separate from the market for the PRO-97, PRO-96, PRO-106, etc.

 

[zzdiesel]

I feel due to the pee poor economy that RS is not wanting to tie too many dollars up on the high end scanners sitting on a lot of store shelves. This is my assumption and we know how those go.

 

[DonS]

I feel due to the pee poor economy that RS is not wanting to tie too many dollars up on the high end scanners sitting on a lot of store shelves. This is my assumption and we know how those go.

They (RS) have them in inventory somewhere, whether they're on store shelves or in a warehouse awaiting shipment. In either case, RS and/or the individual store has already paid for the scanners and is potentially paying tax on the inventory. The only thing saved by keeping them in a central warehouse is shipping (and other overhead) to get them to individual stores.