The same circumstances can be found around the country. Mall traffic keeps declining because consumers no longer can afford to pay high prices and online shopping has so much more to offer. In some cases malls are in debt because of their renovation. This will impact RadioShack because there is no way the mall can offer RS a discount on their rent. If anything, the mall will have to keep raising the rent.
*Radio Shack Store Closing Thread* All posts about Radio Shack closing go here.
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Radio Shack closing stores
Our local RS that is closing has dropped the prices by 50% now. Just picked up a HP-1 for $190. Thanks to my buddy for the heads up.
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Our local RS that is closing has dropped the prices by 50% now. Just picked up a HP-1 for $190. Thanks to my buddy for the heads up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
jks19714
Member
I think the problem of "not knowing how to fix things" is pretty understandable.
Been to a "college prep" (i.e., not a vo-tech) high school lately? Go into their "shop" or "technical" classrooms. You MIGHT find a drill press. Maybe. If they let the students actually use it. Probably because a) they cost money, b) the teacher has to know how to use it, and c) you can hurt yourself with tools. I think that c) is the largest part of the problem. The science labs are largely emasculated as well.
With the current focus of education being test preparation, it does not bode well for students' preparation for a real technical career.
Of course, I'm an antique engineer who still knows how to use an oscilloscope, soldering iron, and milling machine.
john
I remember back in the late 70's as a kid, the thrill of going to get the newest "Police Call" book and buying scanner crystals. Lafayette Electronics, another large catalog electronics chain had some stores in the northeast also. They closed up in the 80's.
I loved Lafayette Electronics too.... I bought numerous electronic "Kits" to build things. the kits included PC Boards, diodes, resisters etc... .You could make a radio receiver and other fun things.
I don't know of any 10-12 year old kids who could, or would, have the enthusiasm to do anything like that anymore.
I'm not sure what the story was behind their going out of business, but I sure do miss them.
And I was always first in line to get the latest Police Call book, along with all of the Bill Cheek scanner mod books.
Geez.... I'm old ! (sigh)
The three factors I remember best that contributed to the demise of Lafayette were CB radio, Radio Shack, and recession. Lafayette got stuck with a lot of CB radio inventory as interest in the hobby was declining. They could not compete with Radio Shack, which was greatly expanding nationwide. Then a deep recession hit at the beginning of the 1980's, and it was all over for Lafayette.
Adam-14
Member
Same here! In the late '60's, we had a Lafayette store near-by and bought my first public safety receiver there. A low band, tunable, hand-held with no squelch. It was awful with the car ignition noises and strange sounds that it made when it rained. The guys at Lafayette knew me and my mother well, since I wasn't quite old enough to drive.
Before I discovered the Police Call books, I got my first frequency list for PA at a place in (I believe) Commack, NY and possibly called CRB Research.
I remember the Allied Radio catalogs too and how exciting it was to get the new one for the year. Eventually the Lafayette closed and then the Radio Shack stores started appearing and appearing and appearing. Maybe they over did it with the amount of stores too. It was nice to be able to drive a few miles to the the electronic components, connectors etc.. that I needed for my next project.
I haven't been in a Radio Shack for probably 5 years.
Now in the business news they are starting to talk about deflation / depression. So thinking about why, I'd like to present my idea that the boomers are done buying stuff. The only buying for them now is food, energy, and health care. There is no generation coming along to replace the biggest generation ever in the USA. So long to all the brick and mortar that supplied the boomers. So you want proof, look how many grade schools have been sold or empty. If you think I'm wrong, stop reading this because I also believe there will not be new buyers for all the dream houses built by the boomers in the suburbs and countryside. I truly hope I'm wrong!
I agree with you, XRORX, but it's more than the boomers who are hurting. Food/Energy/Healthcare is all most people can afford anymore. B&M stores aren't going out due to anything but the WalMart effect.
As I posted in another thread... who will win: WalMart or Anazon.com?
Anyone else will be irrelevant (unless someone grows large enough to compete with them).
As I posted in another thread... who will win: WalMart or Anazon.com?
Anyone else will be irrelevant (unless someone grows large enough to compete with them).
I agree with you as well VOYAGER. You can't beat regional warehouses with online ordering as a business model. Only glitch may be the shipping costs. Notice UPS not lowering there prices with lower fuel costs! Good time for USPS to step in and start making money again. Deliver what I want, not junk mail.
Blackink
Member
Junk mail is what is keeping the post office alive.......barely!
I hear that all the time about junk mail. I don't want it. The USPS should all so deliver mail every other day on one route and another route on the other days and then they can keep their overtime Sat. Just to stay on track I will miss Radio shack. I purchased many computers, radios, and parts in the day but now just flash drives when on sale. The old RS will be missed..
cpfinlay
Feed Provider
I believe that Radio Shack could succeed with the "store within a store" model. They could significantly drop the cost of facilities and shipping greatly and have more exposure to a wider audience.
I bet Best-Buy would entertain the idea....
I bet Best-Buy would entertain the idea....
RS has been selling online enough that they know it works. They even sell on eBay. (seriously - look it up!)
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