SOFA_KING
Member
Radio Shack is finally getting what is deserves for what I believe was a bad consumer business to begin with. I almost always had to "frown and bare it" when forced to pay excessively high prices on what was mostly cheaply made junk. Sure, some of what they sold was ok, but you paid a premium price above equivalent market value on similar items from other retailers. And why would you do that? Convenience, and I suppose falling for the massive marketing they did (if you were so inclined to be suckered in with that).
I always tried to wait and watch for sale prices on some of their better quality items, and those prices were really a "normal" price compared to other retailers. Other retail outlets lacked the local presence of "instant gratification". You paid a hefty markup for that, but cussed them out every time your solder iron quickly melted those way-overpriced junky Chinese made connectors! So when I look back at what was good about Radio Shack, I can't think of very much. I never liked them. And when Internet "almost convenient" shopping (a bit more than mail order catalog) leveled the playing field, the end was inevitable. The whole "cell phone store" angle was really the last bad decision they made that pushed them over the edge. That, and the discontinuation of many "convenient" items that electronic tech shoppers needed in a pinch. I won't miss them much at all. Now just a faint memory in my mind.
Lafayette, on the other hand, I miss very much. That was a relatively small chain outlet of reasonably priced, high quality goods. Those catalogs, especially the 1973 catalog (I consider the peek of the golden era), are very nostalgic to me. I always enjoyed shopping in those stores. Never felt "cheated" or "ripped off". Always got a good product at a fair price. That was my "candy store"...the stuff dreams were made of. And when I observed "the bigger fish" known as Radio Shack muscle in on Lafayette, I was angry, as even in my youth I could see that was not going to be good for Lafayette. And it wasn't. Gone were the days of fair local electronic sales convenience...and quality. That was the end of it right there. By the late 70's it was over.
So I do not weep for Radio Shack. No, I don't. I never liked their business model, and begrudgingly did business with them when I needed something fast for a quick project or emergency repair. Of the bigger items I did enjoy, those being a stereo receiver and a few higher spec stereo speakers, I waited until they were discontinued for a fair price. The only scanner I purchased was a 4 channel crystal-controlled pocket scanner for county fire department listening (on low band...love low band). I purchased a long low band duck (from Lafayette, I believe) for it that really improved reception. It was one of the only sources of pocket scanners back then. And I got that on a close out sale. Good scanner! Unfortunately, someone broke into my car and stole it back in the crackhead epidemic days. I would probably still have it today if that hadn't happened. One of the few "good item memories" I have of Radio Shack. The other a stereo receiver with a green LED frequency counter readout...before the days of PLL frequency steps and memory. That was somewhat short lived when an amp channel died.
Will we ever get back to the days when things were better balanced and we could afford convenience and quality? Or is "the American dream" dead forever? Offshored jobs to third world child (slave) labor countries, so corporations could multiply profits at the expense of selling out America, wasn't good for our country. You are now feeling the pain of more than just a Radio Shack shutdown. Now, that's a sad thing. And who is to blame? If you are greedy, and support those that are greedy, YOU are to blame. But even when all is failing around you, some of you will be denying it all to your grave. You may deserve what you get, but not everyone deserves that. Those that are fair, and act with a moral compass, don't deserve the demise of our country. That's the real sad story here, not Radio Shack.
Phil
I always tried to wait and watch for sale prices on some of their better quality items, and those prices were really a "normal" price compared to other retailers. Other retail outlets lacked the local presence of "instant gratification". You paid a hefty markup for that, but cussed them out every time your solder iron quickly melted those way-overpriced junky Chinese made connectors! So when I look back at what was good about Radio Shack, I can't think of very much. I never liked them. And when Internet "almost convenient" shopping (a bit more than mail order catalog) leveled the playing field, the end was inevitable. The whole "cell phone store" angle was really the last bad decision they made that pushed them over the edge. That, and the discontinuation of many "convenient" items that electronic tech shoppers needed in a pinch. I won't miss them much at all. Now just a faint memory in my mind.
Lafayette, on the other hand, I miss very much. That was a relatively small chain outlet of reasonably priced, high quality goods. Those catalogs, especially the 1973 catalog (I consider the peek of the golden era), are very nostalgic to me. I always enjoyed shopping in those stores. Never felt "cheated" or "ripped off". Always got a good product at a fair price. That was my "candy store"...the stuff dreams were made of. And when I observed "the bigger fish" known as Radio Shack muscle in on Lafayette, I was angry, as even in my youth I could see that was not going to be good for Lafayette. And it wasn't. Gone were the days of fair local electronic sales convenience...and quality. That was the end of it right there. By the late 70's it was over.
So I do not weep for Radio Shack. No, I don't. I never liked their business model, and begrudgingly did business with them when I needed something fast for a quick project or emergency repair. Of the bigger items I did enjoy, those being a stereo receiver and a few higher spec stereo speakers, I waited until they were discontinued for a fair price. The only scanner I purchased was a 4 channel crystal-controlled pocket scanner for county fire department listening (on low band...love low band). I purchased a long low band duck (from Lafayette, I believe) for it that really improved reception. It was one of the only sources of pocket scanners back then. And I got that on a close out sale. Good scanner! Unfortunately, someone broke into my car and stole it back in the crackhead epidemic days. I would probably still have it today if that hadn't happened. One of the few "good item memories" I have of Radio Shack. The other a stereo receiver with a green LED frequency counter readout...before the days of PLL frequency steps and memory. That was somewhat short lived when an amp channel died.
Will we ever get back to the days when things were better balanced and we could afford convenience and quality? Or is "the American dream" dead forever? Offshored jobs to third world child (slave) labor countries, so corporations could multiply profits at the expense of selling out America, wasn't good for our country. You are now feeling the pain of more than just a Radio Shack shutdown. Now, that's a sad thing. And who is to blame? If you are greedy, and support those that are greedy, YOU are to blame. But even when all is failing around you, some of you will be denying it all to your grave. You may deserve what you get, but not everyone deserves that. Those that are fair, and act with a moral compass, don't deserve the demise of our country. That's the real sad story here, not Radio Shack.
Phil
