RadioShack’s loss widens

[sphipps]

The general public perceives Radio Shack as a hobbyist store. No matter what Radio Shack does to restructure themselves in today's retail economy... they will always be perceived as a hobbyist store as long as they're known as Radio Shack. Since there are basically no hobbyists left among the general public... Radio Shack is finally coming to an end after suffering a slow death since at least the year 2000.

All that has kept Radio Shack alive this long is banking on tradition and assets that were accumulated during the 70's and 80's "heyday" years.

The new CEO's plans to sell Beats By Dr. Dre and clear acrylic acoustic speakers in bringing the company back to profitability are pretty ridiculous. I doubt even the brightest CEO's in the country could help Radio Shack successfully restructure. This is truly a losing battle just like Montgomery Wards. The name and tradition behind it will keep lenders at your disposal for quite awhile... but they will finally get the message.

 

[KKE569-1]

The end of an era for sure. If they would only listen to us we could fix them.

If you were the RS president, what Ideas would you guys have to re-invigorate RS?

 

[SCPD]

Cellphone shack

Perhaps it's just time to rename the business to what it has really become.
PHONE SHACK....

Yeah but who buys a cellphone they cant TRY,cardboard toys is all they have at our radio shack!

 

[Allan_Love_Jr]

I just check their web site and as one can already tell. Radio Shack no longer sells Radio Scanners.

 

[lep]

That is WRONG, I am on their web site right now and they list 19 scanners, from the BCD996XT, the HP-1.and other Uniden's as well as some RS models. The best price seems to be $99 for a refurbished Pro 163. The HP-1 is listed for $529 which doesn't seem to be much of a bargain.

I also find that much of the analysis of the financial problems of RS to be similarly WRONG. The superficial analysis offered by several offers no explanation of why Circuit City failed, nor why Comp USA failed or why Best Buy, is now operating in bankruptcy.

 

[Michael-SATX]

They don’t make a dime when they sell a $500 scanner, but do get paid when they sell a cell phone.

Actually, the pay plan changed back on April 6, 2013, it's performance based pay that covers selling everything,
including antenna's and scanners ! This was a good move that fairly compensates for everything sold now !
It's a great way to motivate and reward sales associates who are providing exceptional customer service.
Gone now are "SPIFFS" (Special Incentive For Fast(or Field) Sales), cell phones were big for SPIFFS,etc.
Now the mantra and focus is the "Sell the Whole Store" concept from phones, accessories, chargers, cables, adapters,
specialty batteries, cameras, memory cards, cases, speakers, GPS, hobby kits, radios, scanners and the parts drawers!
Every item in the store sold adds a flat fair percentage to the hourly base pay. Do you understand now ? I would know

 

[ind224]

I remember when a .99 gold 9v alkaline kept a D104 happy.
Lucky me, 15 minutes from Fry's.

 

[N8DRC]

Radio Shack's days were numbered after they went into the extremely competitive cell phone business alienating their longtime hobbyist customers and replacing their knowledgeable staff with uninformed high pressure phone sales staff.

Yes for sure, I maybe go in one once a year now. Sad, used to love going there in the 80's and 90's used to go at least once a week back then when they were a Radio Shack...

 

[LIScanner101]

Michael, keep right on carrying the water for RS as you are wont to do (since you work there) but the writing is on the wall, RS is a sinking ship.

 

[LIScanner101]

The end of an era for sure. If they would only listen to us we could fix them.

If you were the RS president, what Ideas would you guys have to re-invigorate RS?

None.

I recall even a few years ago walking past the shelves where they kept the scanners and scanner accessories. Out of everything in the entire store, those items were always the dustiest. What does that tell you? It tells me that as far as scanners go the buying demographic has changed. A niche market got smaller and smaller.

BTW, A dusty old PRO-197 in a Millbrae CA RS is still sitting there as of last week. I first noticed it a few months ago. Where are the hobbyists who want to "save the Shack"?

 

[fxdscon]

I just check their web site and as one can already tell. Radio Shack no longer sells Radio Scanners.

I guess you missed this page...

Digital Scanners & Police Scanners: Radios | RadioShack.com

.

 

[Gymbag]

I just have to chime in here lol......I am Canadian and just spent some time in Ohio this week. I always go into the local RS when I go States side, usually twice a year. While in the Ohio RS I was looking for an ear bud for my Pro-96, the gentleman working the store didn't hear/see me enter store as he was vacuuming, I could've cleared the place out, too bad the scanners were at the back of the store in a corner lol. He really didn't know what I was talking about. He kept showing me ear buds with microphones for cell phones. I eventually found what I was looking for, while paying for my items he asked me one thing........he asked me if "Brett Hart truly was a Canadian Icon" I couldn't help but laugh. I hope RS doesn't go under but its not looking to promising.

 

[Allan_Love_Jr]

I guess you missed this page...

Digital Scanners & Police Scanners: Radios | RadioShack.com

.

Won't be long before they even become "Out of Stock". Besides. Their Radios are way over priced. I'll shop somewhere else thank you.

 

[Allan_Love_Jr]

The Radio Shack here in Blair is going under. One less piece of resale trash to deal with.

 

[dmg1969]

RadioShack’s loss widens

After several phone calls and emails to RS corporate about my rusting mag mount scanner antenna, I finally got action. I got a call from the SAME woman I talked to originally at the store I bought it from. The SAME woman who told me that I had to call corporate because it was beyond the 30 day return window. I guess telling corporate that I would never set foot in a RS store was enough to get a response. They must have told her to go ahead and replace the antenna. I will go over on my lunch tomorrow to get it.

But, really...should one have to go through all of that just to get a company to right a wrong? The bottom line is this. A 6 month old antenna should not be rusting and you should stand behind your product...not just feed customers the line about a 90 day manufacturer's warranty. It's a small victory, but I still think RS is a sinking ship as someone else so eloquently put it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[abqscan]

Gone now are "SPIFFS" (Special Incentive For Fast(or Field) Sales), cell phones were big for SPIFFS,etc.

The company did change the pay plan, however, SPIFFS still remain on wireless (and dish). Do you really think the company would get rid of the carrot that keeps sales associates focused on the one thing that keeps the company afloat? Heck No!

Also, the intention of paying great sales people a commission is to reward them on their salesman ship, and how they company thinks 2% is a reward is beyond me (they aren’t selling cars), oh wait, they hired Circuit City’s old management. Funny how history keeps repeating itself.

 

[Michael-SATX]

Setting the facts straight ...

The company did change the pay plan, however, SPIFFS still remain on wireless (and dish). Do you really think the company would get rid of the carrot that keeps sales associates focused on the one thing that keeps the company afloat? Heck No!

Also, the intention of paying great sales people a commission is to reward them on their salesman ship, and how they company thinks 2% is a reward is beyond me (they aren’t selling cars), oh wait, they hired Circuit City’s old management. Funny how history keeps repeating itself.

Erik, you are mistaken on SPIFFS still remaining sir, SPIFFS ended 4/6/13 for all cell phones and Dish !
SPIFFS were replaced with as you said the 2% per $100 in gross sales and thus I am making more now.
I used to sell $500 scanners and $200 outdoor antenna setups and get just my hourly pay, not now

I just have to ask if you work for RS ? Your incorrect SPIFFS information suggests that you do not, etc.
As far as your carrot remark, the whole store is by far the BIGGER/BETTER carrot now as this vet see's it.
As for Circuit City Mngt ? Our CEO Joe Magnacca and Exec Michael DeFazio came from Walgreens.
Circuit City had 2 big projects in progress when the '08 economic recession hit and were not braced for it.
Please by all means, visit a store for all public details including performance based pay incentive details !

 

[KevinC]

I'm not naming anyone specifically, but can we not argue about Radio Shack employee pay incentives in this forum?

Whether they are or are not compensated well has no bearing on the performance/operation of any R/S scanner.

If you want to continue this discussion maybe you could take it to the Tavern under Economics.

 

[KKE569-1]

Won't be long before they even become "Out of Stock". Besides. Their Radios are way over priced. I'll shop somewhere else thank you.

The scanner technology just needs to keep up with radio technology. Or is that possible?

I seem to remember when the police got a new band for their radar, the public got a new radar detector for that band. Mainly because the two technologies were made by the same manufacturer.

 

[flythunderbird]

Radio Shack's days were numbered after they went into the extremely competitive cell phone business alienating their longtime hobbyist customers and replacing their knowledgeable staff with uninformed high pressure phone sales staff.

I agree. The staff in the RS in the local shopping mall is basically worthless if you have questions beyond cellphones. I'll stop in there only if I know exactly what I want and have a part number with me(and sometimes they can't get it right even when I give them the part number ).

We do have one RS on the other side of town which is managed by a guy who has over 30 years with the company. He really knows his products, and if you are interested in buying something that he knows isn't worth the money, he'll tell you as much, explain why, and suggest an alternative - including alternatives that are less expensive. He's a real class act. I make a point of asking for him whenever I stop in that store.