Radio Shack Hits New Low

[sfs]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
manager.

Manager: "You want a what, now?"
Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
Me: "Yeah."
Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."

And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
project kits for kids.

I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
How sad.

Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
it.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Try these fine companies:

www.jameco.com

www.jdr.com

www.mouser.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

eh, you can still buy fuses and fuse holders there. At crazy prices, mind you.
But they'll do in a pinch when you have a "fuse emergency."

Radio Shack has been going this direction for many years; it shouldn't be a
surprise. It's too bad, really. Last time I recall them having anything truly
useful was probably around the late 80's/early 90's. You really have to go to a
true electronic supply to get the good stuff, anyway.

Richard

On Sun, 15 May 2005 17:44:52 -0500, SFS <sfs409@yahoo.com> wrote:

>So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
>I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
>behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
>manager.
>
>Manager: "You want a what, now?"
>Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
>Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
>Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
>Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
>Me: "Yeah."
>Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>
>And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
>no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
>place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
>on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
>project kits for kids.
>
>I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
>project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
>How sad.
>
>Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
>need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
>it.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Ken Layton wrote:
> Try these fine companies:
>
> www.jameco.com
>
> www.jdr.com
>
> www.mouser.com
All fine shops. Also, I'd point out www.digikey.com and
www.newarkinone.com (read: minimum order at NewarkInOne). Local to me
(but also able to process online or phone orders and ship them out) is
www.eskc.com -- VERY helpful staff there, with a wide range of parts on
hand. I've probably ordered something from most of these shops at some
time, and they've all been pretty good.

Yep, I know what you mean, though--I called up my RS looking for a
capacitor on a little TV repair (one of the capacitors just started
leaking, and the picture went crazy)--first of all, the guy probably
had very little clue what I was talking about--I asked for a 160v 33
microfarad capacitor, and he said, "Micro-what?" Okay. I'm done.

--Doug

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Same thing happened to a few RS stores here in Miami.
The took away the big cabinet chest with electronic items. All they did
is move the fuses and fuse holders out and onto a vertical rack.

I remember in the 80s when they used to have these cool little handheld
games.

Marcel


SFS wrote:
> So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and
so
> I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
> behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
> manager.
>
> Manager: "You want a what, now?"
> Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
> Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
> Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
> Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
> Me: "Yeah."
> Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>
> And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
> no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
> place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
> on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
> project kits for kids.
>
> I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
> project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
> How sad.
>
> Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
> need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
> it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Radio Shack is being "rebranded" in Canada effective July 1. It has
been purchased by Circuit City, and will be called "The Source".

I went into one about a week ago, looking for a Digital Multi Meter.
Apparently the clerk couldn't find the wire leads that went with the
only unit left in the store (because they're being "rebranded",
they're not carrying anything that has the Radio Shack name on it any
more, but they're not getting any stuff marked "The Source" until
after July 1).

The clerk said he'd call the other store and see if they had any...I
told him I had just come from the other store, and they were out. He
insisted on calling anyway, and told me with great surprise that they
were indeed out. I told him I hadn't expected they would be
restocking in the 15 minutes it took me to drive from that store
across town to the one I was currently in.

Long story short, he returned to the back room to see if he could hunt
the wire leads down, and I went to WalMart...found DMMs cheaper than
Radio Shack...I hope he's still not in there looking.

Why am I left with the thought that minimum wage is too much for most
Radio Shack employees?

Blaine.

- - -

>So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
>I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
>behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
>manager.
>
>Manager: "You want a what, now?"
>Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
>Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
>Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
>Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
>Me: "Yeah."
>Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>
>And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
>no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
>place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
>on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
>project kits for kids.
>
>I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
>project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
>How sad.
>
>Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
>need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
>it.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Well, knowing frys I would never ask anyone there for help. hehe!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

odd, I stopped in RS the other day and picked up a HD15 male plug with hood
to make an adapter for a DVD to plug into a Epson LCD projector , of course
I had to pay about $6.00 for it.





"SFS" <sfs409@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:qfjf815hb35sb8jh4hroh346h4n90gj9bq@4ax.com...
> So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
> I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
> behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
> manager.
>
> Manager: "You want a what, now?"
> Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
> Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
> Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
> Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
> Me: "Yeah."
> Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>
> And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
> no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
> place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
> on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
> project kits for kids.
>
> I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
> project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
> How sad.
>
> Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
> need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
> it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

It's like I've been saying for a couple years. Makes me laugh when I
hear their commercials on TV. "You've got questions? We've got dumb
looks"!
Incompetant and teen are Asynchronous. I said this about 6 months
ago: They sell Cell phones. They sell TV's. They sell telephones.
Like there's anything in there that noone else sells.
This just gives you a taste of what employers are looking for. Who
needs an experienced seasoned employee as opposed to a teenager with
no knowledge. We can shape and mold the mind of the kid to our way of
thinking (aka brainwashing) whereas the older guy is set in his ways
and is difficult to subjugate (retrain to our way of thinking). Don't
do what's right. Do what makes us money.
The one thing that stands in my mind about Radio Shack 2000; Useless
gadgets with unserviceable parts.
They-are going down for the count.

On Sun, 15 May 2005 20:49:26 -0400, B. White <bish500@cogeco.ca>
wrote:

>Radio Shack is being "rebranded" in Canada effective July 1. It has
>been purchased by Circuit City, and will be called "The Source".
>
>I went into one about a week ago, looking for a Digital Multi Meter.
>Apparently the clerk couldn't find the wire leads that went with the
>only unit left in the store (because they're being "rebranded",
>they're not carrying anything that has the Radio Shack name on it any
>more, but they're not getting any stuff marked "The Source" until
>after July 1).
>
>The clerk said he'd call the other store and see if they had any...I
>told him I had just come from the other store, and they were out. He
>insisted on calling anyway, and told me with great surprise that they
>were indeed out. I told him I hadn't expected they would be
>restocking in the 15 minutes it took me to drive from that store
>across town to the one I was currently in.
>
>Long story short, he returned to the back room to see if he could hunt
>the wire leads down, and I went to WalMart...found DMMs cheaper than
>Radio Shack...I hope he's still not in there looking.
>
>Why am I left with the thought that minimum wage is too much for most
>Radio Shack employees?
>
>Blaine.
>
>- - -
>
>>So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
>>I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
>>behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
>>manager.
>>
>>Manager: "You want a what, now?"
>>Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
>>Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
>>Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
>>Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
>>Me: "Yeah."
>>Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>>
>>And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
>>no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
>>place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
>>on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
>>project kits for kids.
>>
>>I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
>>project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
>>How sad.
>>
>>Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
>>need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
>>it.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Jeff
>

Kineplex Systems of Lima, Ohio
http://www.kineplex.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Man... growing up I remember going into the stores and seeing the
"trash-80's", the led football games, the radio kits, etc... I still
remember asking my father to this day why anyone would buy a TV from Radio
Shack (when they first started carying them) when you can get them cheaper
at the store next door? Ok... so apparently management looked at the
numbers and decided that the margins were bigger on TV's... but that was
back before Walmart came to town (well... to *everyones* town). Now they
can't sell tv's, they can't sell phones, they can't sell stereo's, they
can't sell computers... The only thing that they had going for them was
electronics (yeah, didn't have the high margin, but no one else sold the
stuff *at all* for the most part). Now they're going to go out of
business... well... maybe they'll put in a chinese buffet in stead, we can
always use one more of those...

"Zinfer" <rmassman@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4287f7dc.1338004734@news-server.woh.rr.com...
> It's like I've been saying for a couple years. Makes me laugh when I
> hear their commercials on TV. "You've got questions? We've got dumb
> looks"!
> Incompetant and teen are Asynchronous. I said this about 6 months
> ago: They sell Cell phones. They sell TV's. They sell telephones.
> Like there's anything in there that noone else sells.
> This just gives you a taste of what employers are looking for. Who
> needs an experienced seasoned employee as opposed to a teenager with
> no knowledge. We can shape and mold the mind of the kid to our way of
> thinking (aka brainwashing) whereas the older guy is set in his ways
> and is difficult to subjugate (retrain to our way of thinking). Don't
> do what's right. Do what makes us money.
> The one thing that stands in my mind about Radio Shack 2000; Useless
> gadgets with unserviceable parts.
> They-are going down for the count.
>
> On Sun, 15 May 2005 20:49:26 -0400, B. White <bish500@cogeco.ca>
> wrote:
>
>>Radio Shack is being "rebranded" in Canada effective July 1. It has
>>been purchased by Circuit City, and will be called "The Source".
>>
>>I went into one about a week ago, looking for a Digital Multi Meter.
>>Apparently the clerk couldn't find the wire leads that went with the
>>only unit left in the store (because they're being "rebranded",
>>they're not carrying anything that has the Radio Shack name on it any
>>more, but they're not getting any stuff marked "The Source" until
>>after July 1).
>>
>>The clerk said he'd call the other store and see if they had any...I
>>told him I had just come from the other store, and they were out. He
>>insisted on calling anyway, and told me with great surprise that they
>>were indeed out. I told him I hadn't expected they would be
>>restocking in the 15 minutes it took me to drive from that store
>>across town to the one I was currently in.
>>
>>Long story short, he returned to the back room to see if he could hunt
>>the wire leads down, and I went to WalMart...found DMMs cheaper than
>>Radio Shack...I hope he's still not in there looking.
>>
>>Why am I left with the thought that minimum wage is too much for most
>>Radio Shack employees?
>>
>>Blaine.
>>
>>- - -
>>
>>>So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
>>>I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
>>>behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
>>>manager.
>>>
>>>Manager: "You want a what, now?"
>>>Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
>>>Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
>>>Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
>>>Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
>>>Me: "Yeah."
>>>Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>>>
>>>And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
>>>no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
>>>place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
>>>on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
>>>project kits for kids.
>>>
>>>I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
>>>project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
>>>How sad.
>>>
>>>Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
>>>need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
>>>it.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Jeff
>>
>
> Kineplex Systems of Lima, Ohio
> http://www.kineplex.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

correct me if i am wrong - i believe that RS has been a profitable
chain over the years. although it is irrelevant, i also laughed at
those 'Tandy' products - the brand name is just terrible. clearly they
must have been selling their little RC cars and pacman handheld
imitations pretty well over the years.

in canada, circuit city seems to have bought them out, resulting in
them junking all sorts of electronics hardware. too bad, i enjoyed
paying $4.99+tx for a pair of 194 lamps. the U.S. stores seem to have
more parts, but i suspect that the electronics hardware parts and
pieces are not long for the world there too. Harry in MTL

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Heh.. Most recently.. I got told by an older Ratshack employee,
not one of the dumb kids, that there's no such thing as a 6pin
circular DIN plug. Which is pretty funny considering I bought the
last one from Rat Shack ;-) Today they're just yet another cell phone
store and retailer of the lowest quality electronics shite from some
sweatshop or other in China. But... they are good for hook up wire.

- James

------------------------------
JrokLand http://www.jrok.com
------------------------------

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Yep, always go to the manager first. He's the only one who will have the
slightest clue.

Some years ago when I was still living in Fort Worth (home base of Radio
Shack, fer chrissake), my dad and I were working on his ham rig and we
wanted to replace a vacuum tube. (Remember those? Those little glass
multi-legged items that exploded like firecrackers when they rolled off the
workbench?) We called the nearest RS, where we were regular customers (Dad
had so many of those free "Battery Club" cards that he cleaned 'em out of
batteries and probably convinced them to stop handing out free batteries!).
Manager was out to lunch, so I talked to Duh, his assistant. Radio Shack
used to have (perhaps they still do, I don't know) a vacuum-tube ordering
service. But when I told this guy on the phone I was looking for a vacuum
tube, he said, "I'm sorry, sir, we don't sell replacement parts for vacuum
cleaners here."

Ever want to strangle somebody over the phone?

There are still plenty of Radio Shack stores with plenty of discrete
electronic components available, but mostly you have to do the looking
yourself. If anybody working behind the counter there knew anything about
electronic components, he'd be working somewhere else.

Fry's has a much wider selection, even lots of test equipment, but a) it's
usually overpriced; b) you can't find anybody to help you; and c) they don't
know squat about it.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

On Mon, 16 May 2005 10:38:10 GMT, "Matt J. McCullar"
<mccullar@flash.net> wrote:

>Yep, always go to the manager first. He's the only one who will have the
>slightest clue.
>
>Some years ago when I was still living in Fort Worth (home base of Radio
>Shack, fer chrissake), my dad and I were working on his ham rig and we
>wanted to replace a vacuum tube. (Remember those? Those little glass
>multi-legged items that exploded like firecrackers when they rolled off the
>workbench?)

He - Does anyone else remember back when hardware stores and even drug
stores had the big upright "Test your vacuum tubes" center? You'd put
your tube in the correct socket, turn a few dials, and it would tell
you if it was good or bad. Then you'd open up the cabinet on the
bottom and get replacements for the bad ones.

Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

On Mon, 16 May 2005 06:34:41 -0500, Jeff Destross <news@destross.com>
wrote:

>He - Does anyone else remember back when hardware stores and even drug
>stores had the big upright "Test your vacuum tubes" center? You'd put
>your tube in the correct socket, turn a few dials, and it would tell
>you if it was good or bad. Then you'd open up the cabinet on the
>bottom and get replacements for the bad ones.
>
>Jeff


For those of you too young to remember, go to

http://www.tone-lizard.com/tubes.html

and scroll down about half way to see some flyers for tube testers.

God, Did I live in the stone age?

Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

I Hate when you go to RS and walk thought the door with your "I know
what I'm looking for so don't bother asking me" look on your face....
as your trying to dodge all the remote control cars spread out across
the floor.... a sales clear manages to get in front of you only a few
feet away from the parts draws and asks "Can I help you find anything
today?"

Since you were dumb enough to ask.... I do need your help!

Me: "I need a 3 Pin Molex Connector"
Employee 1: "UHHhhhmmmm..... We don't carry those"
Me: "You did."
Employee 1: "UHHHhhmmmm.... Hey Todd! Maldrex connectors!?"
Employee 2: "Malfrix connectors? What are they?"
Me: "(Sigh) They are plastic connectors with metal pins, you crimp the
wires on the metal pins."
Employee 2: "We don't carry them."
Me: "You did, I bought some here a few weeks ago."
Employee 2: "We must be out."
Me: "If you don't know where they are or what they are how do you know
your out."
Employee 1: ......
Employee 2: ......
Me (opens draw takes out connectors): "here they are... ohhhh! You guys
call them Molded Nylon Connectors." Walks to register....
Employee 1: "Is that all?"
Me: "Yes"
Employee 1: "Do you need batteries with this?"
Me: "No"
Employee 1: Can I get you phone number?
Me: "No, it's unlisted"
Employee 1: We don't sell it we just use it to send out catalogs"
Me: "I'm all set."
Employee 1: "How is your Cell Phone Service?"
Me. "Fine"
Employee 1: "How many minutes do you get?"
Me. "I have no idea..."
Employee 1: "What if we could make you a better deal?"
Me: "NO, I would have to pay an early termination fee...."
Employee 1: "It might be worth it."
Me: I'm All Set!"
Long Pause....
Employee 1: "How about that Direct TV?"
Me: "Your kidding right!?

Yes, as my wife as my witness, that's how one conversation went once.
At least when you go to McDonalds if they ask it you would like fries
with that and you say no, they don't try to sell you a drink, salad,
and desert!

And Yes, I remember the tube tester in stores.... my farther owns one
now. And the Local Electronics Shop Still has one (and a decent stock
of tubes as well)

~Jeff
www.shootagainamusements.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

ROTF Thanks for that! Made my day!

The same guys must be working at the RS around my corner! It's funny,
their whole marketing strategy is based on being "the tech guy
gnostics", yet when you ask them for patch cables, "Oh we don't carry
Duck Tape."

Huh?!??

- Craig




Redfive05 wrote:
> I Hate when you go to RS and walk thought the door with your "I know
> what I'm looking for so don't bother asking me" look on your face....
> as your trying to dodge all the remote control cars spread out across
> the floor.... a sales clear manages to get in front of you only a few
> feet away from the parts draws and asks "Can I help you find anything
> today?"
>
> Since you were dumb enough to ask.... I do need your help!
>
> Me: "I need a 3 Pin Molex Connector"
> Employee 1: "UHHhhhmmmm..... We don't carry those"
> Me: "You did."
> Employee 1: "UHHHhhmmmm.... Hey Todd! Maldrex connectors!?"
> Employee 2: "Malfrix connectors? What are they?"
> Me: "(Sigh) They are plastic connectors with metal pins, you crimp
the
> wires on the metal pins."
> Employee 2: "We don't carry them."
> Me: "You did, I bought some here a few weeks ago."
> Employee 2: "We must be out."
> Me: "If you don't know where they are or what they are how do you
know
> your out."
> Employee 1: ......
> Employee 2: ......
> Me (opens draw takes out connectors): "here they are... ohhhh! You
guys
> call them Molded Nylon Connectors." Walks to register....
> Employee 1: "Is that all?"
> Me: "Yes"
> Employee 1: "Do you need batteries with this?"
> Me: "No"
> Employee 1: Can I get you phone number?
> Me: "No, it's unlisted"
> Employee 1: We don't sell it we just use it to send out catalogs"
> Me: "I'm all set."
> Employee 1: "How is your Cell Phone Service?"
> Me. "Fine"
> Employee 1: "How many minutes do you get?"
> Me. "I have no idea..."
> Employee 1: "What if we could make you a better deal?"
> Me: "NO, I would have to pay an early termination fee...."
> Employee 1: "It might be worth it."
> Me: I'm All Set!"
> Long Pause....
> Employee 1: "How about that Direct TV?"
> Me: "Your kidding right!?
>
> Yes, as my wife as my witness, that's how one conversation went once.
> At least when you go to McDonalds if they ask it you would like fries
> with that and you say no, they don't try to sell you a drink, salad,
> and desert!
>
> And Yes, I remember the tube tester in stores.... my farther owns one
> now. And the Local Electronics Shop Still has one (and a decent stock
> of tubes as well)
>
> ~Jeff
> www.shootagainamusements.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Personally I would be surprised if radio shack stayed in business much
longer. Is there really still a need for them? They must've decided
they can't make any money off of individual electronic components any
more (which doesn't surprise me!) so they decided to push cell phones,
PCs, satellite TV, and kid's battery operated toys. The problem is,
you can get all of those things at major department stores, toy stores,
or even the corner party store.

As for the sales clerks, what would you expect. The company's mission
is no longer to sell electronic parts, so why would they waste their
time training or hiring electronics techs. My guess is whatever
trainig they get, is based on selling cellphones, PCs, satellite TV,
and kid's toys!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

This is just a thought but if your hard up for parts maybe try a local
fleamarket. I went to the local flea yesterday and some of the stands had
an awful lot of electronic parts. I doubt its the same in all area's but it
might be worth a shot and if a person is selling the stuff they might have a
clue what they are doing better than a rat shack employee.

If you think rat shack is bad you should try going to EB games or Gamestop
and asking a question about console games, most of the time they dont even
know what you are talking about and second of all they try to push a million
warranties on you. And if you ask for something and they dont have it they
also try to push the most overpriced product on you, heh. I actually had
someone there tell me once that "sega does not make video games anymore", i
wanted to strangle the employee bad. The bad thing is Eb games and Gamestop
are supposed to be the stores where you go to get the right game as a gift
for someone, or where you go if you need purchasing advice on console games,
however the stores offer everything but what they are supposed to.

--
Email me at "iride4899yahoo.com" (insert "@" before yahoo to reply) , my box
is always opened to questions.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

This is the second time that RADIO SHACK has Rebranded. Do any of your young
folk remember the first product line name that Radio Shack used?
(Insert Double Jeopardy Sound track here)



"B. White" <bish500@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
news:m4rf819rr68j4vlofsv04qv7eusa35fs6l@4ax.com...
> Radio Shack is being "rebranded" in Canada effective July 1. It has
> been purchased by Circuit City, and will be called "The Source".
>
> I went into one about a week ago, looking for a Digital Multi Meter.
> Apparently the clerk couldn't find the wire leads that went with the
> only unit left in the store (because they're being "rebranded",
> they're not carrying anything that has the Radio Shack name on it any
> more, but they're not getting any stuff marked "The Source" until
> after July 1).
>
> The clerk said he'd call the other store and see if they had any...I
> told him I had just come from the other store, and they were out. He
> insisted on calling anyway, and told me with great surprise that they
> were indeed out. I told him I hadn't expected they would be
> restocking in the 15 minutes it took me to drive from that store
> across town to the one I was currently in.
>
> Long story short, he returned to the back room to see if he could hunt
> the wire leads down, and I went to WalMart...found DMMs cheaper than
> Radio Shack...I hope he's still not in there looking.
>
> Why am I left with the thought that minimum wage is too much for most
> Radio Shack employees?
>
> Blaine.
>
> - - -
>
>>So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
>>I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
>>behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
>>manager.
>>
>>Manager: "You want a what, now?"
>>Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
>>Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
>>Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
>>Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
>>Me: "Yeah."
>>Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>>
>>And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
>>no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
>>place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
>>on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
>>project kits for kids.
>>
>>I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
>>project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
>>How sad.
>>
>>Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
>>need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
>>it.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Jeff
>

 

[Tom]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Tandy?

-Tom

"Steve Lewinsky" <coinop@rogers.com> wrote in
news:xP-dnZRp8KfvhBTfRVn-ow@rogers.com:

> This is the second time that RADIO SHACK has Rebranded. Do any of your
> young folk remember the first product line name that Radio Shack used?
> (Insert Double Jeopardy Sound track here)
>
>
>
> "B. White" <bish500@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
> news:m4rf819rr68j4vlofsv04qv7eusa35fs6l@4ax.com...
>> Radio Shack is being "rebranded" in Canada effective July 1. It has
>> been purchased by Circuit City, and will be called "The Source".
>>
>> I went into one about a week ago, looking for a Digital Multi Meter.
>> Apparently the clerk couldn't find the wire leads that went with the
>> only unit left in the store (because they're being "rebranded",
>> they're not carrying anything that has the Radio Shack name on it any
>> more, but they're not getting any stuff marked "The Source" until
>> after July 1).
>>
>> The clerk said he'd call the other store and see if they had any...I
>> told him I had just come from the other store, and they were out. He
>> insisted on calling anyway, and told me with great surprise that they
>> were indeed out. I told him I hadn't expected they would be
>> restocking in the 15 minutes it took me to drive from that store
>> across town to the one I was currently in.
>>
>> Long story short, he returned to the back room to see if he could
>> hunt the wire leads down, and I went to WalMart...found DMMs cheaper
>> than Radio Shack...I hope he's still not in there looking.
>>
>> Why am I left with the thought that minimum wage is too much for most
>> Radio Shack employees?
>>
>> Blaine.
>>
>> - - -
>>
>>>So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and
>>>so I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2
>>>guys behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask
>>>the manager.
>>>
>>>Manager: "You want a what, now?"
>>>Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
>>>Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
>>>Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
>>>Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
>>>Me: "Yeah."
>>>Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>>>
>>>And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
>>>no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
>>>place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
>>>on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
>>>project kits for kids.
>>>
>>>I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
>>>project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
>>>How sad.
>>>
>>>Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
>>>need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
>>>it.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Jeff
>>
>
>
>

 

[Scott]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

Heh....that was a great story.

I once had to make several oddball trips to the same Rat Shack in the
same day, and they wanted my damn address EACH TIME for like $2 trips.

Frys can be just a goofy, though. I once walked into one with a
soundboard from a game for quick reference for the parts I needed. The
lady at the door actually had to check it in so that "they don't think
you took it" (I guess the fact that it said Copyright 1983 Gottlieb
wasn't a hint it wasn't theirs) and the guy near the components
wouldn't help me because "that's too old to fix. Do you want anything
to upgrade your computer today?"

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

LMFAO!

ok, that made my day!

I hate it even worse when I actually DO make it to the drawer (when it was
still stocked...) and am in the process of trying to find what I want (it's
not like the part is actually going to be in the correct bin...) when one of
the sales guys comes over and askes if I need any help... My usual response
is to find something esoteric (I find triacs to work great, mainly because
fo the silly name) and ask the guy if he knows what it's used for. When he
responds that he doesn't, I respond that *I* do and just keep looking for my
part. I've found that they give up after that...

Now... it REALLY goes against my grain to be rude to sales people, but I
have YET to find one working there that has taken the time to even look at
the parts in the drawer and see what they have, let alone understand what
the parts do. Maybe they're just bored? The thing is, when I go to a RS to
buy something it's because I'm hot and heavy into it and want to keep
working (otherwise I'd just order from Bob or arcadeshop...), the LAST thing
I want to have to do is answer "what are you going to use it for?",
especially when the kid wouldn't know if I told him, so the question is
useless (yes, they're probably trained to ask it, but sigh...)


"Redfive05" <redfive05@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1116270062.644136.108940@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I Hate when you go to RS and walk thought the door with your "I know
> what I'm looking for so don't bother asking me" look on your face....
> as your trying to dodge all the remote control cars spread out across
> the floor.... a sales clear manages to get in front of you only a few
> feet away from the parts draws and asks "Can I help you find anything
> today?"
>
> Since you were dumb enough to ask.... I do need your help!
>
> Me: "I need a 3 Pin Molex Connector"
> Employee 1: "UHHhhhmmmm..... We don't carry those"
> Me: "You did."
> Employee 1: "UHHHhhmmmm.... Hey Todd! Maldrex connectors!?"
> Employee 2: "Malfrix connectors? What are they?"
> Me: "(Sigh) They are plastic connectors with metal pins, you crimp the
> wires on the metal pins."
> Employee 2: "We don't carry them."
> Me: "You did, I bought some here a few weeks ago."
> Employee 2: "We must be out."
> Me: "If you don't know where they are or what they are how do you know
> your out."
> Employee 1: ......
> Employee 2: ......
> Me (opens draw takes out connectors): "here they are... ohhhh! You guys
> call them Molded Nylon Connectors." Walks to register....
> Employee 1: "Is that all?"
> Me: "Yes"
> Employee 1: "Do you need batteries with this?"
> Me: "No"
> Employee 1: Can I get you phone number?
> Me: "No, it's unlisted"
> Employee 1: We don't sell it we just use it to send out catalogs"
> Me: "I'm all set."
> Employee 1: "How is your Cell Phone Service?"
> Me. "Fine"
> Employee 1: "How many minutes do you get?"
> Me. "I have no idea..."
> Employee 1: "What if we could make you a better deal?"
> Me: "NO, I would have to pay an early termination fee...."
> Employee 1: "It might be worth it."
> Me: I'm All Set!"
> Long Pause....
> Employee 1: "How about that Direct TV?"
> Me: "Your kidding right!?
>
> Yes, as my wife as my witness, that's how one conversation went once.
> At least when you go to McDonalds if they ask it you would like fries
> with that and you say no, they don't try to sell you a drink, salad,
> and desert!
>
> And Yes, I remember the tube tester in stores.... my farther owns one
> now. And the Local Electronics Shop Still has one (and a decent stock
> of tubes as well)
>
> ~Jeff
> www.shootagainamusements.com
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

No isn't this nice... we're all slamming Radio Shack instead of each other!

"SFS" <sfs409@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:qfjf815hb35sb8jh4hroh346h4n90gj9bq@4ax.com...
> So I'm looking to do the high score save mod on a Frogger board and so
> I go into the local RS and ask for "a 24 pin IC socket." The 2 guys
> behind the counter both give me blank looks and 1 says he'll ask the
> manager.
>
> Manager: "You want a what, now?"
> Me: "A 24 pin IC socket"
> Manager: "Like for a cell phone?"
> Me: (laughing) "No, like for a circuit board."
> Manager: "Oh, like electronics stuff?"
> Me: "Yeah."
> Manager: "Yeah, we don't carry that kinda stuff."
>
> And he was right. A thorough search of the store revealed absolutely
> no electronic components. Not 1 capacitor, diode, etc. in the entire
> place. Lots of cell phones, toys, stereo equip., DirecTV, and on and
> on, but the closest they came to components was one of those 50-in-1
> project kits for kids.
>
> I remember as a kid that you could get anything you needed for a home
> project at RS, and if they didn't have it in stock they'd order it.
> How sad.
>
> Anyway, If anyone knows of a good source for sockets, I'm still in
> need of a 24-pin, and I'll probably need a couple 2732s while I'm at
> it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (More info?)

On Mon, 16 May 2005 20:10:38 GMT, "Steve Muccione"
<home*DOT*muccione@verizon.net> wrote:

>No isn't this nice... we're all slamming Radio Shack instead of each other!
>

All the great leaders know it... Nothing unifies a people like finding
a common enemy!

=P

Jeff