Fwd: Re: [Boatanchors] RS.. was soldering/desoldering

[Bob Scupp]

--- rayfri <rayfri at highstream.net> wrote:

>Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 07:34:43 -0700
>From: rayfri <rayfri at highstream.net>
>To: shoppa_boatanchors at trailing-edge.com
>Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] RS..  was
>soldering/desoldering
>CC: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net, w6om at cox.net,
>jfor at quik.com
> 
>I think DIVERSITY is the thing that could save Radio
>Shack. By eliminating everything except for
>computer games and cell phones and having very
>little as far as electronic components, and nothing
>for CB and shortwave anymore, they have pinned their
>hopes on one or two things and now are seeing the
>house fall in on them because of other companies 
>that can do it better and especially cheaper. Then
>throw in the dismal customer service (translated ...
>GREED.  Fawn over those who are making big buys,
>ignore and treat with comtempt those of us who come
>in for a 259 or a box of fuses or a cord) ... and
>they are getting what the rewards of what they
>planted.
>
Ray and All-

I worked for Electronic Parts Company in Albuquerque,
New Mexico from 1977 until 1993. I saw a massive
amount of changes we had to contend with. Amongst the
many were:

1)Changes in raising the minimum dollar order
significantly.
2)Increasing the size of standard packaging (blister
packs, etc.).
3)Reduction of shipping and handling benefits, if any,
to nothing {you pay it yourself).

One such distributor was GC Electronics for example.
Towards the early 1990's, they reduced their selection
of electronic components to a small fraction of it's
former availability. Many electronic components simply
were not available even on special order. If by chance
they were, the customer was advised they would have to
pre-pay for the standard packaging, which usual did
not make it worth their while. It certainly was no
one'sy, two'sy.
> 
>They wouldn't have to invest heavily in ham gear or
>SW gear ...  a few reasonably priced pieces of
>equipment would help, and a decent stock of
>components like they used to have ...  along with
>their current offerings .... mixed with sales >people
who actually knew what the stuff is they >sell, and
they could do a lot better than losing >their shorts
this last quarter.
> 
I agree on the many who sell but do not have the
working knowledge to do so or care. I am not blaming
everyone in the work force for this attitude, but
unfortunately it is on the rise in many areas.
>
>Last week, on a business trip ... I took my  TS 520
>HF rig with me and discovered to my horror half way
>to my destination that I left the four pin mic at
>home.  When I got to the town I was going to be in
>all week, I thought "I'll run into a radio shack and
>get a CB microphone and a four pin plug and rewire
>it for my rig". Checked numerous radio shacks in the
>area ... not one had a CB microphone let alone a
>four pin plug.   I ended up going to a TRUCK STOP
>and getting a Cobra microphone with plug and THEN
>going back to radio shack and buying a 6 dollar 
> soldering iron and rewired the microphone in my
> hotel room and ... back on the air.
> 
Unfortunately, more of the same.
>
>The point being ...  radio shack was totally useless
>except for the soldering iron, whereas I used to be
>able to count on being able to go in, find a mic and
>a plug and be on my way.  The salesman wasn't even 
>aware that they no longer sold the mic and plugs. 
>When I told him what I was looking for, he pointed
>over to the corner and said .. maybe you can find
>something over there, but >he didn't seem to know if
>they might have it or even care.  He was off to wait
>on another customer who he probably hoped was going
>to make the big buy of his day...
> 
Ditto.
>
>All I can say is that I am grateful that we have TWO
>electronic supply stores here in Salt Lake. They
>supply for many electronic repair shops in the
>region and I can find almost anything I want
>in them at a wholesale price....   even old
>nomenclature transistors or their replacements ...
>and sometimes even tubes. I can spend hours in >there
just roaming the aisles and seeing chassis ...
>projects boxes ... meters ... caps ... etc etc
>etc... along with the "modern day" components for
>servicing electronic equipment, >and also small
>electronic as well as surplus equipment.   It's a
>rare thing not to find what I need there or 
>else a useable substitution. And you know what??
>They are both making LOTS of money ...  they've BOTH
>been in town for as long back as I can remember. 
>One was a former Lafayette Radio store that morphed
>into its present being after >Lafayette ceased its
>national existence....  much to the sadness on a lot
>of hams part...
What a difference good management and employees can
make!
> 
>If RS has to shut down stores ... then shut them
>down.  But if they really want to keep from becoming
>extinct, then they should make the remaining store
>USABLE and CUSTOMER FRIENDLY in both sales people
>and offerings.
> 
> Ray  WA7ITZ
> 
One way or another Radio Shack, like other retailers,
will seal their own fate.

Thanks Ray and everyone else for your comments on this
subject.



73's, 

Bob K5SEP 
Life Member QCWA and ARRL 
Member - Antique Wireless Association 
Life Member - New Mexico Radio Collectors Club

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