[Elecraft] Radio Shack Inc

Tue Aug 27 02:51:00 2002

I very seriously doubt RS will quit carrying components and other bits of
interest to the hobbiest. I managed a RS store until about 2 months ago (I
decided retail was not for me) and there is GREAT corporate
pressure/emphasis on 'PB&A' (parts, batteries & accessories) sales because
that is where the (virtually only) margin is. To the degree there are
specific tracking reports for these items.

If the store is low/running out of stuff it's because the manager isn't
keeping up with his/her inventory. True, inventory is automatically shipped
weekly based on sales/inventory levels but bottom line it is the managers
responsibility to make sure it happens. Beyond what they automatically sent
me I used to manually order about $2-4000/wk JUST in PB&A to maintain min
inventory levels for what Ft Worth missed.

OTOH, RS is also trying to become less a 'nerdy' store, trying to attract
females and 'X gen' customers that currently shop at the BestBuys, Computer
Cities, etc. So you will see the 'bits & pieces' come off the wall pegs and
relegated to parts cabinets, etc. to free up the more visible (valuable)
'shopping wall' space for consumer electronics like the olympus cameras. The
theory being when a hobbiest comes into RS they pretty much know what they
want and/or are looking for whereas the housewife wants/needs the visual
stimulus to 'shop'.

Forget the glossy 'goody' catalog anyway... next time you go to your local
radioshack ask for the commercial catalog. It's pretty much like the old
Allied catalogs used to be. Personally I always shopped at Mouser anyway ;)

73,
Mike - AD5IU

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Wheeler" <[email protected]>
To: "peter gerba" <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2002 12:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Radio Shack Inc

> peter gerba wrote:
>
> > Fellow Crafters:
> >
> > I understand that Rat Shack will no longer be publishing a yearly
> > catalog.. If this is true, hang on to the old one !
> >
>
> I'm not sure how useful the catalogs will be.  My five local RS stores
> are all running out of components and apparently not restocking.  OTOH
> they are now selling such things as Olympus digital cameras.
>
> I'm taking this as a change in direction that does not bode well for the
> electronics hobbiest.  Fortunately, I have a Signal Electronics nearby
> (maybe the only one) and they have the entire Philbrook line plus lots
> of other goodies.  They are not yet selling  digicams at Signal :-)
>
> 73, Phil
>
>
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