[R-390] OT: Rat Shack Loops $10

[Barry Hauser]

Thanks for the heads up, Tom.  Good news is that the price is down, bad news
is they're discontinuing the few remaining items of interest to most of us,
in favor of name brand general consumer goods and -- yup -- MORE phones.
The one near here (and probably all of them) put in cabinets with drawers
for the small parts, like caps, resistors, connectors, etc. Only problem is
that the cubbies in the drawers are too small -- so what did they do?  Cut
the tops of the blister packs off!

For a while there they had the same nice group running it, but then turnover
set in again.  I always love it (arrrgggh) when they greet me at the door
asking if they can help me.  I feel like saying "Not really kid -- first,
you won't know what the heck I'm talking about and second, you won't be able
to find it."

Also love it when they say -- Oh, we don't carry those.  Then I find it on
the wall and flash the thing and say "You mean these -- you don't carry
these?  I see, OK, must be mine then."

Have to admit, I am grateful when I find some part that goes into an R-390
in there, but you should have seen what I had to go through to buy a 50 ohm
BNC jumper in the place.

If I had my way and enough money, I'd buy out the chain and rename it
"R-390's 'r Us -- Plus Phones!"  Go broke, y' think, eh?  People would come
in asking what the heck is an R-390 -- and we'd explain, show them the new
R-390S with all-wave automatic tuning, stereo FM and AM, satellite, etc. for
$3,499.95 - -and then sell 'em another cell phone or maybe a super deluxe
waterproof shower radio -- the R-392S.

Aside from the money, I'd need some key personnel to bring it off.  Hope
that Iraqi Information Minister didn't get himself blown up.  "No, this is
not a cheap stereo (knobs falling off).  Our batteries have a lifetime
guarantee (Is Saddam dead yet?).  Yes, you need the 3 year extended
warranty, even though it will double what you are paying.  No that is not
static, it's part of the music.  3TF7's?  Yes we have plenty in stock, but
have a look at this matched pair of 6V6's meanwhile.  How about a new cell
phone with a color screen.  You can get Radio Baghdad on it.  OK, maybe not,
but here's the CNN web site. OH NO, that was true!"

Aww, maybe not.

BTW -- what's the catalog number of that loop antenna?  The only thing they
can find without the number are the batteries -- well, most of  'em, OK some
of 'em.

Barry




----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom M." <courir26@yahoo.com>
To: <r-390@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2003 10:23 AM
Subject: [R-390] OT: Rat Shack Loops $10


> Gentlemen?
>
> Rat Shack discontinued their little resonant AM loop ant.
>
> They were $30, reduced to $10.  I got the last one at my local store (rone
says
> "Dude, I don't know what you're talkin' about . . ..oh, those!  What do
they
> do???"
>
> Anywho, they ain't Kiwa but for $10 yuou can't lose.  Works just like my
> homemade one, only much prettier (relative term).
>
> Tom
>
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