[R-390] OT

[Tisha Hayes]

Radio Shack transmogrified itself from Allied into a consumer electronics
store. There are still those remnants of their origins in the parts bins and
connector assortments way in the dark, back corner of some stores. (do you
notice how many Radio Shack stores in malls forgo even carrying those
items?)

I still frequent Radio Shack when I am traveling for business and need to
find solder or some sort of connector to complete some missed detail during
the commissioning phase on a communications site. Buying a $15 device to
scavenge off some other component to get the job done saves me from being
on-site for two or three more days, waiting on a supplier like Tessco or
Talley to ship me the officially designated item. Years ago, most of the
store employees were electronic hobbyists, today they are just consumer
electronics sales-people, they would be perfectly happy working at the cell
phone kiosk down at the other end of the mall. Everything about their
approach today is based on how quickly they can sell the latest computer
game, gizmo or universal television remote. Maybe you run across a store
manager who remembers the good old days and you can have an intelligent
conversation with.

It would be great to haul in an R-390A and put it on the counter or a T-195
transmitter on a roll around cart and point out a specific part that you
need. Usually when I discuss the blasphemy of cutting a cord off of
something I begin to wave my arms back and forth, speak rapidly about
tin-foil hats and government mind control rays and the sales guy backs away
quickly to hide behind their counter, looking for the quickest exit from the
building if I turn violent.
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