Apple and RadioShack?

[ibook30]

Fallout from RS

This would put the local Mac resellers out of business should Radio Shack carry Macintosh computers.

Second negative post, it must sound as if I have strong feelings here... While I don't think Radio Shak will put local Mac retailers out of business, the fallout for them is a good point.

Just one more concern to add to the list- 1. goofballs at RS trying to present Apple products 2. Local Mac retailers would possibly loose sales... No offense to those of you who worked at Radio $hack - but I have had lousey experiences there. And if someone interested in "Switching" goes to RS - that would be a shame ( assuming they have experiences like mine, ).

Just to be devils advocate, what if the increased availability and convenience RS can offer Apple actually creates more MAC users, and increases sales for local mac dealers... What if. Then I will eat my post.

 

[MacIke]

This would put the local Mac resellers out of business should Radio Shack carry Macintosh computers.

That would be a no. I think Apple Stores have done more for that.

First the only true Mac Reseller is about 2.5 hours from me. I would not buy from them anyway. RS is about 10 minutes. I would be from the online Apple Store for Teacher Discount.

Second, RS will most likely only carry mac mini and iBooks.

Third, Mac resellers mac money from repairs, networks and other value addedd services. RS does not do that.

Fourth, you go to a Mac Reseller becasue generally you want the added services. You go to Radio Shack to window shop.

Fifth, I doubt there would be much if any overlap of customers.

Sixth, Mac Resellers go mostly after business and Radio Shack the consumer market (ok this is sort of iffy)

 

[decksnap]

Where I come from Radio Shack has an awful image/stigma. I don't know anybody that would shop there. Whether or not it's true, the view of the Shack is cheap, crappy products from brands you've never even heard of. I think this will be a detriment to Apple's image.

 

[wnameth]

I associate Radio Shack with garbage. I gave this a negative rating.

i agree, not only will they not carry enough of them and won't get priority from apple because there not exclusive. also they are horrible to deal with, i tried to return a pair of expensive speakers from them for my dads computer because they broke, and they wouldn't except them and didn't help at all.

 

[leon.gandalf]

Knock Off?

They are good for random electrical stuff. Haha, an RS does make something w/ their own brand-- knock-off ionic breezes.

Hardly they are far supirior to the ionic breze systems. Not to mention a much much lower price that the ionic crap thing.

 

[leon.gandalf]

WOW,

Thing is, the sales dude always are pissed when you don't want to give them your name, phone number, address, ss # and drivers licensee #.

Just want to pay cash for a $2 adapter, don't want to join the club or have anyone know I shop at radio shack.

They have not asked that in about 2 YEARS..... just your ZIP code now.

 

[decksnap]

They have not asked that in about 2 YEARS..... just your ZIP code now.

This kind of goes along with what I was saying... even if it's been two years, the stigma is still there. And even if they have good products now, they sure as heck didn't last time I was there. I haven't been there is about five years now, yet there is still no way in hell I'm going back. I see them every once in a while and think 'Wow, they still have Radio Shack??? Who ARE these people shopping there!?'

 

[savar]

Harsh. I love Radio Shack. They are great when you need a wire or adapter for a TV/computer/phone/etc. They also sell resisters, caps, and much more. I wouldn't buy a computer there, but only because they don't sell Macs. Its not like RS makes their own stuff any way. For the most part they are just a reseller.

RadioShack makes CompUSA look a little better. Totally untrained, often unprofessional staff. They know *nothing* about 90% of the products they sell, probably only the cell phones do they have any clue. Plus the selection of electronic components (caps, resistors, ICs) is pathetic for a store called "Radio Shack"...not to mention hugely overpriced. I used to buy random components there anyway when I couldn't wait to have them mailed, but then I discovered the best electronics store in Atlanta and its actually closer to my house than RS is.

 

[seashellz]

There are folks who you know would never set foot in an APPLE store. Too 'trendy'. When Jane and Joe sixpack start buying Macs at RS or Wal-Mart-that is when we will see the death of the Windows OS...or at least the wounding.

 

[Tupring]

Harsh. I love Radio Shack. They are great when you need a wire or adapter for a TV/computer/phone/etc. They also sell resisters, caps, and much more. I wouldn't buy a computer there, but only because they don't sell Macs. Its not like RS makes their own stuff any way. For the most part they are just a reseller.

Realistic and Optimus are RadioShack brands.

 

[AzureX120]

For those of you that are confused... Paticularly Canadian citizens...
Radioshack does not equal Circuit City
In fact The Source was never owned by radioshack.There was a licensing agreement with the RadioShack which allowed InterTAN to use the name and logo. Then Circuit City bought InterTan and radioshack sued because they didn't want a competitor to be using it's name. So now canadian radioshack's have become "the source" and that's that. In America this transistion never happened.

 

[Yvan256]

It's amazing to me that RadioShack has stuck with the same retail name all these years. Many businesses have changed names, sacrificing name recognition in order to keep up with the times or because of corporate mergers, but that shack for buying radio parts is still there. Which makes it ironic that the big news is that they are gong to be selling a small appliance for listening to music and spoken broadcasts!

Most Radio Shacks in my area have now been bought and converted into "The Source (by Circuit City)". I'm not sure if Radio Shack deals will apply to "The Source" shops.

 

[Yvan256]

For those of you that are confused... Paticularly Canadian citizens...
Radioshack does not equal Circuit City
In fact The Source was never owned by radioshack.There was a licensing agreement with the RadioShack which allowed InterTAN to use the name and logo. Then Circuit City bought InterTan and radioshack sued because they didn't want a competitor to be using it's name. So now canadian radioshack's have become "the source" and that's that. In America this transistion never happened.

I'm still confused.

And BTW, Canada is still in America.

 

[PaRaGoNViCtiM]

Wow!! Thats awesome! I would love to see Macs at RadioShack!!!

 

[fordlemon]

I associate Radio Shack with garbage. I gave this a negative rating.

Radioshack sells Intel based computers so you are correct. They sell garbage. Now that garbage will include Apple.

 

[fordlemon]

There are folks who you know would never set foot in an APPLE store. Too 'trendy'. When Jane and Joe sixpack start buying Macs at RS or Wal-Mart-that is when we will see the death of the Windows OS...or at least the wounding.

I totally disagree. I believe more Apple users will switch to or go back to using Windoze. The only reason Apple was superior was because of the RISC platform. Now that is gone. Windows XP is as stable as they come. You can buy or build a Windoze box cheaper then an Apple. The people that don't want to use Windoze will still use Linux or whatever they prefer. The people that will continue to use Apple will be the ones that fall for the advertising scam, the ones who must be trendy, the ones that must have the eye candy, and the ones willing to spend too much money for a old x86 platform.

 

[fordlemon]

RadioShack already sells HP branded iPods,

HP doesn't re-sell iPods anymore.

 

[~Shard~]

And BTW, Canada is still in America.

Well, North America that is...

Radioshack sells Intel based computers so you are correct. They sell garbage. Now that garbage will include Apple.

Wow, someone doesn't like Intel chips. Do you really think that having an Intel chip under the hood as opposed to a IBM chips will make Apple machines garbage? What about OS X? Will it magically morph into a poor OS? Just curious to hear some of your reasoning, that's all.

 

[fordlemon]

Well, North America that is...



Wow, someone doesn't like Intel chips. Do you really think that having an Intel chip under the hood as opposed to a IBM chips will make Apple machines garbage? What about OS X? Will it magically morph into a poor OS? Just curious to hear some of your reasoning, that's all.

You must be joking. RISC vs. x86. Come on man! Have you no clue about current and past Apple hardware and software. Are you ready for crashing and viruses? I hope so. OS X will run on x86 as it's native OS, BSD. RISC is far superior. Apple just wants to make a buck. They no longer care about their roots. It's just another business now, just like Microsoft. The feeling is gone.

 

[~Shard~]

You must be joking. RISC vs. x86. Come on man! Have you no clue about current and past Apple hardware and software. Are you ready for crashing and viruses? I hope so. OS X will run on x86 as it's native OS, BSD. RISC is far superior. Apple just wants to make a buck. They no longer care about their roots. It's just another business now, just like Microsoft. The feeling is gone.

Well, you're passionate, I'll give you that!

Regardless, there's no need for the confrontational tone, I was asking you an honest question, not trying to pick a fight - you need not reply with phrases like, "You must be joking", "Come on man!" and "Have you no clue" - completely unnecessary.

And for the record, yes, I "have a clue" about previous Apple hardware and software, and am familiar with both RISC and x86 architectures - I worked with them extensively in my microprocessor design course in University. Don't be so quick to judge please.

Anyway, thanks for providing some feedback, I now have a better understanding of your concerns and thoughts, which is all I was asking for.

 

[fordlemon]

Well, you're passionate, I'll give you that!

Regardless, there's no need for the confrontational tone, I was asking you an honest question, not trying to pick a fight - you need not reply with phrases like, "You must be joking", "Come on man!" and "Have you no clue" - completely unnecessary.

And for the record, yes, I "have a clue" about previous Apple hardware and software, and am familiar with both RISC and x86 architectures - I worked with them extensively in my microprocessor design course in University. Don't be so quick to judge please.

Anyway, thanks for providing some feedback, I now have a better understanding of your concerns and thoughts, which is all I was asking for.

There is no tone implied. If you assumed a "tone" that is only your interpretation of text. Also, I did not place judgement on you, that's a silly thing to say. I do think you need to relax a bit and don't take things you read in a forum personally. That's kind of strange and probably not healthy.

 

[~Shard~]

There is no tone implied. If you assumed a "tone" that is only your interpretation of text. Also, I did not place judgement on you, that's a silly thing to say. I do think you need to relax a bit and don't take things you read in a forum personally. That's kind of strange and probably not healthy.

Oh, alright. Yes, I was having as stressful day at work, no doubt was a bit on edge - my apologies. All I was getting at was you seemed to "jump" on my question, perhaps as if you were thinking I was trying to troll or something of that nature. I have seen it happen many times where a person asks a question, however it is a sarcastic, trolling, "loaded" question, not a sincere one - I wanted to emphasize that was not the case with me, as you seemed to respond quite passionately, confronting me on my question with phrases like "come on man!" and "have you no clue" as if it ticked you off or something.

No worries, it's all good man.

 

[Yvan256]

You must be joking. RISC vs. x86. Come on man! Have you no clue about current and past Apple hardware and software. Are you ready for crashing and viruses? I hope so. OS X will run on x86 as it's native OS, BSD. RISC is far superior. Apple just wants to make a buck. They no longer care about their roots. It's just another business now, just like Microsoft. The feeling is gone.

Crashing and viruses? The CPU doesn't have anything to do with that. The OS is to blame in those cases. Do Linux, BSD, BeOS, etc. have viruses? Do they crash more than OS X? Windows have viruses and crashes (well, XP crashes less but is more virus-prone than Win98SE) because Microsoft makes crappy code.

RISC is far superior in design to CISC, I agree. Especially x86 CISC, it's a mess. But in real-life, it seems x86 can hold its own against PPC. Especially if Intel can continue to boost the computing power while lowering the watts required. And the Pentium M is a whole lot better than the Pentium 4, which shows you that even Intel can correct its mistakes.

Did Apple become "just another business" when they dropped the 68K to go PPC? Oh, sure, it was still RISC. But did they become "just another business" when they ditched their OWN OS to build something around a BSD core? Nope, it was still an Apple OS. An Apple computer with an x86 processor will still be an Apple computer.

 

[savar]

They are good for random electrical stuff. Haha, an RS does make something w/ their own brand-- knock-off ionic breezes.

Don't get too random. They stock only a cabinet full of electronic components. Two values of ceramic cap, e.g. A dozen resistors, maybe.

I once went to get 24 awg, solid black wire and they were out of it. This is perhaps the most common type of wire used in hobby electronics. I went back several times over the course of three weeks because the owner kept saying they would get new stock in a few days. Never happened.

RadioShack is okay for quick, extremely simple things, but I only use them when I'm out of town and they are convenient to find. I found a real electronics store in my neighborhood that is actually closer than any RS, and its 10000 times better for electronic parts. For consumer electronics, RS is the last place on earth I would shop. Everything is so over-priced there.

Edit: oops, haha, I forgot I had already posted a similar rant in this thread a few days ago! well RS bites, I have to reinforce that

 

[Lertie32]

Hmm... RS goes from retro to trendy

I've got mixed feelings on this one... I used to work for Radio Shack, so I see the sales and "trendy product" benefits to them for sure.

As for customers, I agree that those sad souls too far away from Apple/CompUSA, etc. will now find more tech shopping fulfillment in their lives.

Radio Shack manages to make massive profits on small items that have exponential profit margins (ie - the scores of $3.95-ish adapters, etc. that cost $0.06 to make). iPod accessories will only add to that.

A previous poster mentioned that about the only thing the college sales force at Radio Shack can speak intelligently about is cell phones. Fairly accurate due to a couple of reasons:

1) they're modern, cool, everyday technology devices and
2) they get additional "bonus" commissions on the cell phone sales and provider contracts. When I worked for Radio Shack, it was an extra $20 (and sometimes more) for every Sprint PCS or Verizon phone sold. That's why the employees start salivating and plotting ways to scramble over their coworkers when someone walks in and says "I'm want to buy a cell phone..."


Potentially major customer service problems though... For example, when an RS employee calls in for service for a customer, they are simply talking to an RS extension of Apple/Sprint/Verizon support. It adds yet another layer to ever-maddening attempts of "For the love of God, I need to speak to a HUMAN, who can speak English, and can actually DO something to help solve my darn problem!" The last time I bought a cell phone from RS, it took two trips and THREE hours just to get the darn thing activated via an RS employee talking to a couple dozen Sprint reps.

Anyways, like most things in life, there's good and bad. For the most part, I enjoyed working for RS (as a college student's job anyways), and they do have lots of great employee training and knowledge in those of us who worked there for more than six months. And since service at Circuit City has gone to hell in the last couple of years, RS is probably as good an option as any other. For running down to the corner for parts/accessories, RS is handy. For major purchases, I'd probably just prefer to go through Apple direct...

Just my $0.02...
Now if only I could mark that up 7500% like Radio Shack every time I gave my opinion... I'd be rich!!