I often wonder the same ... I think maybe it's location/convenience for some of the stores... but who cares when we have Monoprice.
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iPhone Shortages Not Helping RadioShack as Consumer Sales Plummet
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I often wonder the same ... I think maybe it's location/convenience for some of the stores... but who cares when we have Monoprice.
I thought the margin on iPhones was miniscule though - how was he assuming $1000 in profits on iPhone sales alone? Was he planning on selling hundreds? Or was he assuming these would all be new customers and the profit was coming from a service carrier for activating a new line? I'm pretty sure it's the latter and thus fuzzy profit math.
RIP Radio Shack
For a company that was once dominant in its class in the 1970's it sure has lost its way.
See a great story about mismanagement and lack of direction: http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/26/7281129/radioshack-eulogy-stories
As others have said- Radio Shack has no identity. Is it a specialty electronics and gizmo store? Nope- that part of its history is pushed aside to a dusty shelf in the back. Toy Store with RC? They try- especially this time of year but when you can buy a Traxxas RTR that is so much better for nearly the same cost why bother? Cell phones? Dime a dozen. PC hardware? Over priced- even more than Best Buy.
So what are they? A store grandma goes toto get new batteries for her old cordless phone? Can't survive on those sales.
Plus they are such a$$ hats about obtaining your info at checkout. Sometimes a quick battery purchase is just that- an attempt for a simple and quick purchase.
Time to pass the torch Radio Shack and move to the annals of history.
For a company that was once dominant in its class in the 1970's it sure has lost its way.
See a great story about mismanagement and lack of direction: http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/26/7281129/radioshack-eulogy-stories
As others have said- Radio Shack has no identity. Is it a specialty electronics and gizmo store? Nope- that part of its history is pushed aside to a dusty shelf in the back. Toy Store with RC? They try- especially this time of year but when you can buy a Traxxas RTR that is so much better for nearly the same cost why bother? Cell phones? Dime a dozen. PC hardware? Over priced- even more than Best Buy.
So what are they? A store grandma goes toto get new batteries for her old cordless phone? Can't survive on those sales.
Plus they are such a$$ hats about obtaining your info at checkout. Sometimes a quick battery purchase is just that- an attempt for a simple and quick purchase.
Time to pass the torch Radio Shack and move to the annals of history.
CC was doomed by poor upper management decision making. The entire company went downhill once they decided to slowly but surely become Best Buy and not be what their identity was (commissions, spiffs, store layout, customer interaction, return policies, locations, I can keep going...).
I remember when Radio Shack asked for your home address and phone number every time you went in for a pack of AA batteries, and I mean every time.
R.I.P. Radio Shack. You'll be missed.
I remember the days of them asking for name, address and phone number on every single transaction as well. It was literally a pain to purchase something from them. I think many of the problems that got them where they are today, they did to themselves. I serious doubt they will make it through next year.
I used to work for Circuit City. They had their faults, but the training beat the hell out of Best Buy and most other big box electronics stores. At least you had a chance of dealing w/ someone that knew what they were talking about. Bad side was the commission based employee system. Part of their downfall, but just part. Another company that had a few decisions gone differently (looking back anyway) they could have survived awhile longer.
I disagree with your commission point BECAUSE of your initial point - the intelligence piece. CC tried to replace knowledgeable, commissioned, professional, tenured (some of my people were in their 40s, 50s and even 60s+) associates with 18 year old, hourly people who only knew what the (horrific) eLearning system told them. God forbid they took it upon themselves to learn the tech, like is what happened when people were on commission and read that monthly book - what was that called?
the only thing I would find radioshack useful for is for emergency purchases of cords and such. I walked in the other day and it's a very sad looking store.
One of the last times I went there was to get a digital police scanner. The guy behind the counter had no idea about accessories and could not help with the programming cable that plugged into a computer. All they seemed to care about was phones. Every time I went in they asked if I needed a new phone. The last few times I pulled out my iPhone and said that this was all the phone I needed and that was before they sold iPhones.
Sad to see them end like this but they did it to themselves.
Sad to see them end like this but they did it to themselves.
Thanks for posting that link. I too worked at the Shack for a number of years. I too had a manager who gradually became a wasted shell of a human. It's a shame the chain lost its focus. I don't doubt that it will soon be only a memory.
I remember when Radio Shack asked for your home address and phone number every time you went in for a pack of AA batteries, and I mean every time.
R.I.P. Radio Shack. You'll be missed.
They were one of the first companies to make hoarding and selling customers' data a main and unavoidable part of their business model. That seemed to work out well for them for them.
Not if you want a 64 GB Silver for AT&T.
Edit: Or pretty much any color, carrier and capacity except for 16 GB because 16 GB is a joke and consumers have realized that.
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They are. When I worked there, the commissions were from the cell companies, not the phone manufacturers. And they were the biggest commissions you'd get.
I worked at RadioShack for years Myself. They were probably the single worst company I have ever worked for. They pay there employees supposedly based on the cost of living for an area, except it's designed to incorporate very low cost of living area. So for example, I live in Asheville, a high cost of living city, but because it's surrounded by rural towns with low cost of living, I was paid the federal minimum wage. They also claimed to pay their employee's SPIFFS that are supposed to be like commission, but they are made un-attainable in various ways. (they even lowered the amounts of these "Spiffs" and raised the requirements to get them, when the Federal Min Wage increased). In order to get any SPIFFS, we had to reach a certain amount of sales per hour, my manager, and the manager of many other stores, would often make us work after hours, "resetting the store" (that is shifting everything one inch to the left, if you go into a radioshack, I'm sure you've noticed things are rarely in the same place. Also annoying as a customer), so that the non-sales hours, would get added into hours hourly sales average as zeroes. Additionally, they would increase the expectations of the sales per hour during the holidays. Total bull. Also, this article says "They are a long time partner", I was there when they started selling Apple products, and believe me, we were specifically told to tell customer's that other phones were better before they started selling the iPhone. they were among the last retailers that currently sell iPhone and iPods to sell them, and that was only because they knew they had to. They sell worthless over priced service plans, have ostracized their own customer's by moving the focus of the store from being a niche electronics and parts supplier, to being a Best Buy, with more annoying employees, and much less stuff. Why would anyone go to RadioShack? Looking for a computer, and only want 2 to choose from? Or how about 5 year old digital cameras? lol. If you ask me, not only is their failure expected, it is DESERVED!!! Business that treat their employees like crap, should fail. Looking forward to their going out of business sale. That may be the first time they see customers in a very long time.
CC's TV salespeople were very good, at least at the stores near me. No hassle, no pressure, and made absolutely sure you got the TV that was right for you. My last purchase there was the 42" Toshiba TV and HD-DVD player bundle, the former of which is still going strong to this day.
RS is sad, but the cheerful news is that the CEO and upper management will walk away with bonuses for ruining the franchise and then closing the doors and firing people to save money to pay the bonuses.
Years ago a friend who was a fabulous guy at RS and knew all the answers about all the electrical stuff they used to carry was fired because he had a beard...
Is there even one profitable store? Who in the world would buy a RS franchise?
Years ago a friend who was a fabulous guy at RS and knew all the answers about all the electrical stuff they used to carry was fired because he had a beard...
Is there even one profitable store? Who in the world would buy a RS franchise?
