AARoads Forum

Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: golden eagle on February 08, 2015, 10:16:30 PM

Title: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: golden eagle on February 08, 2015, 10:16:30 PM
Company-owned stores to be sold to General Wireless, which is Sprint's largest shareholder. Click below for the story:

http://rebusinessonline.com/radioshack-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-sells-its-stores-to-sprint/

Near the end of the story, there's also a link to the stores that are closing.

I'm not really surprised at about Radio Shack going the way of the do-do bird. I'm only surprised they were still around this long.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Stratuscaster on February 08, 2015, 10:53:05 PM
It sounds odd at first, but technology killed Radio Shack.

In the past, Radio Shack was the place you went to for electronic parts - capacitors and resistors and the like. Or odd audio cables and adapters. Maybe a TV antenna and coax cable.

Then everything went digital and wireless and disposable. Today, there is nothing that Radio Shack sells in a store that I cannot get elsewhere - and likely get cheaper.

Had they consolidated stores some time ago, they might have been able to salvage themselves.

At this point, the vultures are beginning to circle, waiting for the inevitable markdowns and clearance sales.

I was confused when I read that General Wireless was going to put Sprint stores in many of those company-owned stores - and that the Sprint 'store' would only take up about 30% of the floor space. What are they going to do with the remainder?
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: US71 on February 08, 2015, 10:58:27 PM
It sounds odd at first, but technology killed Radio Shack.

Video killed the Radio Shack? ;)

There are 4 franchise stores in NW Arkansas that will remain open. Fayetteville has been there since the early 1970's.

Fort Smith is losing one store next to Target, but keeping the store in Central Mall.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: roadman65 on February 08, 2015, 11:15:50 PM
The one store near my house made the list.

Its a shame, as they have been in business for years and The place to go at one time for electronic needs.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Zeffy on February 08, 2015, 11:26:05 PM
I didn't see the one in Hillsborough or in Trenton on that list, so that's interesting.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Billy F 1988 on February 08, 2015, 11:45:56 PM
Missoula's Radio Shack store is long gone well before the Chapter 11 was even filed. There was one next to the China Buffet at the Holiday Village plaza on Brooks, then I think one in the Southgate Mall, but has since never existed in Missoula since at least the 2000's.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: roadman65 on February 08, 2015, 11:47:22 PM
I bought my CB radio from them.  Their brand name was Realistic on all of their products.  If I ever needed wiring for my stereos or adapters I always went there as well.  Even my second to last cell phone I bought from them.

Another icon gone.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: slorydn1 on February 09, 2015, 12:41:37 AM
Wow it is sad.

I guess it was inevitable, though, when even the hard core Radio Shack patrons like myself only shopped there for medium ticket items every other year or so (4 radio scanners and 3 Garmin GPS's in the last 15 years) and maybe twice a year at most for some connector or wire that I needed. Looking back on it now, I don't believe I stepped foot in a Radio Shack in all of 2014.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: golden eagle on February 09, 2015, 08:52:53 AM
I was in a Radio Shack just this past Thursday night. Before, I was last there maybe late summer or early fall. There used to be a Radio Shack a mile from my house, but it and a couple of other businesses were torn down to make way for a CVS.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: OCGuy81 on February 09, 2015, 10:16:34 AM
Posted this in another thread, but it's too damn topical (and funny) not to post a second time.  Got to love The Onion!

FORT WORTH, TX–Despite having been on the job for nine months, RadioShack CEO Julian Day said Monday that he still has "no idea" how the home electronics store manages to stay open.

"There must be some sort of business model that enables this company to make money, but I'll be damned if I know what it is," Day said. "You wouldn't think that people still buy enough strobe lights and extension cords to support an entire nationwide chain, but I guess they must, or I wouldn't have this desk to sit behind all day."

http://www.theonion.com/articles/even-ceo-cant-figure-out-how-radioshack-still-in-b,2190/
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: jp the roadgeek on February 09, 2015, 10:52:22 AM
Bunch of them closing all around me, but the one in my town survived...for now
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Henry on February 09, 2015, 11:12:26 AM
Funny how the chain that had the slogan "You've got questions; we've got answers" cannot address its own financial troubles...to which the only answer would be closing many of its stores. And it's no surprise that Best Buy and all the wireless stores are selling the same products at better prices.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: 1995hoo on February 09, 2015, 12:29:41 PM
Interesting, the store near my house is not on the list of stores to be closed.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: jeffandnicole on February 09, 2015, 12:46:31 PM
The store closest to me closed about 4 months ago, but amazingly two others close to me - one in a traditional mall, one in a strip mall, are both not on the list of stores to close.

There's one store listed in a large shopping center I pass by all the time and never knew it was in there!
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: exit322 on February 09, 2015, 07:31:13 PM
Radio Shack:  You've got questions...we've got...batteries.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: golden eagle on February 09, 2015, 08:53:24 PM
Posted this in another thread, but it's too damn topical (and funny) not to post a second time.  Got to love The Onion!

FORT WORTH, TX–Despite having been on the job for nine months, RadioShack CEO Julian Day said Monday that he still has "no idea" how the home electronics store manages to stay open.

"There must be some sort of business model that enables this company to make money, but I'll be damned if I know what it is," Day said. "You wouldn't think that people still buy enough strobe lights and extension cords to support an entire nationwide chain, but I guess they must, or I wouldn't have this desk to sit behind all day."

http://www.theonion.com/articles/even-ceo-cant-figure-out-how-radioshack-still-in-b,2190/

Chris Hayes of MSNBC just made reference of this article. They also showed an old Radio Shack commercial selling one of the earliest cell phones for $2495.00.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: US71 on February 09, 2015, 10:54:33 PM
(http://www.vintagevolts.com/wp-content/uploads/adios-480x210.png)
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Pete from Boston on February 10, 2015, 12:17:53 AM

(http://www.vintagevolts.com/wp-content/uploads/adios-480x210.png)

Ouch.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Molandfreak on February 10, 2015, 01:59:17 AM
(http://www.vintagevolts.com/wp-content/uploads/adios-480x210.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/iG5Hj7g.jpg?1)
That apparently happened to a neon sign once, someone uploaded it to imgur. :)
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: roadman65 on February 10, 2015, 10:58:49 AM
The Store in Hunters Creek, FL has already sold a lot of stuff as many of the shelves are empty already.  All cell phones are gone already and empty enough of the store that sound travels through the floor space.

Got a $10 Tee Shirt for only a buck fifty, though.  So now is the chance to grab stuff that you need at reduced prices while it lasts.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Stephane Dumas on February 10, 2015, 11:06:05 AM
Here in Quebec, we referred sometimes RadioShack as "RadioScrap" as shown in this French skit by a group of humorists.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: kkt on February 10, 2015, 01:08:15 PM
We used to call it Adio Hack.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: ZLoth on February 10, 2015, 01:28:12 PM
I cut my computing teeth on a TRS-80 Model III. That was so long ago.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Pete from Boston on February 10, 2015, 02:16:31 PM

I cut my computing teeth on a TRS-80 Model III. That was so long ago.

When the hulking, grey, monochrome TRS-80s arrived in my life, I was so... disappointed.  Computers on TV were so much friendlier. 
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: freebrickproductions on February 12, 2015, 10:25:16 AM
The Radio Shack closest to my house will be one of the stores that gets closed, despite it being open for half of a year to a year at most so far.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: apjung on February 12, 2015, 04:24:56 PM
AutoZone should have bought out RadioShack so they can legally change their name back to AutoShack. I still remember the spat that Tandy Corporporation ("Goliath") had with AutoShack ("David") back in the 1980s which forced them to change their name to AutoZone. It would have been sweet revenge had AutoZone thought about buying up RadioShack that the "David" and "Goliath" roles are now reversed.

When I would hear the slogan in the AutoZone commercials, I would say "Get in the Shack, AutoShack!" as if I was living in an alternate reality where AutoZone kept their original name.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Pete from Boston on February 12, 2015, 04:46:25 PM
AutoZone should have bought out RadioShack so they can legally change their name back to AutoShack.

The better revenge (and more lousy-reputation-shedding move) would be to change Radio Shack's name to Radio Zone.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: PHLBOS on February 12, 2015, 04:54:10 PM
AutoZone should have bought out RadioShack so they can legally change their name back to AutoShack. I still remember the spat that Tandy Corporporation ("Goliath") had with AutoShack ("David") back in the 1980s which forced them to change their name to AutoZone. It would have been sweet revenge had AutoZone thought about buying up RadioShack that the "David" and "Goliath" roles are now reversed.

When I would hear the slogan in the AutoZone commercials, I would say "Get in the Shack, AutoShack!" as if I was living in an alternate reality where AutoZone kept their original name.
I'm missing something.  The Auto Zones in MA were previously known as Auto Palaces and were originally known as ADAPs (American Discount Auto Parts).
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Pete from Boston on February 12, 2015, 05:01:22 PM
AutoZone should have bought out RadioShack so they can legally change their name back to AutoShack. I still remember the spat that Tandy Corporporation ("Goliath") had with AutoShack ("David") back in the 1980s which forced them to change their name to AutoZone. It would have been sweet revenge had AutoZone thought about buying up RadioShack that the "David" and "Goliath" roles are now reversed.

When I would hear the slogan in the AutoZone commercials, I would say "Get in the Shack, AutoShack!" as if I was living in an alternate reality where AutoZone kept their original name.
I'm missing something.  The Auto Zones in MA were previously known as Auto Palaces and were originally known as ADAPs (American Discount Auto Parts).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoZone

"In 1998, AutoZone acquired 112 Auto Palace stores in six states in the northeastern United States"
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Pete from Boston on February 12, 2015, 05:03:34 PM
And 15 years after ending a 40-year ride with its unstable significant other, lowly Tandy lives to see another day:

www.tandyleatherfactory.com/
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: roadman65 on February 13, 2015, 01:26:56 PM
I finally discovered how to identify the franchises over the corporate owned stores.  The franchises all have the word "Dealer" next the name Radio Shack on the store sign.

I found out that one store near me was not selling out, and he had the old style logo with dealer on his overhead sign over the building within a strip mall in Kissimmee. 

Apparently its the corporate stores selling out, but the franchised owned stores are still staying in business.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: texaskdog on February 13, 2015, 01:38:33 PM
It sounds odd at first, but technology killed Radio Shack.

In the past, Radio Shack was the place you went to for electronic parts - capacitors and resistors and the like. Or odd audio cables and adapters. Maybe a TV antenna and coax cable.

Then everything went digital and wireless and disposable. Today, there is nothing that Radio Shack sells in a store that I cannot get elsewhere - and likely get cheaper.

Had they consolidated stores some time ago, they might have been able to salvage themselves.

At this point, the vultures are beginning to circle, waiting for the inevitable markdowns and clearance sales.

I was confused when I read that General Wireless was going to put Sprint stores in many of those company-owned stores - and that the Sprint 'store' would only take up about 30% of the floor space. What are they going to do with the remainder?

Technology didn't kill Radio Shack.  Their inability to adapt to technology did.  Blockbuster went under when they could have been the original redbox. 
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: cpzilliacus on March 22, 2015, 09:54:53 PM
Wall Street Journal: RadioShack’s Future to Be Decided at Bankruptcy Auction - Standard General plan calls for working with Sprint to save 1,723 stores (http://www.wsj.com/articles/radioshacks-future-to-be-decided-at-bankruptcy-auction-1427057225)

Quote
RadioShack Corp.’s fate hangs in the balance Monday when a bankruptcy auction kicks off, pitting companies that want to liquidate the electronic retailer’s remaining assets against a hedge fund that has pledged to keep about half the chain’s stores open.

Quote
There is little doubt hedge fund Standard General LP is the sole hope of survival for the company that introduced generations of consumers to electronic toys from ham radios, walkie-talkies, citizens-band radios and calculators to computers and cellphones.

Quote
Other than liquidators, no other contenders surfaced in weeks of heavy marketing or in the year before the February bankruptcy filing./quote]

Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: txstateends on August 13, 2018, 07:42:23 AM
Amazingly enough, the name Radio Shack is planned to return to the retail landscape.

They have deals with the HobbyTown chain, as well as store-in-a-store sections of other retail stores.  The company is now privately-held (no stock, no shareholders, no wild Wall Street swings), and is looking for franchised "dealer" operations.

http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/radioback-fort-worth-electronics-retailer-returns-from-the-brink/article_a7f0261e-975b-11e8-91b3-3b746840ba1d.html
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: abefroman329 on August 13, 2018, 09:20:05 AM
Amazingly enough, the name Radio Shack is planned to return to the retail landscape.

They have deals with the HobbyTown chain, as well as store-in-a-store sections of other retail stores.  The company is now privately-held (no stock, no shareholders, no wild Wall Street swings), and is looking for franchised "dealer" operations.

http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/radioback-fort-worth-electronics-retailer-returns-from-the-brink/article_a7f0261e-975b-11e8-91b3-3b746840ba1d.html
I think they tried to do the same thing with Circuit City. To date, it hasn’t gone anywhere.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: Flint1979 on August 25, 2018, 09:16:30 PM
I use to rely on Radio Shack back when I was heavy into the CB radio. I'm not really into CB's much anymore but would love to hook one up and see if there is anyone still on the radio. Cell phones obviously took over for CB's.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: abefroman329 on August 26, 2018, 03:00:28 PM
I use to rely on Radio Shack back when I was heavy into the CB radio. I'm not really into CB's much anymore but would love to hook one up and see if there is anyone still on the radio. Cell phones obviously took over for CB's.
Considering they still sell CB accessories at truck stops, someone must be. As our more rural members frequently remind us, cell phone coverage isn’t available everywhere.
Title: Re: Radio Shack files Chapter 11, stores to close
Post by: hbelkins on August 27, 2018, 10:42:39 AM
I use to rely on Radio Shack back when I was heavy into the CB radio. I'm not really into CB's much anymore but would love to hook one up and see if there is anyone still on the radio. Cell phones obviously took over for CB's.
Considering they still sell CB accessories at truck stops, someone must be. As our more rural members frequently remind us, cell phone coverage isn’t available everywhere.

And truckers don't know the cell numbers of all the other truckers out there. Given the fact that radar detectors are illegal in big rigs, they just about have to use CBs to know the locations of cops. Waze isn't reliable when the cop's on the move.