I live about 150 miles away in Central PA. I had no idea that this store existed. I have a trip planned to nearby Kutztown to attend an Antique Radio meet in a few weeks. I will be sure to stop by this store. Thanks for posting the video!
I think they were just trying to "survive" - rapid expansion, mismanagement at the corporate level and on-line / big box sales really did them in (IMO).
@@Scotty_in_Ohio unfortunately a lots of companys came to rely on MBAs who didn't know their ass from their elbow about business other than "book smarts". It continues to this day with the "get woke, go broke" crowd. Destroying businesses with twisting it to their "progressive" ideology. Then escaping the ashes to go elsewhere and try again.
@@anotherdave5107 I pretty much agree with you - If RS had made it to the last couple of years I suspect that it would have been trounced by what you describe above - that's why I believe it was at the corporate level - "doing dumb things based on what a room full of people with business degrees say usually doesn't end well - or at least isn't as successful as if the leadership had stuck to the plan". Some companies have done well in spite of being taken over by "activists" (Netflix) but their time usually is short lived. Have a solid product that most people want or at least like and stay out of everything else. I don't want politics in my cola, I want my car to be reliable not to indicate if I'm into "saving" the planet.
I am/was a huge fan of Radio Shack, beginning probably around 1980. As a kid/teen back then, when our family went to the malls, my first trip was usually to the RS inside the mall. I was happy to walk far, heh. We also had a local RS in town. Fast forward decades later & then one day in 2017, I went to that local store & was shocked they were having a going away sale, because I had not gone into that store for awhile, probably a few years earlier. This was in May 2017 when they had to declare chapter 11 again, but this one hit them the hardest thus far. Clearance was like 40 to 90% off, so I got as much as I could. It's possible that for what ever I got at $10 at clearance could have easily been $100 in the past. Anyway, these franchise stores are still around & hopefully they will stay around longer. Radio Shack itself still exists, but now mostly as a website. And I am happy for them making the century mark as a company last year in 2021. There's probably not many companies that make the century mark. I still have plenty of stuff bought from RS over the decades & I have even also kept most of their packaging (like for resistors & IC's etc), not just because they might have the specifications listed on the back, but also because the packaging is also part of the sentimental value. If everything goes well for today's RS corporate, you never know if they will bring some brick&mortars back up, though I'm sure it would be much much less in population, not the 8000 or so stores globally they once had at their peak.
This was a true trip down memory lane for me as well, it was what the old shack was like with more focus on components and builds than the new shack which was nothing more than a glorified Sprint kiosk like our local one was at the end
@@hamandcheese25 ... Indeed, the older days are the best, heh. For me, the best days of my Shack experience were the early 1980s. But all of the 1980's, the 1990's & early 2000's were good too. I was too young to have known them in the 1970's, as my budding love for electronics/computers hadn't happened yet. Those Shacks with the Sprint kiosks had to be done though, because it was getting rougher financially for the Shack, so they had to bring in "rent" from Sprint. It probably helped them survive longer but it did not help their "image" in the long run, especially for their long time patrons, such as us. Even if they are just now mainly a website (corporate), it doesn't help that their prices are still high & their selection kind of crappy. There is a Shack franchisee near me, but it's 2 hours away, which means I'd rather just get my electronics stuff somewhere else, usually online, heh.
@@hamandcheese25 Subsidizing a retail operation usually isn't a good business model but I would say that in the case of this one it's probably a good idea as most of the customers are buying there mainly to support the business and even if the prices were the same (or a little more) than on-line they would buy from this establishment rather than save a dollar or two. I know I would (and have) with my local "candy store" - I've also supported small brick and mortar motorcycle shops in the '90's - mid 2000's when I used to commute on my motorcycle - it used to really bother me when someone would "shop" at a store only to buy on-line ("mail order" at the time) just save a few bucks or save on sales tax. Paying double wouldn't fly but you should support those who support you.
@@Scotty_in_Ohio the funny thing is most of what they had on the shelves in the way of name brands beat the price of online retailers, and by a lot. Take the Anytone 878UVII Plus, they had it for $245 at the time of the video while everyone else had it for no less than $315
I live about 150 miles away in Central PA. I had no idea that this store existed. I have a trip planned to nearby Kutztown to attend an Antique Radio meet in a few weeks. I will be sure to stop by this store. Thanks for posting the video!
Nice to see a RS in the "wild" - it's great to be able to support a brick and mortar business.
It's missing RC toys on the floor for the customers to trip over. Maybe they have them during the holiday season.
Having flashbacks at the sight of those slot wall panels.
The biggest mistake RadioShack made was to try and be a cellphone store.
I think they were just trying to "survive" - rapid expansion, mismanagement at the corporate level and on-line / big box sales really did them in (IMO).
@@Scotty_in_Ohio unfortunately a lots of companys came to rely on MBAs who didn't know their ass from their elbow about business other than "book smarts". It continues to this day with the "get woke, go broke" crowd. Destroying businesses with twisting it to their "progressive" ideology. Then escaping the ashes to go elsewhere and try again.
@@anotherdave5107 I pretty much agree with you - If RS had made it to the last couple of years I suspect that it would have been trounced by what you describe above - that's why I believe it was at the corporate level - "doing dumb things based on what a room full of people with business degrees say usually doesn't end well - or at least isn't as successful as if the leadership had stuck to the plan". Some companies have done well in spite of being taken over by "activists" (Netflix) but their time usually is short lived. Have a solid product that most people want or at least like and stay out of everything else. I don't want politics in my cola, I want my car to be reliable not to indicate if I'm into "saving" the planet.
The final UK RadioShack ended by being some sort of phone unlocking advertisement
I am/was a huge fan of Radio Shack, beginning probably around 1980. As a kid/teen back then, when our family went to the malls, my first trip was usually to the RS inside the mall. I was happy to walk far, heh. We also had a local RS in town. Fast forward decades later & then one day in 2017, I went to that local store & was shocked they were having a going away sale, because I had not gone into that store for awhile, probably a few years earlier. This was in May 2017 when they had to declare chapter 11 again, but this one hit them the hardest thus far. Clearance was like 40 to 90% off, so I got as much as I could. It's possible that for what ever I got at $10 at clearance could have easily been $100 in the past. Anyway, these franchise stores are still around & hopefully they will stay around longer. Radio Shack itself still exists, but now mostly as a website. And I am happy for them making the century mark as a company last year in 2021. There's probably not many companies that make the century mark. I still have plenty of stuff bought from RS over the decades & I have even also kept most of their packaging (like for resistors & IC's etc), not just because they might have the specifications listed on the back, but also because the packaging is also part of the sentimental value. If everything goes well for today's RS corporate, you never know if they will bring some brick&mortars back up, though I'm sure it would be much much less in population, not the 8000 or so stores globally they once had at their peak.
This was a true trip down memory lane for me as well, it was what the old shack was like with more focus on components and builds than the new shack which was nothing more than a glorified Sprint kiosk like our local one was at the end
@@hamandcheese25 ... Indeed, the older days are the best, heh. For me, the best days of my Shack experience were the early 1980s. But all of the 1980's, the 1990's & early 2000's were good too. I was too young to have known them in the 1970's, as my budding love for electronics/computers hadn't happened yet. Those Shacks with the Sprint kiosks had to be done though, because it was getting rougher financially for the Shack, so they had to bring in "rent" from Sprint. It probably helped them survive longer but it did not help their "image" in the long run, especially for their long time patrons, such as us. Even if they are just now mainly a website (corporate), it doesn't help that their prices are still high & their selection kind of crappy. There is a Shack franchisee near me, but it's 2 hours away, which means I'd rather just get my electronics stuff somewhere else, usually online, heh.
I’m down here in Maryland, but wouldn’t mind taking a drive up there to see the store! Sounds fun!
I can confirm their is a Radio Shack in Bozeman Montana. It specializes in Remote Control Vehicles (RCV).
I wanna go there!!!!!!
Thxs there's a RADIO SHACK in ROUNDUP MONTANA LIKE THIS ONE....
What the WHAT?!?♡
I am absolutely delighted!!
The best part is their prices were waaay below that of the big retailers, by a lot!
@@hamandcheese25 Subsidizing a retail operation usually isn't a good business model but I would say that in the case of this one it's probably a good idea as most of the customers are buying there mainly to support the business and even if the prices were the same (or a little more) than on-line they would buy from this establishment rather than save a dollar or two. I know I would (and have) with my local "candy store" - I've also supported small brick and mortar motorcycle shops in the '90's - mid 2000's when I used to commute on my motorcycle - it used to really bother me when someone would "shop" at a store only to buy on-line ("mail order" at the time) just save a few bucks or save on sales tax. Paying double wouldn't fly but you should support those who support you.
@@Scotty_in_Ohio the funny thing is most of what they had on the shelves in the way of name brands beat the price of online retailers, and by a lot. Take the Anytone 878UVII Plus, they had it for $245 at the time of the video while everyone else had it for no less than $315
Great 👍🏽 looking 👀 for headphones 🎧 that's are Does required for AAA 🔋🔋🔋 for individuals 🎉😂
Just Yard Sale stuff