Very sad. I’m a relatively new ham (3 years) and have bought a lot of my equipment from HRO. I’ve been helped many times when I had questions about which product to buy and what works with what. They’ve never steered me the wrong way. Would love to see businesses like that thrive.
during my college years I would visit the san diego store frequently. Ron was really cool, so was Tom. I bought a Yaesu 990 there, and an Icom 706 during Icom day, I won a jacket too. It was fun just to look around and figure out what was next to buy.
Im here in Texas. I bought a yaesu ft5dr from HRO thinking the Plano location would fill it. To my surprise it shipped from San Diego. Now I know why. Getting rid of inventory.
I didn't know that they had left SD. Called today and the phone forwarded to HRO in Anaheim. Nice fellow named Bob helped me out. Sending me a with a new battery (in San Diego)...Sad about the closing. Thanks for the video!
I frequented the Woodbridge location for all my purchases until the pandemic hit. After relocating I now will drive 2.5 hours one way to visit the Atlanta store. Ordering online is great but I love to go into the stores.
Live in Akershus County, Norway and am in my early 20s (turn 23 in march), never really seen dedicated radio shops. Have some RF (rtlsdr and a miniwhip antenna) gear but bought through foreign internet stores even the antennae plug adapters (bnc etc). It's interesting that in that store you can try out the receivers. Yeah, internet stores are great but doesnt beat a physical store. Hope the company stays strong.
They have many stores and 99.9% of their business is done online. I still buy things from HRO and love the online store. I live in Nebraska so I have to buy everything that has to do with ham radio on line. If I need an SO-239 I have to order it and wait. I guess the people in San Diego will have to do like the rest of us...plan ahead, and keep some spare parts on hand.
The lease went up to unsustainable level for their business and they say due to unfavorable business conditions, they won’t be opening in a new location.
But the Massage Parlor in the same complex stays in business ! Now that HRO has left there are for lease signs in the windows. Makes one wonder what the real reason was ….. Can it be in the last 5 years the massage parlor was doing better business wise ?
The HRO in Denver Colorado is in a crappy part of town. The shop is dinky inside, probably 20 feet x 35 ft of showroom. Rent probably not that much as it's an obscure strip mall built in the 80s but they are busy and have a wonderful staff. Too bad they can't find a cheaper rent area like the Denver store did.
I BET IF THEY OPEN A NEW STORE NEXT TO A TRUCK STOP THEY DO GOOD BUSNISS TRUCKER BUY THE ICOM 718 NO PROBLEMS ONTERIO CA BE A AWESOME LOCATION FOR THE PLACE THOUSAND OF TRUCKER BILL GOOD HAD A SHOP IN THE AREA THE STUFF THEY SOLD HAD LOIKE A 150 PERCENT MARK UP TRUCKER SPEND LOT OF MONEY ON THE RADIO EQUIPMENT
I feel for ya sad day. I don’t know what I would do without Delaware store 45min drive away. Next close test location is Salem or Woodbridge and that’s a 4-5hr drive 😉
Were there any good buys on radios or anything else? I didn't hear you say there were. I better re-watch the video I re-watched it and you didn't say whether or not there was anything worth buying. I'm always in the market for a new radio or antenna. Please advise so I don't have to drive 300 miles to that store to find out myself. Tnx.
I've noticed the service at at least one other of their stores has deteriorated in the past year or so. They are selling to make money, selling techs $1400 hf only rapid, overselling, not helpful. No problem if they go out of existence. There are other places online that treat their customers right.
All businesses sell to make money. There is almost zero margin in any of the HF radios. All the major brands take the lions share. So that $1,400 radio will net around $10 of profit for retailers. The major brands set their prices for the stores as well as control when things go on sale. It used to be a lot different so I'm told when more radios were sold and ham radio was more popular.
Very sad. I’m a relatively new ham (3 years) and have bought a lot of my equipment from HRO. I’ve been helped many times when I had questions about which product to buy and what works with what. They’ve never steered me the wrong way. Would love to see businesses like that thrive.
Wow I bought a lot of gear from that store over the years. Retired Navy now in Tennessee. I still have that gear...
Sad. I shopped there often over my years in San Diego.
during my college years I would visit the san diego store frequently. Ron was really cool, so was Tom. I bought a Yaesu 990 there, and an Icom 706 during Icom day, I won a jacket too. It was fun just to look around and figure out what was next to buy.
Im here in Texas. I bought a yaesu ft5dr from HRO thinking the Plano location would fill it. To my surprise it shipped from San Diego. Now I know why. Getting rid of inventory.
I didn't know that they had left SD. Called today and the phone forwarded to HRO in Anaheim. Nice fellow named Bob helped me out. Sending me a with a new battery (in San Diego)...Sad about the closing. Thanks for the video!
Bought some radios from there when I was stationed in San Diego.
Sad to hear that they are closing.
I frequented the Woodbridge location for all my purchases until the pandemic hit. After relocating I now will drive 2.5 hours one way to visit the Atlanta store. Ordering online is great but I love to go into the stores.
The folks at the ATL HRO are great
Live in Akershus County, Norway and am in my early 20s (turn 23 in march), never really seen dedicated radio shops.
Have some RF (rtlsdr and a miniwhip antenna) gear but bought through foreign internet stores even the antennae plug adapters (bnc etc).
It's interesting that in that store you can try out the receivers.
Yeah, internet stores are great but doesnt beat a physical store.
Hope the company stays strong.
So sad. Was there no video stabilization on that device.
The one in Sunnyvale also closed a few years back.
Very sad…😮
I use to be in the one in Atlanta many times over the years, now that I moved back north, I order on their website
I was in Atlanta on business and bought a chameleon antenna there since we no longer have an HRO in San Diego :(
They have many stores and 99.9% of their business is done online. I still buy things from HRO and love the online store. I live in Nebraska so I have to buy everything that has to do with ham radio on line. If I need an SO-239 I have to order it and wait. I guess the people in San Diego will have to do like the rest of us...plan ahead, and keep some spare parts on hand.
Waivin' a hand from Norfolk! 👋
Internet orders are are more like 40-50%
Total bummer!
AHHH dang guess you'll have to come up to Anaheim HRO instead now. If you do, let me know! I'll meet you there.
That's a sad thing to hear
Nuts. Was just about to head down there.
What was the reason? No lease? 🤷♂️
The lease went up to unsustainable level for their business and they say due to unfavorable business conditions, they won’t be opening in a new location.
Priced out of the market like so many small businesses…
But the Massage Parlor in the same complex stays in business !
Now that HRO has left there are for lease signs in the windows.
Makes one wonder what the real reason was …..
Can it be in the last 5 years the massage parlor was doing better business wise ?
The HRO in Denver Colorado is in a crappy part of town. The shop is dinky inside, probably 20 feet x 35 ft of showroom. Rent probably not that much as it's an obscure strip mall built in the 80s but they are busy and have a wonderful staff. Too bad they can't find a cheaper rent area like the Denver store did.
Bummer! I got all my gear there after I became a ham.
I BET IF THEY OPEN A NEW STORE NEXT TO A TRUCK STOP THEY DO GOOD BUSNISS TRUCKER BUY THE ICOM 718 NO PROBLEMS ONTERIO CA BE A AWESOME LOCATION FOR THE PLACE THOUSAND OF TRUCKER BILL GOOD HAD A SHOP IN THE AREA THE STUFF THEY SOLD HAD LOIKE A 150 PERCENT MARK UP TRUCKER SPEND LOT OF MONEY ON THE RADIO EQUIPMENT
I feel for ya sad day. I don’t know what I would do without Delaware store 45min drive away. Next close test location is Salem or Woodbridge and that’s a 4-5hr drive 😉
both the santa clara and oakland ca shops are gone.
Oakland store is now in Sacramento
Everyone buys everything online anymore, and pray that it doesn't get destroyed in shipping.
How do you think things get to the stores? Yup...they are shipped.
Were there any good buys on radios or anything else? I didn't hear you say there were. I better re-watch the video I re-watched it and you didn't say whether or not there was anything worth buying. I'm always in the market for a new radio or antenna. Please advise so I don't have to drive 300 miles to that store to find out myself. Tnx.
shame really.
Sad what has happened to America 🇺🇸.
Joe Biden happened!
no deals, stock will just be moved to other shops, to be sold online.
I've noticed the service at at least one other of their stores has deteriorated in the past year or so. They are selling to make money, selling techs $1400 hf only rapid, overselling, not helpful.
No problem if they go out of existence. There are other places online that treat their customers right.
All businesses sell to make money. There is almost zero margin in any of the HF radios. All the major brands take the lions share. So that $1,400 radio will net around $10 of profit for retailers. The major brands set their prices for the stores as well as control when things go on sale. It used to be a lot different so I'm told when more radios were sold and ham radio was more popular.