RadioShack Is Preparing to File For Bankruptcy Again (bloomberg.com)
BarbaraHudson writes: Bloomberg is reporting that the "new" RadioShack is preparing to file for bankruptcy. From the report: "General Wireless Operations, the RadioShack successor created by a partnership between Sprint Corp. and the defunct retailer's owners, is preparing to file for bankruptcy, according to people familiar with the matter. A filing could happen within the coming days and will probably result in liquidation, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isn't public. The beleaguered company, which does business as RadioShack, operates outlets that share space with Sprint's retail locations, as well as franchising the name to other stores." Investors had thrown $75 million in lines of credit and term loans at the business, which was used for "renovated locations and updated inventory." That's less than $60,000 per store -- chickenfeed in today's world, where renovating a McDonalds can run between $500,000 and $2,000,000, and you're not trying to pivot.
More than any other retail chain, Radio Shack was rendered obsolete and uncompetitive by the internet. It's kind of sad, because when I was a kid I used to like to go there.
This must be double secret bankruptcy.
Have gnu, will travel.
Almost nobody will shop at RadioShack anymore because in the 90's they decided that annoying people at the cash registers to buy extra batteries and later to try to switch their cell phone plans was worth alienating the customer base, just as the Internet was coming along to offer people other options.
Meanwhile, retailers like Walmart picked up most of their commonly useful inventory and made mint while not harassing customers with upsales. Apparently Walmart isn't driven by quarter-on-quarter-driven MBA's.
On the other hand, they probably left with big bonuses and nobody knows who they were, and two bankruptcies later they're not black-balled.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
I usually pay around $0.85 postage for components from China (aliexpress, etc). Chinapost would charge about 5 CNY for a small parcel to the US, that's 73 cents.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Their bankruptcy filing should be thrown out by the judge. Its absurd that they can turn around a bankruptcy before the ink is dry on the first one.
"...The beleaguered company, which does business as RadioShack, operates outlets that share space with Sprint's retail locations"
Let's be honest- today's RadioShack is little more that a Sprint store with a small shelf in back where you can buy 9-volt batteries and red-and-black colored wire for $8.99 a roll.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
My local radio shack was closed with the last bankruptcy and replace with a privately owned electronics store that mostly had only cell phones, tablets, and associated accessories. They are out of business as well.
There is a privately owned computer electronics store that has computers, laptops, game consoles, games, other software, some TVs, DVD Bluray players, streaming devices, etc... and some of the nifty builder stuff that radio shack used to have though I think they make most of their money on the game consoles and games.
... is that RadioShack collapsed before Sears. My corporate dead pool for 2017 had Sears first, then RadioShack. I still can't find anyone who can explain why Sears is still open at all at this point, especially as they just sold off many of their best-known brands (including Craftsman, Kenmore, and Die-Hard).
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
I moved to a fairly rural area about four years ago. Before that, I don't think I'd been inside a Radio Shack in at least 10 years. Now that there are no large electronic stores locally, RS is the only place that I get get electronics. I've probably been there more in the last four years than the entire rest of my life. The selection isn't great, but it's better than nothing if I need something today.
It might cost you 85 cents to get it shipped from China, but meanwhile the 3 to 5 weeks (occasionally even more) that is typical for shipping from China is a long time to wait for someone that has something broken and just needs a damn resistor to fix it.
I get free shipping from Jameco for in stock items. Minimum online order is $10 USD. Resistors are typically 100 for $4.
http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/content/free-shipping-club-electronic-components.html?CID=HPFreeShippingClub
Sooner or later you buy a kit, develop contacts locally, and share.
Or you sit alone in the dark, angry at the shipping.
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
Dammit, you mean I'm going to have to buy my own batteries now?!!
And GET OFF of my lawn!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
It might cost you 85 cents to get it shipped from China, but meanwhile the 3 to 5 weeks (occasionally even more) that is typical for shipping from China is a long time to wait for someone that has something broken and just needs a damn resistor to fix it.
I know a couple of people who buy guitars from China (counterfeit Gibsons and Fenders that are even stamped "made in USA") and they claim 12 days or less to get one.
Yeah, I'm hacking some Christmas lights with new regulators and I'm still waiting on one last part before I can start. I've got so many projects going on that putting one on a back burner for several weeks is usually not a problem.
If I need a resistor right away, then yea Radio Shack or maybe Amazon prime would be the fastest. (I have Fry's Electronics, which is great for this stuff, but not everyone has that)
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
They should change their name to "RadioShaft"
Table-ized A.I.
Radio Shack, of old, has long been missed. They were dust in the 90's for me. Forget all the up-selling batteries, phones, what's your ZIP? marketing annoyances... I mean the STUFF Radio Shack of the 70's and 80's had. By the 90's it was all gone, too much cell phone, and too much MADE IN CHINA crap that broke too easily.
:) 500 in one electronics sets you could wire up. It had resistors, meters, light sensor, tons of various wire lengths with a great big 11x14 book of schematics and instructions on how to wire cool projects up? It's what got me into electronics, computers, et al. It's the reason the garage door light triggers a circuit and rings the house doorbell today. And why I can change my lights to any color and control them from anywhere on the planet. I was doing that in the 90's -- and sadly Radio Shack never had the parts I needed.
I just remember way back when. First place I saw a TRS-80. I still use an alarm clock I bought there in '79 I think. I even remember how COOL it was. Compact. Almost LED'ish, and a auto-light sensing dimmer. That didn't make it quite dark enough for me.
Back to Radio Shack. Get some wire. I want a push button double toggle switch -- to cut full power +/- to the display circuit only. Grab a bit - cut a hole, and wire it up. I still push that button to this day. It's probably why it has lasted so long -- the display is usually off...and hasn't faded either.
Synthesizers, drum-pad sets, ah the music you could make there! Bought my first keyboard there. I wouldn't have if I couldn't play with it, in the store, for months -- until I could save up enough to one day finally be able to walk in and buy it.
And what happened to those 100 in one, 150 in one, or the holy grail (for me
That Radio Shack has, sadly, long since been gone.
I recall couple years ago Fry's didn't have some 10k resistors, I was shocked to find out RS did have em, I think it was $2 for 5, but I needed them so I could finish my project over the weekend, since then it looks like Frys realized there was a market for the DIY maker, and their selection of shields and components grew. Also I found a surplus spool of 10k resistors for $10 I don't think I will ever run out.
That's why you buy a $5 box for several thousand, for a dozen of every conceivable value. Or $12 if you want them sorted/labeled. :)
I had a sucky sig.
I remember what they were 45 years ago, when I was a teenager just getting my feet wet in electronics. You could walk into one, talk to the store clerks about what you were building and they would offer suggestion, different things about electronics. I went into one about a year ago, looking for a 100uf 25volt electrolytic capacitor, and the clerk had NO IDEA what I was asking for.
Was out at the local strip mall today and had a sudden memory of how Radio Shack stores used to smell. They had a distinctive aroma, and no, it wasn't from the workers.
Oh well.
Sig for hire.
Do what I did and stock up before you need it.
I'm sure you could bank a larger selection than RS for less than $30.
There is a large maker community out there, that currently has to use mailorder for any small components. Being able to make a 20 minute trip is worth a huge markup on a 2.00 component, rather than having to wait 3 days for it to be delivered by mail. Personally, I haven't set foot into a Radio Shack store since I realized their selection of various components suck. Just like their electronics.
Crazy thing, I think if they sold OLD radios like 30s and 40s style wood, of high quality, they'd probably stil be in business. You want a new radio in a nice wood cabinet, that's a product that you nearly have to make to get right. Most of the ones that look cool are made like shit.
...::----::...
I am in no way affiliated with this sig.
There are still a half dozen or so little electronic shops in the silicon valley. I frequently go to Anchor Electronics, it's basically operating under the business model that Radio Shack had 50 years ago. Admittedly, Silicon Valley might be one of the few places in the world where a place like that can still thrive.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
halted (hsc electronics) is still the first place I'll go if I need a part, fast.
seriously, its one reason I'm still in the bay area. as a maker type, who does hw+sw, places like HSC keep me pretty well stocked.
--
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
No it doesn't. I get my stuff within two weeks. I just picked up an 80 carat star ruby from India, shipped via China Post. Got it in 10 days.
Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
I told them this would happen when they stopped publishing their catalog.
Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad