Circuit City Shorts Out

[K3UD]

Here is Circuit City's new strategy.

Where Service Is The State Of The Art? (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070329-9999-1n29circuit.html)

73
George
K3UD

[KW4MW]

I suspect that this probably has something to do with inventory. I don't know about where you live but here if you go into CC or Best Buy to buy a low ticket item you'll do a lot of standing around and waving your arms to attract attention and you might just end up walking out, as I have. The sales people just aren't interested in you unless you're buying a surround sound system, a high end computer complete with new monitor and printer or any other item priced with 4 digits.

[K8MHZ]

The first thing you should do at a big box electronics store is ask one of the sales folk for a reasonably priced DVD rewinder.

I did this at a Radio Shack store and the kid started to look it up on the computer.

Needless to say, after failing the rewinder test, I don't shop at that Radio Shack for anything.

Sounds like something to try at Circus City.

[WB8MKV]

I like to ask for a 26 1/1 volt turboencabulator to measure inverse reactive current in unilateral phase detractors with display of percent realization that comes with an 8 oz 5 percent tetraethyloiodohexamine with 0.01N halogen tracer solution

[K6BBC]

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r75/georgepeter/dvd_rewinder.jpg

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (WB8MKV @ Mar. 29 2007,06:33)]I like to ask for a 26 1/1 volt turboencabulator to measure inverse reactive current in unilateral phase detractors with display of percent realization that comes with an 8 oz 5 percent tetraethyloiodohexamine with 0.01N halogen tracer solution
I have one of those, and I'll sell it to you a lot cheaper than Radio Shack! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[W3MIV]

I have not dealt with Circuit City in years. I am somewhat amused by the report:

Quote[/b] ]While the company's strategy will pare labor costs, many retail observers said it could backfire if its seasoned, high-volume sales staff is replaced by less-experienced and lower-performing workers.

“You can hire a bunch of cheap, inexperienced people but that has to show up as diminished service and probably lower sales,”


It is astonishing when you consider that they have fired what were considered the "cream of the crop" in order to pare costs. I have NEVER found anyone in a Circuit City (or Best Buy, for that matter) who knew anything beyond "ad copy" about the products they were selling.

Gotta get better now, right?

If I owned any of their stock (and I don't) I would dump it fast.

[K3UD]

Old Wall Street adage.

"It's always worse than what you first hear".

73
George
K3UD

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Mar. 29 2007,08:21)]Old Wall Street adage.

"It's always worse than what you first hear".

73
George
K3UD
I think some savvy hams should wait till CC crashes completely, buy it out at fire sale prices, and make a REAL electronics store out of it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[K6BBC]

I also head compusa is in trouble too.

[KD6NIG]

Quote[/b] (kl7aj @ Mar. 29 2007,08:26)]Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Mar. 29 2007,08:21)]Old Wall Street adage.

"It's always worse than what you first hear".

73
George
K3UD
I think some savvy hams should wait till CC crashes completely, buy it out at fire sale prices, and make a REAL electronics store out of it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
The only problem with that is there are already quite a few players in this game. Add in all of the "internet sellers" that have popped up in the past few years and it just gets worse.

The internet is the major killer though. Except for large ticket items where I usually want to look at and check out a few stores, many minor electronic items are only a few clicks away, and with most places offering very reduced or free shipping on orders above $50, I'm sorry to say it, but I know my local UPS driver on a first name basis now.

I think over the Christmas season I went into 2 stores only physically, and that was to purchase gift cards. All other ordering was via the internet and delivered to my doorstep.

I know "The Good Guys" recently closed in Stockton also, but they had been hurting for a long time. The last time I set foot in a Circuit City was about 2 months ago as they were the only ones who carried a GPS I wanted, and they had a really good sale going. I was the only person in the store besides 3 sales people and two people behind the counter where you pick stuff up. There were 5 cars in the parking lot.

If they close in Stockton, that building will be torn down and redone I'm betting-they are across from the mall, and the only store left in that building that easily houses 3. If it wasn't for CC there, it would look abandoned. With 5 cars, it almost does now http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[N2RJ]

I've heard of CC employees making $50k-$70k.

I guess they can't go screaming "we're losing money" when they're overpaying employees.

[KC7UP]

There are no CC in my neighborhood. Near by city there is
a Best Buy that I went once to purchase memory for my
computer. Did get a good buy and had good service from
the sales people.
Curt

[ka5piu]

Quote[/b] (kl7aj @ Mar. 29 2007,08:26)]Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Mar. 29 2007,08:21)]Old Wall Street adage.

"It's always worse than what you first hear".

73
George
K3UD
I think some savvy hams should wait till CC crashes completely, buy it out at fire sale prices, and make a REAL electronics store out of it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Hello.

Circuit City is on the same level as every other Tandy adventure.
The same fine folks who do Radio Shack also did Incredible Universe.
Some of them are now Fry's Electronics.
McDuffs, nobody wants to touch that failure.
Tech USA, gone.
That only leaves Radio Shack, and that is now filled with sales droids who only "know" limited consumer items.

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ Mar. 29 2007,10:17)]Quote[/b] (kl7aj @ Mar. 29 2007,08:26)]Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Mar. 29 2007,08:21)]Old Wall Street adage.

"It's always worse than what you first hear".

73
George
K3UD
I think some savvy hams should wait till CC crashes completely, buy it out at fire sale prices, and make a REAL electronics store out of it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Hello.

Circuit City is on the same level as every other Tandy adventure.
The same fine folks who do Radio Shack also did Incredible Universe.
Some of them are now Fry's Electronics.
McDuffs, nobody wants to touch that failure.
Tech USA, gone.
That only leaves Radio Shack, and that is now filled with sales droids who only "know" limited consumer items.
That's because they haven't had a ham on staff or in management since 1970

[n0jaa]

That's like going to a Sears store, going to the tools department, and asking the clerk for a "torque divider." They'll go crazy trying to find one!

I got that idea when the tool room I worked in received a torque multiplier (yes, there actually is such a thing!). I asked one of the new guys to look for the torque divider as a mechanic in another hangar needed one. He looked for about an hour, and finally asked a mechanic what a torque divider, which was when he was told there is no such thing!

This was the same new guy that I fooled when I told him I needed a gallon of jet wash!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KA7RRA]

Quote[/b] (AB2MH @ Mar. 29 2007,09:13)]I've heard of CC employees making $50k-$70k.

I guess they can't go screaming "we're losing money" when they're overpaying employees.
You mean to tell me that CC did not hire any ill legale mexicans? for 2.20 per hour?

[k5phw]

Any idea what practical jokes cost in lost productivity? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (k8mhz @ Mar. 29 2007,13:27)]The first thing you should do at a big box electronics store is ask one of the sales folk for a reasonably priced DVD rewinder.
More info here. (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/dvd-rewinder-yes-its-real-205286.php)

Someone is laughing all the way to the bank.


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Tom kcØw

[KI4UDV]

Quote[/b] (ka5piu @ Mar. 29 2007,10:17)]That only leaves Radio Shack, and that is now filled with sales droids who only "know" limited consumer items.
You're not kidding about things. I went to RadioShack just 2 hours ago. I asked the salesman for a 1/8 in mono plug which is also called a 3.5 mm plug. He took me to the 1/8 phono plug "adapters".

I told him again what I needed, and he then said that Radio Shack doesn't carry them. I then reached to the right of me, opened one of the cabinent drawers that was labled, "Phono Connectors" and pulled the correct package out. Sad that I was in the store for 1 minute and knew where the stuff was. $2.79 for two connecters I guess wasn't bad. They actually look decent quality. Too bad no one can help for things other than toys, or cell phones.

Oh I have more!

Same store, I went in last month and wanted to look at a catalog. They told me that they don't use catalogs any more, but to use the computer. I walked over to the computer. The computer was broken with the blue screen of death. He told me that they didn't know how to fix the computer, and were unable to look anything up. I couln't help myself and laughed and walked out. Unreal, huh? The computer breaks and they are helpless. Why the upper eschelons in RS can't supply every store with at least one "backup" catalog, is beyond me!


As to Circuit City. They are shooting theirselves in their own foot. The CEO has no clue. Must be why he makes millions.

[K8MHZ]

Radio Shack in Muskegon on Sherman has decent people there. DO NOT go to the RS in the Lakes Mall. If RS on Sherman doesn't have what you need they will look it up for you in a Mouser catalog and refer you to them. No kidding.....I was the one that gave them their first catalog.

It really depends on the help. Or lack thereof....

[KI4PEQ]

Quote[/b] (n0jaa @ Mar. 29 2007,12:34)]This was the same new guy that I fooled when I told him I needed a gallon of jet wash!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
In the Air Force, it is fun to send the mosquito wings (1 striper) to base supply for the following items:

1000 feet of flight line (flight line is the area where planes are parked)
25 gallons of prop wash (prop wash is the air blast generated by spinning propellors)

You cannot use the prop wash gag anymore, because base supply DOES carry a detergent that is used to clean blades on propellors, or a "prop wash".

But the flight line gag is always fun, except for the guy or gal it is played upon, and the long suffering supply personnel who have to deal with the requests.

[KI4PEQ]

Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Mar. 29 2007,15:04)]Quote[/b] (k8mhz @ Mar. 29 2007,13:27)]The first thing you should do at a big box electronics store is ask one of the sales folk for a reasonably priced DVD rewinder.
More info here. (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/dvd-rewinder-yes-its-real-205286.php)

Someone is laughing all the way to the bank.


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Tom kcØw
I made a post about this device about six months ago, and was electronically torn a new anal orifice by several forum denizens for suggesting it was the perfect holiday gift for the Technician class amateur on your Christmas list.

I was a Technician Class amateur at the time. Go figure.

[KC0VWU]

Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Mar. 29 2007,17:31)]Quote[/b] (n0jaa @ Mar. 29 2007,12:34)]This was the same new guy that I fooled when I told him I needed a gallon of jet wash!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
In the Air Force, it is fun to send the mosquito wings (1 striper) to base supply for the following items:

1000 feet of flight line (flight line is the area where planes are parked)
25 gallons of prop wash (prop wash is the air blast generated by spinning propellors)

You cannot use the prop wash gag anymore, because base supply DOES carry a detergent that is used to clean blades on propellors, or a "prop wash".

But the flight line gag is always fun, except for the guy or gal it is played upon, and the long suffering supply personnel who have to deal with the requests.
This "fun" sounds like a waste of valuable taxpayer dollars. Anyone pulling these stunts should be locked up.

[KI4ITV]

nevermind

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (KC0VWU @ Mar. 30 2007,22:36)]Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Mar. 29 2007,17:31)]Quote[/b] (n0jaa @ Mar. 29 2007,12:34)]This was the same new guy that I fooled when I told him I needed a gallon of jet wash!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
In the Air Force, it is fun to send the mosquito wings (1 striper) to base supply for the following items:

1000 feet of flight line (flight line is the area where planes are parked)
25 gallons of prop wash (prop wash is the air blast generated by spinning propellors)

You cannot use the prop wash gag anymore, because base supply DOES carry a detergent that is used to clean blades on propellors, or a "prop wash".

But the flight line gag is always fun, except for the guy or gal it is played upon, and the long suffering supply personnel who have to deal with the requests.
This "fun" sounds like a waste of valuable taxpayer dollars. #Anyone pulling these stunts should be locked up.
I have been employed in government for many years now.....If you had ANY idea where just 10% of you tax money goes you would fall over.

Used to have a co-worker whose motto was, "why should I order just one of something when I can order ten". The guy pretty much filled an offsite warehouse with all the excess crap he ordered.

If you only knew, if you only knew...........



Tom kcØw

[w3mv]

Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Mar. 30 2007,15:31)]In the Air Force, it is fun to send the mosquito wings (1 striper) to base supply for the following items:

1000 feet of flight line (flight line is the area where planes are parked)
25 gallons of prop wash (prop wash is the air blast generated by spinning propellors)
The next time you are in a Radio Shack ask for an 8-pin fallopian tube.

[kg4kww]

Ham radio dealers are next, if prices don't come down.

[KI4SQT]

Quote[/b] (KC0VWU @ Mar. 29 2007,17:36)]Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Mar. 29 2007,17:31)]Quote[/b] (n0jaa @ Mar. 29 2007,12:34)]This was the same new guy that I fooled when I told him I needed a gallon of jet wash!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
In the Air Force, it is fun to send the mosquito wings (1 striper) to base supply for the following items:

1000 feet of flight line (flight line is the area where planes are parked)
25 gallons of prop wash (prop wash is the air blast generated by spinning propellors)

You cannot use the prop wash gag anymore, because base supply DOES carry a detergent that is used to clean blades on propellors, or a "prop wash".

But the flight line gag is always fun, except for the guy or gal it is played upon, and the long suffering supply personnel who have to deal with the requests.
This "fun" sounds like a waste of valuable taxpayer dollars. #Anyone pulling these stunts should be locked up.
He who does not know how to have just a little fun, even at work...usually turns around when someone says "Hey Turd"...LOL

[n2ize]

They are dumping their work force because they make "too much" money. They want cheaper labor. Screw em. I'll never buy anything from a circuit city. I'd sooner live out in the streets than work for them or wal mart

[KA9VQF]

A few years back now one of my little sisters went into her local Circuit City store to just look at a 19” color TV she was thinking of buying when her tax return came it.

She went out of the store with the biggest CRT TV made at the time along with a surround sound system and the entertainment center to put it all on.

Her credit was already shot. This purchase put her way over any kind of reasonable limit. Since her budget was toast, the next week her car decided it would be a good time to die. The transmission just quit working.

Another of my little sisters bought the TV and surround sound system to help her get out of the killer debt she had accumulated. I ended up with the entertainment center. I traded a 19” color TV for it.

She ‘borrowed’ my ‘90 Mazda for a few months until she could get her car fixed again.

In the fullness of time she bought a plasma screen HDTV and another surround sound system. Her new husband built a custom oak entertainment center to pile it all on.

They still use the 19” in their bedroom.

I still don’t understand how the sales droid was able to push the credit through for her in the first place though.

[KC2ESD]

I used to split my buying between Best Buy and Circuit City. From this point on I'll go to Best Buy. CC just shorted its self out, what a bunch of dummies.

[w3mv]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Mar. 30 2007,16:56)]Ham radio dealers are next, if prices don't come down.
You need to check the country of origin before you make that kind of statement. It is an order of magnitude cheaper to manufacture electronics gear in China than it is in Japan. Japan’s cost structure is about the same as that of any first-world country.

From what I have seen, new ham gear is cheaper than it has ever been in the history of the hobby. I do not believe that the manufacturers or the merchants are getting rich off of ham radio.

[KW4MW]

The wife is contemplating buying a new fridge even though the one we have does a fine job of keeping the beer cool. #

We went to HomeBoys to get some paint supplies and while we were at it we looked at their appliances. #They have these big beautiful fridges on display made by a company called L-G. #The 22 cu. Ft. model costs about $1100, - #$1400 if you want it in stainless steel. # BTW S/S shows handprints like crazy.

I have learned the hard way to stay away from the big box stores, particularly when it comes to buying high ticket appliances so just for curiosity’s sake we went down to Martin’s, a local independent. #

I have dealt with Martin’s before. #If you put in a trouble call they’re out at your house usually the same day or the next morning at the latest. #Need parts? #They have a large inventory of parts for the brands that they carry and can have the rest FedEx’d in 24 hours. # Typically your appliance will be repaired within 8 hours at a reasonable cost. #48 hours on the outside.

The big box boys – You dial the help number and then ‘speak’ to the robot which scheduled you with a trouble call within the next week, narrowed down to sometime between 8 AM and 5 PM. # The tech shows up with no parts and ‘trouble shoots the problem’. #He orders parts based upon his diagnosis which consists mainly of looking at the appliance, identifying it as a freezer, dishwasher, cooking range, etc. and then based upon his vast experience he makes an educated guess at to the cause of the problem. #You must pay for these parts before he leaves if you want the appliance fixed. #The parts will be shipped to you within a week by overnight FedEx (yeah, I know) and they you have to call them again to reschedule a follow up trouble call. #If you’re lucky, the first “tech” did diagnose the problem correctly and the problem will be fixed within two weeks for about half a grand. #Otherwise you can expect to wait for up to 2 months to get the appliance back on line. #

But back to the L-G brand refrigerators. #Apparently they’re associated with the Gold Star flagship – remember them? #We talked to the rep at Martin’s and he said that he had 3 of the L-G fridges in his back room. #People had bought them at a big box and they all failed after about 15 months (12 mo warranty) and they couldn’t get them repaired because the problem was the motor burning out and no one could get new motors from L-G. #They bought a new fridge from him and he took the inoperative units off of their hands. #He had ordered 3 motors six months ago but the possibilities of getting them soon seemed to be remote.

His brand line – Fridgedaire. #

Bottom line:

L-G 22 cu. Ft. refrigerator (stainless steel) # ~$1400 – technical support – poor
L-G 22 cu. Ft. refrigerator (white) # ~$1100 – technical support – poor
Fridgedaire 21 cu. Ft/ refrigerator (white) $599 – technical support – excellent

[K0RGR]

Full disclosure: my son, KC0LLG, works at Best Buy.

Best Buy is headquartered in the Twin Cities. They went through their own 'dump the big salaries' operation a few years ago. And, their salaried employees are famous for working extremely long days. As I recall, they have no set hours, so long as they get their work done. And most work 12-16 hour days.

Nonetheless, I do a lot of business there. I recently went through an unpleasant situation with a warranty that they did resolve in my favor eventually.

Lately, I've also done similar business with Sears. I find Sears' prices are often better than Best Buy.

We were supposed to get a Circuit City, but they never opened a store here.

What I want is a Fry's. If you go to Fry's, tell them we need a store in Minnesota. Such a store would clean up in the Twin Cities.

[K0RGR]

Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ April 01 2007,19:54)]The wife is contemplating buying a new fridge even though the one we have does a fine job of keeping the beer cool.

We went to HomeBoys to get some paint supplies and while we were at it we looked at their appliances. They have these big beautiful fridges on display made by a company called L-G. The 22 cu. Ft. model costs about $1100, - $1400 if you want it in stainless steel. BTW S/S shows handprints like crazy.

I have learned the hard way to stay away from the big box stores, particularly when it comes to buying high ticket appliances so just for curiosity’s sake we went down to Martin’s, a local independent.

I have dealt with Martin’s before. If you put in a trouble call they’re out at your house usually the same day or the next morning at the latest. Need parts? They have a large inventory of parts for the brands that they carry and can have the rest FedEx’d in 24 hours. Typically your appliance will be repaired within 8 hours at a reasonable cost. 48 hours on the outside.

The big box boys – You dial the help number and then ‘speak’ to the robot which scheduled you with a trouble call within the next week, narrowed down to sometime between 8 AM and 5 PM. The tech shows up with no parts and ‘trouble shoots the problem’. He orders parts based upon his diagnosis which consists mainly of looking at the appliance, identifying it as a freezer, dishwasher, cooking range, etc. and then based upon his vast experience he makes an educated guess at to the cause of the problem. You must pay for these parts before he leaves if you want the appliance fixed. The parts will be shipped to you within a week by overnight FedEx (yeah, I know) and they you have to call them again to reschedule a follow up trouble call. If you’re lucky, the first “tech” did diagnose the problem correctly and the problem will be fixed within two weeks for about half a grand. Otherwise you can expect to wait for up to 2 months to get the appliance back on line.

But back to the L-G brand refrigerators. Apparently they’re associated with the Gold Star flagship – remember them? We talked to the rep at Martin’s and he said that he had 3 of the L-G fridges in his back room. People had bought them at a big box and they all failed after about 15 months (12 mo warranty) and they couldn’t get them repaired because the problem was the motor burning out and no one could get new motors from L-G. They bought a new fridge from him and he took the inoperative units off of their hands. He had ordered 3 motors six months ago but the possibilities of getting them soon seemed to be remote.

His brand line – Fridgedaire.

Bottom line:

L-G 22 cu. Ft. refrigerator (stainless steel) ~$1400 – technical support – poor
L-G 22 cu. Ft. refrigerator (white) ~$1100 – technical support – poor
Fridgedaire 21 cu. Ft/ refrigerator (white) $599 – technical support – excellent
I believe you'll find that the Frigidaires are still built here in the USA - I know their freezers are built in St. Cloud MN. Frigidaire is owned by the Swedish company Electrolux (not the US sweeper company).

[KC0W]

Quote[/b] (K0RGR @ April 02 2007,03:36)]Best Buy is headquartered in the Twin Cities.
I literally drive past Best Buys world headquarters 5 days a week on my way to work.

When they started construction a few years ago, they (the city of Bloomington) forced quite a few people out of their homes in order to "take" the land to be able to construct Best Buy headquarters.

One big car dealership (Wally McCarthys Lyndale Olds) fought city hall tooth & nail for having to relocate their car dealership. It got very messy legally.

Botton line:

If a huge company wants YOUR house (& land) to build their headquarters on, their gonna get it. The homeowners were compensated for losing their homes to Best Buy, but at what cost?


Tom kcØw

[ka0gkt]

I like to go in and ask for an interocitor.

Before I get flamed...Klaatu barada nikto! Klaatu barada nikto!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

73 DE KAØGKT/7

--Steve

[w5klb]

Quote[/b] (KI4PEQ @ Mar. 30 2007,15:31)]Quote[/b] (n0jaa @ Mar. 29 2007,12:34)]This was the same new guy that I fooled when I told him I needed a gallon of jet wash!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
In the Air Force, it is fun to send the mosquito wings (1 striper) to base supply for the following items:

1000 feet of flight line (flight line is the area where planes are parked)
25 gallons of prop wash (prop wash is the air blast generated by spinning propellors)

You cannot use the prop wash gag anymore, because base supply DOES carry a detergent that is used to clean blades on propellors, or a "prop wash".

But the flight line gag is always fun, except for the guy or gal it is played upon, and the long suffering supply personnel who have to deal with the requests.
Heh,

They attempted to do the same thing to me when I was a young boot airman in the Navy. They also included a can of relative bearing grease with this list of things to get. Their problem was that I already had heard about this "game." See, I had an older brother and an uncle who served in Naval Aviation. Their advice on this matter worked well. #

If you really want to cause sparks in a shop, tell your new boot to start checking fuses for shorts. It will definately get ya a "little heart-to-heart chat" with your local E-7.

Me? Do something like that? Naaaaw. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KI6DCB]

Quote[/b] (kl7aj @ Mar. 29 2007,08:26)]Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Mar. 29 2007,08:21)]Old Wall Street adage.

"It's always worse than what you first hear".

73
George
K3UD
I think some savvy hams should wait till CC crashes completely, buy it out at fire sale prices, and make a REAL electronics store out of it. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
I have shopped at Radio Shack since I was a kid in the 1960's. #They used to have a lot of stuff for hams, hobbyists, and others, but not anymore. #They are now "Cell Phone Shack" or some other such thing, and they are, frankly, not worth a damn anymore; when I go there, I spend a LOT of my time training the clerks and others about electronics and customer service.

There are very few "real" electronics stores anymore, and the numbers dwindle daily. #We will soon be making our own components, not unlike the hams of a century ago with their slop jars and so on. #The circle never ends. #Ah, well...

[KG6YTZ]

Quote[/b] (KI6DCB @ April 04 2007,00:13)]There are very few "real" electronics stores anymore, and the numbers dwindle daily.
Ya gotta love Mouser Electronics (http://www.mouser.com). #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #Marlin P. Jones & Assoc. (http://www.mpja.com) also has assorted surplus gizmoids and whatchamafuggits that could lend themselves to some creative homebrewing.

[KG4CGC]

FWIW, I'm not shopping at CC or BB.

[W2ILP]

What you guys may not understand is that the salespeople who work at Circuit City and Radio Shack are paid close to a minimum wage plus a very small percentage of the price of stuff that they can ring up in the registers. #Who would have any motivation to sell a $2 item when you could only make a few cents for your trouble? #Obviously there is some incentive to sell a computer system that goes for $2000 but even there some of the sales people will shy away because they are ashamed of their ignorance and don't want to try to answer any technical questions.

w2ilp (Its Low Percentage)...that can't motivate sales people to recognize the products or the customers.

[WB2WIK]

Quote[/b] (KW4MW @ April 01 2007,19:54)]But back to the L-G brand refrigerators. Apparently they’re associated with the Gold Star flagship – remember them?
L-G Electronics used to be called "Lucky Goldstar," and it is an enormous Korean conglomerate, one of the largest manufactuers in the world.

You may not like their refrigerators, but if you own a flat screen LCD monitor or high-def television set (any brand), you're looking at one of their LCD panels because they have the global market captured.

Other than the quality of compressors used in refrigerators, I can't find any real difference from one brand to another. The really good compressors last 20 years, the crappy ones don't. The boxes are all really similar. One of the most common failures in 'friges is the de-icing heater circuit, which is worth all of about ten bucks and is easily replaced by anybody owning a screwdriver.

WB2WIK/6

[W7YBY]

Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ April 04 2007,12:08)]What you guys may not understand is that the salespeople who work at Circuit City and Radio Shack are paid close to a minimum wage plus a very small percentage of the price of stuff that they can ring up in the registers.
And what you don't understand is that both BBY and CC are non-commissioned and have been for years. BBY went non-comm around 1988-89 and CC did it around 2001. But you are correct regarding RS.

Another earlier poster said he'd heard that CC sales people were making $50K and up. That was true prior to the changeover to hourly rate only. In 1984 the top salesman in the company worked for me in North Las Vegas and he pulled in over $75K a year (over 20 years ago) which was far more than I was making at the time as his boss.

[W2ILP]

w7yby

Thanks for the update.

Commissions may vary in different areas. Zero commission at CC may mean that it is easy to believe that there is usually zero incentive to sell anything.

Yes... what are left of the Radio Shacks on Long Island still use small commissions to motivate sales clerks. The CompUSA stores are closing here...so maybe RS will survive....but their business is slow. RS has a hard time finding anyone willing to work for them here...so they accept anyone who can pass a drug test.

Most people start buying computer or electronic stuff via the Internet once they get to know what they want. Dell now has sales centers at malls that can take orders.

w2ilp (Internet Lures Profits)

[ka5piu]

Hello.

I had to deal with the military idiots a few times.
Coffee, put the mug in the fridge and the coffee, fresh from the pot, in the microwave.
Now, throw the old stuff out and make new, this will buy you the needed time.
Get the coffee just before it boils and put it in the now cooled mug.
Hand this to Mr. military.
Telephone, take handset and unscrew the transmitter, remove the element and push the prongs all the way down so no contact is made ans screw it back together.
If you use a towel as a wrench you can screw it together so tight that he will not get it apart.
Radio, almost all military radios have the fuse between the radio and battery.
Take this out.
When the radio is sent to depot, replace the fuse.
When it returns take the fuse out.
After about 3 times of this game swap radios with that of the CO or XO.
If SINCGARS, all kinds of games can be played after this.
Fuel cards, switching fuel cards is always fun.
Be sure to write a good ending milage on the tag.
Boot laces, every military nitwit has 3 pairs of boots.
2 for wear and 1 for dress.
Turn the front bottom of the bootlaces around and take a razar blade to them just enough to weaken the laces but leaving no signs of what was done, return the bootlaces around to cover the cuts.
The boots are usually in a plastic bag, removed just prior to use.
Codebooks, nothing like a playboy pinup carefully taped to the next to current page just before inspection.
The CEOI is best for this.

[W2ILP]

Yeah... Send the newbies out to get a can of striped paint or a bucket of steam and nail their boots to the barracks floor. I guess these pranks are universal.

Back to buying stuff...
You can buy almost everything you need to build modern electronics stuff from Digi-Key, Mouser, and RF Parts. You can order by mail, telephone or Internet. If you need to fix old boat anchors or high voltage power supplies you might find it hard to get capacitors with high working voltages. Variable tuning capacitors are also hard to find. They hardly ever sell those kind of parts anymore. It is still possible to buy radio tubes that are made in Russia.
There is no need to have local "radio stores" anymore because almost everything that is made in Asia has to get drop shipped anyway.

w2ilp (Internationally Listed Parts) I C chips from Malaysia, Taiwan and China.

[n2ize]

Quote[/b] (W2ILP @ April 07 2007,21:12)]Yeah... Send the newbies out to get a can of striped paint or a bucket of steam and nail their boots to the barracks floor. #I guess these pranks are universal.

Back to buying stuff...
You can buy almost everything you need to build modern electronics stuff from Digi-Key, Mouser, and RF Parts. # You can order by mail, telephone or Internet. #If you need to fix old boat anchors or high voltage power supplies you might find it hard to get capacitors with high working voltages. #Variable tuning capacitors are also hard to find. #They hardly ever sell those kind of parts anymore. # It is still possible to buy radio tubes that are made in Russia.
There is no need to have local "radio stores" anymore because almost everything that is made in Asia has to get drop shipped anyway.

w2ilp (Internationally Listed Parts) I C chips from Malaysia, Taiwan and China.
Quote[/b] ]
If you need to fix old boat anchors or high voltage power supplies you might find it hard to get capacitors with high working voltages. #Variable tuning capacitors are also hard to find. #They hardly ever sell those kind of parts anymore. # It is still possible to buy radio tubes that are made in Russia.


My radio equipment consist of virtually all old boat anchors and old HV stuff. Virtually everything I own is hollow state and runs on at least 1000 VDC B+ or higher. #Anyone who runs the old stuff usually has a stockpile of tubes, caps, transformers, etc. #You also get kind of adept at rebuilding stuff that smokes on you, particularly coils, chokes, transformers. But if need be you can still but the parts. Digi key still sells ceramic discs at woltages of approx 2000 VDC. And there are still plenty of places to get tubes, coils, coil stock, etc. Matter of fact the internet has made it easier to locate stuff. #I must admit it is not cheap anymore.

If a radio doesn't hum, buzz, and glow and smoke once in a while then what good is it ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif