Even CEO Can't Figure Out How RadioShack Still In Business

[N2NH]

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."

The retail outlet boasts more than 6,000 locations in the United States, and is known best for its wall-sized displays of obscure-looking analog electronics components and its notoriously desperate, high-pressure sales staff. Nevertheless, it ranks as a Fortune 500 company, with gross revenues of over $4.5 billion and fiscal quarter earnings averaging tens of millions of dollars.

"Have you even been inside of a RadioShack recently?" Day asked. "Just walking into the place makes you feel vaguely depressed and alienated. Maybe our customers are at the mall anyway and don't feel like driving to Best Buy? I suppose that's possible, but still, it's just...weird."

After taking over as CEO, Day ordered a comprehensive, top-down review of RadioShack's administrative operations, inventory and purchasing, suppliers, demographics, and marketing strategies. He has also diligently pored over weekly budget reports, met with investors, taken numerous conference calls with regional managers about "circulars or flyers or something," and even spent hours playing with the company's "baffling" 200-In-One electronics kit. Yet so far none of these things have helped Day understand the moribund company's apparent allure.

"Even the name 'RadioShack'—can you imagine two less appealing words placed next to one another?" Day said. "What is that, some kind of World War II terminology? Are ham radio operators still around, even? Aren't we in the digital age?"

How do they do it??

[WB3JLA]

Have you been to Radio Shack and asked a question to the staff

I was looking for some Tuner Cleaner

I asked the Lady if there was any she said no but I went and looked any way.

I showed her the can


and said do you know what a tuner is

She said and I aint lying

ARE YOU READY

ARE YOU SURE

She said--Yes it is a fish

But you see I was the dumb one

she never saw a tuner on a TV how would she know

[KC2UGV]

"You've got questions? We've got blank stares."

Even though I must admit, I have seen a bit of a turn-around in my local stores.

Have you been to Radio Shack and asked a question to the staff

I was looking for some Tuner Cleaner

I asked the Lady if there was any she said no but I went and looked any way.

I showed her the can


and said do you know what a tuner is

She said and I aint lying

ARE YOU READY

ARE YOU SURE

She said--Yes it is a fish

But you see I was the dumb one

she never saw a tuner on a TV how would she know

[KG4CGC]

Another bad choice for a CEO. If he doesn't get it and seemingly doesn't want to, perhaps he should just bow out before he ruins what's left.
Perhaps that's just not how things are done in the corporate world.

[KC2UGV]

Another bad choice for a CEO. If he doesn't get it and seemingly doesn't want to, perhaps he should just bow out before he ruins what's left.
Perhaps that's just not how things are done in the corporate world.

It's an article from "The Onion".

[KG4CGC]

psssst. don't tell anyone. shhh.

[KI4NGN]

How do they do it??

Perhaps someone should use WinLink to send an email to him to demonstrate that ham radio is still around, and has entered the digital age.

Mike

[NR7J]

Radio Shack will not be around long. Too bad for the employees that will have to go back and work for McDonald's again "Would you like an apple pie with that?"
.
.

[N2ACX]

Radio Shack today has turned into just another Cell Phone Store with, in my opinion, a lot of, not all, low quality and high priced items and junk. What's with the Cell Phone mania?
Even the local Malls here have overkill on cell phone outlets, and kiosks, some with-in 20 feet of each other.
Back to the topic, it is amazing that Radio Shack is still in business and I am assuming that their decision to market those "cells" have in some manner allowed them enough of the market to hang on by their finger nails.
I to, am awaiting the announcement of them shutting down most or all of their stores or filing for bankruptcy. Unless, some FOREIGN investment group is keeping them in the money like other well known companies in the USA.
I wish the employees, good luck, I hope they stay open for all of you.
N2ACX

[KA8RAW]

Up until the early 80's Radio Shack was not too bad. They had lots of parts and all kinds of electronic items, kits, test equip, etc...They now only sell an item if it is a very fast mover. Their parts selection is a joke. They only stock a handful of VOM's.

Years ago I asked a local sales guy for a specific resistor value, and I was asked "positive or negative?"