Radio Shaft
Chapter: Random
There was a time, long ago, when Radio Shack had a knowledgeable electronics parts staff. At least at the store I used to visit.
Sadly, those days are long gone. I remember making special trips to the ‘Shack many a time as an electrical engineering student. These days, Radio Shack has moved towards consumer electronic products, like MP3 players and cell phones. Sales appear to be doing well for them.
Inks and colors for this strip will appear before the weekend’s out.
Enjoy!
-Krishna
Update: colors and inks added!
These beautiful and intelligent people wrote
Tell me what you think!
Jose Gonzalez
May 15, 2010 at 11:07 pmI remember those days well. I haven’t been to Radio Shack for anything at that level for electronics… maybe wireless phone batteries, but that doesn’t count. They still have scarce build-it kits, but most of them use IC chips. Even the kid’s versions of electronics experiments are like that. You’d have to go to a real electronics shop for a good selection. And the staff… of course… you’re lucky if you get an old school electronics enthusiasts, but I doubt it. Did they keep the name change? I think they should… the original name is now misleading.
“Are you from China?” LOL!!!!
madmarv
May 16, 2010 at 1:04 amHaven’t you heard. You’re supposed to call them just The Shaft.
iDorf
May 16, 2010 at 1:34 amI know why the salesman didn’t understand – Bob should have just asked for a “10K Pot”!! (… maybe)
chattr
May 16, 2010 at 7:48 am‘You have questions, we have blank stares.’
Krishna
May 16, 2010 at 3:41 pmI tweaked the dialog in the last panel. I think it reads better now.
David
May 16, 2010 at 8:19 pmRadio Shack used to be the place to go when I was young. My dad works on computers for a living and we used to head down there to Radio Shack on a regular basis. I really haven’t set foot in one in years.
Theala Sildorian
May 17, 2010 at 7:53 amI read an article recently about Radio Shack (Fortune, I think). They were bleeding red ink for a long time once the PC age began, and more of their customers knew less about how to build and fix things.
The current CEO deliberately changed the model to focus on cell phones, and brought things back to profitability. But they stock less and less of the components for radios and other electronics, and the staff are less and less likely to know anything about what they DO stock.
I also used to go there frequently, as I loved putting together radios and computers. Haven’t been in years–it just got to hard to find what I needed, so now I order it online.
Dan G
May 17, 2010 at 10:59 amYes, agreed that the days where Radio Shack was more than just “retail” (said with derision) are long past. The one near me… and the one near my parents’ where I used to go… both still have components, but it’s a much more limited set and the staff know little more than what part of the store to point to. (sigh) At least there were enough bits that I could create a “build your own circuit” kit for my son… and have him learn graphically why you need a resistor in series with an LED! ;-)
creechey
May 17, 2010 at 10:22 pmRadioshack actually sells 10K Ohm pots. At least on their website they do. I haven’t looked for one in a store.
bnmurphy
May 18, 2010 at 5:12 amI remember these days! I used to work at Radio Shack many years back. I visited one not too long ago, and it was oddly unimpressive. I believe my local Target may have had the same stock … perhaps more … and at better prices.
Scott
June 8, 2010 at 4:36 pmAhh…Radio Shack and Shields.