So Long "Radio" -- Radio Shack to Rebrand Itself
Posted 08/03/09 at 08:45:41 AM by Paul Lilly
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While it will be a few more days until we have official word from Radio Shack, it looks as though the popular brick and mortar electronics chain will attempt to change its image through a rebranding. Starting August 6th (this Thursday), the store name will be shortened to "The Shack."
Details are light at best, but according to Electronista, the name change will apply to the entire store network, which will be reflected in displays later this week and updated signs by the end of the year. Only the corporate infrastructure will retain the old naming scheme, Electronista reports.
It's hard to argue against the name change, as we can't remember the last time we shopped an actual radio. The name change will reflect this, as well as the chain's greater focus on the mobile market, which will kick into high gear later this week. A special website hinting at the name change has been put up to promo the store's upcoming 'netogether,' a "massive event" that "will connect New York and San Francisco via larger-than-life laptops."
Stuff vs gagets
Submitted by Shalbatana on Tue, 08/04/2009 - 8:19pm
Radio shack used to be THE place to buy "Stuff". Now they sell "gagets". I would go there when I needed something I couldn't find anywhere else. They were much better as a stuff store. They're gagets are built like junk and never last.
Also, page one of the Radio Shack survival guide states that in order to shop successfully at the store, say "no" to any and all salespeople that offer to help you, unless they've worked there for more than 7 years, in which case, don't even go to the shelves, find that person and get them to walk you through your entirely unique project....because they've done it a thousand times.
_______________________________
"There's no time like the future."
Closeout...
Submitted by K0BALT on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 10:01pm
I actually got my first cpu liquid cooling kit there. I was browsing around the net and stumbled upon my local store had a closeout of a Thermaltake BigWater kit for $70. It was a good deal and the last one they had, so I snagged it. The only time I ever go there now, is for small parts like LEDs or capacitors.
Best buys are ALWAYS at
Submitted by bingojubes on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 3:28pm
Best buys are ALWAYS at Fry's: Guaranteed! so says their commercial. kept me going back there for all my PC needs.
haven't been into a radio shack lately, but the last time i was there i was looking for a molex extension cable, and i chose one from the back of the pile, and the store rep asked me why i wanted that particular one. i simply told him i always pick the products i purchase from the back of the display, and he got offended, and proceeded to try to convince me to get the one in the front, even though it had been stapled back together, with one of the pieces missing (someone before me had ripped the molex connector off for no reason, and they still tried to sell it for the same price as a working one).
was also looking for velcro wire ties, and radio shack had 4 for 8$. seemed kind of a rip-off, but i went into frys, and a pack of 20 was for around like 10-11$.
i guess if you still play with your XMODS toy cars, my radio shack is the place to be. otherwise, too overpriced and the reps don't seem to knowledgable at my local radio shack.
New branding brought to you
Submitted by jcollins on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 1:07pm
New branding brought to you by the people that came up with SyFy...
actually it still called
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 1:20pm
actually it still called SciFi they just use fancy fonts last i checked.
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Check again. www.syfy.com
Submitted by horzo on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 1:53pm
Check again.
www.syfy.com
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 3:15pm
every comercial i see still says SciFi
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Submitted by Queenof1 on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 11:35am
The last time I went there was to get some thermal paste cuz I needed it like yesterday. I think the shack should just be a store for parts, like a junk yard for radios and such. They are way overpriced too.
This gives me an idea for an
Submitted by Tekzel on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 10:57am
This gives me an idea for an article someone should do: "The 10 Dumbest Name Changes Ever". I think this one might make the top 3.
"You have questions, we have dumb stares."
I also can't figure out how they have lasted.
Submitted by horzo on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 12:22pm
When you get around to making that list, be sure give the SciFi channel changing it's name to "SyFy" a spot.
Submitted by nekollx on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 10:24am
the 'new' namedoes not inspire confidence.
Seriously "guys i need a new TV lets hit...The Shack?"
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
Kind of a relic of the past
Submitted by Jeffredo on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 9:44am
The Radio Shack in my town has been in the same spot run by the same guy for almost my entire life (he's really old now!). It was fun to poke around in there when I was a kid, but I haven't set foot in there in about three years. I can get anything I want/need cheaper on the internet. Changing it to "The Shack" isn't going to solve that.
In Canada, it's been the
Submitted by AntiHero on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 9:19am
In Canada, it's been the source for probably 4 or 5 years.
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
They're gonna have to glue you back together...
Submitted by Havok on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 8:52am
I personally am not caring over Radio Crap. They bugger out of Canada, leaving a sorry 'Source' behind, then change their name to a thing that usually refers to a lack of money or rundown look. Example: I'm so poor, I gotta lve in a Shack.
The only good shack is The Real Shaq.
OMGWTFBBQ
Submitted by horzo on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 8:26am
They'd probably be doing better if they weren't so ridiculously expensive. When I can get the same stuff online for 1/3 the price, I have very little incentive to shop at "The Shack."
Submitted by votre on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 8:25am
Funny that they decided to keep the term Shack, since that's the part of their name that probably wouldn't mean anything to people who aren't ham radio operators.
Why don't they just come out of the closet, call themselves Tandy, and be done with it.
If that's too simple they could try something like Tandy Tech, but refer to themselves as T-Tek or just Da-T! to give it that "cool" hipster urban vibe. It worked for ihop and NatGeo. Just a thought... ;-)
Eh...I suppose. A name
Submitted by lunchbox73 on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 8:04am
Eh...I suppose. A name change isn't going to do much good. The Shack is a wierd place though isn't it? There isn't really an chain like it. If it wasn't for HAM radio geeks and others looking for obscure electronic parts they wouldn't have lasted as long as they have.
I do have fond childhood memories of my local Radio Shack back in the late 80's early 90's. I'd browse the selection of Tandy computers and mess around with those before checking out all the RC toys and other gadgets they had.
Submitted by mls067 on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 10:22am
At the "shack's" here you haven't been able to buy any of those things in a long time. They sell stuff like batteries, cell phone acc., some electronic repair stuff like crippers and terminals, computer mice keyboards and such. They don't even have car stereo and speakers any more (not that they were any good)oh you can get sattalite tv there too :-)
Radio Shack
Submitted by nedwards on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 8:04am
"You've got questions. We've got batteries."
Submitted by bmomjian on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:49am
For humor, read the Onion news article titled:
Even CEO Can't Figure Out How RadioShack Still In Businesshttp://www.theonion.com/content/news/even_ceo_cant_figure_out_how
Submitted by knexkid on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 12:33pm
The Onion kicks ass. Now will calling someone "radio shack" be obsolete too?
Submitted by comptech08 on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:51am
haha wow. Wouldn't that be something if a CEO of a company actually said those things. lol.
honestly, its about
Submitted by dracx619 on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:18am
honestly, its about time...every rare time i go into one, its empty...perhaps a rebrand well help it out a bit. im sorry you get haggled, kobalt, at your local shack, where i live the employess dont care and leave you alone.
Submitted by foamcup on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:04am
That was my first thought when I saw they were rebranding.
Submitted by K0BALT on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 6:56am
I won't even go in those stores anymore. I'm sick of going in there to buy a simple RCA cable or something, then getting haggled by the cashier about what kind of cell phone service I have and why I should switch with them. Even when I tell them I just want to buy a $3 part and leave, they continue to harass me about cell phones. There prices aren't that good either. I don't now how they've been able to stay in business for as long as they have.
Submitted by comptech08 on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:46am
Well they have been in a big downward spiral in business for that last 10-15 years. It is a shocker that they lasted through this tuff economy and other businesses that seem better have fallen. I don't go into this store anymore either. I am pretty much almost a complete online shopper for anything that has to do with electronics.
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