General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A eulogy for RadioShack, the panicked and half-dead retail empire [View all]sendero
(28,552 posts).... as a young radio hobbyist starting in the 60s, Radio Shack (or Rat Shack is it was semi-affectionately known among amateur radio operators) was essential. They were the only place to get components (transistors, resistors, diodes, etc) without resorting to mail order which back in those days was incredibly slow (weeks).
By the late 70s the quality of their offerings began to deteriorate. By the late 80s you could see they were in trouble, not knowing who their market was, engaging in all kinds of off-putting sales/retail policies and they've been on a downward slide ever since. It seems most analysts don't expect them to survive in anything like their present for more than another year or two.
It's too bad really. When I was younger, RS was a virtual candy store to me and many of my friends.