4 ms·

I was reminded of why I don't go into Radio Shack when I had to go get a watch battery there the other day. They keep trying to foist a cell phone off on me. If

I was reminded of why I don't go into Radio Shack when I had to go get a watch battery there the other day. They keep trying to foist a cell phone off on me. If I had wanted a cell phone I would have said "Hi, I would like to buy a cell phone." not, "Hi, I need a replacement for this battery." Do people actually buy phones because of this tactic? It's just plain rude to try to sell me a phone multiple times when I've already made it clear that all I want to do is buy a battery. Edit: After rereading this, I think I've turned into a crotchety old man at 23. I'm half surprised I didn't wave a cane at the whippersnappers and tell them to get off my lawn.

yellowbkpk 16y ago
> Do people actually buy phones because of this tactic? Yes. While I worked at RadioShack almost 10 years ago, asking about cellphones would frequently net me a sale and a large cash bonus. At the time, I would get an extra bonus (in addition to the cellphone bonus) for selling cellphone accessories, too, so if the customer said "actually, my cellphone battery has been running pretty low..." or "the clip keeps falling apart!" I could usually sell my way into an extra $15-20 cash in my pocket. I don't remember exactly how much I made, but asking these questions were both required by managers (I can guarantee there's a piece of paper printed weekly in the back room of every RadioShack with the handset count per employee) and lucrative enough to double the base pay.
anigbrowl 16y ago
Yeah. I don't mind one sales inquiry - they are salespeople, after all, and I do find most RS staff helpful and knowledgeable about the consumer goods - but it does cross the line into being pushy at times. It's a shame, because I've always liked RS for having competitive prices on some of the geekier things, and think it's a mistake to focus too much on the consumer goods. For example, when I got into DJing back in my 20s I was grateful to find my first cheap mixer there, and I still make regular use of my Radio Shack decibel meter, which works just as well but is way cheaper than competitors' models (about $50 rather than $90 for the next cheapest, or ~$200 and up - way up - for other models). I don't really understand their buying policy any more either. They offer a bunch of cheap bad camcorders, but the popular pocket camcorders like the Flip Mino line, for which they are a natural outlet, are only available via the website. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, given their current identity crisis, trying to brand themselves simultaneously as the reliable old Radio Shack you know and love, and 'The Shack', which causes me to flinch in anticipation of being hit by a basketball every time I hear it.
billswift 16y ago
I quit going to Radio Shack for batteries when I discovered they didn't have anything any more exotic than what was at Wal-mart for a fraction of the cost. And Wal-mart has better hours.
- docgnome 16y ago
  Wal-mart is bad for my blood pressure. 15 checkout stands, only one of which is ever open, with a mile and a half long line, employees that are no where to be found, and when you can find one he/she doesn't know anything. I can't go in there anymore.

yellowbkpk 16y ago

> Do people actually buy phones because of this tactic? Yes. While I worked at RadioShack almost 10 years ago, asking about cellphones would frequently net me a sale and a large cash bonus. At the time, I would get an extra bonus (in addition to the cellphone bonus) for selling cellphone accessories, too, so if the customer said "actually, my cellphone battery has been running pretty low..." or "the clip keeps falling apart!" I could usually sell my way into an extra $15-20 cash in my pocket. I don't remember exactly how much I made, but asking these questions were both required by managers (I can guarantee there's a piece of paper printed weekly in the back room of every RadioShack with the handset count per employee) and lucrative enough to double the base pay.

anigbrowl 16y ago

Yeah. I don't mind one sales inquiry - they are salespeople, after all, and I do find most RS staff helpful and knowledgeable about the consumer goods - but it does cross the line into being pushy at times. It's a shame, because I've always liked RS for having competitive prices on some of the geekier things, and think it's a mistake to focus too much on the consumer goods. For example, when I got into DJing back in my 20s I was grateful to find my first cheap mixer there, and I still make regular use of my Radio Shack decibel meter, which works just as well but is way cheaper than competitors' models (about $50 rather than $90 for the next cheapest, or ~$200 and up - way up - for other models). I don't really understand their buying policy any more either. They offer a bunch of cheap bad camcorders, but the popular pocket camcorders like the Flip Mino line, for which they are a natural outlet, are only available via the website. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, given their current identity crisis, trying to brand themselves simultaneously as the reliable old Radio Shack you know and love, and 'The Shack', which causes me to flinch in anticipation of being hit by a basketball every time I hear it.

billswift 16y ago

I quit going to Radio Shack for batteries when I discovered they didn't have anything any more exotic than what was at Wal-mart for a fraction of the cost. And Wal-mart has better hours.

docgnome 16y ago
Wal-mart is bad for my blood pressure. 15 checkout stands, only one of which is ever open, with a mile and a half long line, employees that are no where to be found, and when you can find one he/she doesn't know anything. I can't go in there anymore.