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The real purpose of RadioShack wasn't to satisfy the electronics hobbyist. It was to make a ready, local supply of necessary parts for electronics that were un
by fixermark 12y ago
The real purpose of RadioShack wasn't to satisfy the electronics hobbyist.
It was to make a ready, local supply of necessary parts for electronics that were unreliable and burned out frequently, in the days when end-to-end service or "just hire a professional" weren't the way people addressed technology failures.
My grandfather made regular trips to RadioShack because the bloody vacuum tubes on his TV burned out all the time. This wasn't 'hobby,' nor was it really a chore he enjoyed.
- michaelbuddy 12y agoI like this theory a lot. Because when you think of it, nowadays products are either more reliable or more disposable. No need to fix a $7 remote control car or $18 quadcopter. Computer parts like memory and HDs can are warrantied 1-5 years and you ship to manufacturer. And by the time something breaks past warranty you've had for a while, you're looking for the next best one that's cheaper anyway. But nothing stopped radio shack from buying some big land and testing out some super stores to copy Microcenter, Frys, Best buy, home stores or even their own maker spaces with unique offerings.