The quality really wasn't all that bad. Much as today the only difference between brands is the label slapped on the box by the ONE factory in China that makes

The quality really wasn't all that bad. Much as today the only difference between brands is the label slapped on the box by the ONE factory in China that makes them all, in the 80s it was the ONE factory in Mexico or ONE factory in Taiwan or whatever slapping different stickers and shipping to different stores. There obviously was no difference between VCRs stickered as RS or Sears brands, for example. Some of the toys were junk, but there were no higher quality options. You could pay more money at Sears, but its not like it would be any better quality for the same product from the same factory. One source of the reputation was ironically parts. The markup being about 1000% customers would expect aerospace grade parts for aerospace prices but what they were actually paying for was the cash and carry convenience of 4000 local stores, and they got all wound up about the quality only being commercial/industrial grade. They made huge money off what amounts to fads. They cleaned up during the CB fad, early home computers...