The downfall of Radio Shack

[ruxCYtable]

I used to love Radio Shack. It was the place to go if you needed something unique. I also really liked their Realistic and Optimus lines of products. I had Realistic speakers for years.



http://money.cnn.com/2014/07/31/news/companies/radioshack-future/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[roundball]

What's a Radio Shack?

 

[Wesley]

Now just a shack. Times have changed. One more chain depending on sales of smart phones.

 

[Mr Janny]

There's just nothing that they do, that someone else doesn't do cheaper or faster.

 

[CascadeClone]

The Internet >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(you get the idea)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Radio Shack

 

[Rabbuk]

Sames pretty true of best buy.

 

[CycloneGB]

Sames pretty true of best buy.

Word. Going into Best Buy used to be like a kid in a candy store for me. Now I can't remember the last time I was in one and I probably buy more tech stuff now than ever.

 

[Mr Janny]

Sames pretty true of best buy.

They're experiencing some ups and downs, for sure. But, they're a lot more diversified than Radio Shack, as far as what they sell. That helps.

 

[Mr Janny]

Word. Going into Best Buy used to be like a kid in a candy store for me. Now I can't remember the last time I was in one and I probably buy more tech stuff now than ever.

agreed. i stopped in yesterday, because I had to quickly replace a broken piece of equipment for work, and it occurred to me that I hadn't stepped foot inside a Best Buy in over a year. I used to go almost weekly.

 

[keepngoal]

BestBuy is in a similar boat ... but they have tried to survive by adapting, it'll just be a bit longer before they throw in the towel.

My worry is this will create a 'pop' of the retail real-estate bubble.

 

[KnappShack]

BestBuy is in a similar boat ... but they have tried to survive by adapting, it'll just be a bit longer before they throw in the towel.

My worry is this will create a 'pop' of the retail real-estate bubble.

Don't worry. There's always a 99 Cent store ready to step in. Seems like every vacant retail space of any size is soaked up by places that sell cheap spatulas

 

[Mr Janny]

Don't worry. There's always a 99 Cent store ready to step in. Seems like every vacant retail space of any size is soaked up by places that sell cheap spatulas

[video=youtube;2XbCWmY0eqY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XbCWmY0eqY[/video]

 

[MNCyGuy]

BestBuy is in a similar boat ... but they have tried to survive by adapting, it'll just be a bit longer before they throw in the towel.

My worry is this will create a 'pop' of the retail real-estate bubble.

What do you mean by a "pop". If you mean a decrease in new retail construction, I don't think that will really happen. All these big box chains are obsessed with consistent layouts and control over their buildings. For most of your biggest chains it's just easier to build new than to try and re-purpose an existing store. So from a new construction aspect, I don't think it will be much of a factor. The real problem will be all these towns that were thrilled to get a Best Buy when they were at their peak now getting stuck with an empty shell that is near impossible to get sold or leased.

 

[Rabbuk]

They're experiencing some ups and downs, for sure. But, they're a lot more diversified than Radio Shack, as far as what they sell. That helps.

I think one of their problems is that they are diversified and not specialized in anything, I can just go on Amazon and get anything best buy can offer. For cheaper

 

[3TrueFans]

I think one of their problems is that they are diversified and not specialized in anything, I can just go on Amazon and get anything best buy can offer. For cheaper

I'm convinced the only time anyone actually buys something from Best Buy is when they have a Best Buy gift card to spend.

 

[roundball]

What do you mean by a "pop". If you mean a decrease in new retail construction, I don't think that will really happen. All these big box chains are obsessed with consistent layouts and control over their buildings. For most of your biggest chains it's just easier to build new than to try and re-purpose an existing store. So from a new construction aspect, I don't think it will be much of a factor. The real problem will be all these towns that were thrilled to get a Best Buy when they were at their peak now getting stuck with an empty shell that is near impossible to get sold or leased.

Yeah, I don't think "bubble" is the right term, as most commercial and retail real estate has been in the toilet since 2008. A glut of vacant buildings is a more apt description.

 

[Mr Janny]

I think one of their problems is that they are diversified and not specialized in anything, I can just go on Amazon and get anything best buy can offer. For cheaper

That's true, but there are plenty of people who aren't comfortable ordering larger items, like big televisions and appliances online. Radio Shack didn't really have anything like that. Literally everything in their store was much easier to get online.

 

[CycloneGB]

I'm convinced the only time anyone actually buys something from Best Buy is when they have a Best Buy gift card to spend.

Grandma got you it for Christmas because nobody could explain to her how to get on Amazon.

 

[roundball]

That's true, but there are plenty of people who aren't comfortable ordering larger items, like big televisions and appliances online. Radio Shack didn't really have anything like that. Literally everything in their store was much easier to get online.

I only order small things from Amazon, because I worry about larger items getting stuck in the Internet's tubes while they're being delivered.

 

[ISUCubswin]

Just about every time I go into Best Buy, they don't have the item I need and tell me that I can just find it on their website and it can be shipped. Well, if I can find it on their website, I can find it on just about any tech website, so I stopped going there and am more of an online guy myself.