Why I hate Radio Shack

[ilbob]

A year ago, I ordered two "generic" power cords for my wife's phone via ebay.  One AC and one Cig lighter plug for the car.  Total, including shipping, was $10.  No problems with the cords or the phone yet...

Chris

I once got a charger for a PDA from eBay. The thing melted when I plugged it in. The vender replaced it free of charge and the replacement worked fine.

[Brad Johnson]

Two decades ago I managed a Radio Shack.  Most of the floor staff was part-time - usually college kids trying to earn beer money.  From what I've seen it's still that way.  That means the quality of information is pretty hit-and-miss.  One guy might be extremely well versed in stereo equipment but know diddly squat about phones.  Another guy might know electronic components inside and out but not know the first thing about why your computer won't boot.

When I managed I was the local "home theatre guy" - all the stores would call me asking questions about it.  There was a guy in the mall store that was the "computer guy".  There was another manager who'd been with The Shack since dirt was new.  He couldn't button his shirt right but he could rattle off the model number and year produced for just about any Radio Shack product ever made.

Unfortunately buyer trends have forced RS to change their model from an electronic parts store to an electronics retailer ala Circuit City and Best Buy.  They actually led the way with a concept called Tandy Ultimate Universe back in the very late 80's/early 90's.  Unfortunately the powers-that-be (Bernie Appel, then-president of the Radio Shack division of Tandy Corp) and the VP in charge of the Ultimate Universe concept were full-blown retards when it came to large-store marketing and HR needs.  It took them less than a year to run it into the ground.

Brad

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Other than stealing a power cord, I agree 100%.

Its not like I didnt try everything else first. Wal-Mart can return it to XM for an exchange. I can not so it would seem. I see it as XMs fault for not providing support for the products they sell. To mountian biker the closest radio shack to me still sells all sorts of diodes, capacitors, etc. They have rows and rows of shelves and bins full of the stuff.

You could have requested a new one from the manufacturer or sent the old one in for warranty repair, just like any honest person would have done...

[glockfan.45]

You could have requested a new one from the manufacturer or sent the old one in for warranty repair, just like any honest person would have done...

Sure its not like I contacted XM/Delphi over it............oh wait I did you just must not have read the post  . XM told me that it was the retailers problem, the retailer (SEARS) told me it was Delphis problem, Delphi more or less told me to go piss up a rope and that replacement cables were available in their car kits (which would have only cost me $50 plus for a freaking cable). At this point it was somebodys elses problem seeing as how I only had it for two weeks before it crapped out on me. I dont think that makes me unreasonable for expecting somebody (the service provider, retailer, manufactuer) to cover the cost of replacement. Since none of them were willing to do so I resolved it myself. Wal-Mart will give the customer an exchange of their product, send the unit back to XM for replacement, and XM will have resolved the issue for me in the most half assed way possible.