On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 5:16 PM, Mark Hanchey wrote= : > RS is trying to be a store for everyone and in that they lost their > identity. RS could make a comeback in a huge way by returning to their > roots and add on things like areas where you actually have classes for > the public that would educate but also would be a hands on demo for > retail stores. RS employees in the distant past were not just anyone > who could fill out an application, some stores had people who had years > of knowledge with things like ham radio. You might want to look at this in the context of the Apple stores which are actually one of the few stores to offer these types of services any more. I can't even begin to imagining Radio Shack re-imagining themselves like that. AdaFruit has done a remarkably good job re-inventing these concepts using current technology. I believe there is a case to be made that it is a miracle that Radio Shack has survived as long as they have. Just read up on Manhattan's "Radio Row" and look at how many of those companies have survived. > I owe RS a thanks for getting me into electronics, but really Forest > Mims II is more responsible. Those little mini engineering notebooks > they sold were my first education with electricity back in the 80's. Indeed. It was largely for that reason that I got a job at the local Radio Shack when I was a teenager in the late '80s. I learned *very* quickly how little the company cares about its employees, and how little interest the company has in selling parts and connectors. If you have every wondered why the caliber of RS sales staff is so low, it is because anyone who is any good leaves as soon as they can. -p. --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .