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F Radio Shack

Old 04-13-08, 02:13 PM
  #26  
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I worked at two RS stores, but they were both independent franchises. They were great places to work. Every company store I've been in has been a complete hole.
I don't even know if there are any franchise stores left anymore.

The first place I worked for, in high school, required all employees to have an amateur radio license to work there! The second place was in a college town, and everyone who worked there was working on computer, electrical engineering or civil engineering degrees.

Clearly, not representative.
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Old 04-13-08, 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by alpinist
It's your responsibilty to remember your lock. Their busniness store is a business place, not a garage...

... Who in the hell rides a bike to Costco? Normally people that go there buy mass quantities of stuff in bulk! People fill cars and minivans with bulk products when they go there! What was I thinking, expecting a bike rack! Damned presumtuous of me.
Expecting people to let bikes in the shop is a bit much since they take up space and can mess things up. Even when taking a bike into a bike shop, you should be considerate about not getting grime on the floor and elsewhere.

I ride everywhere, but when I see bike racks at the places of the likes of Ikea and Home Depot, I always laugh. The whole point of the store is to sell in bulk and people on bikes can hardly carry anything. You can lock to nothing, a cart, or a sign. Bikes attract enough attention at these places that people will tend to leave it alone anyway.
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Old 04-13-08, 02:41 PM
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Just a thought....what if someone trips over the bike...the store could be held responsible in this litigious country we live in!
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Old 04-13-08, 02:52 PM
  #29  
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Lessons Learned:

Radio Skank/Smack/Shack sucks & ain't what they used to be!

and

Always bring a lock when you ride your bike!
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Old 04-13-08, 03:11 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by RhythmRider
Just a thought....what if someone trips over the bike...the store could be held responsible in this litigious country we live in!
Ugh... the store, and the bike owner, and the bike company, and the mall owners, and the lease holders for the property, and the bike lock company (for making a lock that's easy to forget), and...
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Old 04-13-08, 03:19 PM
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I still like RS for the various plugs, adapters, electrical tools, and components that they stock. Granted I could get better stuff for a lower price from a mail order supplier like DigiKey, Jameco or Mouser, but then I would pay shipping and wait for it to arrive.

I have to say it would never occur to me to take my bike into a store, other than a bike shop. I expect any store would tell me to get the bike out of there.

If you want to talk about a store to hate, my vote is Best Buy. They sell cheap imported crap, mark it up ridiculously, and then refuse to accept return when their crap doesn't work. I hate Best Buy (only my opinion, of course). Their customer service is the worst I ever seen.
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Old 04-13-08, 03:42 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by RhythmRider
Just a thought....what if someone trips over the bike...the store could be held responsible in this litigious country we live in!
+1
IF the OP has such a low opinion of RS, why did he go there in the first place?
I was in my local RS a couple days ago for the same reason. I didn't have a lot of choice since the next nearest store that had the "coupon eligible" converters is a Wal Mart about 20 miles away.
I had to walk a whole 1/2 block from the bike rack to the store.
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Old 04-13-08, 03:51 PM
  #33  
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radio shack has sucked as long as i can remember... but you should have a lock...

but i understand your point... one time i was on the way home from work and didn't have a lock...i needed some dracula teeth for a costume party ... i rolled my bike in and asked if i could leave it by the door... the manager said no bikes and some worker watching the door was like "hey its a really expensive bike and it looks cool... i;ll watch it!" i got my $2 teeth and left
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Old 04-13-08, 04:04 PM
  #34  
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did it ever occur to you to ask if it was cool to bring your bike in? it's a place of business... not your living room.
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Old 04-13-08, 04:04 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by banerjek
I ride everywhere, but when I see bike racks at the places of the likes of Ikea and Home Depot, I always laugh. The whole point of the store is to sell in bulk and people on bikes can hardly carry anything. You can lock to nothing, a cart, or a sign. Bikes attract enough attention at these places that people will tend to leave it alone anyway.
Hmmm..... Something to change the mind, no? Hehe https://www.flickr.com/photos/mickey1...pool-xtracycle

I'd say that's some what of a respectable load compared to what can be fully crammed inot the back of say a Honda Civic. Obviously it does not compare to something like a mini-van's psace but still....
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Old 04-13-08, 04:13 PM
  #36  
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Radioshack:

You've got questions?
We've got confused looks on our faces.
 
Old 04-13-08, 04:14 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by jgrant75
radio shack has sucked as long as i can remember... but you should have a lock...

but i understand your point... one time i was on the way home from work and didn't have a lock...i needed some dracula teeth for a costume party ... i rolled my bike in and asked if i could leave it by the door... the manager said no bikes and some worker watching the door was like "hey its a really expensive bike and it looks cool... i;ll watch it!" i got my $2 teeth and left
I'mnot sure how the OP or the bike looked like but at the back of the head I was thinking also the appearance also possibly put off the store person. True everyone is stating the obvious tot he OP to bring a lock. I thinkt he OP might want to go and buy the cheapest lock he can find and coil thatup on the seat so if ever this happens again you've got your butt covered for the lock.

I'm thinking if the bike is not bummish looking (not attacking the OP here) and looking rather expensive and you're not really bummed out looking on the dress (sad but appearences count sometimes) then the store person may have changed thier mind for a moment and probably said something like "ok, if it's real quick get the item you need and put it on the counter and I'll keep the bike here and cash the sale then you can take your bike and leave. Next time don't forget the lock'.
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Old 04-13-08, 04:40 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by banerjek
I ride everywhere, but when I see bike racks at the places of the likes of Ikea and Home Depot, I always laugh. The whole point of the store is to sell in bulk and people on bikes can hardly carry anything. You can lock to nothing, a cart, or a sign. Bikes attract enough attention at these places that people will tend to leave it alone anyway.
I go and buy stuff at Lowes once in a while. Generally I'm just picking up a box of nails or something. Biggest thing I've picked up on the bike was a couple of small wood shelves, about 30" long each. I do take the van and trailer if I'm going to pick up bigger stuff, like a half ton of drywall or a dozen sheets of plywood.

I don't usually lock my bike. I'm not even worried about it at Lowes. There's zero foot traffic there; anyone that's there got there by driving so I don't think there's a lot to worry about. People would have to grab the bike and put it in a pickup or something, and hope the owner wasn't watching. Usually when I go in to Lowes on my bike I'm just there to grab something quick and I'm out in no more than 10 minutes.
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Old 04-13-08, 04:40 PM
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When you get off the bike, do you stow the chip on your shoulder with the helmet.

Geez. I own a business. I bike to work every single day. I support biking and bike commuting as much as I can. But if someone brought a bike into my business, I would ask them to take it out.

If he was a butt, that's one thing. But bringing a bike into a business without asking is frankly rude.

Last edited by Craig; 04-13-08 at 07:14 PM.
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Old 04-13-08, 06:43 PM
  #40  
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Talking about Lowe's. I pick up lots of things at Lowe's by bike. They won't install a bike rack, I've asked.
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Old 04-13-08, 06:54 PM
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Ours has one. The grills are chained to it.
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Old 04-13-08, 07:38 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by alpinist
I thought about that. The Costco in North Seattle/Shoreline is right on the Interurban Bike trail. I would guess that if the employees ride, they must have plenty of space inside for bikes, I mean, it is a warehouse, but I'm just guessing.
The warehouse where I work has a 365,000 s.f. warehouse but they don't want me to leave my bike inside. I'm trying to at least get a bike rack installed outside. It's a great company but I guess no one imagined someone cycling to work when the building was built.

Regarding the OP, there are some stores which I wouldn't presume they would allow me to bring in my bike. Radio Shack is one of them. The stores I see around here are small and somewhat cluttered. I'd go back another time if I forgot my lock.
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Old 04-13-08, 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by timmhaan
did it ever occur to you to ask if it was cool to bring your bike in? it's a place of business... not your living room.
+1

Did you just bring it in or ask? I would be willing to bet if you had come to the front door and immediately asked "hey I just need to pick up a couple of things but I forgot my lock. Do you mind if i just put this here near the door for a minute? you would have gotten a yes.

Works for me.

-D
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Old 04-13-08, 10:00 PM
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Originally Posted by robertlinthicum
I do the same, but I don't live in Latvia. My guess is that there may be some cultural differences.
I did the exact same thing when I lived in the States without problems.

Did you actually ask the RS manager first or not? From the OP it sounds as if you didn't.
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Old 04-13-08, 11:11 PM
  #45  
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RS employes people who don't give a crap about the customer. Yes, I am stereotying here but I've been in electronics long enough to know Radio Shack spelled backwards is Wal-Mart.
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Old 04-14-08, 03:44 AM
  #46  
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I always take my bike in with me. Occasionally someone objects. I cease to be their customer.

To those who object, the conversation goes like this:


You can't bring your bike in here!

Why not?

It's not allowed!

Could you point me to the bike rack please?

There is no bike rack here.

I turn away into the store with my bike and begin shopping.

You have to take your bike outside!

If there is no place to lock my bike I am keeping it with me. Where are your batteries please?

Look, you have to remove the bike from the store! We cannot sell you anything until that happens.

Gee! What a great business you have! You are doing so well, you can turn paying customers away! Say, what other things can't paying customers bring into your store? Is there a list somewhere? Can I see it?

There's no list.

So you admit you just made up the rule that bicycles aren't allowed! Maybe it's racial discrimination!

I'm telling you, we do not allow bicycles in the store!

Could you make a list for me of all the things paying customers are not allowed to bring into your store so that I can be sure not to bring them with me inadvertently next time?

Get out of my store!

Basically I just make a scene and try to waste as much of the clerks time as can. It is fun to see how long I can make it last.
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Old 04-14-08, 03:48 AM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by timmhaan
It's a place of business... not your living room.
When my bikes are at home, they are in my living room. Why wouldn't my bicycle be welcome in a place of business?
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Old 04-14-08, 05:43 AM
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I can't take my car into the same businesses. Thus, for me it is a non issue.
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Old 04-14-08, 07:35 AM
  #49  
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I had a good experience in a Radio Shack recently. My new PDA/phone can play music but only takes those small headphone jacks. I took it to a Radio Shack and showed them my phone and they were able to find an adapter for the regular headphone jacks. The CSR was very helpful and actually let me open the packages to test out this particular adapter. I thought that was going the extra mile.
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Old 04-14-08, 07:45 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by ChipSeal
When my bikes are at home, they are in my living room. Why wouldn't my bicycle be welcome in a place of business?
i also take my shirt off and eat fried chicken in front of the TV in my living room. should that be welcome at RS as well?
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