var json_comments = new Array("

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taking_this_easy

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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well, i doubt he'll be able to a HDMI cable in the dollar store, and will have to buy the $50 premium Monster Cable-branded HDMI cable at radioshack/bestbuy....

i guess the key is that convenience pays a price... either pay the premium, try to find it somewhere else, or wait a few days for it to be shipped from monoprice.com

17 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: Yeah but he will be able to find some coat hangers there.

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dkev

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy:

Let me just say, if you are dumb enough to buy Monster branded anything, then you deserve to be parted with your money.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: I bought an 20ft HDMI cable for $12.00 including shipping on Newegg.com. I also have a local dealer who makes his own CAT-5 cables and I can get a 50ft cable for $20.00.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: i got 3 hdmi cables 6foot long for $4.99 and free shipping from meritline.

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P=mv

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: Good HDMI cables can be had for $20 or less at brick and mortar stores. No need to buy Monster even if you can't wait..

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@AshCatScram:
A good HDMI Cable can be bought for $1 at the dollar store.

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GitEmSteveDave: #RosaRocks

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: Harbor Freight sells HDMI cables: [www.harborfreightusa.com]

As for USB, I bought a variety of adapter ends I keep in my \"repair\" case which will convert a A to B cable into almost anything: [www.monoprice.com]

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I went into a Gamestop once and the guy there tried ridiculously hard to convince me that the only HDMI cable that would work on an Xbox 360 was the Microsoft branded first party version.

I kept telling him he was wrong, but he only said that I didn't know what I was talking about and if I tried to use any other kind of HDMI cable it would NOT work.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@dragonfire81: What the hell were you thinkin@cbcowan: There's no need to repeat yourself, we read you the first time.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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This is when knowing technical jargon would come in handy...anytime I get the \"sales talk\" I just spit out some jargon and it usually will leave the seller a bit dumbfounded.

At least...dumbfounded enough for me to make a hasty exit.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@dragonfire81: when the 360's first came out they didn't have hdmi ports and you had to buy the microsoft brand hdmi cable because it came with an adapter. he might not have been informed yet if this was around the time that the port was added...

or he could have been an idiot.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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That is not a HDMI cable. It was basically a cable and a switch in one. It allowed for use of Component or Composite (RCA), which ever one you needed, with a flick of a switch. Those actually came with the consoles, so you only needed one if you somehow damaged it.

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Verucalise (Est.February2008)

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@GitEmSteveDave: #RosaRocks: Harbor Freeeiiggghhtt.... one of my favorite stores.

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daveSH

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: Even these days you can find more reasonably priced HDMI cables at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, et al.

But, Monoprice is still the best bet.

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November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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@daveSH: Thanks for proving my point that people prefer good deals over bad ones. I'm willing to bet that RS's wholesale cost is more than $ general's retail price.. you know who has a very lean markup though? Wal-Mart. If people in general wanted inflated prices and random frills, they would deliver that. In reality, people want good deals - yet when Wal-Mart puts small stores like Radio Shack out of business, they get accused of lynching gays with HDMI cables.

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bohemian

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: Target has HDMI cables for under $10 in the store. Ta-da!

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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> i doubt he'll be able to a HDMI cable in the dollar
store

At two surplus stores near me you can get HDMI cables for $3-4. One of them also carries Monster Cable cables at similar prices.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@taking_this_easy: people make all kinds of assumptions about what salespeople actually know. I remember arguing with a floor monkey at best buy about HDMI splitters, which he said they didn't sell because they were \"too expensive\", citing the ones that they used cost $300. I later that day bought two for $50.

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Costner

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Megalomania: Since when does Best Buy not stock something because it is \"too expensive\"? These are the same people who at one point were stocking gold plated optical cables for $50!

Think about that for a second... gold plated OPTICAL cables!

They also sell a flat panel wall mount for $169 that I can buy for $21 via monoprice, and they sell USB cables for $29 that run less than $3 at monoprice or other online retailers.

Monoprice sells unpowered HDMI splitters for $7 each, so that would suggest Best Buy could sell them for at least $80 a pop.

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Joeb5

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Megalomania:
Likey the 2 for $50 don't pass HDCP and the $300 does.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Joeb5: \"Likey\" the $50 ones work just fine and the $300 was a 1 in 5+ out device not a 3 in 1 out(or 1 in 3 out) like megalomania needed.

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lmarconi

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Megalomania: I understand that sometimes sales clerks can be frustrating and a little too intent on the upsell, but a lot of these people are just working to pay their rent and feed their family. It really degrades any point you're trying to make to refer to them as a \"floor monkey.\"

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Persistence - Long viv revolisyon an konsomatè yo!

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@lmarconi: It's called the service industry for a reason. If you don't like it, find employment elsewhere. I didn't like it so I left that line of work. I didn't want to be either a \"wage slave\" or a \"floor monkey\".

In retail two rules should always sit in the back of your mind. 1. The customer is always right. If you want repeat business and your boss isn't an idiot, always adhere to this rule. 2. You are expendable and easily replaceable. If you don't like it, find a way to increase your value as human capital.

Additionally, a good friend once gave me this advice to being happily employed.
1. Never work retail.
2. Never work food service.
3. Never work retail.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Persistence: The customer is NOT always right. Policies exist for a reason and although sometimes rules can be bent other times they can't. Just because you walk into a Gamestop and demand they replace your broken 360 with a brand new PS3 doesn't mean they are going to blindingly oblige.

Even retail jobs require training to become effective at. Let's say you sell mobile phones for AT&T. You have to be familiar with the features and functions of every device, then you have to know the features of details of all AT&T plans. It also helps to have some general working knowledge of the cellphone industry in general. This training is not acquired overnight, it takes time to learn and understand at all and become effective at helping customers.

Obviously, working the counter at a gas station selling potato chips, beer and smokes doesn't require much fancy training.

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nbs2

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@lmarconi: Calling them a floor monkey is not degrading. Degrading is telling them that you'll but an extended warranty if they do the monkey dance for you. And then not getting the warranty.

Hmmmm...now I want to try that.

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aka_mich

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@lmarconi: I can understand the need to pay rent, make a living argument. That being said though it shouldn't be too hard to expect at least partial honesty in salesmanship. I don't think this case is a great example because $24 isn't that bad a price for that type of cable if ordering it online isn't an option. If you have to lie though to make the sale then the salesperson deserves to be called whatever bad names the customer wants. I'm not saying they should be transparent with all their sales and tell customers about things like monoprice and what not, just don't say anything at all about the price in this case and let the customer make their own decisions. There is no need to flaunt it as something it's not.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@lmarconi: You can get HDMI cables for under 6 bucks at monoprice.com and that cable in the story looks like it's available on their site for $0.97

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j-o-h-n

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@trashbaby: Monoprice is GREAT if you can wait for it to be shipped to you, but the OP sounded like they were in a \"need it today\" sort of situation.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@j-o-h-n:
B&M Dollar stores sell them for $1. No waiting needed.

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The Dude

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@lmarconi: C'mon, you have to be single and live with your parents to work at Best Buy.

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MrHowser: less comments, more followers?

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@The Dude: I applied to Best Buy when relocating with my wife to an area with a slow job market. Got a job elsewhere, but give some folks a break. One has to earn a living somehow.

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Earl42

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MrHowser: less comments, more followers?: The problem is, they are choosing to make their living by lying to people. They are either lying about the product or lying about their knowledge of the product. Either way they are choosing to make their living by lying. Which in my book is equivalent to fraud.

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Trai_Dep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@lmarconi: He earned his Floor Monkey status when he snickered when the original writer came back into his store to correct the Floor Monkey's lies.

","

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I think that Dollar General may carry HDMI cables from time to time. I know that I've seen them at Big Lots for $10-$15 for a 6 foot philips branded cable.

4 replies

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wrjohnston91283

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@temporaryerror:

I've had nothing but problems with Philips branded electronics.

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Alessar

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@wrjohnston91283: On a related note I've gotten some decent cables and accessories at Big Lots for quite cheaply. I recently snagged a 3-pack of compressed air for $9.

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lukesdad

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Alessar: Ditto for Big Lots. I have seen reasonably inexpensive (I think $15 or so) HDMI cables there. This being the Consumerist, I assume we're all aware of [www.monoprice.com] and [www.firefold.com] for our non-urgent needs, yes?

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chao

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@wrjohnston91283: It's a cable for digital use. It's not going to give you problems, unlike what Monster and similar overpriced vendors claim.

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Aquasol

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@wrjohnston91283: Nothing could ever be worse than RCA. D:

Only good RCA product I've ever been around was a TV.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Aquasol: 2nd'ed...my 27\" RCA sdtv I bought 5-6 years ago off ebay of all places is still going on strong.

Funny thing...I spent the premium [$50 shipped] just so I could hook up my xbox with s-video.

Other than that Big Lots and dollar stores have been carrying more small electronics and I've found a 2 pack of HDMI cables for $5 before. Work perfectly :D

","","

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Saydur

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Obviously all part of Radio Shack's new plan to steal the niche of Monster Cable. I'm still impressed by finding a USB cable for a dollar, I'd have expected two or three, even for the cheapest Chinese no-brand stuff.

5 replies

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consciousj

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Saydur: Oh this isn't a new plan. Years back I must've smoked something funny and bought a Centrios (Radio Shack brand) 2MP camera. It's a piece of crap, but that's beside the point. I lost the proprietary cable it had and went in looking for a replacement. The salesman comes out of the back with a $45 sealed package containing 4 or 5 different cables. I told him I only needed one, but he held steadfast that there was nothing he could do - the package came as-is. He actually became visibly angry when I told him I didn't want it and walked out. I found the cable the same day at home. WTF, who actually falls for this crap?

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Saydur:
The dollar store in St. John's, NL sells them for $1.50.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Saydur: I think it depends on where you live. Right now I live in a pretty rural, impoverished area. There are plenty of stores with dirt-cheap gear. HDMI cables for $3, USB for $1.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Saydur: But can that $1 cable offer you the highest fidelity bits? Sure, a $1 may look like it can do the same thing, but the bits may go bad or totally missing due to cable inverse reactive current in unilateral phase detractors, capacitance and inductance loading. A triple shielded cable multi-strand gold core with low oxygen high isotope CERN certified cable is necessary to ensure you get the full abilities of the state of the art voice recorder. If you get excessive bit errors, you could hear the wrong audio and then you'd be sorry and wish you'd spend the extra 2400% markup for a better cable. In other words, you get what you pay for.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Saydur: you'd be amazed at what yuo can find at the dollar store sometimes. A few years ago right after the ipod shuffle was introduced my local dollar tree stocked these little ipod shuffle usb docks. i bought every one they had (around 25) and resold them on ebay for $8 a pop.

","","

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I needed a USB/PS2 adapter...$3 on Newegg, but I needed it immediately. $20 at The Shack. Grr. The salesman looked at me blithely when I mentioned that any geek worth his or her stuff knows to go with Newegg, etc. unless it's an immediate need.

4 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@katstermonster: LOL. I think the salesman wasn't mad because you brought up pricing, but he was mad because he has no idea what you're talking about. Do you realize that 99% of the world's population is smarter than the staff of The Shack? Well so does he.

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TinaBringMeTheAx

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@katstermonster: Radio Shack has a liberal return policy. Wait for the $3 cord to be delivered, then return the $20 one.

I am happy to pay a premium for the convenience of going to a store that is just a few blocks from me. But it has to be a reasonable premium, like $14.95 vs $12.95, not $20 vs $3.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@TinaBringMeTheAx: Folks call RS Rental Shack. They would buy gobs of PA equipment, speakers and mixers on Thursday or Friday, then hold a massive party over the weekend, then return it all on Monday.

Same scam goes for camcorders and DVD players, esp, weekenders.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@TinaBringMeTheAx: I was going to do that, and then promptly lost the receipt and forgot about it anyway...oops! :)

Oddly enough, I think there was actually an article on here about their return policy last week. Some adapter (may have even been USB/PS2) was marked in the system as software, but they alerted the guy before he bought it, so he'd be able to get it somewhere else and return it.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I've never seen USB cables sold at a dollar store.

I would like to see Consumer Reports to test that USB cord Chris bought at the dollar store and compare it to other USB cords.

You never know, though. Kirkland (Costco's brand) sells batteries that ranked really well in CR's testing.

13 replies

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That's Consumer007 to you

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: That's because you haven't looked. I shop at Dollar Store too, the OP isn't making it up.

A 5 second google search gets at least 20+ references to the fact they are sold there.

Here's a hint: Just because YOU haven't personally seen it doesn't mean it's not real.

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November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: Wow, I make an observation based on visits to several dollar stores and you start foaming at the mouth.

Also, you capitalized \"Dollar Store\" as if that were the name of a franchise.

Here's my advice - don't be so defensive about AN OBSERVATION.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: I spent about 6 years as an audio engineer and more years repairing instruments. I'm pretty picky about cables. Every single computer signal cable I've gotten at my local \"Job Lot\"-type stores (not dollar stores, salvage stores) has worked perfectly for me. Even the Firewire cables I've gotten there, and I test the throughput and stability of those cables carefully prior to putting them into my recording chain.

Very often, the \"Chinese crap\" will be the same stuff sold under brand names. Sometimes not. I've had great luck with Job Lot though.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason:

The Dollar Tree is the only dollar store I have seen that sells cables including USB cables. Unlike most dollar stores now, their stuff is still actually a dollar.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: They sell usb cables here for a buck, and there are dollar stores on every corner.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: They have been selling USB cables for a couple years now. This was more handy a couple years ago when USB cables were a bit more expensive because now I have a large stash of them that came with this and that. They also sell things like led lights and other various small electronics, and I hear they have cassette to MP3/CD adapters but I haven't seen them yet.

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PsiCop

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: I've seen USB cables in dollar stores. In fact, I own one ... and I'd used it with a digital camera. It worked as well as any other. Heck, I might even have it in my drawer someplace (I don't use that cable much any more since I got another camera that used SD cards and I just stick those in the computer).

Anyway it was about 3 years ago, and I bought it in a Dollar Tree here in CT. (Don't remember which one ... and in fact it might have been the one in Westfield MA.)

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ktetch

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: Dollar Trees here in Ga often have a rack of different USB cables. They're ok, nothing great, but they work

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Cant_stop_the_rock

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason:

A cable needs to be functional, and ideally it should be reasonably durable. For $1 he got a cable that was apparently functional, and would at very least last long enough to buy a better cable online for another $1 + shipping - and still come out way ahead of spending $24. But there's no reason to believe that $1 cable won't last for years - it doesn't cost much at all to actually make a USB cable.

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mianne

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: I suspent for the most part, a USB cable works or doesn't work. I really doubt you'll see any different in data transfer rates between a $1 cable and a $25 cable.

You could test this with a stopwatch by transferring some music to your MP3 player using one cable, erasing it all, and repeat using the other.

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mianne

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@mianne: Make that \"suspect\" (Grr, lack of an edit button!)

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: I picked up a USB cable for my printer and one for my digital camera at the Dollar Store. Both cables have worked flawlessly for almost a year.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@inadequatewife: Agreed, I grabbed a bunch of them at a local dollar tree when I was building my home office. I don't use the really cheap ones on the important connections (externals drives, etc) but they are great for putting on a giant usb hub inside the wall and making little charging/connection points for random camera's, MP3 players and other odd ball USB powered crap, like humping dogs.

","

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Any time you need a cable same day you're going to get screwed like this. Dollar stores carrying a 5-pin mini usb to usb-A is new to me though.

","","

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Trai_Dep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Sales-speak to English translator:
\"You mean to tell me that you came back here just to show me this?\"
\"You mean to tell me that you're actually calling me on my bullsh*t?!\"

...Would it be that someone followed Joe Lieberman around to call him on all of his bullsh*t.

6 replies

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That's Consumer007 to you

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Trai_Dep: Bravo on both comments :)

My response would have been

\"Yeah, and now I'm going to further show it to your manager while you watch and ask him to rethink your little \"career\" here! Don't go anywhere - this will be fun!\"

(Follow that by a word of mouth damages calculation to the manager saying how many thousands of dollars over the next 10 years the employee just lost them, and that is BEFORE you post on the internet.)

You see - abusive lying anti-customer retail bullies need to be put in their place. There are 250 decent people just waiting for the chance at their jobs - so be it!

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: There may well be 250 people waiting for the chance for the jobs but Radio Shack management WANTS much of the behavior that this salesperson demonstrated, so complaining to them wouldn't be effective... Word of wisdom - do not spout out your \"word of mouth damages calculation\". If you want him to help you, then telling him that you know his job better than he does is a bad strategy... lay out the situation and IF he agrees with you then he'll draw that conclusion on his own. More likely you'll just get platitudes and the manager will commend himself for his employee's followthrough of his instructions... you think that hard sell comes from the employee?!?

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MrHowser: less comments, more followers?

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Trai_Dep: Way to go... injecting politics for absolutely no reason.

@wvFrugan: Really? You hope that if someone doesn't agree with your opinion on government policy that he should die a painful death? I don't understand this ridiculous hatred.

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Greasy Thumb Guzik

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Trai_Dep:
Just print up a sign that reads: \"A schande fur de goyim\"!
Maybe in Yiddish it will get through to that creep!

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Trai_Dep: the salesman promptly went to the dollar store, bought up all the USB cables, marked them up to $49 after putting them in a box and ading a bright blue LED to each end.

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wvFrugan

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Trai_Dep:
If that mother fucker hurts the public insurance chance I hope he dies a misserable death, prolonged painful cancer or something.

","","","

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Circuit City... gone.

CompUSA... gone.

Radio Shack... still exists?!?

4 replies

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pecan 3.14159265

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@twophrasebark: According to Washington Post's coverage of top donations to the Virginia gubernatorial candidiates, Circuit City is listed in the furniture industry, which made me laugh.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@twophrasebark: don't forget Computer City. And Egghead Software...which incidentally was rebranded to Newegg.com

:-)

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PsiCop

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Adhominem: I thought Computer City had been owned by Tandy, aka Radio Shack? Tandy sold the chain off to Circuit City or CompUSA, and then all the Computer Cities went poof. But whichever of the two ended up with it, the remains wound up in the hands of the dreaded Systemax.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@PsiCop: Computer City was purchased by CompUSA - I was working at CompUSA at the time and I remember we were FLOODED with useless stuff from Computer City after those rip-off liquidators were unable to sell the assets in a timely manner.

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PsiCop

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Radi0logy: I learned not to trust any hardware from Computer City after a friend who needed to replace a CD drive on his PC took me to one and got one at a ridiculously low price. I installed it, and initially it worked, but inside of a week it had failed ... it would spin endlessly if you put a CD in, and the eject button didn't work, to open it you had to use the paper-clip mechanical bypass. (Of course, it opened up still spinning, which was fun ... NOT!) I ended up ordering a new drive online — it might have been from CompUSA! — and put that in. No problems after that.

It would have been nice had CompUSA made a go of things, but I guess there's too much money to be had in liquidating some businesses rather than continuing them.

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takotchi

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Adhominem: Newegg doesn't have any relation to Egghead. I think Amazon owns them now, actually.

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PsiCop

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@takotchi: Yes, Egghead's assets ended up going to Amazon. As far as I know the only relation between Egghead Software and Newegg is that the former might have inspired the name of the latter, but even that isn't too certain.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I don't think any real geek would ever work at Radio Shack. Perhaps as a summer job when they are 16, but the people I encounter at the shack are just plain useless sales staff who happened to pick Radio Shack over the used car lot next door.

These people know nothing about technology, and they exist purely to squeeze cash out of people who are in urgent need of a cable, and the elderly.

They have tried to extend their life support by selling mobile phones, but even that will come to an end when people realize the \"deals\" at Radio Shack are pathetic.

Like the previous poster said, I suspect Radio Shack won't last beyond some time in 2010.

14 replies

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That's Consumer007 to you

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scoobydoo: I refer to them as harassment shack\" lol

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Dyscord

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scoobydoo: I do remember back in the day, Radio Shack was a good place to get electronics...well back in 1985 it was one of the ONLY places to get electronics.

I haven't bought anything from radio shack in about 7 or 8 years. If I need something quick, Wal-Mart is just as close.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scoobydoo: i'd say this is probably true today, but 4-5 years ago it was a different story. RS still paid a pretty healthy commission rate back then & i made some good bucks working their p/t. $200+ net for ~20 hrs. even higher around christmas - $400-500 easy. the sales staff was a lot more knowledgeable back then, imo. there was a reason to learn about the crap - it reflected in your sales.

not anymore though. a big reason their net income has close to tripled is b/c the commission is all but gone. what's the point of knowing anything when you're making minimum wage?

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Akula765

November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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@mac-phisto:
As a radioshack employee, I can say you have no idea.

If you look at the company's annual report for 2008, they are practically bragging about how they increase profits by slashing pay and benefits.

Besides out right cutting pay, they have taken a more sneaky approach as well. We are paid a 2.75% comission, but only on certain items that have high profit margins. So we make money on cables, batteries, accessories, that sutff, but nothing on an iPod or a TV. Over the last 2 years they've steadily taken items off of that list. Things I used to get paid for I no longer do. And they of course don't notify you.

They have also started forcing managers (who are on yearly salary) to work 10 more hours per week, taking those hours away from the hourly employees.

They got in a pissing match with verizon a couple years ago, and lost them. Verizon was what made the rent for me back then. AT&T and Sprint don't sell as well.

Top cap it off, the health plan has gotten crappier.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@mac-phisto: Maybe, just maybe - if you're the only person who knows something amongst a sea of ineptitude, one may be promoted.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Coelacanth: you would think, right? unfortunately, i don't think so. i can't speak company-wide, but in my district, manager-candidates for the MIT program were never pulled from existing staff.

not like promotion in that company is a good thing. in addition to cutting sales staff wages, RS destroyed the compensation schedule for managers. on the surface, it seems like a good job, but then you realize that bonuses are based on unachievable numbers (if paid at all - they've canceled bonuses in the past when it suits them), that your employer expects you to work 60+ hours/week, that your sick & vacation time will go unused b/c your DM will never approve leave, & that when you divide your gross pay by the number of hours worked in a week, you likely will have grossed ~$5/hour.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Unfortunately the people who end up being retail sales associates either

1)were raised in a way where they never developed ambition or the desire for higher learning and don't know how to do any better.

or

2)were lazy, goofed off in high school/possibly college too, couldn't get a real job and ended up exactly where they deserve: peddling lies and upsales for big box retailers for $8-10/hour

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Eldritch

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Adhominem: Because the economy has nothing to do with one's job at all? I worked very hard during college and I work in a retail environment. My area isn't hiring right now. Don't be so quick to judge.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Adhominem: This generalization is so patently absurd as to be laughable. Walmart's VP Int'l for Chinese marker started out unloading trucks in a Walmart store. BBY CEO started out as a salesperson in the original pre-BBY BBY. Some people enjoy meeting lots of new people, enjoy the challenges of salesmanship and problem-solving, and enjoy helping people.

I can't imagine what you do for a living, but having worked retail a long time, including time as a BBY manager, I can assure you that I did not fit into neither of your two silly assertions.

Not all salespeople are liars, not all big-box stores are terrible. Speak to your own experiences, don't just make blanket statements, the true last resort of the unimaginative.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@wellfleet: You're right, I made a very cynical generalization that was widely inaccurate and I apologize.

Though, I do defend them for my personal experiences working in the retail industry.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Adhominem: Well I agreed with you. Look at the turn-around of its employee's and the history of those that work there. I would say that most don't work hard. This isn't to say that most will remain with low work ethic's and not succeed in life, but I have known folks over the years that work at these places and it seems that these stores are like college frat houses.

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cbcowan

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Not to bust any idealistic bubbles here - but I do suspect they'll be here for quite some time.

Net income by year:
2006 - $73MM
2007 - $237MM
2009 - $192MM

people vote with their feet.

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November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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@cbcowan: You made my point. The chain has 4500 stores, 35000 employees and revenue of 4.5 BILLION. Yet, they only have a net income if 192 Million?

That comes down to a net income of just $45,000 per store. Seriously - how the hell can they justify staying in business with those numbers?

Best Buy has 1150 stores, and revenue of 45 Billion / net income of 1 Billion (just under one million net income per store).

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Akula765

November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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Ummm... what?

4.5B x 10 = 45 B
192M x 10 = 1.92 B

So basically radioshack has a better profit margin then BestBuy... and this is bad?

Of course bestbuy has more income per store... they have fewer, bigger stores. Radio shack has more, smaller stores.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@cbcowan: \"cbcowan\" is probably correct. There is a large percentage of the population that:
1. don't care.
2. don't know any better.

The Shack bets on those mom and pop's that come in, fully knowing that mom and pop are spending more than they should, but mom and pop feel justified because they don't have the time to shop.

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Karita

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@cbcowan: Not a fan of Radio Shack, though I do occasionally run in if I need some random part for a project. Those net income figures surprise me - I'm always amazed they are still around, as there are never any other customers when I go in. Even at Christmastime, the ones I've been to are completely dead. I guess they have customers somewhere, but I've never seen them!

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scoobydoo: Eh, a few people at my local Radio Shack are knowledgeable and helpful. Their cable prices are ripoffs though, and it wouldn't surprise me to see them go under.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Coles_Law: Annnd, should have refreshed before posting. Good info, cbcowan.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Some of us HAVE to buy at RadioShack. I wanted to buy an Ipod Touch 32gb, and none of the stores I went to had it (we don't have an Apple store so that's totally out of the question). I ended up buying it at RadioShack, paying $50 than what it cost me on Amazon.com (who refuses to ship electronics where I live).

The worse wasn't the prices, it was how bad the employees were at answering basic questions about items.

6 replies

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pecan 3.14159265

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@BabyFirefly: It actually hadn't occurred to me until a few days ago that not every state has an Apple store. I have three within a 15 mile radius, so I've just never really been without a physical Apple store. There are none in West Virginia, for example. I had no idea.

Did you have a Best Buy? Obviously you were willing to give the Shack your money, so why not Best Buy?

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pecan 3.14159265

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@pecan 3.14159265: Oops, four. I have four Apple stores within a 15 mile radius, and one more outside of that.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@BabyFirefly: Amazon refused to ship where you live? Where do you live? Iceland?

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@BabyFirefly:
Do you not live in the USA?

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Trai_Dep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@BabyFirefly: The Apple Store is online, too.
For next time. :)

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Where do you live BabyFirefly that Amazon refuses to ship?

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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radio shack is nothing but fail. all over fail. I used to go in there as a child, and even then I thought their stuff was overpriced, and they rarely had what I wanted. But now it's gotten ten times worse. Please, everyone, tell your grandparents, and parents not to shop there.

1 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@LostAtoll: I generally only go there if there's some obscure connector I need that other places would normally not carry. I don't mind paying $5 cash for a $0.50 connector if I can get it today and not pay some strange company with credit on the Net with shipping tacked on. I would never go there for electronics of any kind.

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doctor_cos wants you to remain calm

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Once in a while, you might be surprised by rat shack. Back in April or so, I went to Staples and balked at paying $40 for a SATA/USB enclosure ($30 at Newegg), went into rat shack, and found them on clearance for $10.
Also got a Roku M500 in there when it was on clearance, for about $40.

But I would agree, they have gotten away from their roots (switches, connectors, cables, resistors, and such) and what they do have is usually overpriced.

3 replies

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Ragman

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@doctor_cos: Even their root products (electronic components) are pricey. I love having access to the Altex and Tanner electronics stores. Altex has some really good cable prices, and Tanner (family owned shop) sells discrete components at bulk prices - you can get resistors/capacitors for pennies apiece.

The electronics I've bought that use USB all came with USB cables. Over the years I've amassed a collection of USB cables that cover my all of my needs and have spares. I don't think I've ever actually purchased a USB cable.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Ragman: Do they still sell crappy Archer parts. Man those were garbage.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@doctor_cos: The reason that kind of stuff goes on clearance is because it is too complicated for their sales staff to sell, and at the normal retail price, it is twice what it costs online.

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cbcowan

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Not to bust any idealistic bubbles here - but I do suspect they'll be here for quite some time.

Net income by year:
2006 - $73MM
2007 - $237MM
2009 - $192MM

people vote with their feet.

1 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@cbcowan: Sadly, I agree with those numbers. The times are-a changing and RS is managing to keep a year behind on them here as of late.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Ok, first its not price gouging... the store is free to charge any price that the market will bear... they may well sell fewer cables due to the markup but thanks to the increased margin on each one they sell, this may well be a good strategy for them.

Secondly, you don't know what their cost on the product is so you are in no position to claim its got a 2400% markup. Its not unusual for cables in retail stores to have 800%-1000% markup because they still have to pay the overhead costs... or did you want your only source for the cable to be mail order?

The dollar store is a liquidator. Their cost for the product does not reflect the going rate for the products they carry - they carry tail ends of other retailers' clearance and liquidation so their inventory in erratic both in variety and in quality. You thought that the Radio Shack clerk knew little, try asking questions at the Dollar Store.

Radio Shack sells on convenience. Yes their products have high markup but such is the price for convenience, or did you think that 7-11 charged the going rate for products also?

I'm sorry you were lied to but your descriptions were a bit over the top \"the horrible part\", \"pressured you\"? You were \"desperate and running out of time\" but still took the time out to rub your find in the sales clerk's face? That's class.

This salesperson was simply doing his job. Don't shop at Radio Shack if you don't like their tactics.

14 replies

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That's Consumer007 to you

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Your conclusion at the end is moronic at best. Ding Ding - I'm sorry, the correct answer is, make the offending employees behavior a big flaming deal (that it is), and get them disciplined for it, then behavior changes and everyone benefits.

In what fricking world are you living that you think telling a customer \"you mean you came back here just to show me this?\" is \"just doing his job\"?

It is abusing customers and trying to defend his worthless ass when he gets cold busted.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Areyouagoodlittleconsumer: Moronic? That the employee was simply doing his job? Hardly! The complaint was about the hardsell that their employee was pushing. Yes, that is very much doing his job.

At the point that the customer who was supposedly rushed for time and desperate took the time to come back and rub the purchase in the salesperson's face for no other reason THAN to rub it in his face, the salesperson's response was mild. Yeah its incredulity that someone would bother to do that. Do note that the OP was not a customer at this point.

Let the OP complain to RadioShack management or corporate about the behavior and see if it changes anything. It won't change anything if that was what management is encouraging.

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nstonep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Dollar stores aren't liquidators for the most part. The bulk of their inventory is differentiated merchandise (ie smaller bar soap, off brands, etc)...and chinese made carp from wholesale distributors/remarketers.

Companies like colgate palmolive produce things specifically for dollar store retail it just tends to be of lower quality/features or lesser size. The toothbrushes will be simple and the toothpaste will be a small quantity...

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elizass

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Careful there. You are using logic on the Consumerist! That doesn't work around here. All companies are evil.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Market rate has NOTHING to do with the price of something.

Ultimately something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That's its value, regardless of market rate or cost to the store or anything else.

This person was willing to pay a dollar for the cable, but not $24 dollars. So the cable was not worth $24. That's how simple this is.

RS is totally free to try to find someone who does think it's worth that price. Customers are totally free to laugh and shop elsewhere.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@LastError: Who are you responding to because it certainly isn't me... I didn't say anything about market rate. I specifically said \"the store is free to charge any price that the market will bear\" Other than that, I agree with your post but its just confusing who you're responding to.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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It's a similar deal with opticians. Gross margins for frames and lenses run in the realm of 1000% for a bricks-and-mortar store. That's why internet opticians can sell you a pair of glasses with lenses for 10 bucks, especially if you don't mind waiting for them to ship from Hong Kong.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Honestly, I think you're taking it a bit too far, but both parties were DBs here. The salesman was kind of a jerk, but so was the OP.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Dollar stores are liquidators? Maybe they used to be, maybe some independants still are, but the majority of dollar store merchandise is coming out of what I imagine to be thousands of chinese dollar store factories.

Seriously, that crap is mass-produced to be sold for a buck with a healthy margin.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@DangerMouth..Passed the Audition!: @Outrun1986: Perhaps I should have said \"Many (generic) dollar stores\", not specifically the Dollar Store. While some of the product is cheap foreign produced non-name brand product, much of it is brand name overruns, clearance and liquidation.

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nstonep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: A lot of the stuff is remarketed meaning it comes to the US from the same chinese factory and is just packaged under a different brand name.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Most of the dollar tree items these days are dollar-tree branded. They do have stuff from other manufacturers as well, but most of it is cheap chinese stuff made especially for dollar tree (not that most things in retail aren't cheap chinese made things). It seems that dollar tree used to have stuff from name-brand manufacturers and they do still occasionally, however most items I see in there are dollar-tree branded. There is a difference between dollar tree and ye old generic dollar store (where everything might not be a dollar).

I assume that they make a profit by selling more since they sell for less, selling 20 products for a dollar each might mean more profit than selling one item for $20.

You know what, if I had to pay $30 for a USB cable in every store, I would prefer that my only source be mail order considering that I could probably buy 2-3 cables for less than $5 mail order. Especially if I had to deal with snide clerks telling me their product is better than monoprice constantly.

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nstonep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Actually, I don't recall stuff being dollar tree branded. Last time I checked they had retail toothpaste (just the junky stuff: ultrabrite, aim, closeup), sunstar toothbrushes (the owner of the GUM ip now), that \"LA's totally awesome\" cleaning stuff (it's in other dollar stores as well), personna razors and inc. pens (which are also both in walmart for more).

While some of the stuff is junk and you get what you pay for stuff, the bulk is usable to some degree. Not sure how good \"sunbeam\" batteries are but at least I didn't pay 3+ bucks for them.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: So what's your defense for the salesman's pitch of \"You wont find a better deal anywhere?\"

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@riverstyxxx: Its the last ditch effort of a desperate salesperson to land one of the only sales opportunities he's had that day... I don't like Radio Shack or their sales tactics, so I don't shop there but I don't expect any better either. These are the tactics that are drilled into them by their management so a complaint to corporate might only get this kid a pat on the back.

To summarize the OP's complaint, Radio Shack's product was overpriced and their salesperson was pushy. Kinda stating the obvious, isn't it?

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@fantomesq: Agreed. The RS salesman is in there trying to make a sale with shitty stuff. I won't debate the ethics of that in this job market. If the OP wanted to simply come back and make a return of a purchase because they'd found it cheaper elsewhere, that would be one thing, but to come back and be an ass is totally over the top, I think.

Salespeople are pushy. Everywhere.

Also - BestBuy does the same thing with cables. When I bought my printer, I got it because I needed it that day. Of course it came with no USB cable...and all of BB's were $30. I have, in fact, seen better buys.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Yes, Radio Shack, and other electronics retailers, overcharge for their products.

What I'd like to know is, what was the length of the cord in radio shack, and the cord in the Dollar Store?

2 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: Dollar stores here have around 6 feet for a buck. I know of 4 independent stores and 2 chains that have them (99 cents only and Dollar Tree)

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ChemicallyInert

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@MooseOfReason: Most cables use copper wire. Look at the commodity prices for copper- it's nothing. The length shouldn't add significantly to the overall cost. Plastic (PVC usually) is equally cheap. The amount of non-copper metal is usually trivial and manufacturing this sort of thing has a low fixed cost.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Five Below sells HDMI cables.

It's geared mainly to the tweens and teens, but they have some good stuff there, too. And everything is under $5.

3 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Deezul_AwT: Which brings us to the point that sometimes you can find what you want electronics-wise for less by looking in the children's department these days. Especially if your a female or you don't care what the stuff looks like. I have seen $10 MP3 players on clearance, numerous pairs of headphones and last year target had 1GB USB flash drives for about 3$ on clearance in the kids department.

The stuff will be cleaned out of the regular electronics department, but remain in the kids department. People don't think to look there if they need something. Sometimes its the same stuff in electronics but just a different color etc..

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jenjen

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Outrun1986: Hey, now that's a useful tip - I never would have thought to look there. Yesterday in JCPenney I saw very inexpensive mp3 players in the linens department - no idea why.

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pecan 3.14159265

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Outrun1986: If I were to go on vacation overseas and I just wanted music to listen to but didn't want to take my iPod for fear of it getting stolen, I'd buy a cheapo kid's MP3 player and load it with music. Who is going to steal a cheap MP3 player with ponies and rainbows on it?

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hicks

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I stopped shopping at Radio Shack several years ago, when three salespeople ignored me while obviously looking for something (I think it was a soldering iron). One was vacuuming (three hours before closing), and had to maneuver around me to finish the aisle, and the other two were teaming up to sell another guy a Radio Shack credit card at the checkout.

At this point, I was curious to see if anyone would break away from their obviously urgent duties to ask me if I needed help (I know I could have asked them, but I was running a customer service test), after about five minutes (and getting dodged by the vacuum again), I tossed my items on the floor and walked out.

A little passive-aggressive? Sure, but hopefully it actually registered, whereas \"aggrieved shopper telling them why they suck\" likely wouldn't have.

1 replies

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That's Consumer007 to you

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@hicks: Couldn't agree more - I ran into worse years ago when I came in half an hour before closing, went right to where my desired item should be, couldn't find it because they were disorganized, and when asked for help, was told

\"Um we ARE closing in a few minutes, just so you know!\" and then he walked away not helping me, and THAT was the store manager.

So, I creatively took a product I didn't want, flung it at him over the sales counter walking out and said \"Here - I won't be buying this from you tonight since you are busy sneaking out early and cheating on your hours.\"

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Kudos to the OP for knowing the \"proper price\" for the cable. I made the mistake of not researching the \"special battery\" that my car's keyfob needed. Went to the dealer who sent me to the parts department. I was handed the same battery that most computers use on the mobo (the CR2032). I buy them on eBay for around 50 cents each. Dealer price: $12.50. They did install it for \"free\" but next time I looked up on the internets to see how easy the battery is to replace and I used the 50 cent kind instead of the $12.50 kind. DOH!

2 replies

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Ragman

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Dukebruno: Yeah, they seriously jack the battery prices at RS as well. I picked up some cheap Chinese button cell batts from DealExtreme for my kid's toys.

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Karita

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Dukebruno: Agreed. Shopping around is good for everything. Dealer price for the headlight I replaced last week: $400. The price I paid at a parts store: $130.

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louiedog

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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When I was in college I added a new hard drive to my computer and was out of connections from my power supply, so I needed a y-cable to split one into two. I normally liked to buy things like that online or at the nice mom & pop computer store in town because I prefer to give them my business. However it cold and I was walking so I went to the university computer store which was a lot closer. The salesman looked around and informed me not that they didn't have it, but that such a product didn't exist. I told him he was wrong and he acted offended and insisted I didn't know what I was talking about.

So I walked to the mom & pop store, paid a couple of bucks, and bought my part. If it hadn't been cold out I would have returned to show him the non-existent item.

1 replies

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Ragman

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@louiedog: I had to make a run to CompUSA one time for mobo mounts and a y-cable.(I was in the midst of a build - that's the only reason I bought retail) They wanted $11 for a y-cable. I'll give RS props in that theirs cost less than $4, which is decent considering it was all retail.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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All valid complaints about customer service and pricing aside, what I miss most is their selection of loose components for homebuilt projects. I can remember, as a teenager in the early '70s, being able to go into Radio Shack with a schematic and come out with every component I needed to build what I was working on.

2 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@flugennock: Same here. The problem is that not enough people bother to build kits or projects these days. No money in it.

RS has found they make a lot more cash selling cellphones and highly marked-up consumer electronics. That's their focus these days.

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j-o-h-n

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@flugennock: And the guy behind the counter was probably a hobbyist and/or ham radio guy too. The day my first little 1-transistor radio worked is the day set me on the path to being an engineer. So RS will always have a warm place in my heart even though I probably haven't spent 20 bucks there in the last 20 years.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Maybe $1 was clearance or just plain cheap, ok.
Fair price for that cable is maybe $4.95.
RS was still nearly 5 times the price.

Sorry to say, it doesn't surprise me, but it's not the employee's fault, they don't set the price. He should at least know the price was way out of line, and not act the way he did.

1 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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$4.95 is still way too expensive, check out monoprice.com some time.

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RonDiaz

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Even Wal-Mart is in on the cable scam. Monoprice or bust, or as you found the dollar store occasionally has a few cables.

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ChemicallyInert

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Can we have another Consumerist roundup of most annoying business practices? This time focusing on frequently overpriced items.

I've been an electronics hobbyist/power-user since I was a kid, and I will tell you now that there is no reason, NONE, that a stereo-to-stereo cable for your car/mp3 player should cost more than 5 bucks (they'd still make a profit). I went to a local electronics retailer -not \"The Shack\"- for something else and thought I'd pick up a stereo cable so I could listen to my mp3 player in the car by hooking it to the auxiliary port. It was $20! Are you kidding me? Hell, for that much, I'd buy a pair of computer speakers and cannibalize the stereo cable that's included at that price. I could make one for pennies at home! It wouldn't be pretty, but it'd work just fine. I still prefer to buy one just for cosmetic reasons, but the ability to mold plastic and make your wires look fancy is not a license to print money. These people are laughing all the way to the bank, I guarantee you.

3 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@ChemicallyInert: When I got my iPod Touch, I bought a dash mount to ease my mother's mind (she pictured me trying to change songs with the thing on the seat next to me) and then bought an FM transmitter (I was slow and didn't realize I could use the AUX jack). This all came out to an ungodly amount. As soon as I got in my car, I realized that the dash mount (about $20) came with the AUX cable for free. I happily returned my FM transmitter immediately.

That being said, when my boyfriend finally got an AUX input in his car we went cable shopping only to find that the package I had bought no longer existed (we couldn't even find a cable at all at Wal-mart), and the cheapest cable we could find was over $10 at Best Buy.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@ChemicallyInert: The problem is the business runs on selling this way, certain items are sold below cost and others way above cost to make up for those that are sold below. IMO, its a terrible business strategy and probably why retail in the USA is in so much trouble, and might explain why consumers are flocking to online stores in droves to buy things for the proper prices.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@ChemicallyInert: Its not the manufacturer making the obscene profits... its the retailer.

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RichL

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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The Dollar stores are selling more and more electronics, from cables to cellphone cases. I'm sure that there is some marginal difference between a high-end cable and a cable from the dollar store, but most people would not notice if the transfer speed was %5-10 slower.

2 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@RichL: Yes they are, they also have silicon skins for many devices, even for Wii remotes (at one point retail stores were charging $10-15 and sometimes even $20 for a similar product). You can even buy iPod accessories there. I can't imagine the difference in a silicon skin, its just a piece of plastic whether its for the Wii remote or an MP3 player. Even if it broke you could buy 9 or more replacements and still be out less than one would cost at retail.

I have honestly never had a cable break on me, a cable isn't going to break unless you put some huge force on it, like if a dog steps on it or a cat chews through it.

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Ragman

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Outrun1986: I'd say the difference is in the quality of the plastic. Take a sniff, the stuff at the dollar stores reeks of formaldehyde.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Shit like this is insane. Why are cables insanely overpriced at EVERY brick-and-mortar retailer, even so-called \"discount\" stores? And why is it that printer makers cannot even include a 50-cent USB cable with a $100+ printer...forcing you to buy an overpriced $20 one at the store?

I suspect collusion among electronics retailers, and possibly among printer manufacturers and cable/accessory makers (i.e. Belkin and Monster Cable) as well. How is something like this NOT illegal?

5 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scootinger: Cables and other accessories have insane markups because most of the time big box retailers are going to lose money on a laptop. People want laptops that cost $300. It costs a hell of a lot more than that to make a laptop and pay for its copy of Windows, so the laptop manufacturers load it up with crapware. The crapware vendors pay the laptop manufacturers to put their version of crapware on the computer. The store sells the laptop at a loss and makes the money back on extended warranties, cables, mice, bags, and all the other sorts of accessories you'll need with the laptop.

People gripe about the crapware that comes on computers and high margin accessories, but without those things computers would cost a lot more.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scootinger: When I worked at bestbuy and radioshack (I have since long moved on) my answer for the whole USB cable not coming with printer always was: \"They always used to include USB cables in the boxes, but sometimes you need a 10 or 16 foot cable instead of the included 6 foot cable; and since the manufacturer obviously isn't going to loose money they charge extra for that cable. So to save you money we have worked with the manufactures to eliminate the extra cost so you are free to choose the cable size that works best for you.\" or something like that. You always caste the blame onto the manufacturer(who isn't there to defend itself) and make yourself and your company look like the hero; they then think you exist solely to help the customer and lookout for their best interest. And then of course quickly move on to finding what cable they need or whatever, not giving them anytime to deeply digest the pitch I just gave them or formulate additional questions...

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blandname

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scootinger:The idea is to sell the main item (TV/Computer/Printer) at a price at or below cost to draw people in, and then gouge the customer on accessories, protection plans, etc. Most people shopping for more expensive electronics have researched the item in question and have a rough idea of what prices are good values for the item itself, but don't really know whether a $25 USB printer cable is a good value or not, nor do they know how much cheaper the Monoprice version is. It isn't illegal because the retailer can't force anyone to buy anything, because you are perfectly free to shop elsewhere (like the OP did) if you disagree that $25 is a fair price for a USB cable.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scootinger: What's funny is that Fry's Electronics STARTED their company by selling cables at reasonable markups while everyone else charged obscene markups so they sold tons... now they are just another also-ran selling their cables at similar markups to everyone else. The low cost market has largely moved to the web and mail order.

No one is forcing you to buy the cable at the same store you bought the printer from... If you choose to pay the inflated price for convenience, then it was your choice to do so. This is even LESS relevant since most people are replacing printers which allows them to reuse the same cable.

You're correct. Printer manufacturers COULD include a 6\" USB cable in their boxes for maybe an added cost of $1-$1.50/unit but they have purposely left them out SPECIFICALLY so that retailers can make profit on cable sales. It isn't collusion but a simple marketing strategy on their part. Neither the manufacturer nor the retailer makes much, if anything, from sales of printers. The manufacturer makes their money from future ink and paper sales (thus the reason they go to lengths to prevent refill kits). The retailer makes their money from the sale of both consumables (ink, paper) and cables. Retailers dedicate a large amount of square feet to displaying printers that they simply wouldn't do unless they can make money off it. Start bundling the cables and the retailers lose a revenue source and shrink your display space. The strategy of eliminating the cables is working for printer manufacturers.

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FDCPAGuy

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@scootinger:
If you guys want a USB cable with your printer buy a network enabled printer ;) Those come with cables. The cable is used to configure the network settings on the printer so they give it to you in the box. Sometimes, the network enabled printer can be purchased for less than the lower end printer and usb cable.

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alshultz

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I've got something similar. Went to a radio shack for a new DVI monitor cable, it was going to cost me $35 bucks. I asked the guy \"you're kidding me right?\" and he basically responded \"yeah I know it seems like a lot for a simple DVI cable, try across the street, there's a computer repair shop there\"

Went across the street and bought one for $10

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I'm amazed they were even able to FIND a cable to BUY. I've gone there dozens of times and they just don't have anything at all! Thank goodness for the internet!

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memphis9

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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About a month ago we stopped at \"the shack\" expecting to pay some kind of premium to get a S-Video to mono adapter on-the-spot, but it was $5, comparable to Amazon and the rest. Great!

Only at the register it rung at $25. The clerk walked back with me to price check when I balked, saw the shelf price, and switched that label for a price label that was in the holder thingie for another set of items. No apologies and even a bit of snark even that I didn't still want it, but I just smiled and wished him a good day. Working for RS has got to be punishing enough without me rubbing it in.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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$1to $24 is a 2300% markup, not 2400%

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jwissick

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Radio Shack... You have questions. We have blank stares.

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silver-bolt

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@dragonfire81: Recent 360 patches/updates are killing 3rd party/unlicensed memory cards, hds, and everything else. I don't doubt microcrap to kill 3rd party hdmi cables soon.

1 replies

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Raekwon

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@silver-bolt: How exactly would they do that? HDMI is just copper wire. It has no computer and anything in it that Microsoft could detect.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Thank Zeus I live in a city with a Fry's Electronics. Because of it, I haven't had to step foot in a Rape Shack in years.

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Pupator

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I agree the The Shack is a ripoff and I'm glad you found a cheaper cable.

However I do agree with the saleman's final question of \"You came back just to show me this?\"

Really, get a life. Petty and lame aren't becoming of anyone.

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SigmundTheSeaMonster

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Freewill folks. You can choose to buy where and when and what.
Most stores have a markup on items to ____.
(hint...make a profit).
Profit is good. Unusually high profit, well, someone is foolish enough to buy and shop there, yes? But if there store is open and you need that item, isn't it worth it?

Monoprice-great prices, but you need to consider shipping with any online vendor (unless free shipping).

I don't recommend Radioshack for USB cables unless that is all that you have nearby. I do not recommend Best Buy either as they mark up $2.37 1meter USB cables to $24.95 and 2 meter USB cables to $44.95. (I've seen the inventory screen from a blueshirt guy...)

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jpdanzig

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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The Sh*t -- I mean, Shack -- has been a resource of last choice for years now. First there was the notoriously unreliable junk they sold under their own name. Then they raised the prices on all the little widgets, like plugs and cables (and replacement foam pads for earbuds -- $5 for four!!!) And the coup de grace is the endless campaign of upselling -- NO, I don't need another cell phone, thank you very much -- not to mention requesting your phone number, even when you're just paying with cash. Only their ubiquity has kept them in business, but even the mighty GM failed eventually; the Shack can only prey on time-challenged customers for so long...

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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When I worked there several years ago, when I was bored (most of the time) I would select a button cell battery or RS branded expensive \"premium\" gold cables off the shelf and look up the store's cost. Often times a cable that sold for $50 would cost the store $2-$3. The $5 button cells cost the store $.20.
Also, my manager specifically put all the standard non-gold RCA and coax cables in the backroom and instructed us to act as if we only sold the expensive gold plated ones. I usually ignored this if a customer balked at the price and would go grab the cheap one from the back.
Working at RS was truly a low point in my life.

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weens33

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I can't stand going into a Radio Shack any more, but my husband needed a simple toggle switch to repair his Halloween mask this past weekend and I swear I didn't think the sales guy would ever leave us alone. We just look through their switch bin and find the one we wanted, but he hovered over our shoulder the whole time making stupid jokes even though we tried ever so politely to say we were fine and he could go help someone else. They don't even carry parts that a true electronics geek would need, but in a pinch there are not many alternatives. Also, a word to the wise, don't touch a cell phone there unless you are going to buy a contract right then and there. I almost got into a fist fight with an employee there about At&t vs. Verison all because I just wanted to touch the phone to see what it was like after reading about it online.

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JGKojak

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Way back, say, 20 yrs ago (before this wonderful digital age) I would do home recording, and would need various cables from time to time- you could go to The Shack and buy whatever RCA to headphone jack, etc cables you needed for a couple of bucks. Now the same things are $20 (at least). Unless its a weird part no one else would have, I refuse to shop at Radio Shack.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Places like Radio Shack/Best Buy/whatever generally LIVE by feeding on the technologically uninformed.

They try to portray their word like gospel, though that's common with many sales(wo)men.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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But honestly, if you need cables.

www.monoprice.com

Generally very cheap cables.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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\"I used to go to radio shack to get affordable wires and cables.\"

Radio Shack never, ever, had affordable prices for anything.

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ceez

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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i had the displeasure of working at RS back in 1999 when they only sold rs branded equipment (car radios, speakers, tv's and other junk).

the pressure they put on the sales people to sell and get their ridiculous 'spiffs' (bonuses) is just out of hand. i know times have more than likely changed since I was there, but they had the stupidest things like selling sprint long distance home ph service, then later they got a deal with dtv...imagine someone comes in for a fuse and you're trying to sell them the above items.
and if you happen to be a store that wasnt in a mall (my case) also try selling mobile phone service. back in the days if you didnt have spectacular credit you'd have to pay a deposit of up to $500 bucks for a bellsouth cell phone....and then trying to convince the people to pay $500 bucks and they get the motorolla flip phone for only a penny! wow what a deal!!!!

that store is just crap to work or buy.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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[www.monoprice.com] all you need to know

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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In lieu of the economy, I went on a job interview for Asst Mgr at Radio Shack...45 hour work week...minimum wage and 1% commission on sales. FOR AN ASST MGR!! I respectfully declined to say the least.

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RSCustomerCare

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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The customer experience described in this posting clearly does not meet our expectations. Although we are still reviewing the matter internally, we want to apologize to Chris' fiancée for the unfortunate exchange that's described here.

We may not be able to offer the lowest pricing on products every time, but it is our goal is to help every customer get it right. In this case it seems like we missed the mark.
RadioShack Customer Care

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WelcomeToMyWorld

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I think the difference here is CUSTOMER KNOWLEDGE.

If you don't know any better, you'll fork over $24 to Radio Shack because . . . you don't know any better. Once upon a time, we were all like that, and we believed everything the Radio Shack guy told us.

But nowadays the Radio Shack (or Walmart) guy is dumber than I am. I can reseach and find the exact part before I go into a store, and I have a pretty good idea what it should cost me. If the guy in the store tells me a BS story, I already know that I don't have to buy it.

Congratulations to the original poster, and anyone else who is smarter than the Radio Shack guy.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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It's called making a profit Consumerist, just because Radio Shack and Best Buy make all their profits off accessories doesn't mean you have to buy it from them, kudos to this person for finding a better deal, but honestly, rubbing the radio shack managers nose in it just because he's trying to keep his job and his company in business is mean and insulting.

Everyone here should KNOW by now that accessories is where the money is, if you want to get a better deal, buy online or go to the dollar store, but don't rub peoples nose in it.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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i'm looking at the photo... and deja vu overtakes me. wondered where i'd seen it before. checking the credits.... woah. the very mall i would have visited many times as a kid in 76.. thanks for the trip!

1 replies

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November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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@fuzzymuffins: I got my ears pierced at that mall in 1986. Love looking at that site.

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perfectoon_0901

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Oh my god. I think he lives in my town! It wouldn't happen to be Ukiah, CA would it? there is a Dollar tree right next to our Shack

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nstonep

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Dollar store computer cables work fine; I picked up a bunch of the retractable ones for travel (I believe they were plain usb); can't remember what I did with them...but I digress...you can't buy electronic components at any other physical retail store. I guess you could go e-tail but then you have to pay for shipping. The prices aren't great but you don't see walmart selling individual leds...yet.

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silver-bolt

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@Raekwon: Signaling wires, extra pairs, voltage on a line, resistance combos, internal chips that do code knocking or handshaking to enable the output.

Its about as hard to design as a bird house.

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NoHoldsBarred

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Important thing to remember:

Big box retailers mark up because they have more expenses like higher shrink, property tax, etc.

Big box retailers carry name brands which are always more expensive.

The $24 cable was probably made of better materials.

I deal with people every day who tell me they aren't buying a $150 Monster cable because they can get a good one for $20. Then I prove them 100% wrong, without lying once (I'm non commission anyways).

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chriscrob

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Radioshack's prices are a bit ridiculous...but I can sort of understand. Imagine trying to keep a store open when 99% of your customers come in asking for a $2 cable. It'd take a lot of customers to cover the cost of a couple of employee's much or less the rest of your overhead. It is very nice to be able to run get a part that would require a few days of waiting on the mail otherwise...unfortunately that is a privilege you have to pay for. If I want to be able to run get an extra 1/4\" jack or the cables required to get audio from component cables to a 1/4\" stereo or i need a project box on short notice I'm going to have to help cover the cost of them keeping it available in my town.

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idip

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@RSCustomerCare: Just have your associates lay off of the hard sale technique.

My own Radio Shack turn off was when I went to go get a digital tuner and the guy tried to hard sell us an expensive HDTV despite repeated comments that we only wanted the tuner. Ummmm.... NO!

Even though they had the tuners in stock, we ended up going to Best Buy and bought a more expensive one there. Oh well.

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Darrone

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@RSCustomerCare: Radio Shacks business model is overpriced cables and accessories. \"may not be able to offer the lowest pricing on products every time\" is a joke. The markup on the majority of your products is absurd. You're only selling point is its easier for housewives to get a cable at radio shack than it is to trudge through a large best buy.

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laffmakr

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@RSCustomerCare:

\"The customer experience described in this posting clearly does not meet our expectations.\"

Sorry, I had the same experience the firs time I bought HDMI cables. The sales rep basically laughed at me when I asked if they had anything cheaper than $34 for a 6-foot cable. He told me I was crazy to think I could find one cheaper.

That evening I ordered three of them from Amazon for $1.50 each with free two-day shipping. They have worked perfectly from the start.

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TheOrtega

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@laffmakr: But you can order almost everything cheaper online.

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TheOrtega

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I don't really see the big deal; It's a parts specialty store and it charges higher prices then \"Dollar Tree\" what would you expect? Im not blaming the OP here or anything but going back to the radio shack and confronting the salesman? That's ridiculous. I can get a soda for 50 cents at the grocery store but at the gas station they charge $1.25 you don't see me rubbing it in the gas attendants face.

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zarex42

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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You're paying for convenience; if you need a quick cable, that instant, you can get one, instead of digging around online. You pay a premium, but it's not that big of a deal for most people.

Of course, once that \"premium\" is excessive, more and more people will take the trouble to order online.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@TheOrtega: yes, even on RS's own website! of course they only stock the higher priced items.

I recently found a good DVI-HDMI adapter on Radioshack's website for 16 bucks. Thinking it was like the old days when people advertised items they actually stocked, I went into a radioshack only to realize that the cheapest one they had was a $50 adapter.

I decided to be patient and ordered one for 6 dollars on amazon.

I won't even go into RS anymore to waste a few mins

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savdavid

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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What he means is \"I don't know how to cover my ass. You have caught me so to save face I will accuse YOU of doing something wrong like coming back to show me the receipt\".

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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What a joke RS has turned into..
While visiting family in CT, I found I had left one of my computer bags at home.
No problem, I can run to RS and pick up a 10ft ethernet cable for 10 bucks or so. They wanted close to 35 bucks!
I laughed at the guy!
The same thing happened because I use my laptops usb to charge my cell phone, that cable stayed at home as well. They wanted almost 28 dollars for a 1.5 foot cable.
HDMI cable to hook my lappy to the Hidef LCD? almost 33 bucks for 6 feet!
The guy trying to sell me tried to tell me that I needed an adapter for the end of the cable that goes into my laptop. I told him I didn't, he argued with me and tried to tell me \"NO LAPTOP COMES WITH AN HDMI CONNECTOR SLOT!!!
So they wanted me to pay ALMOST 100 bucks for 3 cables that should cost LESS than 20 bucks TOTAL! And sell me an adapter I didn't NEED!

Needless to say, I drove to a electronics store and brought the 3 cables for ~25 bucks total.
The funny thing? The electronics store wanted almost 13 bucks for 4 AAA batteries!!!
I went back to RS for them! 2.99!!!
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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@idip: I don't have too much bad experiences at my local store, but have had a few where I just walked out.

A long time ago, we were buying something, I don't remember what, and while we were checking out, the clerk was pushing a new cellphone on us, HARD. We didn't need one, and we weren't there to look at cellphones. Shaddap.

It seems to depend on the crew working that day, and how many other customers are in the store at the time. I have had good experiences with helpful salespeople, and miserable experiences with pushy idiots who just wanted to sell me something I did NOT need. But yeah, back off on the hard sell, and just have the salespeople be helpful and ask questions about what you need. Like good hardware stores.

RadioShack if you're still reading:
If every other store (office stores, BestBuy, etc.)sells cables at $20-40 and above, why not carve out a niche for yourself, and advertise gobs of basic 6-foot or smaller cables for $5-10 or less all the time? Maybe most basic adapters or gender changers for $5 or less, all the time? Rather than people laughing in your salespeople's faces looking at a $35 pricetag on a cable they KNOW they can get elsewhere for less than $5, and buying said cables somewhere else, make up a rack, price accordingly, and put the word out. Once people figure out that they can pick up inexpensive cables at your store after buying their new printer somewhere else, for example, they'll flock to your store to buy cables, and you'll generate some more foot traffic? Maybe sell some other stuff too? Hello?

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MYMHM

November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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Damn. I don't even go to \"The Shack\" for emergencies anymore. I was in a pinch and needed a card reader. I Got one of the RS branded ones as it was the cheapest one there ($20 before tax GRrrr). After only a couple uses (that same day) on a CF card one of the pins broke off, got stuck in the card, and wrecked the card slot on a Canon 5D2.
It also shredded the plastic dividers on an SDHC card.

If I need something in a hurry, and can't get something from a Target, I just don't bother...

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I used to work at one of the pilot Radio Shack stores that they placed in Blockbuster video stores for no discernable reason (yo dawg, I heard you like failing stores, so I put a failing store in your failing store so you can go lose money while losing money). I would regularly tell customers that they could buy \"x\" cheaper at a variety of stores around town, typically did that so I could get back to drinking whisky under the counter and playing with the radio controlled toys. Turns out that one of those whom I provided that info to was a mystery shopper, 1 month later our store was shuttered...oopsies.

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November 13, 2009 4:34 PM

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I would go to Radio Shack right now if I knew I could get a not as cheap as maybe monoprice but cheaper than BB/Target/Walmart optical cable and HDMI cable. In fact, I would never order from monoprice again because, even though it only takes maybe 1-2 days to get to my place from the facility that is approximately 80 miles away, I'd much rather drive the 8 minutes and pay $5-10 more. Yep, that's right. But not like $25-30 more. That's stupid. I could drive up there and get the cable directly from monoprice for that mark up.

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laffmakr

November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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Re-read my post and you'll see the point I was making.

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November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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Radio Shack has lost sooooooo much money from me because of their high prices. I would rather shop at Best Buy than Radio Shack, and that is a sad, sad thing, folks.

I am surprised they are still in business, honestly. I went in a couple days to get an HDMI cable quickly and laughed when I saw their prices. I then went to Target and got a much better deal.

They must hate money.

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November 13, 2009 4:35 PM

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I stopped at Radio Shack looking for batteries for a audio device. Salesgirl said they did not carry the batts, but I could buy a similar device WITH Batteries for only $20. I said this was not even an option, but what would happen when the batteries go dead on the new one? Oh, we carry this device all the time. And that made sense to her? I found the batts at Walmart of course.

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November 13, 2009 4:36 PM

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Online stores like eBay or Amazon are great for finding cables at low prices. Radio Shack is not the only store that overcharges on cables. Best Buy makes a lot of its profits by overcharging on cables, too. Nearly all the big-box stores do it. As usual, it always pays to take the time to do a little research to compare prices before buying.

DOWn, baby, DOWn!

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uclajd

November 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Radio Shack is like 7/11, you don't go there for price.

See:

[www.theonion.com]

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