J. Palmer

Two sales, since I left you.

One customer needed 274-0709 and then the other got 278-1640.

The dialog spoken during the motorola plug sale was the kind that I like to here.

SON: I need a…(interrupted by father)
FATHER: I broke the antenna for my radio.
SON: His car stereo. We need a replacement plug.
ME: Okay (and walk over to the wall, pick one up, and hand it to the son)
SON: That’s it. (Looks to FATHER) I told you they’d have it.
FATHER: I wonder why the one in the mall didn’t have it.

That’s the kinda thing I like to hear. We try to keep all the stuff that a corporate store doesn’t, and then make sure that we KNOW what everything is. Corporate stores are terrible. Let me explain why.

A few months ago, I went to apply for a Sales Associate position in the Corporate RadioShack world. Went to the District Office (which is in Georgetown, perhaps one of the worst stores in the area) for the orientation. Yes orientation. They give you, and anyone else who shows, a kind of introduction and pep-talk before and during the application process. I guess it’s supposed to help weed out the riff-raff. I think of it as a big horn-blowing ceremony where they can say that they are the best, hire only the best, pay the best (if you sell the most), eat, shit, and die the best…….

Anyway, the main focus of RadioShack’s hiring process is to find people who are motivated sellers. They don’t give a rat’s ass if you know what in the hell something does, just as long as you can sell it. That’s almost the words that were told to me by the one Store Manager (I can’t remember which store, but believe it was one in Lexington) after he read my application and found that I have a background in a Franchise store. He dropped and ashamedly shook his head while he told me that they hire sales people, and then try to train them to know something. You could know everything about electronics, and still, not be hired if you can’t sell, sell, sell.

Shove those HTIBs and wireless phones down every customer’s throat. (my opinion, not a quote or anything). Ignore the DIYers, what they want either can’t be done (sometimes true, but not all the time) or we don’t have it (when it’s hanging on the wall, hidden in a corner, covered in dust).

That’s why the parts bins were introduced. A giant signal to the associate to stay away from this customer, because they probably know what they want, and if you interfere you’ll just fuck up the sale.

I’m sorry. I don’t really care for RadioShack’s practices anymore.

I’ll be right back. I need to step outside for a smoke. (our store is non-smoking)

Well, there’s appearently not anything for us to do here at work, so Rob said we have a free day. Don’t know whether I can handle that. Slow days with nothing to do aren’t any fun. It’d be better if we had some sort of little project to tackle.

As of 2:30pm, our sales are at nearly $450. Not much, but decent.

This will probably be a really long day.

So, what all can I tell you, since I have ample time?

I will be needing to find another job (either in addition to my current, or just a total replacement). Our hours are going to be slimmed down (the employee hours, not store hours). Diane (owner-to-be) told us that because of the expense of this business transfer, she will be unable to support paying all of us for the hours that we have become accustomed to (which, really aren’t that many, like 30 hours a week). So, Diane and her hubby, Mark, will be manning the store for most of the time, so that “free” labor will save expenses.

I need to get another job anyway. Something with health benefits for my family.

Sorry, I failed to mention that. I am married (just recently, actually, January 6th, to be precise). Diana, my beloved wife, and I are expecting the arrival of our son, Taron, in February. (I know, if you do the math, which is so obviously easy, you’ll find that we’ve actually been together for quite a bit longer than the period we have been married.)

I really don’t know how to tell you about Diana. Everything I would say would be so tightly wrapped in loving emotion, and I have a very difficult time trying to convey feelings in writing. Perhaps, instead, I may offer you a little bit of insight into her character by giving you this link.

I keep glancing towards the front of the store, expecting a customer to arrive. Oops, spoke too soon.

Trying to make a song about RadioShack using LoveShack.

So far all I got is:
“RadioShack is a little ol’ place where we can get transistors”
(“The loveshack is a little ol’ place where we can get together”)

Can’t think of anything else.

Counted down the drawer, and came up ahead by almost $4. Curious.

Correction – my drawer is down by almost $4. Curiouser.

Blogging at the store. Rob just took a return on 200.1612. The gentleman’s wife bought him that, when he wanted 630.1162. Oh, well. Only a $350 (plus tax) return.

Don’t know what all to say. Just kinda bored and wanted to actually write something.

Been looking for abandonware. Old DOS apps mainly. Found several old games. Haven’t found the apps that I want though. I would like to see if I can find a copy of an old program I used to have. Microsoft Show Partner. It was (in a nutshell) a DOS based version of PowerPoint. It was fun to play with.

Matt just activated a V120t PIB (Cingular KIC). Used to be a piece of cake to do so, however, where the store is transferring ownership, our usual methods of performing credit apps and activations is down. We were able to just log into a secure website, and input all the necessary info, but now we can’t do so. We no longer have any login information, so we have to call up CAS to do so.

Business is slow, yet we have somehow manged to pull in $1355 in sales thus far. Mostly Cingular KIC airtime, I suspect. At least our online application of airtime still works. Customers think it’s the coolest thing, that we can apply airtime to their accounts, directly, in real time, and don’t need their phone.

Speaking of adding airtime, Matt is now helping a customer. $20. Whoopee! One of our regulars. Hell, all of our prepaid customers are regulars (and if not, they soon become a regular, because of the immediate airtime minus the headache).

When I first started working here, there was only one way to get airtime. Buy a card, scratch the back, dial a number, put in those numbers. We did that process for our customers, as well. A nice gesture that would keep them coming back. Nobody wanted to waste their time dialing. I had gotten very fast at it.

Jay just stopped in to talk a bit, before leaving. Jay runs a gun shop next door (the space is sub-let by us). Jay’s a good guy.

Crap! Just lost a sale! (wouldn’t have been much, but still, its the principal) Guy needed two 4ft sections of RG6 with weatherproofed F connectors. Our satellite installer, who also happens to be the upcoming owner/outgoing manager ‘s husband, took the rest of our bulk quantity RG6 (UV Protected, Outdoor-rated).

Well, I gotta go, it’s getting close to closing time, and I need to count out this terminal’s drawer.

If you are into amateur radio, you may have run across an article at eHam.net discussing RadioShack’s changes from a hobby store to a personal electronics store.

Here’s a link to that article:
RadioShack -> Silent Key for HAM Radio.

And here is why I finally believe that statement:
excerpt taken from RadioShackSucks.com.

After existing since 1998, RadioShackSucks.com has come under legal attack by RadioShack Corporation in a Texas Court. This is a direct assault on YOUR First Amendment rights!

I have been a fan of the aforementioned site for a few years. My fondness came about from my employment at a franchise store. I discovered the site one day, at work, searching the web for complaints against the company (RS) so I could get a good laugh on a dreary day. I found a lot more.

I found complaints from customers AND employees, usually bitching about one another. What joy I had found!

I still read the stories at work, and share them with my fellow associates, and we sit back and laugh reading about the ignorance of customers, bad employees, and stupid moves that the company has made.

If you haven’t read anything from the site, I suggest that you do, for if RadioShaft does actually win the battle and closes the site, all the old stories will be gone. Please check it out by clicking the following links:

RadioShackSucks main page or go directly to the message board.