A lot of it depends on if it is a company owned store or a franchise like
mine. We still do the "parts" business that most company stores have quit.
You either understand the stuff or work at the pizza place down the strip
mall. But I agree all stores are not the same, I have owned mine for almost
twenty years now. Tell your friend not to just work at a store, buy the
darn thing!
/Richard

"Jim Douglas" wrote in message
...
Funny, there sure are a lot of negative replies! I wonder how many saying
"It sucks monkey balls" have ever worked there? Working there and being a
customer are two different things, they could have great $$, benefits,
days
off, etc.

Every time I go to the local Radio Shack there are a few folks getting
cell
phones and other things, those little junk re-chargeable cars, which
means
$$ for the store and I would figure the salesman. I also thing the place
lacks alot but find myself going there when the better stores are closed,
after 6PM, Sunday, Holidays, etc.

"SouthDakotaRadio" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine is trying to decide between two job offers. One is for
a
Manager Trainee position at the local Radio Shack. Thought I'd get on
here and
solicit some input.

Good choice or bad choice?

"Alex Clayton" wrote in message
link.net...
"doenja" wrote in message
...
that is the perfect description of Best But stores.
snip

ROTFLOL!!
Have to remember that one. That is the only store (best buy), that I
absolutely will not go into any more. I bought a Lap Top there years ago,
and the assholes trying to sell me "extended coverage" for $400.00 was un
real. After I got past the damn sales man, then the cashier started in.
When I said "no just ring it up", he proceeded to tell me how glad he was
he bought it for his because he "punched a hole in his screen". At that I
stopped, looked at him and said " so if I buy this coverage, you are going
to put it in writing that a year from now I can kick a hole in the screen
and come in and get a new one"? He of course started back peddling, I
laughed, told him I was not born last week, and left. I had this kind of
experience with them a couple times before this, ever since that last time
I have never set foot in there again. It just takes too long to get out
the door with what you buy. The best part was when I complained and the
company sent me a letter "claiming" the sales guys do not get anything for
selling this added crap. They really expect me to believe those clown are
that annoying because they are just bored? LOL


Had that experience at Future Shop (bought by Best Buy this year) in regards
to those annoying Extended Warranties.
Had an interesting conversation with one guy. He figured I needed an
extended warranty for a $60.00 USB hub.
He asked "what if something went wrong with it? With the extended warranty
it could be fixed for free". I said "if
something went wrong with it, I would just buy another one and be up and
running within an hour of leavng the store.
I'm not going to worry about losing the value of an item bought for $60.00
because by the time something happens to it,
it's only worth five bucks.

Had recommended a system to a friend (who is pretty sharp a retired nurse),
but wasn't technically savy so her and her
husband wanted me to go in with her to get a PC. So picked out the one that
best suited her needs, and then the extended
warranty song and dance number came up. I said to the guy "no extended
warranty". Explained to him that for minor things
and replacing components I can do it myself, and explained to him that I am
an IT Manager and buy systems for the company
I worked for. Also pointed out the various manufacturers of the items we
bought and the fact that they are all high quality
producers of computer items. He still insisted. But said "if you recommend
an extended warranty one more time, this sale
does not happen". He was silent.

Future Shop is notorious in Canada for overzealous salespeople (they pay
them just a dollar or two above minimum wage,
and the rest is made up in commishees), and that irritating second checkout
system they have.

The sales people absolutely hate it when you go in there, find what you need
and then take it to the sales cashier at the front
of the store. Had one sales guy follow me and insisted to the sales girl
that his name be put on the sale despite the fact that
I helped myself.

They are all over you in the store like pests.

I only go in there to buy supplies simply because it is the closest store to
where I live.

At least with Rat Shack, there's no second checkout. But I noticed some
stuff they have in there is junk, mostly
electronic toys. They used to be big on radio stuff (Realistic). Too bad
they couldn't be a reseller for ICOMM Kenwood,
and other amateur radio equipment. They have hte Pro series scanners but
that's about it. I also noticed the previously large
inventory of parts such as connectors and so forth has shrunk considerably.

But then again, I also wonder why Motorola never got into the scanner or
amateur radio market, considering that they are
are everything in regards to commerical VHF and emergency services radio.

"Paul Keenleyside" wrote in message
news:A1XAd.33753$Y72.29614@edtnps91...

The sales people absolutely hate it when you go in there, find what you
need and then take it to the sales cashier at the front
of the store. Had one sales guy follow me and insisted to the sales girl
that his name be put on the sale despite the fact that
I helped myself.

They are all over you in the store like pests.


The store I most often go to now is Circuit City. They a while back came up
with a deal where you can pay on line, go in show the receipt, and take what
you bought without fighting off the sales people and their "warranty's".
Ever since I found out about it I always use this. Bought a new TV last year
and used this. Waited till the one I wanted was on sale, went on line and
ordered it, went and picked it up. Much easier. I'm sure the sales people
hate this, but too bad. I think Best Butt offers this now too, but I would
not shop there anyway.
I got some junk mail from them after the sale offering the "extended
warranty", but that was much better than having to fight them off in the
store to get out the door.
--
If at first you don't succeed blame someone else and seek counseling.

Funny, there sure are a lot of negative replies! I wonder how many saying
"It sucks monkey balls" have ever worked there? Working there and being a
customer are two different things, they could have great $$, benefits, days
off, etc.

Every time I go to the local Radio Shack there are a few folks getting cell
phones and other things, those little junk re-chargeable cars, which means
$$ for the store and I would figure the salesman. I also thing the place
lacks alot but find myself going there when the better stores are closed,
after 6PM, Sunday, Holidays, etc.

"SouthDakotaRadio" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine is trying to decide between two job offers. One is for a
Manager Trainee position at the local Radio Shack. Thought I'd get on
here and
solicit some input.

Good choice or bad choice?

On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 17:37:36 GMT, "Paul Keenleyside"
wrote:

Paul, if you want to send me a valid email address directly, I'll send
you some info which I would prefer not to post in a public forum.

Every time I reply to someone privately trying to share info and their
phony or bum email address bounces I swear I'll never do it again.
Spoofing an return email address does not protect you, but annoys
those who may want to communicate with you.


************************************************** *******************
Steve Uhrig, SWS Security, Maryland (USA)
Mfrs of electronic surveillance equip
website http://www.swssec.com
tel +1+410-879-4035, fax +1+410-836-1190
"In God we trust, all others we monitor"
************************************************** *******************

SouthDakotaRadio wrote:

A friend of mine is trying to decide between two job offers. One is for a
Manager Trainee position at the local Radio Shack. Thought I'd get on
here and solicit some input.

Good choice or bad choice?
They wouldn't hire me when I applied at the beginning of college because I
knew about electronics and knew all their products but I didn't have a
previous sales position.

I once had a Swan HF rig. I needed a serive manual
and contacted the factoruy. I mentioned to the engineer
I was talking with that I no longer asaw any Swan ham gear,
he told me that getting out of the ham business was the only
thing that saved the company. That by and large hams were
less then skilled, and wanted top drwaer service for rock bottom
prices. I suspect that the Bat Wing(look at the big M on their log)
new that ham radio was way too small a market, requiring too
much support and wiselystayed out.
As for scanners, when you make 90% of the public service
2 way gear, you would not want to risk that lucrative market
by making radios to "eavsdrop" on the PS people. By and
large LEO hate scanners and would like to see scanner vanish.
I base this on conversations with LEO, their bosses and the number
of hassles I have seen hams have in the last 30 years with 2mtr FM
gear.
Terry

"Mark" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Dec 2004 16:59:15 -0600, "Jim Douglas"
wrote:

Funny, there sure are a lot of negative replies! I wonder how many saying
"It sucks monkey balls" have ever worked there? Working there and being a
customer are two different things, they could have great $$, benefits,
days
off, etc.

(IMHO)
I've worked there, it sucked monkey balls, min. wage plus spiffs & comm (if
u'r lucky),
no benies (even though they promised them), & as far as your days off go -
Holidays are there best days, if you want to make any money you work them.
You don't make money during the day, so you have to work weekends &
evenings. If your any kind of a salesmen - you will make money, but you
work your ass off for it. Thier website paints a rosie picture, but take it
from someone who's been there, the only thing they care about is your money,
they sell junk, buyer beware. I did have a BLAST working with co-workers
and the public.

I would think it may not be such a great job for the average salesslob. I
can
see it being an ok gig if you were a store manager.

There are so many variables out of your control that it wasn't worth it.
The company wants a profit - the public is looking for a deal. Nobody wants
to work & you really have to work hard to make it work.