Radio Shack will soon be selling games, again. [Archive]

diskoboy

09-18-2007, 12:11 PM

dave2236

09-18-2007, 12:38 PM

Oh, I know the answer to this.

I own a gme store in Green Bay, WI and there is a Radio Shack across the hallway from us. I also know the manager and employees pretty well.

Anyway they will be getting Wii, 360, PS3, DS, and SP systems in to sell for the holiday systems. They will also be stocking Halo 3 on release day. and they will have a 8ft by 8ft wall display with other games and accessories.

Actually at the Green Bay stores every christmas season they carry video games, mostly game boy and DS stuff or system bundles.

heybtbm

09-18-2007, 12:51 PM

Radio Shack. Wow...I couldn't even tell you where one is. The only evidence I have of their existence is the occasional commercial during football season.

Anyway, more stores selling games = more competition = cheaper prices overall (?). We'll see.

8-bitNesMan

09-18-2007, 01:01 PM

Now if only Ace Hardware would follow suit! Can you imagine the Madden cross merchandising possibilities they could come up with? "Reserve Madden 09, get a free skil saw!" LOL

Slate

09-18-2007, 01:03 PM

Isn't radio shack slowly going out of business?

neogamer

09-18-2007, 01:03 PM

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/18/analysts-radioshack-to-start-selling-games-in-store/

It took them 22 years, but it looks like Radio Shack has finally jumped back on the bandwagon. Radio Shack hasn't sold video games since before the great crash.

I wonder if were gonna start seeing Tandy knockoffs of the PS3 or 360, like they did back in the Intellivision days? ;)

I don't think you have to worry about Tandy Corp. (the parent company of Radio Shack) releasing any type of hardware knockoffs or the like.

Licensing and legal issues aside, their financials from past vetures into manufacturing hardware (video games, not computers) have been close to complete failures costing the company millions!

Their stock still sucks as well and most analysts will tell you not to buy it. I don't see a comeback for the company anytime soon.

If they do at least sell games and systems, any additional revenue can help them at this time. Look at the bright side: If you can't find a particular game, you may be able to find it at Radio Shack! I know I won't be shopping there for games, but some one might. Who knows: maybe they will have a retailer's worst nightmare (the bargain bin)!!!

hbkprm

09-18-2007, 01:27 PM

sweeeeeet

Sothy

09-18-2007, 01:52 PM

The one up this way actually had n64 stuff for awhile... It was garbage and overpriced. I think its a franchise or something.

neogamer

09-18-2007, 02:10 PM

The one up this way actually had n64 stuff for awhile... It was garbage and overpriced. I think its a franchise or something.

They do have some franchised stores, not many, but a few. They no longer sell new franchises-hopefully I didn't burst anyone's bubble about being the proud owner of a Radio Shack store franchise!

Franchise stores were sold many years ago and they still have to stick to strict guidelines as outlined in their agreement with Radio Shack and Tandy Corp.

blue lander

09-18-2007, 03:47 PM

Just 7 or 8 years ago, if you went into a Radio Shack and looked through the in-store catalog, they still had old Atari software for sale. For very high prices mind you, but it was still odd to see.

neogamer

09-18-2007, 04:56 PM

Isn't radio shack slowly going out of business?

No they are still in fair to good financial shape and able to compete in a variety of markets.

They are making most of their cash right now from cell phones!

Also, keep in mind, Radio Shack is just one division of Tandy Corp.-the parent company!

LiquidPolicenaut

09-18-2007, 05:01 PM

Great, it's now gonna be a larger competition on which stores employees know the absolute LEAST about video games ;)

Jorpho

09-18-2007, 05:51 PM

Radio Shack never stopped selling games in Canada. Of course, they're "The Source by Circuit City" now.

As I may have mentioned, I made out very well with their recent liquidation sale. (The Urbz DS for 99 cents, brand new and sealed! Final Fantasy XI with hard drive for $20!)

PapaStu

09-18-2007, 06:44 PM

de out very well with their recent liquidation sale. (The Urbz DS for 99 cents, brand new and sealed!

Thats not making out! That game is crap. :D

I doubt there will be anything i'm going to want to get at RadioShack, that I can't get at GS or any of my other prefered game places. Their stuff isn't going to really sell, and will stay priced high for a long time, just keeping it stuck in stores.

Push Upstairs

09-18-2007, 11:56 PM

orangest

09-19-2007, 12:20 AM

Just 7 or 8 years ago, if you went into a Radio Shack and looked through the in-store catalog, they still had old Atari software for sale. For very high prices mind you, but it was still odd to see.

i ordered brand new copies of quest for quintana roo and glacier patrol from my corner radio shack roughly that long ago. i think i paid between $20 and $30 or so for each, which turned out nicely in the case of glacier patrol.

neogamer

09-19-2007, 08:42 AM

So does this mean I'm going to get hit up for games when I go in to find the cable/adapter/part that they have no idea about or just flat out don't carry?

You're supposed to be able to buy parts to make your own flux capacitor at that place, not buy games that every other store in town seems to offer.

They changed their business model since then.

You cannot buy that many small electronical parts as you once could.

Most of that line is either special order or got DISCONTINUED!

XYXZYZ

09-19-2007, 10:48 AM

neogamer

09-19-2007, 10:53 AM

The only reason I ever went to Rat Shack is for capacitors and diodes and stuff... now all they do there is try to sell you a phone.

You got it!

They make very little money in two dollar parts. The profit margins are nice, but why go to the trouble when you can sell a phone at a larger margin?

The electronical parts business was always a high volume niche business for them, until they started to lose money on it!

DigitalSpace

09-19-2007, 04:49 PM

To quote Kamino (http://www.templeofinsanity.com/rants.htm):

I fucking hate radio shack. There was a day when radio shack was a decent supplier of electronics parts. LEDS, ICS, transistors..now you're lucky if you can get a fucking resistor and a SPDT switch these days....and what is with the PHONES?!?! They may as well rename it to cellphone shack. BULLSHIT. Stick that phone up your ass, gimme my damned db9 jacks, and get me outta here.

Sweater Fish Deluxe

09-19-2007, 07:23 PM

They changed their business model since then.

You cannot buy that many small electronical parts as you once could.

Most of that line is either special order or got DISCONTINUED!
This must vary by store or something, because I was just in my local Radio Sack last week to get an adapter (RCA-to-BNC, found it) and was somewhat impressed to notice their selection of components. They had all the capacitors, resistors, transistors and diodes you could want, plus plugs for making your own cable of just about any type I could think of, even a selection of ICs. These were all in a 5'x5' display with pull-out drawers and even pretty well organized. It wasn't as good a selection as I used to get at the independent electronic components store in the town where I used to live, but it was a better selection than I've ever seen in any other Radio Shack.

...word is bondage...

roushimsx

09-19-2007, 07:39 PM

rock on, I used to always buy my games at Radio Shack...back when I had a Tandy, but still. Plenty of fond memories shopping for software there. Nice to see they're going to be selling games again.

Forget the cell phone hate, whenever I go to radio shack anymore they always ask if I want batteries. always. I could be going in to buy some time for my prepaid phone or I could be going in for a minijack -> stereo converter, it doesn't matter.

boatofcar

09-19-2007, 07:39 PM

This must vary by store or something, because I was just in my local Radio Sack last week to get an adapter (RCA-to-BNC, found it) and was somewhat impressed to notice their selection of components. They had all the capacitors, resistors, transistors and diodes you could want, plus plugs for making your own cable of just about any type I could think of, even a selection of ICs. These were all in a 5'x5' display with pull-out drawers and even pretty well organized. It wasn't as good a selection as I used to get at the independent electronic components store in the town where I used to live, but it was a better selection than I've ever seen in any other Radio Shack.

It's a regional thing, definitely. I've seen the same kinds of stores, and the flip side where there are no parts at all, only RS-brand audio and video equipment and cell phones.

cyberfluxor

09-19-2007, 07:55 PM

We have dozens of their stores around here and one of my friends use to work for a corporate location. He was under "good" management for 2 years then a dickhead took over as the old moved away and hated it for months before leaving. They do rape customers with markups, however they're selling for small projects, not to bulk sell to a small electronic repair shop. I actually bought my G3 controller from them for $5 before I had my GameCube.

Overall, I think it's good news, never know if something cool pops up on their shelves.

bangtango

09-19-2007, 08:01 PM

Overall, I think it's good news, never know if something cool pops up on their shelves.

Right. They might carry the same Madden, Tony Hawk and Call of Duty games as any other store but I bet at least once or twice we'll see somebody post about finding an uncommon game there. It probably won't happen on a regular basis but who is to say they won't get a brand new game or two every once in awhile that some of the other (bigger) stores won't bother to devote the shelf space to.

cheshire191

09-19-2007, 08:04 PM

Screw Radio Shack and the boat they came in on.

That place jumped the shark years ago when they stopped carrying major selections of electrical components.

They don't even sell anything, they only sell the accessories for things and not even good ones for a lot of money.

Even with shipping you can find stuff for less than half of what radio shack charges on the net.

Maybe some of you haven't noticed, but I really hate that store.

Radio Shack :rockets:

-chesh

PingvinBlueJeans

09-19-2007, 08:10 PM

Just 7 or 8 years ago, if you went into a Radio Shack and looked through the in-store catalog, they still had old Atari software for sale. For very high prices mind you, but it was still odd to see.
I also remember this. I tried to order some old Atari games through my local Radio Shack circa 1996, but I was told everything was out of stock.

neogamer

09-19-2007, 08:16 PM

I can tell you that they are basically out of the parts business. Their business model, as I stated earlier, has changed significantly.

Sure, they still sell parts, but it is much more profitable to be in the cellular phone industry and that is where they want to be...

We shall see if the video game market is profitable for them, or not...

once again, time will tell...

cyberfluxor

09-19-2007, 08:25 PM

That place jumped the shark years ago when they stopped carrying major selections of electrical components.
And it was years ago that saying "jumped the shark" jumped the shark.

:D
No seriously, didn't we have a topic about that a long time ago in Off-Topic?

neogamer

09-19-2007, 08:29 PM

And it was years ago that saying "jumped the shark" jumped the shark.

:D
No seriously, didn't we have a topic about that a long time ago in Off-Topic?

In a way it was a shame. I knew a lot of "hobbyists" that would buy parts there and create their own mini electronical creations. Some were quite cool! Others were...

worthless, to put it nicely!