Adafruit buys Radioshack? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: riyadh144
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 05:07:46 pm
content: https://twitter.com/adafruit/status/916473322203992064That is one of the most bizarre news I have seen, but I am glad it happened, I love brick and mortar, I love to smell and touch before I buy, to speak to the nerds in store, to get their ideas.I hope this goes well.

author: gnavigator1007
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 05:57:04 pm
content: I'm very skeptical. Seems likely to be from the auctions

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 06:25:12 pm
content: Some similar lotshttp://ubidestates.hibid.com/catalog/103245/radioshack-auction--1/?q=certificate

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 10:55:46 pm
content: Adafruit are being pretty disingenuous about this.They are retweeting etc rampant speculation about a picture of Limor holding a couple of cancelled certificates and seem to be drumming up baseless hype.The fact of the matter is that I would be very surprised if Adafruit had the capital to fork out for an acquisition of Radio Shack, talking well over 20 million dollars here for a buyout at it's current price, plus there's no announcement from any party, no legal, no nothing. Even if it's just a controlling share that's over 10 million isn't it?Normally Adafruit is a good company, but misleading fake news is not a good path to follow.Not to mention of course,it would be a freaking terrible idea, worst investment EVER.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:07:03 pm
content: I think it's just a bit of mischief

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:09:52 pm
content: Little known fact - I and another person who shall remain nameless went in on a 50/50 bid for the IP of Dick Smith Electronics, just for, well, kicks.It was a very serious bid, but we were outbid by Kogan.

author: HoracioDos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:13:02 pm
content: Quote from: sleemanj on October 07, 2017, 10:55:46 pmIs it possible to buy or get permission over the brand name only? Radio Shack like Heathkit is a brand deeply rooted in people's minds

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:21:52 pm
content: Quote from: riyadh144 on October 07, 2017, 05:07:46 pmShe just has some old stock certificates?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:22:04 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 07, 2017, 11:09:52 pmHow much did you bid?

author: sleemanj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:22:11 pm
content: Quote from: HoracioDos on October 07, 2017, 11:13:02 pmThat was already sold for 15 million dollars earlier this year (to Kensington Capital)

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:23:50 pm
content: Quote from: HoracioDos on October 07, 2017, 11:13:02 pmThat's what they did with Dick Smith, the IP and Trademark logs etc were sold separately to the customer database and the physical stores.Someone who used to work at Dick Smith ended up with the rights to the Funway kits, I didn't know about that one.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2017, 11:24:48 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 07, 2017, 11:22:04 pmWould rather not say. Let's just say we weren't mucking around.

author: modrobert
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 09:02:43 am
content: s/mucking/dicking/g

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 02:33:13 pm
content: I can't see the RadioShack name being worth much. Sure I got my start there as did many others but I also saw how bad they ripped people off in the latter years and that soured the name for me.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 02:41:21 pm
content: Quote from: HoracioDos on October 07, 2017, 11:13:02 pmIt's actually fairly common to do that.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 02:44:50 pm
content: This was just posted yesterday:http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/radioshack-rises-up-independent-dealers-expand-as-fort-worth-retailer/article_7cb57116-aad5-11e7-83a6-7faf086083f5.htmlSounds like they're still in business and concentrating online.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 10:55:52 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on October 08, 2017, 02:33:13 pmThis is what I was thinking. Some companies just license their names and that is all RadioShack has left now really. If the name was being licensed for hobby electronics and not cell phones, low quality RC toys, and battery scams, it might be worth something. But probably it would cost more than it is worth.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 11:03:43 pm
content: ROFL!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2017, 01:06:47 am
content: Radio Shack probably still has enough memories for people that it would be worth something as a "name brand" to attach to an otherwise nondescript product.ISTR something similar was done a few years ago when a previously well-known name was attached to some sort of scam device - don't recall details but it was something like a charger that pulled energy from Wifi or something - I'm sure someone here will remember - I think Dave may have done a debunking vid back in the garage days.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2017, 06:10:01 am
content: Hahahahaha. Is that like finding old cashed in GE stock notes and trying to turn them in again? I would hang that on my wall, but apart from decorative purposes, totally worthless.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2017, 06:43:19 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 09, 2017, 01:06:47 amThat was RCA and the Airnergy device.RCA was the ducks guts back in the day, now it's just a shell name still used.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2017, 07:17:15 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 09, 2017, 06:43:19 amInterestingly, RadioShack had switched some of their house branded items to the RCA brand. As an example, go to ebay and search forSA-155 amplifier.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 09, 2017, 11:28:23 pm
content: Adafruit didn't by RS - Limor just bought some framed stock certificates.I agree with previous posters that Adafruit wouldn't have the capital to buy RS, but even if they partnered with investors, what would be the point? the endgame? RS moved away from selling kits and components because there just isn't enough local demand to sustain that sort of business. Retail is expensive - REALLY expensive, and you need huge margins to make it work. Combine a niche clientele with overwhelming online competition (from eBay, Amazon and all the other online sellers like Sparkfun and smaller outfits), and there's no way a RS type operation could be profitable. Even if they were selling 3D printers, laser cutters and other geek-hotness alongside all their existing products.

author: medical-nerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2017, 09:05:17 am
content: HiyaI don't think the brand name RadioShack will have much value in the UK anymore (I know it was run as a separate company over here). To those of us around when they sold components, it was a place to avoid purely because of price. 75p for a 1/4 watt resistor in their packaging was just not affordable. It was a place of last resort. To the new generation Maplin has the domestic 'high store' market even though they have become very poor compared to their heyday in the 80's. I still use them regularly for some components.Cheers

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2017, 06:06:19 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 09, 2017, 01:06:47 amHere in the US, we haveultracrap electronics sold by "Westinghouse".

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2017, 06:26:48 pm
content: Quote from: medical-nerd on October 10, 2017, 09:05:17 amIt never did - Radio Shack was Tandy over here - I think some products had the RS branding, but few people would recognise the name as having any value.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 05:43:25 am
content: Quote from: sleemanj on October 07, 2017, 11:22:11 pmWell then that would be the entity to negotiate with. No reason they can't part it out or sell limited licenses to use the name under certain conditions. See it all the time. When you see TGI Friday's in the frozen section you know they aren't making that. "Distributed under license by the H.J. Heinz Company, L.P." TGI Friday's is operating restaurants. Or was, anyway. They sold a license to sell products in their name similar to their restaurant products and they get a cut.Quote from: iampoor on October 10, 2017, 06:06:19 pmI'm pretty sure that is just one of these marketing deals. Let someone else do all the work, license your famous brand name for their crap Chinese product, get a cut.

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 11:22:19 am
content: Quote from: iampoor on October 10, 2017, 06:06:19 pmDitto with Bell & Howell and other old well respected company names. Now attached to junk products.Tandy was the parent company for Radio Shack and they started, I believe, selling products for leather goods. Years ago (late '60's?) Radio Shack/Tandy bought Allied Electronics, out of Chicago I think, that was a maker of kits that competed with Heathkit. I bought a 7" reel-to-reel tape recorder kit in the fire sale at the time and built the electronics up that attached to a barebones tape drive included in the kit. I think Allied Electronics was a side business for the Allied electronic parts dis't business that lasted for many more years after that.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 12:18:36 pm
content: Radio Shack started in Boston as a local dealer of electronic stuff, particularly for amateur ("ham") radio operators. (Hence, the origin of the name.) Tandy was an established purveyor of leather goods, particularly for hand-crafting types making fancy belts, boots, gun holsters, etc. For whatever reason, Tandy bought RadioShack and took them national by opening hundreds and then thousands of retail storefronts.Alas, they mismanaged them into bankruptcy by assuming RadioShack was just another storefront selling a particular line of goods. They seemed to hire people with zero passion (or even basic knowledge) of electronics, and they were seemingly managed by people in the general retail trades with no particular knowledge or understanding of electronics. Many of us thought they were doomed when they started selling more consumer goods, particularly cell phones, and televisions and toys, etc. Of course, maybe they were just trying to stay in business by expanding their product line to appeal to a wider audience.Allied was an established general-line industrial distributor of electronic components, etc. but with a strong mail-order retail business. They also developed a line of kits ("Knight Kit") that was a minor competitor to HeathKit. I grew up as a kid looking forward to the Allied catalog like other kids pursued toys. It was always puzzling to me that Tandy bought Allied when they seemed barely competent(?) to manage Radio Shack. But that only lasted for a few years, and thankfully Allied lived through the experience and continues on today.And there are many examples of former respected name-brands now just a meaningless label slapped on generic junk made in a 3rd world factory somewhere.Here in 2017, I can typically get anything I used to buy at RadioShack from Amazon. Typically for the same or better price, better selection of good-quality items (or cheap Chinese stuff if I choose). And delivered right to my door in a couple of days. It used to take me that long to arrange time away from the office to drive to a RadioShack storefront shop and then have to deal with the ignorant retail clerks. So maybe RadioShack was doomed as a neighborhood brick-n-mortar retail shop even if Tandy hadn't mismanaged them.The concept of Adafruit buying RadioShack seemed like completely preposterous "fake news" from the moment I heard it. But Adafruit is making themselves into an impressive manufacturer of products sold by the likes of Mouser, DigiKey, Newark/Element14, Allied, et.al. Their "how-ya-doin" style of online videos leaves me rather cold, but I have to sit through the fooling-around to see some decent content eventually.

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 02:49:59 pm
content: Richard,I'm glad your memory is better than mine. I forgot the name of the Allied's kits --> Knight kits. Plus more details on Tandy and Radio Shack.

author: eugenenine
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 03:11:24 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on October 11, 2017, 12:18:36 pmthey wouldn't even hire me at the college (electronic engineering) job fair and I knew every single one of their products inside and out and pretty much had their catalogs memorized.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 03:53:59 pm
content: The biggest thing I miss about Radio Shack was that bundle of test connectors they had. If you had some orphan gadget with a weird DC input connector, you could go to the local RadioShack storefront and try out the different plugs (over two dozen different "inverted phone" styles alone) to see which one fit. And then you could buy the mating plug "off the hook" (providing they kept it in stock). They were originally priced at 1-2 maybe 3 USD. But the prices kept inflating to the point where it costs nearly (or over) US$10 for 20 cents worth of plastic and metal. Of course, if you are desperate to keep your gadget running, you will pay the piper.There is no online equivalent to actually, physically, trying different connectors to see which one fits. I see that RadioShack continues to sell online including the "Adaptaplug" line. And now, they even include the dimensions. But most people have no way of measuring the diameter of the barrel and the diameter of the inside pin. An you can buy them on Amazon as well. But Amazon, in their typical style, offer only the most useless of details about the product (like the blister pack card dimensions)

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2017, 06:23:29 pm
content: I ran a laptop repair business and I purchased two of R.S.'s 1st generation universal laptop AC adapters that used the 1st style Adaptaplug tips. The only tip I wanted, but found was discontinued was the one for Dell laptops. Still have the 2 of them and they've proved to be very useful over the years.

author: JoeO
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2017, 12:39:24 pm
content: Quote from: eugenenine on October 11, 2017, 03:11:24 pmThat is because you knew too much. They didn't want people like you to chit chat with the customers and waste their time sharing your knowledge.