Just saw this on one of my news feeds:

"In a surprising turn of events, a beloved retailer from the 1980s is
making a triumphant return to the retail scene in the US.

This once-prominent brand, which faced bankruptcy not once but twice,
is set to regain its former glory under new ownership.

The revival of this iconic retailer promises to stir nostalgia among
long-time fans and capture the attention of a new generation of
shoppers."

http://tinyurl.com/TRASH-80 for the story as it stands.

I really miss Radio Shack - not so much for the confusers - but as a
source for pieces/parts to fix my aging computers and electronics.

... Computers are good at following instructions, but not at reading your mind. ___ MultiMail/Win v0.52

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"In a surprising turn of events, a beloved retailer from the 1980s is making a triumphant return to the retail scene in the US.

Weren't they sh*tposting on Twitter/X a couple years ago? I remember them getting made fun of for that.

-----------------------------------
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Conrad Candy Smith wrote to Dave Drum <=-

"In a surprising turn of events, a beloved retailer from the 1980s is making a triumphant return to the retail scene in the US.

Weren't they sh*tposting on Twitter/X a couple years ago? I remember
them getting made fun of for that.

I dunno. FIDO is as close to "social media" as I get. No Farcebook,
no Tweeter, etc. From whayt I understand of the way social media works
anyone can pretend to be the rasal megilla and run a "wishful thinking"
deal like that just to see if anything of what they say sticks to the
wall.

But I well remember the attemped revival(s) of the bankrupt Circuit
City.

If Rat Shaft does make an actual comeback they shoukd "dance with
who brought them" rather than reinventing themselfs avar couple years.

... MS-DOS=suit & tie, Macintosh=cool shades, Amiga=high heels & leather
___ MultiMail/Win v0.52

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Dave Drum wrote to Conrad Candy Smith <=-

If Rat Shaft does make an actual comeback they shoukd "dance with
who brought them" rather than reinventing themselfs avar couple years.

From what I understand, the new RS owners are acutely aware of past
mistakes. When I worked for RS, they were just getting into cell
phones. Since I was (and still am) an amateur radio operator, they put
my callign where my name went and my name underneath that on my name
badge. The other employees, save for the store manager, wondered why
everyone went to me when they were looking for electronics and A/V
parts. <G>

I do hope RS comes back. A lot of my otherwise unhappy child/teen years
were spent in RS stores and looking at those wonderful catalogs.

-- Sean

... CAUTION: Do not install prior to installation.
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Sean Dennis wrote to Dave Drum <=-

If Rat Shaft does make an actual comeback they shoukd "dance with
who brought them" rather than reinventing themselfs avar couple years.

From what I understand, the new RS owners are acutely aware of past mistakes. When I worked for RS, they were just getting into cell
phones. Since I was (and still am) an amateur radio operator, they put
my callign where my name went and my name underneath that on my name badge. The other employees, save for the store manager, wondered why everyone went to me when they were looking for electronics and A/V
parts. <G>

I do hope RS comes back. A lot of my otherwise unhappy child/teen
years were spent in RS stores and looking at those wonderful catalogs.

In the 60s Spring-A-Leak Had Bruce Electronics (local) Baptist Electronics (also home grown) and Allied Radio (purveyor of pieces, parts and U-Build
kits) which was later bought up by Radio Shaft. Also Lafayette Electronics which was sorta-kinda like like allied radio. We had a Tandy Leather store
but no Radio Shacks.

I built several of Allied Radio's SWL kits - the Space Spanner and the
Sky Buddy pop to the front of my mind. And Hi-Fi/Stereo equipment from
both Allied and Lafayette.

Sometimes I have to stop when I'm getting nostalgic about those days
and places and remind myself that "The best thing about the 'Gool Old
Days' is that they're gone." Bv)=

... There are 27 bones in my hand. 28 when I'm lonely. -- Kermit the Frog
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I do hope RS comes back. A lot of my otherwise unhappy child/teen years were spent in RS stores and looking at those wonderful catalogs.

I also hope it comes back. I have fond memories of that place.

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Sean Dennis wrote to Dave Drum <=-

From what I understand, the new RS owners are acutely aware of past mistakes.

I hope so. I always found it strange that as the Maker movement was going up, Radio Shack was reducing its electronic parts and equipment - replacing it with cell phones.

I do hope RS comes back. A lot of my otherwise unhappy child/teen
years were spent in RS stores and looking at those wonderful catalogs.

It would be really nice to be able to make a short trip to get those parts that I need to finish the current project - instead of ordering online and having to wait a week or so.

So we'll see. If the new Radio Shack is just going to be some online company, I doubt that they will succeed. There's already some well-established companies in that space.


... A cynic smells flowers and looks for the casket.
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Re: Re: Radio Shack Revival
By: Sean Dennis to Dave Drum on Thu Sep 07 2023 05:35 pm

I do hope RS comes back. A lot of my otherwise unhappy child/teen years were spent in RS stores and looking at those wonderful catalogs.

I've never been to one, but it would be cool to visit.

Candy

===
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Just saw this on one of my news feeds:

"In a surprising turn of events, a beloved retailer from the 1980s is making a triumphant return to the retail scene in the US.

This once-prominent brand, which faced bankruptcy not once but twice,
is set to regain its former glory under new ownership.

The revival of this iconic retailer promises to stir nostalgia among long-time fans and capture the attention of a new generation of shoppers."

I bought my first computer from Radio Shack. Tandy SX20 386 I believe it was. Believe it or not we still use a TRS-80 model 4 where I work. It runs an old engraving machine. Amazing that it is still running after all these years.

|02-=|10Cozmo|02=-

... "I am" is the shortest sentence in English. Is 'I do' the longest?

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Believe it or not we still use a TRS-80 model 4 where I
work. It runs an old engraving machine. Amazing that it
is still running after all these years.

Those old computers are surprisingly well built for their age. I can't say the same for myself though.

-- Sean

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Ross Branham wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Just saw this on one of my news feeds:

"In a surprising turn of events, a beloved retailer from the 1980s is making a triumphant return to the retail scene in the US.

This once-prominent brand, which faced bankruptcy not once but twice,
is set to regain its former glory under new ownership.

The revival of this iconic retailer promises to stir nostalgia among long-time fans and capture the attention of a new generation of
shoppers."

I bought my first computer from Radio Shack. Tandy SX20 386 I believe
it was. Believe it or not we still use a TRS-80 model 4 where I work.
It runs an old engraving machine. Amazing that it is still running
after all these years.

As I have said here before my 1st "store bought" confuser was a TRaSh-80
Model 1. Family Video (the last or near the last) video rental chain was
run on a Tandy 1000 using BSD (historic) uNix. They didn't declare formal bankruptcy and they are using that old horse to continue to run things as
they liquidate/repurpose the real estate they squired along the way.

... "I am" is the shortest sentence in English. Is 'I do' the longest?

Depensd on who you say it to. Bv)= .... stolen, BTW

... Contraceptives should be used on every conceivable occasion.
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Re: Re: Radio Shack Revival
By: Dave Drum to Ross Branham on Sun Sep 10 2023 06:11 am

As I have said here before my 1st "store bought" confuser was a TRaSh-80

TRaSH? Was it that bad?

Candy

===
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...Tolkien is hobbit-forming.
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Candy Cane wrote to Dave Drum <=-

TRaSH? Was it that bad?

They weren't bad at all. That nickname is just from the rivalry at the
time. TRS-80 users eventually adopted the term themselves, capitalizing
it to match the TRS of TRS-80 (i.e. TRaSh-80).

The original TRS-80 model I was eventually outclassed by Apple II's and Commodore 64's. But that was just one model of computer bearing the
TRS-80 moniker. There were the models II, III and 4 which were marketed
more towards small and medium businesses. Then there were the Coco's,
1, 2 and 3. The Coco 1, like the Model I, was outclassed by Apples and
C64's, but the later CoCo 2 was similar in capability and the CoCo3
surpassed them both, but came at a time when people were moving away
from 8-bit micros.

Probably more than you wanted to know lol.


=== blueMail/DOS 1.3
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Re: Re: Radio Shack Revival
By: Doug Mccomber to Candy Cane on Sun Sep 10 2023 02:34 pm

They weren't bad at all. That nickname is just from the rivalry at the time. TRS-80 users eventually adopted the term themselves, capitalizing
it to match the TRS of TRS-80 (i.e. TRaSh-80).

Oh, that's neat.

Probably more than you wanted to know lol.

Well, it's neat trivia.

Candy

===
user is generated from /dev/urandom

...If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
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Candy Cane wrote to Dave Drum <=-

As I have said here before my 1st "store bought" confuser was a
TRaSh-80

TRaSH? Was it that bad?

No, it really wqasn't. It was a fairly decent entry level confuser. I
bought the veersion with the level 2 ROMs and used it for some time.
Learned basic and syntax on that little box.

Most of the customers for that model were either teenagers or young
adults and if you are an observer of society you'll realise that in
that age group things get new (often punnish or twisted) names in
common use. Rather like the Apple Macintosh was re-named as the
"Macintrash"

The only reason I abandoned the Rat Shaft box was the advent of the
Commode Door 64 which was inexpensive and in COLOR.
... There are 27 bones in my hand. 28 when I'm lonely. -- Kermit the Frog
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Re: Re: Radio Shack Revival
By: Dave Drum to Candy Cane on Mon Sep 11 2023 04:58 am

Most of the customers for that model were either teenagers or young
adults and if you are an observer of society you'll realise that in
that age group things get new (often punnish or twisted) names in
common use. Rather like the Apple Macintosh was re-named as the "Macintrash"

Oh, so edgy teens called it the TRaSH and it stuck?

Candy

===
user is generated from /dev/urandom

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Candy Cane wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Most of the customers for that model were either teenagers or young
adults and if you are an observer of society you'll realise that in
that age group things get new (often punnish or twisted) names in
common use. Rather like the Apple Macintosh was re-named as the "Macintrash"

Oh, so edgy teens called it the TRaSH and it stuck?

Well, yeah. I notr that youngsters stretching their societal legs often
twist things into slang phrases. For instance "bitchin'" used to be a commonplace for something good or unexpectedly nice. And "bad" often saw
use for "excellent" or "wonmderful" Then there was all the 'surfer speak'
etc.

Not it's us old folkers using commonplace expressions or referrents from
our mis-spent youth to confuse the youngsters. For instance, if I tell
someone I'm a double 'Jack Benny' I'll get a blank look if they're under
45 or so. As it happens I am Jack Benny X tow + three. Bv)=


... "All these doughnuts and not a cop in sight." -- Plucky Duck

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Re: Re: Radio Shack Revival
By: Dave Drum to Candy Cane on Tue Sep 12 2023 05:43 am

Well, yeah. I notr that youngsters stretching their societal legs often twist things into slang phrases. For instance "bitchin'" used to be a commonplace for something good or unexpectedly nice. And "bad" often saw use for "excellent" or "wonmderful" Then there was all the 'surfer speak' etc.

Was "gay" (happy) also affected by this or was it something else?

Candy

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Candy Cane wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Re: Re: Radio Shack Revival
By: Dave Drum to Candy Cane on Tue Sep 12 2023 05:43 am

Well, yeah. I notr that youngsters stretching their societal legs often twist things into slang phrases. For instance "bitchin'" used to be a commonplace for something good or unexpectedly nice. And "bad" often saw use for "excellent" or "wonmderful" Then there was all the 'surfer speak' etc.

Was "gay" (happy) also affected by this or was it something else?

I think the weenie washers co-opted "gay" and the rainbow stuff on their
own as a marketing tool for their lifestyle.

... "Of those who say nothing, few are silent." -- Thomas Neill
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Candy Cane wrote to Dave Drum <=-

TRaSH? Was it that bad?

It was a nickname. The Radio Shack computers were quite good quality.

-- Sean


... BASIC is a high-level languish.
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Doug Mccomber wrote to Candy Cane <=-

Probably more than you wanted to know lol.

My friend has a Model 16 that I want badly! But he won't sell. -cry-

-- Sean


... A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.
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Oh boy, that is one nice machine! A TRS-80 Model 4D is the one piece
in my collection that I would never part with. But if I had a Model
16...

It's funny, I grew up on a C64, had Apple II's in high school and the
computer I bought myself was a CoCo3. But it is the monochrome
business machines that fascinated me and I ended up collecting. Even
though I didn't pay much attention to them in my local Radio Shack.
There it was always the gray CoCo with some game cartridge in it
(Mega Bug I think) that caught my attention as a teenager.

Sean Dennis wrote to Doug Mccomber <=-

My friend has a Model 16 that I want badly! But he won't sell. -cry-

-- Sean

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Sean Dennis wrote to Candy Cane <=-

TRaSH? Was it that bad?

It was a nickname. The Radio Shack computers were quite good quality.

It's amazing how many Model I's are still functioning today.

I had picked up a 4K Model I Level I just as a display piece in my collection.

Later, I acquired a 16K Level II and restored it. Once it was working, I decided to plug in the Level I system just to see what happened and it WORKED.


... "640K ought to be enough for anybody." (Bill Gates, 1981)
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I do hope RS comes back. A lot of my otherwise unhappy child/teen yea were spent in RS stores and looking at those wonderful catalogs.

I've never been to one, but it would be cool to visit.

I remember one in Downtown Seattle about 20 years ago. Nothing special. just a small shop with various electronics for consumers. phones, speakers, cameras. random choice showing this is all and nothing. Lots of small shoppes around that were more focused.

But I was there with a guy 10-15 years older than me who was amazed to see RS again as he remembered it from last US visit decades earlier..

I could not understand as Best Buy had more to offer already and for parts and homebrew projects Fry's was what I'm sure you remembered as RS at its peak time.

-db

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
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Danny Bee wrote to Candy Cane <=-

I remember one in Downtown Seattle about 20 years ago. Nothing special. just a small shop with various electronics for consumers. phones, speakers, cameras. random choice showing this is all and nothing. Lots
of small shoppes around that were more focused.

I grew up in the late '70s and early '80s when Radio Shack was more
about electronics hobbies. I had a "Battery of the Month" club,
remember the excitement of being 11 or 12 and having a free carbon-zinc
D cell or 9v battery to make things with. :)

Over the years, the wall of electronic components gave way to cheap
electronic crap, and later to cell phones and accessories before they
closed.



... Where are we now?
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Kurt Weiske wrote to Danny Bee <=-

I remember one in Downtown Seattle about 20 years ago. Nothing special. just a small shop with various electronics for consumers. phones, speakers, cameras. random choice showing this is all and nothing. Lots
of small shoppes around that were more focused.

I grew up in the late '70s and early '80s when Radio Shack was more
about electronics hobbies. I had a "Battery of the Month" club,
remember the excitement of being 11 or 12 and having a free
carbon-zinc D cell or 9v battery to make things with. :)

When I was operating as Megabyte Computer Works I scored a nice counter
top display for "regular" (C-Zn) batteries.. The deals were *very* good
so I made a sign adverting the prices and a notation of "TOY NOT INCLUDED"

Over the years, the wall of electronic components gave way to cheap electronic crap, and later to cell phones and accessories before they closed.

Proving once again that you should dance with who brought you to the
party. Tandy's board couldn't make up their collective minds what they
wanted Rat Shaft to be - so it wasn't much of anything.


... Money won't buy happiness. But it will buy bacon.
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Rat Shaft

So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to RS.. seems that the brand disappointed heavily

-db

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Danny Bee wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Rat Shaft

So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to RS.. seems that the brand disappointed heavily

Not that they're so bad. People like to come up with unique tags for
things. Else, why would chipped beef on toast be known as S*** on a
Single (or S.O.S.)? Or Macintosh as Mackintrash? Or McDonalds as Mickey
D's?

... January 6, 2021. ANOTHER day that will live in infamy!

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So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to RS.. seems that the bra
d disappointed heavily

Towards the end, I believe they did disappoint which is what hastened their end.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * "Cool! I broke his brain!" - Bart on Principal Skinner
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Danny Bee wrote to Dave Drum <=-

So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to
RS.. seems that the brand disappointed heavily

No, these were just stupid pet names. The actual computers were built
quite well.

-- Sean


... To err is human. To forgive is against company policy.
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Sean Dennis wrote to Danny Bee <=-

So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to
RS.. seems that the brand disappointed heavily

No, these were just stupid pet names. The actual computers were built quite well.

Ya, everyone had their names.

Commode-door. Chicken-lips.

Rotten Apple. Crab Apple.

I'm sure I can remember more if I think hard enough.

BTW: I have a TRS-80 Model I Level I with 4K of RAM. I haven't done anything to it and it still fires up just fine. I also have a Model I Level II that I actually use. Other than reflowing old solder connections, it worked just fine too.

The TRS-80 Model I was a collection of compromises. It sold WAYYY better than anyone expected. And Radio Shack tried their best to keep their customers happy.

Remember that back in the 1970's and early 80's, Radio Shack was the #1 home computer seller.


... Today is a good day for you to jump in a lake.
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So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to
RS.. seems that the brand disappointed heavily

To be honest, I could use a Radio Shack store right about now. I need a new
AC Adaptor. It would be nice to be able to walk into a store with the bad
one I have and examine the product before buying.

As it is, I ordered one from Amazon. Although the item online said it was
for the correct output, the one I received very much is not. The barrel connector is also not the right size, although that part may have been my fault.

Mike


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Jimmy Anderson wrote to Dave Drum <=-

Dave Drum wrote to Danny Bee <=-

So many negative nicknames can be read here refering to RS.. seems that the brand disappointed heavily

Not that they're so bad. People like to come up with unique tags for things. Else, why would chipped beef on toast be known as S*** on a Single (or S.O.S.)? Or Macintosh as Mackintrash? Or McDonalds as Mickey D's?

Wally World for Wal-Mart

Or Walgreen's Drug Stores Bv)=

Also Burger Whop, Taco Sloppo, etc.

... Those who lose dreaming are lost. Australian Aboriginal Proverb
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