The Shack, short on money for new signs, asks for your help
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted August 5th 2009 3:29PM
posted August 5th 2009 3:29PM
Like the rest of America, we've gotten some serious LOLs out of Radio Shack's current bid for relevance. But, as you know, rebranding comes at a price -- all those new signs excising the word "Radio" from the chain's storefronts aren't exactly cheap, you know. That said, we were equally amused and annoyed by today's email blast urging consumers to carry around little pieces of paper with the word "THE" printed on it. That way, you can obscure the offending noun whenever you find yourself within close proximity of one of these signs -- saving the company money on signage and increasing brand recognition in one bold move. Still unclear of the concept? Get yourself detailed instructions after the break, or hit up that read link to catch some rockin' videos on the company's Facebook page... and prepare to be underwhelmed.
HAHAHA
Hes giving us the finger!
Gerad,
I love your avatar. Well done!
"That way, you can obscure the offending noun ..."
Joseph L. Flatley, you have shamed your former English teachers.
Only fair I guess. Radio Shack's been giving 'the finger' to it's customer's for years.
The Shack is gonna rock again with the comeback kid, Lance Armstrong, leading the charge. The Shack is going to be the major sponsor of Lance's new team! Motorola who? US Postal who? Discovery who? Astana who? That's right...The Shack!
I loled
I dunno, I think it's kind of clever for a promotion. The point is that the difference between RadioShack and The Shack is in name only. I get it... :)
Yes in name only. Still crappy store that no longer has any relation with radios and try to peddle phones everytime you enter. Their part bins are unorganized and most over priced. No longer can you enter and grab some resistor.
it will always be "radio shack" to me.
@thach: Are you crying? Oh wow, you mean a national electronics chain doesn't sell as many resistors as you would like? Name another major retailer that sells resistors period. I'll wait....
You still there? Or did you run off to play with your 30 year old Ham radio?
Wow sam who shoved a resistor up your bread board?
I'm not as upset about Radio Shack because there are many better places for electronic parts:
Digikey
Newark
Fafrnell
Allied Electronics to name a few
@Sam
Do you mean to imply that resistors are an outdated technology?
Electronic parts were the only things distinguishing Radio Shack from a mall cell phone kiosk. Well, that and a collection of random Chinese junk from a Walmart electronics section with the prices jacked up.
Whenever I need some weird-ass connector I go to Radio Shack because they are everywhere and I have the best chance to find it there, whatever it's called.
What is a "weird ass-connector"? Oh wait, a misplaced hyphen can make all the difference.
nobody beats the wiz?
I think the new name is much better. Now only if they allowed for custom electronics and computers. You pick the case and innards and they do the build. I like that idea.
@Sam: Fry's Electronics. What do I win?
@Amun: lol Zing! You should win a pwned award.
Right on Sam.
When it comes to those small parts: If we don't have it, no one does.
It's been called "The Source (by Circuit City)" in Canada for a while now. Everybody knows it's still Radio Shack.
it will always be "home of the $12 headphone adapter" to me
thank god for monoprice
@sam:
Ham radios are still relevant and in use today. During the northeast blackout a few years ago, the only people who could communicate wirelessly were using ham radios - myself included. Yes, we have cell phones, but they rely on a supported network. Amateur (ham) radios don't need a network and can be used to talk worldwide, for free.
So in those emergency situations where the only link between you and help is a volunteer ham radio operator, you might want a (radio)Shack nearby for some backup transistors.
How about a compromise? I'll carry around a little piece of paper that says "SHlT" instead.
How about City Shack?
Radio shack? What is this 1995?
Yeah, AT&T - what is this, 1895?
Well it has been posted twice now on Engadget.... If they don't actually change the name its creating some free advertising as places like this website pick up on it! But yesss very silly at the same time.
Wow, some marketing people are just so far off. They think of some cute idea that seems unique and somehow leverages social networking (in any way possible, relevant or not) and they think they've got gold.
But this is just nuts.
-Taylor
Yes absolutely nuts.
Like having an exceptionally popular gadget blog write an article about it.
And having users like "Taylor. Yes, Taylor." responding to said article, mocking the absurdity of it.
OH WOW.
I'll be at The Shack in Houston next to Exotic Cabaret Lingerie on Westheimer with my THE pants on!
... as opposed to everyone else's RADIO pants?
If only they'd used an anagram for Radio, this would never have happened.
I have a feeling this change will net the same effect as dropping the 'R' and the 'hack.' . . .
lolz
i see what you did thar
Vaya con Dios El Radio Shack, or Shack, or dead store walking, whatever you're calling yourself these days.
man, that took me way too long to understand, but it was worth it. well played good sir.
I looked at their facebook page and they only have 310 fans, I have more friends then they have fans!
Ooh! You're popular!!!
/sarcasm
:D
////don't be jealous\
daniel, your posts make me LOL so much
Pedophile stalkers don't count as friends dude.
Yes they do, don't try to mess with tradition.
I have to agree with most of these comments, they should have renamed it to Shit Shack. If only they would stop selling crappy gimmick devices and cell phones and start selling electronic parts, cables, chips, resistors, etc... If they would go back to their roots, they would probably do a lot better.
Have you ever been in a Radioshack? About 2/3 of the store is devoted to "selling electronic parts, cables, chips, resistors, etc..."
In keeping with this new tradition, Best Buy is now called, The Buy, Wal Mart is now, The Mart, and University of Southern California is now known as The University of Southern California, otherwise called, TUSC.
Funny, to me, it's always been the University of...
1) Spoiled Children
2) Scholastic Compromise
I keed, I keed...
They wanted to call it The Wal but apparently that was already taken.