The last time I was in a Radio Shack (which were bought in Canada by Circuit city and renamed The Source) I was completely ignored by all the sales people

Yeah, whatever.

buying a home theatre system

Oooh, what kind?!

I lost any remaining respect for radio Shack the day I walked into one around 1998 and mused to a salesman that I wished one could buy replacement female ends for standard computer power cords, so you could make your own length like you can for extension cords.

He said it wouldn't work, because "all computers have different cords." He was serious.

I just started laughing and had to walk out.

Granted, there are a few specialty cords, but this was well into standardization and we weren't talking about laptop power cables. Plus? Right in front of us was a (fantastically overpriced) standard 3 slot computer power cord.

I should have been easier on him, I suppose, they had gotten rid of their diodes and such at that store YEARS before.

I miss the racks and racks of neat stuff.

I always got good help at my neighborhood Radio Shack in KC. I actually like RS because it is small and not as overwhelming as the big box stores like Best Buy.

I had a guy who was helping me say, "I'll be back" and then walked up to another customer and say "may I help you sir", and then proceeded to start another transaction.

This is the rudest shit ever.

I had a guy who was helping me say, "I'll be back" and then walked up to another customer and say "may I help you sir", and then proceeded to start another transaction.

It's probably one of those corporate things where they're measured on how quickly each customer is helped when they walk into the store....but not on whether there's follow through, or each customer actually gets...HELP.

I think the last time I went to one was when I moved here to Seattle, and the apartment I was subletting had a tiny TV, but only to watch DVDs, so I went there (since there was a Radio Shack downtown, and big-box stores were not easily accessible) to buy rabbit ears, so I could watch TV.

I had a guy who was helping me say, "I'll be back" and then walked up to another customer and say "may I help you sir", and then proceeded to start another transaction.

This is the rudest shit ever.

I'm sure that it is a surprise to no one that I said loudly "EXCUSE ME, BUT I HAVE NOT COMPLETED MY TRANSACTION"

Clearly, crisply, and with your take-no-prisoners tone, I assume.

Clearly, crisply, and with your take-no-prisoners tone, I assume.

I have been witness to this on two occasions. Makes my toes curl just to think about it.

What? Oh, right. No, I haven't a tech question. Don't get up, I'll go now.

The power cord for my laptop has a tear in the insulation, and the only way it works is if it's bent at a really particular angle. I'm pretty sure I can fix this with some electrical tape, but I don't have any electrical tape right now and I really don't feel like going out. I've got another power cord at my office, but I can't get it until tomorrow. How much am I risking fire if I just use the damaged one and keep an eye on it?

How much am I risking fire if I just use the damaged one and keep an eye on it?

I'd just make sure the frayed part of the cable was not resting on anything flammable.