Radio Shack is charging New York City consumers an extra half-percent of sales tax, even though the State hasn’t approved a new tax rate. Before descending into a chaotic mess of embarrassing inaction, the New York State Senate was widely expected to hike the sales tax New York City’s local sales from 8.375% to 8.875%. That never happened, a minor detail that isn’t stopping Radio Shack from collecting more tax, as reader Jeff discovered…
radio shack
More Insider Tips When Buying From Radioshack
By 6.17.09
There’s clearly no love lost between D. and D’s former employer, RadioShack. A little over a year ago, D. sent us some insider tips on what to watch out for when you shop at RS. Now here comes a follow-up, with more information on cell phone sales tricks, warranty pitches, and used merchandise.
Cablevision Takes Away Analog Stations Before DTV Transition, Confuses Customers
By 5.22.09
Joe works at a Radio Shack store on Long Island. Lately, the combination of the digital TV transition and some recent lineup changes at local cable TV provider Cablevision has Joe concerned, since he has both a conscience and a brain, and is an avid Consumerist reader.
Radio Shack Punches Customer In Face
By 4.29.09
Instead of getting his money back, one Radio Shack customer got a sock in the jaw when he tried to return something. According to the police report, the employee wouldn’t let the customer return the item. When the customer asked to speak to a manager – kapow! And you thought the worst thing you had to worry about was if you kept your receipt!
Radio Shack Employee Lies, Says Government Requires Your Name And Address To Use DTV Coupon
By 2.11.09
Tim tried to use a Digital TV coupon at a Philadelphia Radio Shack and was told that he had to provide his name and address in order to redeem it, as per government regulations. Strike out “government” and replace with “imaginary” and you’re closer to the truth. Hmm, did this Radio Shack employee just break the law?
Radio Shack Takes Selling Used Digital Recorder Containing Personal Information As New Seriously
By 6.3.08
THE QUOTE: “RadioShack takes seriously its obligation to safeguard the privacy of our customers. In this isolated instance, our records indicate a customer returned a digital recording device and said it did not work. Unknown to us, it actually did work and apparently contained recordings of personal conversations the customer failed to erase from the memory before returning the product.”
A Radio Shack Manager Explains Why They Ask For Personal Info On Cash Returns
By 5.16.08
Last week, we pointed out that even with a receipt and the product in hand, and even though you purchased it with cash the day before at the same store, Radio Shack won’t give a refund unless you give them your home address first. We got a lot of insider tips from former employees in the comments section, and the next day we received the following perspective from a Radio Shack store manager. We think his explanation still doesn’t explain why you need personal ID to refund a cash transaction when you’ve got the item and the receipt in front of you, but read on if you want an unverified store manager’s point of view.
RadioShack Won't Give Refund On Cash Purchase Unless You Show Your Papers
By 5.8.08
RadioShack’s whole collecting-your-personal-data nonsense is old news, but it’s not just for purchases anymore. When Pete tried to take back some potentiometers he’d paid for the day before with cash, the clerk refused to give him any sort of refund—even a store credit—without Pete’s physical address.
Radio Shack Won't Accept Cash Without Your Home Address
By 4.2.08
Reader Tim went to Radio Shack to buy something or other and the manager refused to process his cash transaction without first learning his home address. Tim left the store and dashed off a quick email to us. He let us know he was going to contact Radio Shack about the incident, but felt certain that he’d be ignored.
Free Advice For RadioShack: Lock The Front Door Before Smoking Up
By 3.6.08
Charlie writes:
Yesterday I did the unthinkable. I went to Radio Shack.
Monster Cables, Monster Ripoff: 80% Markups
By 2.8.08
Ever wonder why gadget store employees push Monster cables like they’re crack? Bitchin’ markups, just like you suspected (or knew) all along. That’s what we found when a Radio Shack employee sent us his store’s entire inventory list, which included the wholesale and retail price of every item in stock.
FCC Fines Radio Shack For Selling Analog TVs With No Consumer Warning
By 10.23.07
CONSUMER ALERT: This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require a converter box after February 17, 2009, to receive over-the-air broadcasts with an antenna because of the Nation’s transition to digital broadcasting. Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more information, call the Federal CommunicationsCommission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY: 1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at: http://www.dtv.gov.
The FCC supposedly has undercover agents working in stores and surfing the web to make sure stores aren’t selling obsolete TVs to hapless rabbit-ear using folks. Meanwhile, Best Buy has stopped selling analog TVs outright.
UPDATE: Radio Shack Screams Nonsense On Phone With Rebate-Seeking Customer
By 1.30.07
Daniel writes in a happy ending, with an unexpected twist, to his Radio Shack rebate complaint we posted yesterday.
Radio Shack Screams Nonsense On Phone With Rebate-Seeking Customer
By 1.29.07
That’s the unprofessionalism Daniel experienced trying to find out when his rebate check from Radio Shack was supposed to arrive. Because of this, and the duplicity of Radio Shack in initially saying his rebate was denied, Daniel is submitting a complaint to the BBB, The NYC Consumer Affairs Bureau, the NYS AG office, and, of course, us.
Radio Shack, You’ve Got Questions, Bully For You
By 7.13.06
Radio Shack bills itself as the happy place where if, “You’ve Got Questions, We’ve Got Answers.” Having gone there a few times to pick up audio supplies and the like, it seems the only question they’re equipped in answering is “Where are your audio converter cables?” Beyond that, don’t ask. Do your research online and buy there, even, only venturing into the retail store if you need your wares that day or the amount of gas costs less than shipping.
Radio Shack Answers CEO Question
By 7.10.06
RadioShack named a new CEO Friday, Julian C. Day, former Kmart helmsman. The electronics retailer searched for four months after its previous chief resigned amidst discovery that two of his degrees on his resume were nonexistent.
Radio Shack Ablaze, CEO Resigns
By 2.21.06
David Edmonson stepped down yesterday as CEO of Radio Shack.
