RadioShack

OMG, so my Galaxy S3 was finally blinking out after 3 great years, so I was on the fence about sticking with Tmobile after 13 years or switching over the Sprint after seeing some of their new adverts. I work a couple of blocks from this location and decided to go hear what they had to say to see if they could convince me to go with Sprint and buy a new Galaxy s6. So basically I knew I was getting the s6 but needed to decide which company would give me the better deal, Tmobile or Sprint.
Well, within 2 minutes of walking into the store, and consequently walking out, I knew instantly that I’d stick with Tmobile. This 7^th Street Radio Shack location had a VERY unpleasant odor, like a back alley in Calcutta, just unbearable for too long. The space is very sparse and uninviting. All of the neon yellow «Sprint» signage out front would make one think of excitement inside, NOT. Obviously an attempt to copy Tmobile’s neon pink logo. From what I could tell there were 3 or 4 employees inside and 2 customers. So I walk in, no one greets me or says «be with ya in a minute», none of that, I don’t even think any employee even LOOKED my way, much less welcomed me. The stench inside is very unpleasant. So after no one acknowledged me, I gave them the benefit of the doubt and stayed and pretended to check out the meager phone offerings on the left wall. Then after about a minute I walked over toward what I thought where the representatives I needed to speak to. I say «thought» because there is no signage to say «customer service» or any communication from any employee up to that point. Then an employee finally asks me what he could do for me and I said I was interested in information about the s6 and joining Sprint and he said he couldn’t help me and that I’d have to speak to this other employee. This other employee was assisting another customer. My issue with her was first, she was sitting down, second she didn’t look very happy to be there or to be helping the customer she was with and third, she had this look on her face of absolutely no excitement, nothing about her (or any employee there for that matter) made me say «Wow I wanna join this operation, I wanna be with Sprint!» Nada, nooch, nothing. I said thank you and made my way to the door and kicked myself for even remotely THINKING of leaving Tmobile.
Needless to say, after work I went to the Tmobile out near my home at the Woodmore town center in Lanham, walked in and was IMMEDIATELY greeted happily and loudly by 3 beautiful, happy, cheerful, smiling young ladies and received not only the customer service I’ve come to expect from Tmobile but continued my long relationship with them with the purchase of a new Galaxy s6 and an Otter case for it. The Tmobile employee who assisted me, Lariese, was so friendly and knowledgable and outgoing and happy and excited, she made it easy for me to decide to spend the money on these new products.
Take note Sprint. You need to upgrade your employees! It was literally like night and day between going to these two businesses. And for godsakes get rid of that foul smell in that store location. UGH!

My review is solely for the sprint representative that worked with me in this store. I wanted to change my plan to a family plan so I could add a line. She was very informed in her craft and made the process fast and smooth. My boyfriend and i would laugh and joke around and she even joked and laughed along with us. Who would of thought we’d have such a good experience at a RadioShack?!
If you ever have anything sprint related and are in the area, make sure to come here and ask for Vanessa!

UNFRIENDLY and DISHONEST. Stay away if you don’t want to get robbed at this location. I bought many radio shack products online and was fairly satisfied however the employees at 732 7^th street are not only dishonest but they are incompetent and unfriendly as well. You have been warned!!! I would give it a zero if I can.

Seems a shame that I have to give them a whole star rating, because I have never been to a place that can possibly be worse at being a business even if they tried.
I walk in looking for a laptop cooler, find one easy enough. On my way to the cashier, there is an employee standing in the middle of the aisle, almost in trance as he ignores everything to pay attention to whatever is playing on TV. Finally squeeze pass him and walk towards the check out.
I can see four employees, one helping another customer, the other one on her phone, the third and forth seem to be fooling around with what I assumed to be a friend of some kind as they seem to be hanging of him, literally.
After 5 minutes, way longer then I wish I waited to realize customer service here is as common as a unicorn, I left.
Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an example of a poorly run business, or trying to find a candidate for the worst customer service award.

I’ve been in a few times, pretty standard radio shack. Except they have a lot of neat DIY electronics projects based on Arduinos and Maker project sets, and a nice assortment of starter soldering tools.
Emphasis on starter, you’re not going to build an iphone out of this stuff but it’s nice that radio shack still caters to hobbyists.

My boyfriend and I pay our phone bills here every month and usually dont have a problem. We walk-​in, pay the bill, and walk out about 5 –10 mins later depending on who is working. Herbert usually helps us and is always quick. If hes not working, then it usually takes longer bc the other employees seem to take longer to recognize customers that need help.

I would give them ZERO stars if I could. Walked in to return something and the employees there are very LAZY. They seem to have better things to do than help a customer. The manager seemed knowledgeable but the staff could use refresher training in customer service.

I needed a charger for my iPhone and was in town for thanksgiving. I was greeted and brought to the spot where they stock the exorbitently priced items. I picked one and went to the register. Some dreaded lurch in his 40s was looming over the female who was charging my card. He «whispers» to her about my earrings and how he feels they’re not cute-​understandable as he’s obviously taking time off from walking in fashion week in Rome. He giggles and stares at me as i leave the store and I’m livid over the fulfilled prophecy of douchebag extremists hating their job but still bothering to «work» just enough to pay the rent in their moms basement. Of course the charger breaks a few hours later but I’d rather peel my face off and jerry rig a potato clock/​charger than go back to another radio shack in any urban area.

Working nearby, I thought I’d run over to this particular location to pick up some headphone during my lunchbreak. However, instead of finding a pair of headphones, I was instead confronted with stupidity beyond imagination.
Let me give you the scene: there were THREE employees working and NO ONE in the store when I came in. Not one of them greeted me, and when I asked for some help, all three looked at me with adolescent contempt (quite inappropriate in your late-​20s) that I had interrupted their texting.
My salesman, who seemingly had a hard time breathing through his nose, astounded me with his idiocy in the following ways:
1) Did not know that the plural for «foot» was «feet»
2) Claimed that the measurements for the cords was only listed in meters (when, it was clearly labled in feet as well).
3) Thought that customer service meant standing within 5 feet of you and staring at you.
God bless your heart, Radio Shack, for hiring the otherwise unemployable!

WARNING: THIS REVIEW IS AS CRASS AS RADIO SHACK’S PRICES
User’s guide to Radio Shack:
Answer the following questions:
«Do I make monthly donations to a church in Nigeria?»
«Is the exchange of money for goods and services just a cultural formality?»
«Am I a huge fucking dipshit tool that doesn’t mind paying a 1,000% markup on easily acquired shit?»
If the answer is yes to any of these, then go to Radio Shack for all your digital needs.
/​/​end guide.
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Honestly I don’t know who the fuck goes here. Need a usb cord? they cost less than $ 2. Expect to pay $ 25+ for one at Radio Shack. The one at radio Shack might be gold plated, but that only helps analog signals, and nothing is analog anymore. They’re hoping you don’t know that. Paying a bit extra for quick access to something you need can be a worthwhile expense. After all, no one expects the best prices at the local convenience store. Still, you have to ask yourself: «Would I pay $ 20 for a 2-​liter bottle of soda? What about $ 60 for a microwave hamburger?» The answer is probably «no» regardless of who you are, but for some reason people who would never pay $ 25 for a bottle of soda will happily pay $ 25 for a USB cord, even though they cost about the same.

$ 20 for a USB computer to printer cable v. $ 1.40 on Amazon.
$ 11.50 for three button batteries (CR2032) v. pack of 25 identical batteries for $ 3.49 on Amazon.
I know they have to pay rent on their store, so I expect prices to be a little higher, but those markups are absurd. How are they still in business? What do people actually buy there?

It seems like Radio Shack has been around forever. I remember going to the shack as a kid to get cheap batteries or one of those weird switchy things you needed to attach your Atari 2600 to the back of the TV… the thing with the two little prongs that you had to tighten the screws down on so you could kick your friend’s butt at «Yar’s Revenge.»
I think that’s why I prefer going to the Shack over other electronics stores. The Shack has maintained is cool nerdliness while Best Buy and Circuit City (etc.) are basically just douchevilles where all the employees wear lame khaki pants and tell you how badly you neeeeed to own Season 5 of «Moesha.» It will complete your life!
This location is clean, well-​staffed, and didn’t give me any hassles when I went there recently to return something I decided I didn’t need. Parking is impossible but that’s true of any downtown business that doesn’t have an underground garage. Recommended for your electronics needs.