Radio Shack

From: John Chris Wren <jcwren_at_jcwren.com>
Date: Fri Feb 15 08:20:07 2002

        I generally prefer to order from Digikey, but sometimes you need a part
right *now*. And, if you're really lucky, RS may even carry it (we used to
have a RadioShack.com about 20 miles away, but they've folded. Ever since
they went from being Tech America to RadioShack.com, they "consumerfied"
their stock, and started hiring idiots, then went out of business. But I
digress).

        So assuming RS carries this part, I'm forced to go down to my local store.
Now I usually have nothing personal against the actual employees on an
individual basis, but mostly as a class of sales people (just like you may
know one honest used car dealer, but slam them as a whole). However, we've
got "Frank". Frank is the manager of the store. There's nothing Frank
doesn't know. Frank knows things he doesn't even know he knows about. Why,
with what all Frank knows, I can't figure out why he doesn't have a cold
fusion research grant, instead of managing a mere Radio Shack store. Frank
is a genius, I tell you!

        A few weeks ago I went into Franks Amazing Radioshack Consumer Extravaganza
(FARCE), and said "Ah, you've rearranged the store. Where might the modular
handset plug crimping tools have been moved to, my good man?" What ensued
was being informed that the cord between the wall and the telephone was not
a handset sized plug but a RJ-11 or RJ-12, and that I didn't really want a
handset crimper (which, it turns out, they don't carry), but a RJ-12
crimper. I explained that "No, I really *do* want a handset plug crimper,
which would be known under the USOC, or Universal Service Order Codes, as a
RJ-10, or 'Registered Jack #10', because I AM NOT CONNECTING A DAMN PHONE
WITH IT!".

        Another time I was regaled with a story of how he and his buddies used to
use the high voltage section from an old TV to charge "tubes" which they
would throw at each other, counting on the "catch" reflex to catch them, and
then laugh as their friend got a good shock. I enquired as to whether he
meant a "capacitor", because tubes (with the exception of picture tubes,
which would be a little difficult to toss across the room) don't hold a
charge. He was *sure* he meant tubes. This was early on in my visits to
the store, before I realized how smart Frank was.

        Most recently, I went in to grab a few 10uf 16V capacitors. Frank enquired
as to what I was building, so I thought I would probe the range of his
remarkable intellect, and explained I was building a Flux Capacitor. Frank
then told me how the 16V rating on the capacitors was entirely inadequate,
and that I most likely should use a capacitor with a minimum rating of 250V.
I nodded my head, and said "Why, it could be you're entirely right, but
since these are but a few cents, and I *really* need to get this running
tonight, and his fine store didn't carry anove 250V rated capacitors, I'll
give these a try.". I didn't mention that the Flux Capacitor would be
installed in my DeLorean time machine, figuring I wouldn't have time for the
lengthy but accurate explanation of why 88 MPH wouldn't be enough to trigger
the time circuits, and that a Monteverdi might be a better choice than a
DeLorean, since the Swiss know more about time, and make such damn fine
watches.

        Frank has the most amazing ability to service 3 or 4 customers at once,
also. He may be in the process of ringing up your sale, and suddenly, using
his Amazing Frank Hearing, he may overhear another employee making a
suggestion to a customer. Immediately, Frank will loudly interject a better
suggestion to both employee and customer. For Frank is never wrong, and a
Frank suggestion is the best thing you could use that day.

        I hate that store. It's the only around for 8 miles, though.

        --John
Received on Fri Feb 15 2002 - 08:20:07 GMT