Beware of Radio Shack

[Bill B.]

One of my favorite names to give out is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsokov. "Can
you spell it please?" No. "Can I see your ID to get the information?"
F*CK NO!

Radio Shack, aka "The Shack," is one of the worst companies ON THE
PLANET to work for. I did time with them this past November and December
to make a little extra Xmas spending cash. The only thing about the
whole deal that I don't consider a waist of time is that now I know I'll
never work for them again.

They were trying to get away with paying Texas min wages in California.
Texas (where they are HQ'd) has a significantely lower m/w than CA.

In article <190720040117499781%no@spam.invalid>,
Keeper of the Purple Twilight <no@spam.invalid> wrote:

In article
dfm2a3l0t2-45BB6E.02125119072004@corp-radius.supernews.com>, D.F.
Manno <dfm2a3l0t2@spymac.com> wrote:

In article <lg3mf05af5t00f2ifdv9nk4j3fekcv064p@4ax.com>,
Chief Wild Eagle <steve@bob.net> wrote:

I was in Best Buy recently and they were asking all customers -- both
cash and credit card -- for their phone numbers at every sale.

Customers didn't seem to mind giving the info.

Maybe because they were giving them incorrect numbers. I might do that
if the merchant insisted a phone number was required.

Most times, though, when asked for my phone number, I ask why it's
needed. The merchant usually drops the request at that point.

I never give any store my phone number. I don't know if they are even
allowed to demand it, but I'm sure as trout not obligated to give it.
I just say "I don't have a phone" and leave it at that. (Which is
technically true, since I have no landline, just a cell)

I remember once I walked into Radio Shack to buy a $2 cable and they
insisted on my name and address. I told them "James T. Kirk of the
Starship Enterprise". They wrote it down!!!!!!!!!

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <EQQKc.2460$VW.695@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com> "Bill B."
<nope@dont.think.so> wrote:

One of my favorite names to give out is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsokov. "Can
you spell it please?" No. "Can I see your ID to get the information?"

Respond with "Can I see yours?" and take it from there.

--
do not creep a coconut
-- NANAE

 

[Michael Vilain]

In article <MNWKc.1100558$ef4.128511@news.easynews.com>,
DevilsPGD <UseTheReplyToField@crazyhat.net> wrote:

In message <EQQKc.2460$VW.695@newssvr32.news.prodigy.com> "Bill B."
nope@dont.think.so> wrote:

One of my favorite names to give out is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsokov. "Can
you spell it please?" No. "Can I see your ID to get the information?"

Respond with "Can I see yours?" and take it from there.

Or asking the rather geeky male clerk "Sure, you can have my phone
number. You're kinda cute. Can I have yours?"

--
DeeDee, don't press that button! DeeDee! NO! Dee...

 

[Gnarlodious]

Entity Peter A Forbes spoke thus:

I found the following page in particular to be very revealing:

http://airsoldier.com/~cuecat/
That looks like a nifty gadget. Does anyone know if it will work with Mac

OSX? I know it plugs into PS2 and Macs don't have them, But I use a PS2
mouse with an adapter. Any hacks for this?


-- Gnarlie
I think, therefore I'm single.
Lizz Winstead

 

[L]

You may want to do some more homework, just a couple days ago or so, I seen
a series of posts of the "Cuecat" being used as "spyware". Not sure if it
would do the same on your set up since it's not a "PC" as such as the rest
who are affected by the crap Macs aren't. I have a Cuecat on my desk top,
but the DT hasn't been on in months, so not much spying going on there.
Besides, when I DID try it, it didn't seem to work as it was cut out to, so
OUT IT GOES!

L.

"Gnarlodious" <gnarlodious@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:BD23C934.52AC6%gnarlodious@yahoo.com...

Entity Peter A Forbes spoke thus:

I found the following page in particular to be very revealing:

http://airsoldier.com/~cuecat/
That looks like a nifty gadget. Does anyone know if it will work with Mac
OSX? I know it plugs into PS2 and Macs don't have them, But I use a PS2
mouse with an adapter. Any hacks for this?


-- Gnarlie
I think, therefore I'm single.
Lizz Winstead

 

[Peter A Forbes]

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 07:18:12 -0600, Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@yahoo.com> wrote:

Entity Peter A Forbes spoke thus:

I found the following page in particular to be very revealing:

http://airsoldier.com/~cuecat/
That looks like a nifty gadget. Does anyone know if it will work with Mac
OSX? I know it plugs into PS2 and Macs don't have them, But I use a PS2
mouse with an adapter. Any hacks for this?


-- Gnarlie

Did you read ALL of it ? )

Peter

--
Peter & Rita Forbes
diesel@easynet.co.uk
Engine pages for preservation info:
http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel

 

[Wayne C. Morris]

In article <BD23C934.52AC6%gnarlodious@yahoo.com>,
Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@yahoo.com> wrote:

Entity Peter A Forbes spoke thus:

I found the following page in particular to be very revealing:

http://airsoldier.com/~cuecat/
That looks like a nifty gadget. Does anyone know if it will work with Mac
OSX? I know it plugs into PS2 and Macs don't have them, But I use a PS2
mouse with an adapter. Any hacks for this?

You can use a CueCat on a Mac with a PS2 to USB adapter, according to this
site: <http://www.geocities.com/macbarcat/>

But why bother? You can get a USB CueCat that'll connect directly to your
Mac. Do a search on eBay.

You'll want to either get a modified CueCat, or modify it yourself. A
modded CueCat will output the barcode as typed text, so you can use it to
"type" UPC and ISBN numbers directly into any program that allows keyboard
input -- TextEdit, web forms, databases, etc. Here are a few web sites
with CueCat info and modification instructions:

<http://www.beau.lib.la.us/~jmorris/linux/cuecat/>
<http://members.aol.com/cuecatguy/>
<http://oilcan.org/cuecat/decrypt.html>
<http://www.flyingbuttmonkeys.com/cuecat/>

You can also find modification instructions in the book "Hardware Hacking",
by Joe Grand, Ryan Russell and Kevin Mitnick.

 

[w2rac]

Here is a little somthing I used to keep from giving out my SS# where
it is not necessary by law.

STATEMENT OF FACT

On this ____________day of____________, 20___, the following
identified corporation; or partnership; or organization; or
individual; or federal, state, county, or local government, or agency,
or subdivision thereof; hereby identified as
_________________________________________; denied a service; a right;
a benefit; or a privilege to an individual named
__________________________ based on that individual's refusal to
disclose his/her Social Security number.

The person immediately responsible, whether as an individual, or a
representative of
________________________________________, for the denial of a right;
benefit; service; or a privilege, is __________________________.

TITLE 5 of the United States Code Annotated, 552(a), is known as the
Privacy Act. The Act states that:
(A) actual damages sustained by the individual as a result of the
refusal or failure, but in no case shall a person be entitled to
recovery receive less than the sum of $1000.00, and
(B) the costs of the action together with reasonable attorney fees
as determined by the court.

In the guideline and Regulations for Maintenance of Privacy and
Protection of Records on individuals, it is stated:
(a) (1) it shall be unlawful .. to deny any individual any right,
benefit, or privilege provided by ... because of such individual's
refusal to disclose his/her
Social Security account number.

The herein undersigned complainant has specifically explained that the
denial of a right; benefit; service; or privilege to any individual
due to refusal to supply a Social security account number is a
violation of 5 USC 552(a), and makes a person denying the right;
benefit; service; or privilege liable to a minimum $ 1,000.00
judgment, plus court and attorney costs.

If the party refusing the right; benefit; service; or privilege
refuses to sign this Statement of Fact, the name and identification of
the Police Officer called to report the matter will be listed below.

Signature of person refusing service; right; benefit; or privilege:


__________________________________________
Signature of Complainant:

__________________________________________
Name of Police Officer taking report:

__________________________________________
Rank: __________ Badge Number _______________

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"news" <news@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:G6xJc.1062$Yx4.845@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...

I have talked to several friends and clients who didnt have the
original
packaging(who does after 1 month) after the products went
bad/defective.
These incidents happened after 1 month or so ,and they flat out
refused to
even grant a replacement or credit. These were computer components,
Notebook adaptors and stereo equipment. If you must buy from them,
Save the complete packaging in pristine condition for as long as the
warranty is in play.
If you dont, they will refuse you even an exchange. Keep this in mind
before you go there
and know that most larger retailers will promptly issue a credit at
least
for defective products
not in original pristine packaging
CR

I get really sick and tired of every time I buy something there, I have
to wait in line for a salesdroid to finish up selling a cell phone to
someone who hasn't a clue. It takes forever... Paperwork, explanations
of what they're signing, etc. One guy ahead of me waited and waited,
and then asked the droid how long he was going to be. The droid said a
few more minutes, and he just got disgusted and tossed the goods on the
counter and left. I walked back to the shelves and put the couple
things I had back on the pins, and left.

Somehow I get the feeling more and more that they're really not in the
business of selling anything other than cell phones, satellite dishes
and xmas toys. And the 'droids admit it; they have first-hand
experience.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"yak" <spam@hormel.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1b6096025b09b504989b5e@news.easynews.com...

In article <G6xJc.1062$Yx4.845@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>,
news@nospam.net says...
I have talked to several friends and clients who didnt have the
original
packaging(who does after 1 month) after the products went
bad/defective.
These incidents happened after 1 month or so ,and they flat out
refused to
even grant a replacement or credit. These were computer
components,
Notebook adaptors and stereo equipment. If you must buy from them,
Save the complete packaging in pristine condition for as long as the
warranty is in play.
If you dont, they will refuse you even an exchange. Keep this in
mind
before you go there
and know that most larger retailers will promptly issue a credit at
least
for defective products
not in original pristine packaging
CR

Heh, the ONLY things I buy at radio shack are little electronics
components (fuses, diodes, transistors, switches, etc.). That's all
the
store is good for.

You mean WAS good for. They have cut back on their stock of same parts
to the point where the stores have a small fraction of the selection
they used to have. Now you have to order those parts thru the catalog
or online. :-(

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Wes Groleau" <groleau+news@freeshell.org> wrote in message
news:MeqdnfY6cZ_ZjmrdRVn-hQ@gbronline.com...

Gnarlodious wrote:
I bought a small item at Radio Shack several months ago, and the
clerk asked
the man in front of me for his social security number. He began
reciting it
in public but I interrupted him, telling him she didn't need his SS#
and he
should never publicly announce it. A loud argument ensued with the
clerk
bringing out the manager. The manager assured me it was official RS
policy

Every time I try to buy something there, even if I pay cash,
they try to get my address and phone number. I always have
to argue with them. "You don't need my phone number to send
your stupid catalog, and I don't want the catalog anyway."

But they still argue they need it. Eventually I win or
I walk out with my money and no product.

I just tell them "declined" and they put declined in there.

--
Wes Groleau

There are some ideas so wrong that only a
very intelligent person could believe in them.
-- George Orwell

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Mantra" <mymantra@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a6403f08.0407151750.578a6f65@posting.google.com...

Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:<BD1C23C4.51B51%gnarlodious@yahoo.com>...
I bought a small item at Radio Shack several months ago, and the
clerk asked
the man in front of me for his social security number. He began
reciting it
in public but I interrupted him, telling him she didn't need his SS#
and he
should never publicly announce it. A loud argument ensued with the
clerk
bringing out the manager. The manager assured me it was official RS
policy
to take SS# during a checkout, even for cash. He also told me I had
no right
to tell customers not to publicly announce their SS# while in line.
The
argument escalated and the manager called the police.

I got out of there real quick.

If this is true, I wouldn't have left. Naturally the manager's claim
is utter BS. It would have been fun to call his bluff and let the
police come. There's a minor issue of 1st Amendment, and then half a
dozen criminal and civil cases if the police a dumb enough to take the
manager's side. Even with the store theoretically being "private
property" that fact that it's open to the public pretty much trumps
that argument. And them there's the PR value of calling a press
conference in front of the store to utter ridicule the manager and
corporate HQ. Don't be a wimp next time.

MM

Easy for you to say. Talk's cheap, tell us if you've ever not backed
down in such a situation.

Besides, he got his revenge in the end. The manager was gone.

 

[Grinder]

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

"Wes Groleau" <groleau+news@freeshell.org> wrote in message
news:MeqdnfY6cZ_ZjmrdRVn-hQ@gbronline.com...

Gnarlodious wrote:

I bought a small item at Radio Shack several months ago, and the

clerk asked

the man in front of me for his social security number. He began

reciting it

in public but I interrupted him, telling him she didn't need his SS#

and he

should never publicly announce it. A loud argument ensued with the

clerk

bringing out the manager. The manager assured me it was official RS

policy

Every time I try to buy something there, even if I pay cash,
they try to get my address and phone number. I always have
to argue with them. "You don't need my phone number to send
your stupid catalog, and I don't want the catalog anyway."

But they still argue they need it. Eventually I win or
I walk out with my money and no product.


I just tell them "declined" and they put declined in there.

There's probably someone named Dee Kline that's pissed at you.
http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/noplate.asp

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Fuzzie Dice" <nope@nothere.comnot> wrote in message
news:cd90ms62bb9@enews3.newsguy.com...

Wes Groleau wrote:
But I agree about Radio Shack in general. Not a great place to buy.

They *used* to be. Back in the 80s I had a Tandy Color Computer 3 and
also
bought stereo equipment from them and other computer stuff (including
a PC
once). They used to make good on things, packaging or not. I have
noticed
recently that they have went downhill over the years though. Such a
shame.
My problems were that the staff weren't as well informed about their
products as the staff they used to have in the 80s.

My experience is that there is a constant turnover of salesdroids,
mainly because the pay isn't good. They are paid on a commission basis,
and if they don't sell a lot of high profit items like satellite dishes
and cellphones, then they don't make much money.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Wes Groleau" <groleau+news@freeshell.org> wrote in message
news:jYKdna9ntd96j2XdRVn-iQ@gbronline.com...

Fuzzie Dice wrote:

Wes Groleau wrote:
But I agree about Radio Shack in general. Not a great place to buy.

They *used* to be. Back in the 80s I had a Tandy Color Computer 3
and also

!?! Back in the 80's, I bought TRS-80 model I
I also bought the schematics and dumped it
as soon as I discovered how incompetent the designers were.

Back in the 1980s was also the time when I asked for
a BNC connector, and the guy pointed at a wall that
I had already been looking at for a while. After
a little discussion, he finally pulled something
else off the hook, handed it to me, and said
"THIS is a CB connector!"

CoCo was later--and I have no clue whether it was
any good, because by then I was thoroughly prejudiced
against RS.

The impression I got was that the CoCo was a toy. But I boguth a Model
100 and it was a toy, but it was a _portable_ toy. Cost me a thousand
dollars the week it came out.

--
Wes Groleau

Measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, and cut with an axe.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Obfus Kataa" <vapaa@finhut.fi.example.com> wrote in message
newsine.OSX.4.61.0407161502340.25011@ix.soygnvbwn.wor...

Thu, 15 Jul 2004 (18:28 -0500 UTC) Wes Groleau wrote:

Gnarlodious wrote:
I bought a small item at Radio Shack several months ago, and the
clerk
asked
the man in front of me for his social security number. He began
reciting
it
in public but I interrupted him, telling him she didn't need his
SS# and
he
should never publicly announce it. A loud argument ensued with the
clerk
bringing out the manager. The manager assured me it was official RS
policy

Every time I try to buy something there, even if I pay cash,
they try to get my address and phone number. I always have
to argue with them. "You don't need my phone number to send
your stupid catalog, and I don't want the catalog anyway."

But they still argue they need it. Eventually I win or
I walk out with my money and no product.

RS or Tandy is an arm of the secret government. If you use RS parts
in your
next explosive device, the parts can be traced to your address. Tandy
also
used to ask some very invasive questions in their job interviews which
took
place while the interviewee was attached to a polygraph.

I don't know what country you'e from, but that kind of stuff is illegal
in the U.S.

--
oK+++

 

[kony]

On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 20:16:07 -0700, "Watson A.Name - \"Watt Sun,
the Dark Remover\"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote:

"Obfus Kataa" <vapaa@finhut.fi.example.com> wrote in message
newsine.OSX.4.61.0407161502340.25011@ix.soygnvbwn.wor...
Thu, 15 Jul 2004 (18:28 -0500 UTC) Wes Groleau wrote:

Gnarlodious wrote:
I bought a small item at Radio Shack several months ago, and the
clerk
asked
the man in front of me for his social security number. He began
reciting
it
in public but I interrupted him, telling him she didn't need his
SS# and
he
should never publicly announce it. A loud argument ensued with the
clerk
bringing out the manager. The manager assured me it was official RS
policy

Every time I try to buy something there, even if I pay cash,
they try to get my address and phone number. I always have
to argue with them. "You don't need my phone number to send
your stupid catalog, and I don't want the catalog anyway."

But they still argue they need it. Eventually I win or
I walk out with my money and no product.

RS or Tandy is an arm of the secret government. If you use RS parts
in your
next explosive device, the parts can be traced to your address. Tandy
also
used to ask some very invasive questions in their job interviews which
took
place while the interviewee was attached to a polygraph.

I don't know what country you'e from, but that kind of stuff is illegal
in the U.S.

Is there a law against consensual polygraphs?
I'd imagine their lawyers have kept questioning within legal
boundaries, even if offensive. Certainly the law cannot
effectively eliminate offensive behavior.

 

[Grinder]

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

"Wes Groleau" <groleau+news@freeshell.org> wrote in message
news:jYKdna9ntd96j2XdRVn-iQ@gbronline.com...

Fuzzie Dice wrote:


Wes Groleau wrote:

But I agree about Radio Shack in general. Not a great place to buy.

They *used* to be. Back in the 80s I had a Tandy Color Computer 3

and also

!?! Back in the 80's, I bought TRS-80 model I
I also bought the schematics and dumped it
as soon as I discovered how incompetent the designers were.

Back in the 1980s was also the time when I asked for
a BNC connector, and the guy pointed at a wall that
I had already been looking at for a while. After
a little discussion, he finally pulled something
else off the hook, handed it to me, and said
"THIS is a CB connector!"

CoCo was later--and I have no clue whether it was
any good, because by then I was thoroughly prejudiced
against RS.


The impression I got was that the CoCo was a toy. But I boguth a Model
100 and it was a toy, but it was a _portable_ toy. Cost me a thousand
dollars the week it came out.

They never really got cheap. I'm glad mine lasted for the duration of
all my lab classes.

 

[Obfus Kataa]

Sat, 31 Jul 2004 (20:16 -0700 UTC) Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark...:

"Obfus Kataa" <vapaa@finhut.fi.example.com> wrote in message
newsine.OSX.4.61.0407161502340.25011@ix.soygnvbwn.wor...
Thu, 15 Jul 2004 (18:28 -0500 UTC) Wes Groleau wrote:

Gnarlodious wrote:
I bought a small item at Radio Shack several months ago, and the
clerk
asked
the man in front of me for his social security number. He began
reciting
it
in public but I interrupted him, telling him she didn't need his
SS# and
he
should never publicly announce it. A loud argument ensued with the
clerk
bringing out the manager. The manager assured me it was official RS
policy

Every time I try to buy something there, even if I pay cash,
they try to get my address and phone number. I always have
to argue with them. "You don't need my phone number to send
your stupid catalog, and I don't want the catalog anyway."

But they still argue they need it. Eventually I win or
I walk out with my money and no product.

RS or Tandy is an arm of the secret government. If you use RS parts
in your
next explosive device, the parts can be traced to your address. Tandy
also
used to ask some very invasive questions in their job interviews which
took
place while the interviewee was attached to a polygraph.

I don't know what country you'e from, but that kind of stuff is illegal
in the U.S.

I was in the US, but I am not sure to which kind of Stuff you refer.

Polygraph? It was not illegal in 1978 to use it for employment screening.
Unless you can cite a statute, I do not believe it is currently illegal
(federally) for a private company to ask invasive questions in interviews.

Explosives tracking? Now, I need a GIF. Please, also cite a US statute
that makes it illegal for a federal enforcement agency to subpoena records
of the sale of a part found in an illegal explosive device.

I do recall reading an article in the _New York Times_ about a bomb that was
tracked to Radio Shack. I also recall the article stating that the
government hoped that the RS practice of recording information about their
sales would help them track the part to its place of purchase. It wasn't
that they could say Jenny Truepwop bought this part. Rather it was these
1000 people have bought this part in these 425 locations. Now, of those 425
locations, other evidence points to these 4. Of these four, we have
interviewed a suspect in this location. In fact, it was Theodore
Kaczynski's use of difficult-to-trace supplies that partly accounted for the
difficulty in his being caught.

In the Linda Tripp case (not explosives) the following Tandy statement was
issued:
"Pursuant to a subpoena from the Maryland State Prosecutor, Radio Shack has
provided sales records of a recording device purchased by Linda Tripp... A
Radio Shack store manager and sales associate were also subpoenaed and did
testify before the Maryland grand jury. It is Radio Shack's policy to inform
customers who purchase recording devices that it is illegal to record
someone without their consent in the state of Maryland."

--
oK+++

--
oK+++
#!/usr/bin/perl
map{print substr(x('-"B!?455!0TLO7\'Q/*0``'),($_=ord)>>4,1)x($_%16)}split
"",x('M`1@C`3%!46%Q$H$3D0$2D1(BH;$2H0$5D2(3D1B!H0$8D1.1)H$1H0$8@1RA6`1B'.
'A&<$2@0$8H10D@1*!`1F1*8$"$0``');sub x{unpack"u",$_[0]}
12:18 up 53 days, 14:03, 1 user, load averages: 0.16 0.43 0.54

 

[John Miller]

Obfus Kataa wrote to someone:

Polygraph? It was not illegal in 1978 to use it for employment screening.
Unless you can cite a statute, I do not believe it is currently illegal
(federally) for a private company to ask invasive questions in interviews.

There are quite a number of types of questions which are federally illegal
to ask of potential employees. Most relate to things that could be held to
be discriminatory (for example, just one seemingly innocuous question out
of hundreds you will break the law if you ask is, "do you have children?").
General rule for interviewers who don't want to have to memorize all the
statues is, if the question doesn't relate directly to job requirements,
it's safer not to ask it.

--
John Miller
Email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
-Mark Twain