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You can only bring back one. Which do you choose?

⁨150⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Mickey7@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/01fb6829-5950-425b-94b4-8ed5f2863d9f.png

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  • Fives@discuss.online ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Radio Shack. And not the recent version. The OLD version with breadboards and soldering irons and electronics kits.

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    • TragicNotCute@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I remember being in high school and going in there to buy resistors and shit.

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    • somewhiteguy@infosec.pub ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      We were in there once or twice a month getting solder and random assortment of components for little home projects we had going. The workers also knew how to help and always had suggestions for the projects we were doing. I remember the day we (grandpa and I) went into the store and realized it wasn’t the same anymore. Only a small selection of components and the whole front was full of RC cars and random expensive electronic gadgets nobody asked for. We only went back once or twice, but it became evident that we can’t find what we were looking for there anymore. We started sourcing our parts from overseas vendors for fractions of a cent per unit, but we had to buy in bulk. We stopped doing those small projects because it was taking too long to get components and the cost was out of hand with thousands of unused components in boxes in the project room taking up space. Well, made myself sad for the morning.

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    • Atomicbunnies@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      That would be my pick as well. I still have a few of the free CueCats they gave away. After some easy modding, I use one to scan the barcodes of my books to add to a database on my comp. I miss old RS so much.

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    • outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Okay i was gonna be for toysrus but damn. I want that store to exist in my life right now.

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    • LilB0kChoy@midwest.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Yes please!🙏

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  • klemptor@startrek.website ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    RadioShack, with the drawers of capacitors and resistors.

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    • Bahnd@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Old Radio Shack, not that thing from 2015 that was functionally a brick and mortar cellphone stand.

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      • knexcar@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Sadly the new one is all I have memories of

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    • ohshittheyknow@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Yes the old radio shack not the new one which was just a 3rd party cell phone carrier.

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    • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The drawers are the best everywhere. RadioShack? Component drawers. Home Depot? Fastener drawers. On and on.

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    • Pilferjinx@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I want DYI kits for everything!

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    • Landless2029@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I could see them have an entire section for RC cars and drones today.

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    • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      And maybe bring them back with a good assortment of PC parts, too.

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  • HappySkullsplitter@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Radio Shack

    No one else has electronic components

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    • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Fry’s. Some Microcenters. Al Lashers.

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      • outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Fry’s also gone.

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  • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    That’s not even a question, the spirit of radioshack with 2025 technology, that would be awesome !

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    • GroundedGator@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I just want to be able to run down the street to buy a pack of overpriced unmarked capacitors anytime I need.

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    • HiddenLychee@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      We have a few around me still. One in my town and one in the neighboring town. A bit pricey but I try to get what I can there since a best buy just opened up near them.

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  • gon@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    None of these ever existed in my country, except for Toys “R” Us, which still exists.

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    • Samsy@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Sure? Thought they are now called Smyth’s or something.

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      • gon@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Not here; They’re still called Toys “R” Us.

        And from looking at the Wikipedia for Smyths it seems that they bought the Toys “R” Us stores in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Not really the same thing as here (Portugal, btw), I think, since they kept the branding, but IDK, I’m not an IP lawyer…

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  • bigb@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    An obligatory “Fuck Blockbuster:” They sucked compared to the local rental shops.

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    • uberfreeza@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      This is probably true, but I remember Blockbuster was good at renting out trash movies. While Netflix does this also, some of them no streaming service wants to or can pick up today. Like the old Mario movie or the weird Red Riding Hood movie with Henry Cavill. That being said, I still wouldn’t bring it back.

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  • Grabthar@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    We still have Toys R Us and Party City here, and they seem to be doing fine. Blockbuster isn’t really needed anymore. Old school Radio Shack would be pretty cool though.

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    • zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Greater Vancouver area has gone from like 6 toys r us to 1, don’t think they’re doing too fine

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      • Grabthar@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Right, I forgot the Orleans one closed this winter. Ot actually seemed to be well stocked, too. 3 to go in the area, I guess.

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    • caseyweederman@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Hello fellow Canadian

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  • rozodru@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    As someone who used to be an Assistant Manager at Blockbuster…keep that thing dead and gone. Like as a consumer, sure I get it, but working there absolutely sucked. No one remembers the late fees or the fact Blockbuster would send you to collections for ONE late fee (like a whole $3.25) and then send you those bullshit cards in the mail letting you know that you owe them less than $5? yeah I remember cause on a near daily basis I’d get someone in the store yelling at me that they’re trying to get a loan or a house and this little card is fucking it all up for them. MOST of the time the late fee was because the absolutely ancient computer system we used that they never updated…at all…since the 80s…would skip barcodes randomly on scans. That or some vengeful employee at another store would just manually add fees to someones account (yes that was possible, yes we could just add fees to random accounts willy nilly)

    also my District Manager was a douchenozzle. Mike, rot in hell.

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  • WanderWisley@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Fry’s electronics

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    • falidorn@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Fry’s had been a living corpse for a decade. You’d have to go as far back as Circuit City to actually get the Fry’s you remember.

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      • JcbAzPx@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Even the zombie version of Fry’s was better than most of the alternatives (cough Best Buy cough).

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  • wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Circuit City. I grew up on CompUSA but CC had better prices, if I remember right from my childhood. Then CU died, then CC died, then FE died, now all we have is shitty BB.

    My CC I got to go ‘in the back’ to watch then replace a psu that died and I correctly diagnosed, back in like… 03? Two techs for the store, super chill, talked me through the process. I’ve been building and repairing my own systems ever since. They told me to let them know when I was 16, they’d put in a good word for me after we chatted for about an hour. By the time I could legally work, the writing was on the wall, and CC died before I turned 17.

    I wonder where those guys are at now. I thought I knew what I was doing, but they were so kind in explaining everything, answering every question, giving me confirmation about all sorts of stuff. I really hope they are doing well. They couldn’t have been mid-20s at the time.

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    • Mickey7@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I loved Radio Shack for the same reasons. I learned so much from the guys that worked there. I might buy something that only cost $5 but they would spend 30 minutes with me explaining how to fix issues that I had.

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    • qbus@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Micro center is the last real computer store. I miss egghead

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  • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Toys R Us. No contest.

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    • Simulation6@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I thought they were already opening some stores.

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    • outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Old!radioshack gets a pretty good case made for it elsewhere in yhread, or I’d agree with you.

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  • Surp@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Friendlies still exist I saw one just a month or two ago

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    • Briguy@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I live 5 minutes from a friendlys and 15 minutes from another. They’re still out there

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    • qbus@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      youtu.be/aXtbCvv36QY

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  • Vinstaal0@feddit.nl ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Probably none of them, I prefer MOM-and-pop shops

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    • DerArzt@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Not a lot of mom-and-pop electronic components shops near me (zero total) so RadioShack.

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  • Jackcooper@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    How about independent pharmacies

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  • Hozerkiller@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Aren’t some of those still open?

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    • AlphaOmega@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Last I checked there’s a Radio Shack in Los Alamos. Uncanny vibes, but it’s there

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      • Maven@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        The radio shack brand got bought up by the guy who did the “I’m in my garage” ads and now is a front for a crypto exchange.

        It’s a completely different company using the shell of Radio Shack for brand recognition

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    • outhouseperilous@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Party city closed this year. Corporate raid, like toys r us.

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      • Hozerkiller@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        You say that but I’ve seen both of those stores open in the last 6 months.

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    • W3dd1e@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I know some who still works for RadioShack in KS. It’s official RadioShack but also it’s its own thing. Idk maybe a franchise or something.

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  • MrBadApple@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Friendly’s still exists, it’s just regional now though.

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    • Dreaming_Novaling@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I was like, “Friendly’s is dead?” for a terrifying second before I read this 🥹

      Actually I was like 5 the last time I ate there so it’s really not that special to me but happy they’re not dead yet. Started my love for gummy bears in ice cream.

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      • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        They’re still about as good as you remember. I.e. my five year old thinks it’s the best thing ever.

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  • shrewdcat@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I miss Fry’s. It was nice if you were building your own PC to go in and get parts immediately. Amazon with their unfair no-taxes that crippled big box stores and mom and pop’s, and Netflix for videos by mail (remember getting DVD’s in the mail?) and then streaming began wiping out most of these, except Friendly’s.

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    • P1k1e@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I literally joined this thread to say what you said

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      • shrewdcat@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Missing Fry’s buddies!

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  • Tx8664@startrek.website ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Toys R Us was really special for me as a kid. Especially when my local one ran yugioh tournaments.

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  • hperrin@lemmy.ca ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    If they’re like they were in their heyday (innovative computer tech), RadioShack for sure.

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  • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Tower Records and/or Borders Books & Music.

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  • solsangraal@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    i’d bring circuit city back so i could piss on it and burn it down

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  • stoly@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Radio shack for sure. Has anything electronic or computer related you need.

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  • aeronmelon@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Fuddrucker’s

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  • Therobohour@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Umm I don’t think we need more massive monopolise gaint corporations

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  • paultimate14@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Video rental is just plain outdated. Streaming as it is today has a lot of problems, but they are ones that could be easily solved through regulation if regulators ever had the appetite. These stores went out of business because technology made their industry obsolete. I bet most people would have to do a little work to even play a DVD or Blu-Ray today. Maybe dig out an old device and hook it up, or use a laptop with a disc drive. Maybe a gaming console, but there have been a lot on the market for a while now that don’t have optical drives. There’s enthusiasts of course- including people who still keep VCR’s and laser disc players and even people with their own reel-to-reel projectors, but they’re a tiny minority.

    Friendly’s I only went to once and it was unremarkable casual dining. That industry DOES have a problem where private equity keeps on buying, looting, and destroying companies, but I’m also hopeful that can open up more space for small businesses instead. I’ll pass on this one.

    My memories of RadioShack were that it was cheap junk that was overpriced, but often the only reasonable option unless you wanted to order online or through a catalog from somewhere that could take months to arrive. I do wonder what the world would have been like if RadioShack had positioned itself as a repaor parts supplier and lobbied for Right to Repair legislation. Probably a stretch of the imagination.

    Circuit City… For some reason I thought they went out of business largely due to embezzlement, but when I look forward that now I can’t find anything so maybe I’m thinking of another company? Best Buy seems to be struggling to compete with Amazon and Wal-Mart still today, so I don’t think Circuit City could have lasted much longer than it did either way.

    Party City and Toys-R-Us are the 2 that make me upset, because both were successful businesses ruined by Private Equity. Not that I want to simo for these corporations, but what PE has been doing to so many industries in the past decade is absolutely disgusting. Id I had to choose one to bring back I’d say Party City because a lot of the custom and specific party supplies there aren’t going to be stocked by your local Target or Wal-Mart, and that’s the kind of thing you’d prefer to see in person rather than order online.

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  • MITM0@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    RadioShack

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  • Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Blockbuster. Movie night was magical.

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  • Korhaka@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Do I have to?

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  • Treczoks@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    The only of them that we had in Germany: Toys’r’us.

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