RadioShafted
 

You'll have to forgive me for venting here, but I am really, really mad at Radioshaft right now (and yes, that's what I'm calling them henceforth).

The other day we couldn't find our USB-Serial adapter that we needed to download code. The simplest option seemed to be running to the RadioShack on the corner and buying a new one, that could be kept better track of. So I go to the store and after making sure that it comes with drivers (as we don't have an easy way to connect to the internet) we find out that the frigging thing costs $40!!! Forty bucks for a product that can't cost more than 25 cents to manufacture, just because they know I can't easily find it elsewhere.

Okay, thinks I, If they want to rip me off so badly I'll just use it today then return it and use our old one when Jacob returns with it. So I get back to the lab and attempt to install the included driver CD. The first red flag popped up when the CD had but one file on it: "Radioshack USB to Serial Driver.exe"

Any sane company puts the individual driver files on the disc, along with an installer that installs them, so the user has the choice to install them himself, in the case that the installer doesn't work properly. Also, for $40 I kind of expected so much as an autorun.

Then they really pissed me off. I run the program and it says "Importants message! You already installed driver, to select one of items to operate it" with the choice of "Re-install(Upgrade)!", "Uninstaller Driver!", or "Exit Setup!"

If they're making forty bucks off every one of these god-forsaken things they sell, can't they have the decency to run their software through a spell-checker? Maybe at least take a quick look before packaging it? Not to mention the fact that I most definitely have not "already installed driver." It was probably confused by the drivers for the other adapter I had used. If they had included the actual driver files like everyone else, this would not be a problem.

So I went ahead and clicked "Re-install(Upgrade)!" and that's when the feelings or extreme rage began to work their way through my bloodstream. The program crashed! Windows comes up and says "InstallDriver.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close." What kind of crap is that? I've never even heard of InstallDriver.exe before, and now it's crashing, probably because the morons don't know how to install the driver the right way.

After a few hours that we really didn't need to lose, I managed to get the stupid thing installed on a different computer and downloaded the code after grabbing the Program Files for IFI_Loader with my thumb drive. It turns out that I could just use this spare computer's serial port instead of bothering with all this USB business.

This kind of horrible quality and disregard for the customer is unacceptable from such a large corporation as RadioShaft. If they're going to completely screw people over in their time of need, they can at least have the decency to make a working product. I am definitely never giving them money again; everything I've ever bought from them has been overpriced and of very poor quality, and this is the last straw. A company like that does not deserve my business.

[EDIT]And by the way, it's not illegitimate because I really couldn't get the bloody thing to work. My initial reaction to the price may have been immoral but by returning it I'm not doing anything fraudulent. I don't need it and it doesn't work. If it had worked properly I might have changed my mind and made it the official team USB adapter, since the other one is owned by Jacob. I'm just really angry because they're charging 40 bucks for such a piece of junk.[/EDIT]
Now please stop flaming me, lest I point out the GP hypocrisy.

Re: RadioShafted
 

What is it bash Radio Shack day?

Maybe you should of included this in the other Radio Shack thread?

Maybe you should be complaing to the store, not the the CD community?

Just my two cents...

Re: RadioShafted
 

First of all, you don't need to insult a company just because a product that they likely didn't manufacture themselves doesn't work properly. Welcome to Capitalism. Supply and demand is an amazing concept, isn't it?Google for the drivers if you need the seperate files so desperately.Again, they likely didn't manufacture the product themselves, and someone made it for them, smacking their name on it.InstallDriver.Exe was likely originally extracted from the first exe you double clicked on. It is quite probably that the first file was an archive that extracted to a temporary location.I am quite sorry that you have recieved such poor service from them, but you do not need to go around insulting them and posting libel. I personally have had great service from them in the past in the few items that I have needed to buy from them (soldering iron, solder, project boxes, a few DB plugs, TI-83+, etc.). I plan to continue visiting them as I need to, though their selection does slightly size down from time to time. If you have such an issue with them, please call their head offices and complain there, not in a public forum. Thanks!

In the mean time, I suggest you look up online vendors, as they likely will have larger selections for products that you are looking for at lower prices.

Re: RadioShafted
 

OMG this is hilarious. Yeah, um, Radio Shack. What do they even sell there that is useful anymore? Remarkably, I was able to buy a potentiometer a couple times and even a transistor once, but when the cashier rang it up he had a wierd look on his face. It was either a look of "what is this?" or "we sell this?"

I don't know what is wrong with that place. They sell cell phones, TVs, and computers. Now, if you are going to buy a cell phone, I assume you'd go to a cell phone store (verizon, cingular, t-mobile, nextel/sprint etc). If you are going to buy a TV, you go to Circuit City or some place like that. If you are going to buy a computer, you go to a computer store like Fry's or CompUSA or some place like that.

Radio Shack sells all these things that people can get elsewhere at better prices, quality, and service.

I don't know what they are trying to do with themselves. Maybe not that many people need diodes, resistors, and other small electronic components anymore like they used to. But I have no idea who would go to Radio Shack to buy a cell phone, computer, TV, or otherwise. I don't know what their target customer is. I'm baffled.

Anyway, on this thing, yeah, it is like a lessoned learned. Radioshack isn't the place to buy a USB-serial converter. Actually, I can't think of anything that Radio Shack is the place to buy it. Maybe magnet wire. But that's about it and give it 2 years time and they probably won't sell that anymore.

Re: RadioShafted
 

If you want a laugh look on the bottom of the Vex package.

It says: "Manufactured in China for Innovation One Inc."
Innovation One?!?? I think we all know that's supposed to be Innovation First! :)

Welcome to the influx of poorly made (and poorly translated) Chinese goods.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Which provide some of the best humor ever

Re: RadioShafted
 

You're saying that because a company outsources their shoddy products it's not their fault that they suck?
I explained that I don't have a bloody internet connection, which was the root of all these problems in the first place.
Which happens to be at the root of my angry rant...
I am aware of this, and it pisses me off. There was plenty of room on the CD that they didn't need to make an autoextracter that doesn't even work.
It's called raising public awareness. Companies must be held responsible for having crappy quality and screwing their customers. If I complained to their head office it would just get lost in the beaurocracy and wouldn't do any good.
That is what I have been doing, and will henceforth do exclusively.

Re: RadioShafted
 

I'm sorry I struck a nerve by insulting Radioshack, but you need to look up the definition of libel. Nothing I posted was untrue, I was simply recounting a horrible experience I had with the company. And I do need to "go around insulting them" because if nobody ever complains about a company screwing people over, they won't be held accountable.

Re: RadioShafted
 

I got a simple solution for the future, now that building aint as much of a priority... MAKE YOUR OWN CABLE!!!!! 99 cent store has a light up USB cable to a printer dock. Cut the printer connector, and use that half. Find a crappy serial connector and use that. Find an interface schematic, and build it. Hey, if they cant make it to your standards and you just dont want to deal with them, do it yourself. Oh, and i like RadioShack, as they sell parts, well the 2 near me, that i can use for modding my guitar amp as well as accesories for my soldering iron. The only big dissapointment i have with them is there freaken love for the ColdHeat soldering iron, that things a piece of junk. lol. So, if you cant find a serial-USB interface schematic, IM me at AIM: LAGuitaristGuru and ill get you one. Is not that hard. I make most my cables i cant find, well for audio the quality goes down a little bit, but for normal programing to a robot it can do just fine. Also, maybe use a company other than RadioShack if you think its a rip off, as Adam said, ITS CAPITALISM, you can choose where to buy. Not trying to mean, just letting you know that you had a choice, and you may have chose the wrong one. But now you can maybe learn a little more about electronics and get some soldering practice by building your own if you like, and as posted below, buying from a different place may be good as well.

Re: RadioShafted
 

http://www.l-com.com/item.aspx?id=8787

$15.50. I bought one of these on sale and it seems to work fine.

Re: RadioShafted
 

There's not necessarily someplace else nearby. Of course he could have things shipped to wherever he is, but if you're in a situation where every hour counts, like he says he was in, then it doesn't help.

The only choices he may have had were Radio Shack and sit around and do nothing.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Highlights (err, Lowlights?) explain it all.

Re: RadioShafted
 

no one else sees the irony here?

its called Karma! You are not a Radioshack customer - your intention was to 'borrow' this thing for a day, then take it back, after you used it

and get your money back? how? by saying it didnt work?

What do you think they will do with it then? send it back to the factory to be repaired, retested, repackaged?

No, it will be in the dumpster behind the store on saturday morning.

And you think this is all perfectly acceptable customer behavior.

THATS why a piece of wire cost so much!

Re: RadioShafted
 

Correct me if im wrong, but doesn't Circuit City also sell phones, cameras, car audio, TV and so much more?

Re: RadioShafted
 

Are you trying to use a Windows 98 or NT4 driver with a Windows 2000 or XP computer? Because you will get an error when you try that. Windows 98 uses a totally different driver model, and simply can't work; NT4 drivers most often won't work either.

Re: RadioShafted
 

You got exactly what you deserved.

You started out with a basic plan to take something from a company, use it, and then return it and claim a refund. Being kind, that is called cheating the company out of their legitimate funds in exchange for the use of their product. Being direct, it is called "fraud" and "theft" and it is illegal.

When a chain of events starts with an illegal act, all events that follow are a result of that act. This sequence started with your attempt to cheat RadioShack. At that point, you lost any right to complain, whine, kvetch, or argue about RadioShack, their products, their service, or anything else. If you received crappy service after that, or were dissatisfied with the product - too bad. It is your own fault. Next time, try dealing with them in an honest manner, accepting your full responsibility as an honest customer with integrity. Then, if there is a problem, deal with the store in a mature manner and you might be surprised at the supportive, helpful response that you receive.

-dave
<edit>OK, so Ken beat me to the point.</edit>

Re: RadioShafted
 

I couldn't agree with Ken and Dave more.

How could you plan to do something illegal and then complain about it?

Re: RadioShafted
 

I agree entirely with Dave and Ken.

Also, I bought a $40 USB to Serial adapter at Radioshack, spent 10 minutes installing the drivers, and havent had a problem since then.

Karma seems to be at work here; trying being honest, and then you can complain. At this point, everything is your own fault.

Remember, GP doesnt just need to apply to FIRST; if we all apply in our lives as a whole, the world will be a better place.

Re: RadioShafted
 

I'm sure that everything y'all have ever translated to Mandarin or Cantonese was grammatically perfect. ;)

Re: RadioShafted
 

I've got to agree with the fact that taking the part from the company with every intention of returning it afterwards was wrong... couldn't you have just kept it and had two? Back-ups can work wonders, as you've probably learned through all of this.

Honestly, insulting RadioShack is insulting ALL of the RadioShacks around the country... which isn't right. Just because a part was faulty does not mean that all the oarts in that store are faulty and all the stores in the US "suck" as you so 'kindly' put it.

Also, do you honestly think that CD and FIRST support your original plan...? That's kind of... not right, as many of us have stated before.

Have fun in your furture endevours,
Danielle

Re: RadioShafted
 

You clearly misunderstood. Originally I had no intent to "rip off RS" as Ken had put it. However, upon discovery that they were going to completely rip ME off by hideously overcharging me, I thought I would simply turn the tables on them. Honestly, if they're going to charge $40 for that piece of junk, how can they expect me to not get back at them? If "karma" is what you believe, they deserve to be ripped off.

And to reply to people saying I am unfair, this is not the only product of theirs that I have found to be shoddy and overpriced. Pretty much every electronic device I've ever purchased there was expensive and stingy. If they weren't so blinking convenient I would have stopped shopping there a long time ago, but this event pretty much tears it.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Is the point of this thread...

To comment on Chris's morality?
To comment on Radioshack's quality?
To comment on capitalism?

Or to just comment, even immaturely, on one poor experience?

Please practice tact before this turns into another argument thread. Points can be expressed without arguing over every word choice.

Re: RadioShafted
 

The best way to get back at them just might have been to not buy the product.
Just a thought.

Re: RadioShafted
 

I have already explained that that was not an option.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Well... maybe "karma" is getting back at them:


If I were a multi-billion dollar company attempting to sell my products in Asia, it would be grammatically perfect.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Ive checked the news websites and I see no reports of natural disasters in your area - so we can rule out profiteering.

The price is whatever they say it is. If you dont want it, go buy it somewhere else.

You are rationalizing your actions. You have decided what you think is a fair price, and what good quality merchandise is, and concluded if someone else does not live up to your view of how things should be, then you are free to do whatever you want.

You can go to any mall in America on a Sunday afternoon and buy BNC connectors and banana jacks and solder wick and LEDs and coax wire - where? only at Radio Shack.

The store is what is it is. I happen to like Radio Shack, and I greatly appreciate the fact that they ARE a major sponsor of FIRST!

A persons true character is revealed by the way they react when things go wrong . People who blow up when they have a bad day usually end up dying from an aneurysm over some trivial event.

Breath in. Breath out. We still love you - its ok! :^)

Re: RadioShafted
 

We purchased the same cable from RadioShack and have had no problems with it either.

Re: RadioShafted
 

If any of you have one of the Vex Programming Modules, the orange USB-to-serial cable that comes with that kit is exactly the same as the generic RadioShack USB-to-serial cable. The only difference is the Vex one is molded in orange plastic. I've used the Vex USB-to-serial cable with the driver that came with the Vex programming kit; so far it has worked flawlessly downloading code from MPLAB to our FRC robot.

I agree with Ken. I still like RadioShack, even though they have decided to stop selling the Vex kits. I may be disappointed at their decision, but I will not go out and start flaming their company because they stop selling a product line, or because I think they charge too much for an adapter cable. After all, they are a major sponsor for FIRST, and major sponsors are not easy to come by.

You are right, this is capitalism at work. If you think $40 dollars is too much for a USB cable, then go somewhere else. That is way more powerful an action than flaming their company. If they notice that they are not selling many of the cables becuase X store down the street is selling them cheaper, than capitalism will tell the company to lower their prices to stay competitive or drop the product.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Batteries. They sell really good alkaline cells at reasonable prices.

Don

Re: RadioShafted
 

For the eleventh time, I didn't have the option to buy it somewhere else. We had to download the code so we could get practice time in and they're the only place within 20 minutes that could be expected to sell such an item.

And to a degree you're right; I am rationalizing my actions, but I think it is a very good rationalization. Maybe my "view of how things should be" consists of not being completely ripped off for such a trivial item, is that really so much to ask?

Re: RadioShafted
 

Maybe this store is selling their USB to serial cable at $43 because they know we can't find another one on the internet...or this store or this one or this one or even this one. Or maybe they are just charging prices at which they can turn a profit.

Re: RadioShafted
 

No, but this store and this store are definitely charging less.

Re: RadioShafted
 

Not to mention this one, this one, or this one, all under 10 dollars. The list goes on.

Re: RadioShafted
 

You go to the Convenience Mart down the street and buy a soda for nearly double what it costs in grocery stores.

You go up to a soda vending machine and buy a soda for more than it costs in the store.

Why?

You pay for the convenience...

Its not every day people go into Radio Shack looking for the product you need and therefore you pay more.

It costs money to hold inventory...

Re: RadioShafted
 

Yes. Have you ever heard of the phrase the world does not revolve around you?

You might think Radio Shack is your friend because they sell geek toys. Unfortunately, they are not a friend, they are a company whose goal is to make lots of money.

Radio Shack wants to maximize their profits. Therefore, if RS knows that they are the only ones locally to sell a USB to serial adapter than they will charge as much as "the market can bare." Meaning as much as someone is willing to pay for it before going elsewhere.

That's a perfectly legitimate and legal thing for Radio Shack to do. By returning the USB to serial adapter you are going something illegitimate, buying the product, using it and then returning it fraudulently.

Re: RadioShafted
 

I understand that they are not my friend. I however do not understand how they sleep at night. Yes, you pay more for the convenience of being able to buy one, but it becomes unacceptable when the thing doesn't even work because they outsource their software to people who don't know what they're doing. That's not being a company, that's just screwing people over. There are anti-monopoly laws for a reason.

And by the way, it's not illegitimate because I really couldn't get the bloody thing to work. My initial reaction to the price may have been "immoral" but by returning it I'm not doing anything fraudulent. I don't need it and it doesn't work. If it had worked properly I might have changed my mind and made it the official team USB adapter, since the other one is owned by Jacob. I'm just really angry because I was expected to pay 40 bucks for such a piece of junk.

[EDIT] I just made that last paragraph part of the original post because it needs to be said [/EDIT]

Re: RadioShafted
 

Alright everyone. I think this topic has been talked to death, for now. Closing the thread; it might be reopened tomorrow.