RadioShack

Writing the review after first visit of the morning:
That guy was really helpful. And he offered a few suggestions and even offered a cheaper charger that may do the same thing. And I’m glad he laughed at my joke (by taking the blame when I was clearly the one who screwed up). Thanks for your help, Radio Shack. 4 stars
Writing the review after the second visit:
Well, my charger didn’t work (turns out it was the phone on her deathbed). 2 stars.
Here’s why.
A woman was sitting on the counter with a remote in her hand, watching a football game. She slowly got off the counter as we walked in, clearly annoyed. I told her that my charger didn’t work that I had just bought and she yawned.
As I was explaining, The Guy from earlier came out from the back and gave him crap for selling me a faulty charger (in a fun way). As Yawn Girl entered in stuff, I started to look around a bit. She asked me for my address and I asked her why she really needed it. Clearly I was annoying her as she told me she needed it for the return.
The Nice Guy started trying out my charger and his phone and his charger and my phone and my phone and an old charger, just to see where the problem was. Yawn Girl yawned very widely. At least twice. So you know, she has no fillings and her tongue frenulum is connected. (I promise; I’m not exaggerating. It was the really wide, obnoxious kind of yawn.)
You know, I don’t expect super stellar service at a Radio Shack on a Sunday. But maybe a hand over the mouth during a yawn. An «oh excuse me» sort of thing. And maybe just try to be nice. You don’t have to kiss my rear, but I do wish I didn’t seem like such a burden.

Radio Shack survived the internet. And Fry’s. And Best Buy (ok they have more accessories than Best Buy, but still). There must be something magical about The Shack, elusive… like the quiet of a snowy day, Princess Leia’s feet, or the TRS-​80.
Alright maybe not the Trash-​80. But anyway, it’s still here! And better than Fry’s, it’s often open till 9 (wait for it) — AND — it’s probably down the street from you. So if you’re constructing your technological terror and it’s not quite 9, you can still get to the Shack and save yourself a woeful trip to That Big Box Store That’s Open 24 Hours Which I Won’t Mention Here Cause They, Too, Suck Like That Other Place (and you probably don’t live next to Fry’s).
[See my review on That Place That Sucks for details.]
I wonder why they have no similar competition? You know, like «hey, a Burger King just got built on the corner, any day now a McD’s will be here».
And it’s tough to rate chain stores. You know maybe that particular one was good, or the people in it gave you hugs or an unnecessary free lunch or a sparkly ring.
That would be the case here. I could not remember wtf the doodad I had to change between my various cheap-​ass components was called. But it broke. So.
Me: «Hey you know that thing that lets you swap between your vcr and a Colecovision and your stereo that’s not a receiver?»
Shack Employee Renee: «Yes, I am pretty damn sure we have that.»
Shack Employee Anastasia: «It’s over here. You need an a/​v switcher?»
YES BY GOD I NEED AN A/​V SWITCHER! And that’s right, two Radio Shack people knew wth I needed right there without proper jargon.
Me: «Is it ok if I open it to make sure this is what I want? The box doesn’t have all the things shown on it.»
Anatasia: «Sure. We let people do that all the time. You can open these, too, if you want.»
Me: «While I’m here: why should I buy a cell phone from you guys when I can go to carrier store X down the street?»
Etc etc. Super helpful, super friendly. The only reason I can’t give them the 5 star is, well. There’s the internet, Radio Shack. And Fry’s, who are up the street from me. You do have far superior service here in these two employees, but I know you don’t carry flux capacitors or Rock Band 9000.
Ahhhhhhhhh I love the smell of customer service in the afternoon.