RADIO SHACK - DO STUFF FLYER for Father's Day

[radiopilot]

Just recieved my Father's Day flyer from Radio Shack and to my amusement I thought HD radios would have been on sale in this flyer or at least some visibility...

I'm still laughing my pants off as I see only XM and Sirius are the real contenders along with Ipods and MP3 players... not one single mention of HD radio in this flyer...

Why not? Don't they believe some dad out there wants an HD radio? Ha ha....

Like I've been saying....

HD Radio = 15 years too late...
HD Radio = Now Defective...
HD Radio = Almost NON -EXISTANT to CONSUMERS....

Radiopilot

 

[Mike Walker]

"Now defective"? It wasn't defective last week, or last year? Only "now".

So...because an item isn't featured in ONE flyer, for ONE event, it's irrelevant. Nevermind that Radio Shack sells many thousands of items, and the flyer holds what, a couple of dozen?

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

So...because an item isn't featured in ONE flyer, for ONE event, it's irrelevant. Nevermind that Radio Shack sells many thousands of items, and the flyer holds what, a couple of dozen?

So...if not now, when? When do the retailers decide this is something they must plug? How long do they wait? When does the buzz, if it exists at all, reach critical mass? This is a perfect way to not only make HD Radio irrelevant, but to keep it that way. If this tech is to have any chance at all, someone has to grab this bull by the horns and stick it in front of the great unwashed masses...not just in flyers for one holiday, but all the time. Are they going to miss marketing during the coming Christmas season the way they did last year? Given the singular lack of advertising so far, it's a good bet they will. If Apple had taken this approach to marketing, no one would know what an iPod is.

Funny how Sirius seems to have no trouble knowing when to market their service. Full-page ads in nearly every major-market Sunday paper today, specifically aimed at Father's Day buying. Window displays in at least a couple of Radio Shack stores I've passed by in the past week.

 

[Tom Wells]

Mmmmmm. Tastes just like AM stereo. Cmon, tell all your friends. They already know you're a radiohead.
Just try to get them interested. You know the look, the one where you can tell irrelevancy is evident?

 

[Mike Walker]

Were there computers in there? (Haven't seen the circular). If not then..."if not now, WHEN?" How about DVD players. "If not now, WHEN?"

I've seen the HD radio in several of their circulars, and lots of the ones from Best Buy.

 

[radiopilot]

Were there computers in there? (Haven't seen the circular). If not then..."if not now, WHEN?" How about DVD players. "If not now, WHEN?"

I've seen the HD radio in several of their circulars, and lots of the ones from Best Buy.

Well Mike... Radio Shack has other 'AM/FM' radios in that circular but not any HD products WHY?

And YES they had Sirius satelite pg. 4-5, Ipods and MP# playerss pg. 8-9, laptops pg. 20, cameras pg. 6-7, vinyl to MP3 convertors pg. 11, home entertainment systems pg. 12, radios pg. 14-15, cellphones pg. 16-17... Need I go on?

Yeah at Best Buy this is their offering of HD Radio:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...5&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=Electronics&ks=960

If all you're doing is buying a car tuner at BestBuy here is is...

And at Circuit City this is their offering of HD radios:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Sear...rchSection=20012898|Audio+&+MP3&go.x=7&go.y=9

The JVC HD car radio and the Boston Acoustics...Yeah show me the Sangean HDT-!, the ONKYO, the SONY, all the other so called HD radio tuners that are supposed to be sold by these stores?

And of course the public has to generally know to order the HD Accurian radio at the Radio Shack website or online to buy this defective technology... assuming the public is aware of HD and we already know it's non-existant.

http://www.radioshack.com/uc/index....rchLibrary/BuyersGuides/research/hdradio.html

The hilarious part is this little tidbit of comsumable crap:

"HD Radio is free, so all you need is an HD Radio receiver for your home or car to receive the broadcasts. Now you can get your favorite FM and AM stations digitally, at near CD-quality sound, that’s free of static and other irritating distortions."

HD Radio = 15 years too late...
HD Radio = Now Defective...
HD Radio = Almost NON -EXISTANT to CONSUMERS....


Radiopilot

 

[radiopilot]

Radio Shack also lying about the HD coverage on it's map...

They are saying all areas of Georgia are broadcasting in HD radio:

http://www.radioshack.com/uc/index....rchLibrary/BuyersGuides/research/hdradio.html

Then the link directs you to Ibiquity's site whcih then shows you the cities it is broadcasting in HD...

http://www.ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station/GA

Don't know about Radio Shack and it's geography department but Atlanta, Agusta, Columbus, and Glenville does not comprise the entire state of Georgia...

DECEPTIVE.. you bet and I imagine it's deceptive for a large part of the country...

Now it's bogus info being touted to the public by the retailers of this defective technology...

I'll be writing the Radio Shack department for clarification on this deceptive practice!

HD Radio = 15 years too late...
HD Radio = Now Defective...
HD Radio = Almost NON -EXISTANT to CONSUMERS....

Radiopilot

 

[Mike Walker]

Since you can also find BY CITY simply using a drop-down menu, exactly how is that deceptive? It means there ARE HD stations in that state, that's all.

And I'd wager there isn't a corner of Georga where a good raido can't pull in the old 750, WSB. There sure isn't anywhere that 1110 WBT in Charlotte can't be heard in the Tar Heel State (soon to be HD). 680 WPTF Raleigh is a pretty damn good "blowtorch", too. I'm probably 120 miles from Raleigh, but it comes in just fine. As does 1140, WRVA Richmond...and that is a LONG HAUL from here.

 

[radiopilot]

Since you can also find BY CITY simply using a drop-down menu, exactly how is that deceptive? It means there ARE HD stations in that state, that's all.

And I'd wager there isn't a corner of Georga where a good raido can't pull in the old 750, WSB. There sure isn't anywhere that 1110 WBT in Charlotte can't be heard in the Tar Heel State (soon to be HD). 680 WPTF Raleigh is a pretty damn good "blowtorch", too. I'm probably 120 miles from Raleigh, but it comes in just fine. As does 1140, WRVA Richmond...and that is a LONG HAUL from here.

Deceptive is the proper word for it!

Why the HELL would I want to pull in the Raliegh station? Is that station local for me here in Savannah? I don't get 750 and when it does it comes in spotty almost unlistenable, not to mention if it did broadcast in HD I sure as hell ain't going to pick up the HD signal being as small as it is...

Did you say WRVA in Richmond, VA. Haha are you still smoking the dope lately.... Who the hell cares for that station when I NEED to listen to my local stations here?

Yes the Radio Shack map is DECEPTIVE and here is the caption just below the map:

"HD Radio Coverage"

Any moron with a brain can understand this... linking it to an Ibiquity site does not make it better...

It's deceptive and Radio Shack has gotten my letter of complaint!


HD Radio = 15 years too late...
HD Radio = Now Defective...
HD Radio = Almost NON -EXISTANT to CONSUMERS....

Radiopilot

 

[dbdigital]

Just recieved my Father's Day flyer from Radio Shack and to my amusement I thought HD radios would have been on sale in this flyer or at least some visibility...

I'm still laughing my pants off as I see only XM and Sirius are the real contenders along with Ipods and MP3 players... not one single mention of HD radio in this flyer...

Why not? Don't they believe some dad out there wants an HD radio? Ha ha....

Like I've been saying....

HD Radio = 15 years too late...
HD Radio = Now Defective...
HD Radio = Almost NON -EXISTANT to CONSUMERS....

Radiopilot

HD Radio reminds me of these new cars that parallel park themselves. I don't know of anyone who cares about it or would buy a new car based on that feature.

Arbitron's new survey on digital platforms which have had the most impact, list HD Radio dead last. Less than one percent of respondants age 12+ use it and zero percent say it has had a big impact on their life.

Only time will tell if these stats are going to change. But I went into my local Radio Shack Saturday to pick up some solder and I noticed two HD-Radios on display, an Accurian and a Boston Acoustics. Although there were several customers in the store, no one but myself even looked at these radios. I guess a 200.00 and 300.00 dollar table radio is not a "tasty" offering. The store had the Accurian tuned to KKGO and cranked up. It sounded OK. But they also had an Altec Lansing iPod docking station tuned to the same station in analog. It sounded better.

This is no way to introduce and sell HD-R to an indifferent public.

db

 

[scanman1]

Quote: "HD Radio is free, so all you need is an HD Radio receiver for your home or car to receive the broadcasts. Now you can get your favorite FM and AM stations digitally, at near CD-quality sound, that’s free of static and other irritating distortions."

I like HD, but this statement is laughable. First off, I can listen to analog broadcasts "that (are) free of static and other irritating distortions" on a daily basis. Second, I have heard distortion on HD stations in my area on many occasions, and frankly, unless a station is broadcasting at 96K, it doesn't sound near-CD quality. Often, the analog transmission sounds better and reaches "near CD quality" far more often. Third, analog radio is free too! 8)

 

[rbrucecarter5]

"Now defective"? It wasn't defective last week, or last year? Only "now".

So...because an item isn't featured in ONE flyer, for ONE event, it's irrelevant. Nevermind that Radio Shack sells many thousands of items, and the flyer holds what, a couple of dozen?

Once and for all: "The emperer doesn't have any clothes on!!!!"

I just had yet another series of emails last weekend from a frustrated consumer - whose new after market car radio can't even receive LOCAL HD stations. Not with the non-existant antennas they put in new cars. My suggestion to drill the fender for an aftermarket whip antenna went nowhere. I even offered to help them with their reception woes for free - I usually charge $120 an hour for engineering time as a consultant.

 

[radiopilot]

So I got my response back from Radio Shack... seems they were given the information by the HD Radio Alliance and they suggest that this map was for FM coverage...

What a JOKE... So now we see that the HD Radio Alliance is going through all sorts of DECEPTIVE means to achieve it's goals...

This letter has been sent to HD Radio Alliance as evidence of their deceptive practices and their rebuttle on it...

Dear Mr. ****,


Thank you for contacting RadioShack.com Order Center. I apologize for
the inconvenience. The information we have is given by an outside
source and we have no control over it. The broadcasts are all FM and
should cover a fairly large area. If there is a problem with the
information, please contact the HD Digital Radio Alliance for more
assistance.



Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you, and
thank you again for contacting RadioShack.com Order Center.


Sincerely,

Don C.
Customer Service Representative
RadioShack.com Order Center

If you have additional questions, please visit our online Help Desk.

Original Message Follows:
------------------------


To: [email protected]

From: ***********

Subject: I need help finding a product


Order Number:

Name: *******

Phone Number: 912-***-****

Wrote: Your map of the coverage of HD broadcasting is DECEPTIVE and all
areas of Georgia are NOT covered by HD radio broadcasts as directed by
the Ibiquity link... only four (4) cities in Georgia are broadcasting in
HD but on your map it shows almost the entire state of Georgia... this
is very DECEPTIVE of Radio Shack

http://www.radioshack.com/uc/index.jsp?page=researchLibraryArticle&articleUrl=
..%2Fgraphics%2Fuc%2Frsk%2FResearchLibrary%2FBuyersGuides%2Fresearch%2Fhdradio.html

Radiopilot

 

[MotoMuzak]

I was in a Radio Shack just this Afternoon for a new bracket to mount my other CB antenna to my mirror (last one I had--with a $300 Rubber Duckie--got stolen by some damn punk kids on the street late last Thursday night. I will park in the garage from now on...) and I SAW an Accurian rig (same one I played with in the past) but instead I HEARD a Sirius rig plugged into aone of those "Home Theatre In A Box" stereos. Also saw three Accurians in the box under the display that don't appear to have moved since I last visited the store about a month and a half ago.

(These are my observations, by the way and are only cited as an example. Don't go looking for market stats or anything else of the sort in this case because there's about a 99% chance there aren't any!)

<irony> Yup, sure looks like it's REALLY a popular product, Mike........</irony>

Now meanwhile, on the FM Extra side: good luck even FINDING an FMX rig in Portland. (Not a dirt bike--as in "freestyle motocross"--there are lots of those around here. *rimshot* ;o)

The guy I have known for quite a while at Ham Radio Outlet, for example (where I buy my CB gear and antennas from) upon my asking him about FM Extra, just gave me a blank stare.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Retailers have little incetive to sell boxes that don't have a subscription kickback...period.

Whenever I hear Sirius it has all the quality of a bad cell phone call.

 

[Mike Walker]

When 95 percent of all HD stations are FM, why is it deceptive to show FM coverage? HD may, or may not take off on AM. On FM it's already happened.

And if Radio Shack had sold Accurians, and replenished the "stack" with stock from the back to replace those holding up the radio on top, exactly how would it look "different than your last visit" if they'd sold every freakin' one of 'em? Really logical reasoning there, guys!

HD is VERY young. The "big guns" (Sony, Radio Shack, JVC, Yamaha, Kenwoos) are just gearing up. New radio (or tv technology) takes YEARS to transition. Always has. Always will. I'd wager the pace of HD Radio acceptance is at least as fast as it was with HDTV a decade ago. STILL MOST PEOPLE WATCH ANALOG TVs!

As for "noise free analog"...if you can't tell the difference between a 50db s/n ratio, 25db separation, 5 percent distortion, and 5-10db of dynamic range and 96db s/n ratio, 90db separation, .001 percent distortion, and 96db of dynamic range, then that's a reflection on YOU, Dude...not new technology.

 

[R.F. Burns]

When 95 percent of all HD stations are FM, why is it deceptive to show FM coverage? HD may, or may not take off on AM. On FM it's already happened.

And if Radio Shack had sold Accurians, and replenished the "stack" with stock from the back to replace those holding up the radio on top, exactly how would it look "different than your last visit" if they'd sold every freakin' one of 'em? Really logical reasoning there, guys!

HD is VERY young. The "big guns" (Sony, Radio Shack, JVC, Yamaha, Kenwoos) are just gearing up. New radio (or tv technology) takes YEARS to transition. Always has. Always will. I'd wager the pace of HD Radio acceptance is at least as fast as it was with HDTV a decade ago. STILL MOST PEOPLE WATCH ANALOG TVs!

As for "noise free analog"...if you can't tell the difference between a 50db s/n ratio, 25db separation, 5 percent distortion, and 5-10db of dynamic range and 96db s/n ratio, 90db separation, .001 percent distortion, and 96db of dynamic range, then that's a reflection on YOU, Dude...not new technology.

I'll repeat what I've said before. I think the larger AM stations, those with a co-owned FM facility should go dark in say 10 years. Those stations should be put on their co-owned FM HD 2 or 3 streams. Doing that would lower the number of AM facilities jamming an already overcrowded band. Don't allow AM HD (or any digital transmission) on what is now the AM BCB. Let those who remain program their analog facility to their hearts desire. Aolso, when the larger broadcasters stop transmitting on the medium waves, those broadcasters who remain must remain at their current output power, day and night. If they can make it over time broadcasting analog AM signals fine, if not, that's fine as well. This wil never happen but it would serve to lower the noise on the over crowded broadcast band and not only give small station owners what they want but allow the current AM broadcasters who have FM facilities to put that programing on a far superior FM HD 3 stream. With the forced move of AM facilities to digital FM, the commission would have to license FM facilities HD 2 & 3 streams to have the same coverage as their current full powered (class b) analog FM facilities.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

Quote: "HD Radio is free, so all you need is an HD Radio receiver for your home or car to receive the broadcasts. Now you can get your favorite FM and AM stations digitally, at near CD-quality sound, that’s free of static and other irritating distortions."

I like HD, but this statement is laughable. First off, I can listen to analog broadcasts "that (are) free of static and other irritating distortions" on a daily basis. Second, I have heard distortion on HD stations in my area on many occasions, and frankly, unless a station is broadcasting at 96K, it doesn't sound near-CD quality. Often, the analog transmission sounds better and reaches "near CD quality" far more often. Third, analog radio is free too! 8)

And, best of all, since virtually everyone already has analog AM/FM radios, they don't have to buy ANYTHING. Now that's what I call FREE!
Now if we could only get them to ditch the iBuzz, then my analog reception would, once again, be full fidelity and

free of static and other irritating distortions on a daily basis.

 

[clouseau]

Now if we could only get them to ditch the iBuzz, then my analog reception would, once again, be full fidelity and

free of static and other irritating distortions on a daily basis.

Well the "FCC won't allow it" tack is pretty well shot to heck. Do you think Lowery Mays', Red McComb's or Peter Holt's email address would help??? I'm only here to help...

Clouseau

 

[Mike Walker]

Yeah..without buying anything, you can receive half to a third of the radio signals in your market. Good luck to ya'!