Stan Black wrote in a message to Ivy Iverson:
SB> Hi Ivy, Thanks for the advice.  Our local Radio shack's have just
SB> about gone  out of the component business.  Guess they want to only
SB> sell big consumer  items!  Or the people that would work there for
SB> the most part don't understand the components!
Hey there yung feller...   I remember when I was growing up (not out) and 
getting started in electronics, that if I had a question about how a circuit 
operated, or needed to know how to solve a problem, I could ask my friendly 
RS salesperson and s/he could probably help me - or at least point me to a 
reference book on their shelf that would cover it.  No More !!!
I've worked in several RS stores in the San Francisco Bay area and been 
through their "training" program, and am here to tell you that they are NO 
LONGER interested in the project builder or homebrew enthusiast.  There main 
goal (at least in the area I was in) is to sell the big ticket items, and 
when I would try and help a person with a component level question or 
purchase, I was chastized for it - so I quit !!! :(  Even when I was able to 
make use of my Amateur Radio or Scanner knowledge to aid a customer - I got 
the 'evil eye' from the managers...
It's actually quite sad that the thought of having at least ONE person in 
every store that has more than a basic electronics knowledge appearantly 
hasn't occurred, or has been rejected by the corporate entity.  When I walk 
into a 'store' now, and the "representative" that comes up to me has the 
attitude that you mention above - I simply walk away and out.  It's not only 
a waste of my time, but also that other persons time to try and explain what 
I need/want to accomplish.  The thing that ticks me off, is when they (the 
rep) trys to BS me into thinking that they know what I'm talking about, JUST 
in order to attempt to get me to buy a 'large ticket item'!  Greed!  Stinking 
Greed!
Oh..  I'm sorry..  Isn't this the SOAP_BOX echo ???
And Now...  Back to the regularly accepted topic... :)
A few years ago I bought a portable AF Amp from RS that
measured about the same size as a pack of cigs, and had
a built in speaker, volume control, and mini-phone jacks
for in/output, in a plastic case - powered by a 9v battery.
Worked pretty good (still), and was about $8 as I remember.
Sincerely,
           Bruce - kb6lwn - ck1@pacbell.net
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