After three and a half years, Radio Shack may resume selling Verizon Wireless. Sources have confirmed stores have begun tracking SKUs for many popular Verizon Wireless models, such as the LG enV2 and BlackBerry Storm.
Radio Shack ended relations with Verizon Wireless in the summer of 2005, as Radio Shack restructured its wireless sales division. This restructuring proved successful, as Radio Shack has seen increased sales selling exclusively AT&T and Sprint Nextel phones. They also have in recent months matched Best Buy’s promotion of unlocked devices. The addition of Verizon Wireless will leave T-Mobile as the only national carrier to not have sales at Best Buy.
It’s not clear what spurred the move to resume sales, however one event does stand out. With the closing of all nationwide Circuit City stores, Verizon lost its most exclusive retail sales position ever at a national electronics retailer. Verizon was able to build store-within-a-store centers inside every Circuit City. While that did not wind up salvaging Circuit City’s typically poor track record with wireless phone sales, it did give Verizon key prestige in the retail sector.
In related news, Sprint this week has begun an expanded sales footprint inside of Best Buy stores. Many stores at the retailer chose to exempt Sprint sales, focusing on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and MetroPCS. It is not clear if the expansion will apply to all remaining stores, however PhoneNews.com has confirmed several stores (previously not selling Sprint) have taken stock of Sprint phones and collateral.
I’m hearing only about 40 stores in the nation are going to get the phones to start with
As a former shack dm. I would assume the verizon roll out would only include the current alltel stores.
[…] Radio Shack might be able to sell Verizon Wireless phones/service again, after the two companies ended their agreement back in 2005. Verizon lost their Circuit City distribution channel, which might have helped Radio Shack get Verizon back: https://phone.news/radio-shack-to-begin-selling-verizon-wireless…-again-and-sprint-expan… […]
This is going to give a great diversity to Radio Shack store’s
Dropping VZW was the down fall for the Shack. During the Verizon/Shack era RadioShack dominated similar places of employment. When VZW left so did our paychecks and stock purchase program. Radioshacks stock fell 60% in the months to follow. Verizon has gone on to be the dominant wireless company in the US. Verizon has a higher ARPU than any other carrier out there. When there is almost a $5 gap between ATT and VZW you know you are raking in the Billions. You do the math….
90 million customers x $55 a month = huge success. Most all of the Shack’s manager went from making $60,000 a year down to $38,000 a year after VZW’s exit. RE-MARRYING VZW IS A NO-BRAINER. Lets just hope the Shack’s British Captain just doesnt start taking advice from Obama.
The only stores to get Verizon Wireless to start are Radioshack stores that were affected by the purchase of Unicel and Rural Cellular Corporation by Verizon Wireless, and the asset swap that occurred between Verizon Wireless and ATT. This only affects as stated before around 40 Radioshack stores in the Northeast. Particularly those in Maine and a select few in Northern New York, including Plattsburgh and Saranac Lake Radioshack Stores. I work in one of the stores affected by this and they have received all the Verizon Wireless Promotional Material, the dummy phones, and are only awaiting final shipment of the actual phones before they can start selling Verizon Wireless. It seems Verizon Wireless will be available in any Radioshack that sold Unicel Previous to the Merger between Unicel and Verizon Wireless and currently does not sell ATT phones.
Verizon phones will also be available at the radioshacks in oregon that used to sell unicel.