In defense of Radio Shack (I love playing Devil's advocate)...
1. The sales people at Radio Shack are the product of their environment. What else are you going to get for just over minimum wage? Anyone with concrete knowledge gets a better job somewhere else. Most of the technicians I know in the electronics field had a job at Radio Shack when they were young.
2. Where else are you going to find a 10K potentionmeter at 7 PM in Dog Holler, Iowa? The convenience drives up the price. I just grit my teeth and hand over the money, knowing I have little chance of finding the blasted thing elsewhere. I do a lot of "on the road" repair and technical support for computers and electronics and there are times when I am close to kissing the RS salesperson when I am desperate and find an open Radio Shack. There were times where I would have had to cancel my flight home and wait for the next day to chase down a 50 cent part. I also would have had to explain to an irate business owner why their system was not running when they came in for work.
Are the prices high? You bet... To me they are brutal, because I buy parts from wholesalers at work. Are the sales people electronics ignorant? For the most part--yes... But you won't find a BSEE working for minimum wage unless he has been fired from every other job for incompetence. Will I continue buying at Radio Shack? Yes sir, until something better comes along and offers the same kind of convenience...
Tom F