RadioShack has me utterly confused re: Converters/Adapters
Sep 23rd, 2004, 05:10 PM
#21
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The RadioShack guy in the store INSISTED, (cause he's "worked there for 4 years"
And this makes him an expert? Excuse me, but a guy who has been working at Radio Shack four years is a loser in my book. That's as bad as saying, "gee the guy behind the counter at 7-11 said. . ."
And this makes him an expert? Excuse me, but a guy who has been working at Radio Shack four years is a loser in my book. That's as bad as saying, "gee the guy behind the counter at 7-11 said. . ."
Sep 23rd, 2004, 05:20 PM
#23
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Now watch it Patrick, we were just starting to get along 
I sort of expect that someone working in the store might know at least a little something about the business in which they are working. (Of course I have heard the saying "a little knowledge can be dangerous." (Punctuation is driving me nuts.)
I work for a prestiege (sp?) make up company as a Beauty Advisor, have done so for 11 yrs. I have won high praise from my company and from my customers for my expertise in the field in which I am working. I REALLY hope you wouldn't consider me a loser.
I sort of expect that someone working in the store might know at least a little something about the business in which they are working. (Of course I have heard the saying "a little knowledge can be dangerous."
(Punctuation is driving me nuts.)I work for a prestiege (sp?) make up company as a Beauty Advisor, have done so for 11 yrs. I have won high praise from my company and from my customers for my expertise in the field in which I am working. I REALLY hope you wouldn't consider me a loser.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 06:03 PM
#24
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All I know is what I've seen in Radio Shack. The guys working there that I've talked with would have trouble figuring out which end of the appliance to plug into the wall.
I don't get the connection between your working in the beauty industry and the guys I've seen working at Radio Shack who if they had any smarts would have moved on to Circuit City or better long ago.
I don't get the connection between your working in the beauty industry and the guys I've seen working at Radio Shack who if they had any smarts would have moved on to Circuit City or better long ago.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 06:25 PM
#25
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Sep 23rd, 2004, 07:57 PM
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Hello flygirl.
Not exactly. It was shaped a little like the first 2 and the 7th. It was black. About the size though.
I overheard another customer and the sales clerk talking and I think the sales clerk said it had just come in.
Patrick, the connection I made with what you said was that perhaps you thought working in a retail position is a bit lowly (sp? I wish this site had spell check like some other boards.)Seems like we keep just missing each other's points. But that's okay as long as we can work it out without the nastieness creeping back in.
You also pointed out that it was like the guy at "7-11 saying...." Well, if I had a question that I needed to have answered by a 7-11 person regarding something to do with 7-11, I would hope they would have the right answer.(Not that I can think of anything that important I would need to ask the 7-11 people except "quick, where's the bathroom?"
As to "moving up to Circuit City.." you sure haven't been to the one in my area..it also is pretty bad.
Not exactly. It was shaped a little like the first 2 and the 7th. It was black. About the size though.
I overheard another customer and the sales clerk talking and I think the sales clerk said it had just come in.
Patrick, the connection I made with what you said was that perhaps you thought working in a retail position is a bit lowly (sp? I wish this site had spell check like some other boards.)Seems like we keep just missing each other's points. But that's okay as long as we can work it out without the nastieness creeping back in.
You also pointed out that it was like the guy at "7-11 saying...." Well, if I had a question that I needed to have answered by a 7-11 person regarding something to do with 7-11, I would hope they would have the right answer.
(Not that I can think of anything that important I would need to ask the 7-11 people except "quick, where's the bathroom?"As to "moving up to Circuit City.." you sure haven't been to the one in my area..it also is pretty bad.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 08:22 PM
#29
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"do you really need to take a PDA on a vacation?"
"Need" is a relative term, but it is my address book, MP3 player, has games to pass the time in the airport and it has a digital camera in it.
"Need" is a relative term, but it is my address book, MP3 player, has games to pass the time in the airport and it has a digital camera in it.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 08:32 PM
#30
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Do I need a PDA on vacation? Yes. See:
<b>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=34474486</b>
And if it's a flying vacation, I also pack a free flight management system called
<b>http://www.pocketfms.com</b>
<b>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=34474486</b>
And if it's a flying vacation, I also pack a free flight management system called
<b>http://www.pocketfms.com</b>
Sep 23rd, 2004, 10:21 PM
#31
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I would not recommend using any american electronic item that is not dual voltage in Europe. This goes for use with any kind of converter including the non-travel kind that weigh a ton.
I would only use a converter for simple electic items like an iron or hair dryer that I would risk ruining. Converters only convert voltage, not hertz. I have ruined a cd player using it with a converter and an american iron buzzes like heck with a converter.
However, a dual voltage device like a modern laptop (or desktop for that matter) will run just as elegantly under either system.
I would only use a converter for simple electic items like an iron or hair dryer that I would risk ruining. Converters only convert voltage, not hertz. I have ruined a cd player using it with a converter and an american iron buzzes like heck with a converter.
However, a dual voltage device like a modern laptop (or desktop for that matter) will run just as elegantly under either system.
Sep 23rd, 2004, 10:31 PM
#32
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well, the Rat Shack sales guy is generally correct when he says:
"... an Elph camera ... will charge up fine without the voltage converter because pretty much all those digital cameras made in the last 10 yrs are dual voltage."
But as others have poined out, to be absolutely certain, read what's stamped onto your chargers.
If the camera's or gadget's charger says something like
"110V~220V , 50~60Hz"
then it will run fine on European electrictity, it only needs the physical adapter for the plug.
"... an Elph camera ... will charge up fine without the voltage converter because pretty much all those digital cameras made in the last 10 yrs are dual voltage."
But as others have poined out, to be absolutely certain, read what's stamped onto your chargers.
If the camera's or gadget's charger says something like
"110V~220V , 50~60Hz"
then it will run fine on European electrictity, it only needs the physical adapter for the plug.
Sep 24th, 2004, 01:58 AM
#33
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I wouldn't bother taking a hair dryer to Europe. I just got back and all the places we stayed had hair dryers, even cheap places. At worst, you can buy a cheap one there if the place doesn't have them.
Sep 24th, 2004, 02:24 AM
#34
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Goodmorning.
Some of the latest comments are sure to confuse some people even more, including me.
I bought a travel voltage adapter that is marketed to allow people to use non-dual voltage items in foreign countries. I don't recall seeing any mention on the item in regards to hertz.
The package does state there are time limits for keeping an item turned on while using the item to avoid overheating. Does this have to do with hertz?
I am not going to be overly concerned about this because I am not planning to take any electronic devices worth tons of money that are not dual voltage. I have decided this after reading the comments here. But someone else might really need this information clarified. There are some other threads on this subject that got quite technical by the way.
Robespierre, I almost would have preferred (sp?) a blank stare because I would have been able to decide to just leave and go elsewhere. I have seen other salespeople make up stuff, even where I work, when they don't know the answer. I dislike that.
Some of the latest comments are sure to confuse some people even more, including me.
I bought a travel voltage adapter that is marketed to allow people to use non-dual voltage items in foreign countries. I don't recall seeing any mention on the item in regards to hertz.
The package does state there are time limits for keeping an item turned on while using the item to avoid overheating. Does this have to do with hertz?
I am not going to be overly concerned about this because I am not planning to take any electronic devices worth tons of money that are not dual voltage. I have decided this after reading the comments here. But someone else might really need this information clarified. There are some other threads on this subject that got quite technical by the way.
Robespierre, I almost would have preferred (sp?) a blank stare because I would have been able to decide to just leave and go elsewhere. I have seen other salespeople make up stuff, even where I work, when they don't know the answer. I dislike that.
Sep 24th, 2004, 03:37 AM
#35
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For a short and clear introduction to using electricity in Europe see
www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap11/electric.htm
Sep 24th, 2004, 04:39 AM
#37
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Hi,
>If you have a dual voltage item that is not the kind with the switch thing like my travel iron, for instance my cell phone charger I should do that dangerous assume thing and believe that the item will be able to go to the right voltage on it's own?<
Yes. If it says 1XX - 2XX V it can be used with a plug adapter only.
Re the Hertz thing:
This used to be "cycles per second" and refers to the frequency at which the AC electricity reverses itself (don't think about it too much, as I don't believe in electricity myself).
The US operates on 60 Hz 110 V. Europe operates on 50 Hz 220V.
Very few consumer devices, electric (hair dryer) and electronic (battery charger), are affected by the difference in frequency.
>If you have a dual voltage item that is not the kind with the switch thing like my travel iron, for instance my cell phone charger I should do that dangerous assume thing and believe that the item will be able to go to the right voltage on it's own?<
Yes. If it says 1XX - 2XX V it can be used with a plug adapter only.
Re the Hertz thing:
This used to be "cycles per second" and refers to the frequency at which the AC electricity reverses itself (don't think about it too much, as I don't believe in electricity myself).
The US operates on 60 Hz 110 V. Europe operates on 50 Hz 220V.
Very few consumer devices, electric (hair dryer) and electronic (battery charger), are affected by the difference in frequency.
Sep 24th, 2004, 04:43 AM
#38
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Just for the record, I never said nor meant to imply that retail sales is a "lowly" profession. I merely suggested that in my experiences (several of them) that Radio Shack does not exactly hire rocket scientists -- if fact I've had guys like the one I mention who insist that they KNOW all those little phone plugs in Europe are exactly like in the US. I agree, a blank stare would be better.
And I find fault with the idea that just because someone has worked at Radio Shack for four years that that is any indication of either their intelligence or their knowledge. That's all.
And for the record, I always feel stupid at Circuit City. I have yet to talk to a sales clerk who wasn't light years ahead of me in his knowledge of whatever products he was selling or discussing. Obviously there is a big difference between the hiring and training process at Circuit City and Radio Shack. I don't blame the people working at Radio Shack -- I blame the people hiring them and supposedly training them.
And I find fault with the idea that just because someone has worked at Radio Shack for four years that that is any indication of either their intelligence or their knowledge. That's all.
And for the record, I always feel stupid at Circuit City. I have yet to talk to a sales clerk who wasn't light years ahead of me in his knowledge of whatever products he was selling or discussing. Obviously there is a big difference between the hiring and training process at Circuit City and Radio Shack. I don't blame the people working at Radio Shack -- I blame the people hiring them and supposedly training them.
