My biggest gripe is really with the product knowledge of the staff - it seems now that if it isn't a cellphone or related calling plan that they don't know squat.

The Radio Shack in Garnerville, NY is actually the best I've been in as far as staff goes. All the workers have FRS radios on them. If I can't find something (usually because there is a mountain of RC cars in the aisle), the person I ask immediately picks up the FRS and says something like "customer advanced" if they don't know what I'm asking for. Then someone with a clue comes out of the back room to assist me.

That Radio Shack is about 5 minutes from my house, and I am in a very small town. I can't believe they do enough business at that location, but they've been there for 3-4 years now.