Radiocraft

Shop review appears on the other Radiocraft Sonus entry.
The store is on Cowbridge Rd East, Canton.

An electronics store straight out of a bygone age, Radiocraft is flicking the bird at the notion that high-​street chains and Internet retailers have the market sewn up. You’d scarcely guess from its nondescript frontage that it possesses such depths of products, extending way back into the bowels of the shop. The staff are largely a throwback too, outwardly at least more salesmen than geeky experts, one or two exuding a whiff of hapless-​loser-​in-​business The Simpsons character Gil. It’s the personal touch they’ll have to rely on in an increasingly difficult market you’d assume. That and digging out gems of semi-​obsolete technology — one past example: stocking Dictaphone mini-​tapes — that big stores long since phased out, fittingly mirroring Radiocraft’s somewhat dusty atmosphere.

There’s always a different feel to shops that are entirely run by men… You know the kind I mean? Car showrooms, carpet discount stores, chandlers… and Radiocraft! They always have a faint predatory air to the them that you can sense, but can’t quite get a handle on… it was like that many, many moons ago when I worked briefly at Richer Sounds: the blokes on the shop floor sized everybody up the moment they stepped through the door, and towards the end of my six week stint with them, I could practically hear their brains totting up how much money they anticipated each individual customer would spend… it was a little obscene! And comical at the same time!
Radiocraft has the same kind of feel to it, but I could be wrong. They are clearly well versed in the product, which ranges from plasma TV’s to white goods, and they certainly get the job done. Business is brisk, regardless of the recession. Established in 1949, there’s a lot to be said for longevity, especially in this business! And that’s an impressive track record!
They are selling one of the higher end large plasma ranges with the offer that each customer who buys one will be refunded if England win the footie. I find this promotion be a little bit peculiar, considering that this is the Cardiff branch, and not everybody in Wales wants to see England do so well! I guess that they have underwritten the risk, and loaded the premium into the cost price, based on the anticipated sales for these TV’s over the period leading up to the conclusion of the World Cup. Perhaps I’m a little too cynical at times? Come on England!

Many years ago I was given money for my birthday and spent it all in Radiocraft on Cowbridge Road on a new Sony radio. You know, the kind with a cassette player, and single CD player and a movable speaker on each side that has to be attached my precarious wiring around the back rather than any more sensible and new-​fangled plugs. And of course, this radio is still going strong.
The staff in Radiocraft are quite like the shop; they seem as though they’ve been there for an age, and have not quite yet caught up with all the new trends of technology. But, they are generally very knowledgeable about the products that they do have on sale (which is actually a whole lot more than just radios, by the way). They have televisions, washing machines, microwaves, sound systems and much, much more.
Although this shop will either serve you very well, or leave you wanting as they don’t have what you require, it’s a good place to check out when you’re in the market for new electronic toys.