Patch Replay: Stamford RadioShack Customers: Your Personal Data May be Sold in Auction

By RICH SCINTO (Patch Staff)

Editor’s note: This article was published Tuesday, March 24 on Patch. We’re republishing it here in case you missed it:

RadioShack customers who handed over an email or home address at some point over the years may have their information passed on to the highest bidder.

More than 13 million email addresses and 65 million customer names and physical addresses are up for bid, according to Hilco Streambank. The deal must be approved in United States Bankruptcy Court.

The proposal has already drawn fire from government officials and RadioShack’s former partners alike.

Texas and Tennessee attorney generals are objecting to the sale of customer data, according to Bloomberg. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton cited displays in RadioShack stores that said the chain doesn’t sell its email list.

Related:

• Several Connecticut RadioShack Stores Expected to Close

The Connecticut Attorney General’s Office is also looking into the matter.

“Our office is aware of the matter, and we are working with Texas and other states to protect consumer privacy,” said Jaclyn Falkowski, spokesperson for the office.

AT&T, which worked with RadioShack to sell phones, wants data on AT&T customers destroyed, according to Bloomberg.

General Wireless, which is owned by hedge fund Standard General, had plans for Sprint to take over up to 1,750 RadioShack locations, according to Fox Business.

The sale hearing is set for March 26, according to Hilco Streambank.

RadioShack has been on a steady spiral with losses for the past 11 quarters and a 16-percent dip in sales in the last quarter, according to Time Magazine. It has $1.2 billion in assets and $1.39 billion in debt.

Also up for grabs in the potential sale are 73 active and pending patents, RadioShack’s trademark, domain name, ecommerce platform and franchise relationships.

Below is a list of Connecticut locations that have closed or are expected to close:

• Manchester: 399 Middle Turnpike West
• Newington: 3065 Berlin Turnpike
• Windsor: 1095 Kennedy Rd.
• New Haven: 1455 Whalley Ave.
• Hamden: 2300 Dixwell Ave.
• Orange: 90 Boston Post Rd.
• Avon: 395 West Main St.
• Naugatuck: 727 Rubber Ave.
• Cheshire: 953 S Main St.
• Trumbull: 5065 Main St.
• North Haven: 120A Universal Dr.
• Stamford Town Center, 100 Greyrock Pl., Stamford.
• Norwalk: 595 Connecticut Ave.
• Tolland: 9 Fieldstone Commons
• Norwalk: 30 Belden Ave.
• Cos Cob: 160 E Putnam Ave.
• West Hartford: 1481 New Britain Ave.
• Waterbury: 495 Union St.
• Branford: 1060 W Main St.
• Willimantic: 95 Storrs Rd.
• Danbury 67: Newtown Rd.
• Bridgeport: 120 Boston Ave.
• Fairfield: 913 Post Rd.
• New Haven: 906 Chapel St.