RadioShack on the Auction Block? [RUMOR]

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The company is reportedly "exploring strategic alternatives," according to inside sources. One of those alternatives is a potential leveraged buyout, with an asking price in the ballpark of about $3 billion.

Another option being explored is the possibility of merging with still-standing rival retail chain Best Buy, buy back outstanding shares using its $900 million in cash assets or even potentially using those funds to acquire another company and pursue new growth via that route. What it apparently doesn't want to do is the same old, same old: lay off employees, cut costs and build more stores.

Sources say this is all very early in the process and may take weeks or months for a sale or new strategy to come to fruition. RadioShack itself has declined to comment on the rumors.

Is the age of the brick and mortar consumer electronics retail chain coming to an end, or do you still think there's a place for physical storefronts? Do you go to a store to buy your gadgets or order mostly online?

[via CNet]