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| Laurie Member Since: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 2897   
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Just announced...
Maplins have gone into addministration.   |
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28th Feb 2018 10:39am |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888 
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Have to admit I've not bought anything from them for a few years, used to be a regular customer when they primarily sold electronic components and sub assemblies. During the 70s and 80s the "Maplin catalogue" was my main source of data for electronic components, basically a bible for ICs and discrete components.
I think they tried to change into a mainstream store, competing with PC World etc... but couldn't compete with the direct sellers and specialists in the long term, can't see them being able to survive this. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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28th Feb 2018 11:01am |
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| srod Member Since: 20 Mar 2015 Location: Argyll Posts: 190 |
Nooooooooooo!
 I was only in one of their shops just last week whilst killing time in town waiting for a train. I was reminiscing, the shop seemed just as awesome as it did when I was a kid (local equivalent called Tandy, then Radio Shack back then) that was pre-internet and one of the few places you could easily get parts and discover new interesting gadgets etc. I'm now an electronic engineer.
To be fair I didn't actually buy anything on my recent visit. I get all that stuff off the internet these days. So no wonder.... In my defense I recently paid a (3x internet) premium on some brake pipe pipe parts and tools from a local motor supplies shop as I couldn't wait the 2-3 day delivery, so feel like I am still doing my bit for the high street! |
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28th Feb 2018 11:38am |
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| rallysteve Member Since: 10 Feb 2014 Location: Cumbria Posts: 2237  
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Indeed, they have gone down hill over the last 10years, with each store only stocking single resistors/LEDs in each value and staff who have absolutely no idea what they are selling.
I remember about 7yrs ago going to buy an IC (4x opto isolator) which they did not have in stock, the guy behind the parts counter offered me several other ICs which will 'probably work' because they look the same and have the same number of pins 
I wouldnt be surprised at halfords going the same way at some point as they are heading towards becoming a shop for general tat. Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread |
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28th Feb 2018 11:44am |
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| dorsetsmith Member Since: 30 Oct 2011 Location: South West Posts: 4554 |
The golden days of maplins with one shop in west cliff on sea standing room only
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28th Feb 2018 12:09pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3507 
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Another emotional reminder of the Maplins Catalogue of old........
The shops were great and they employed genuinely enthusiastic people who knew their stuff - then they started employing nobodies and very young people who might as well have been selling clothes or frozen foods...... Just like Little Chef, an institution ruined by poor management and leadership. |
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28th Feb 2018 5:55pm |
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| Swine&Small Member Since: 20 Mar 2017 Location: Norfolk Posts: 1223
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Was this not a holiday camp once ...
1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue
1967 Morris Traveller 1966 Morris Convertible 2012 VW T5 Camper Quod Abundat Non Obstat. |
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28th Feb 2018 6:17pm |
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| Laurie Member Since: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 2897
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Hi-Di-Hi
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28th Feb 2018 6:23pm |
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| Scoobeenut Member Since: 04 Mar 2015 Location: West London Posts: 310 
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Where am I going to lose myself on a Saturday morning now whilst her indoors goes shopping in town? Will have to resort to machinemart or pub.
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28th Feb 2018 6:26pm |
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| Paulv8 Member Since: 09 Jun 2013 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 618 
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Is it not more to do with the fact that the general public has learned the cost of everything and the value of nothing? I think very few retail models will work now. All hail the internet, devourer of worlds.. IMO the interconnectedness of all things brings global business. Global business is good for the short term few, and bad for the long term everybody. V8 90...WIP |
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28th Feb 2018 7:34pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5111  
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I stopped using Maplins years ago overpriced and most items not in stock and with staff who were totally clueless.
Get over Maplins and use RS Electrical Supplies either online or there will be a store near you, when I say store I mean a huge warehouse full of every type of thing that Maplin never has. And with staff who know what they are talking about. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at.. http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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28th Feb 2018 8:08pm |
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| mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5038 
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CPC has been better for years.
I remember Tandy, which i think maplin bought. Eitherway, maplin had really gone far to overpriced, reduced stock of useful things and stocked useless things, rarely had things in stock locally etc etc its a shame, but a bit like woolworths - have started to loose their way and forgot about pricing etc Mike |
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28th Feb 2018 9:19pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 03 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 5183
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We did have both tandy and maplins in sunderland, Me and my friend went into tandy to have a look at their electronics. This was going back to the early 2000s. Our maplins was only open a short time then closed.
I have watch a fella on YouTube who repairs synths, he always buys his replacement parts from maplins so its going to be a right shame for him. Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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5th Mar 2018 6:14am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17434 
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I think that the Maplin retail model stopped working when the arrival of online retail enabled people not in industry to buy from professional, formerly trade-only sources like RS Components. Given the choice of a poorly stocked and overpriced seedy shop in a grotty low-rent area staffed by supercilious and clueless youths (my experience round here) or a professional guaranteed-next-day service from a well-stocked wholsaler delivered to your home, for about the same price, I think the writing was on the wall.
In many ways a similar problem to Toys-R-Us. Adapt or die. |
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5th Mar 2018 7:16am |
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