Will you miss Maplins?

[lpdsn]

Ironic that apart from going into one of their shops once I only ever used Maplins via mail order when I was a kid and now they've lost out to the modern form of mail order.

 

[RichardS]

Yes, I'll miss them as I've bought quite a bit of stuff there over the years, admittedly less in recent years although I bought something from Maplin online a couple of months ago.

Richard

 

[[3889]]

Yes, I bought micro switches for the cabin lights there last month. I couldn't work out the sizing with online offers, despite having part No., but Maplinista glanced at the bust switch and got me what I wanted. More expensive but worth it for the convenience.

 

[[70521]]

Will you miss Maplins?

No, over priced, limited stock and staff who did not understand what they were selling.

 

[maby]

No, over priced, limited stock and staff who did not understand what they were selling.

I keep hearing this complaint about the staff - perhaps I was just lucky with the particular branches of Maplins that I commonly use - the staff have always seemed friendly, enthusiastic and reasonably knowledgeable about their range of stock.

 

[laika]

When I started trying to revive my scant knowledge of electronics for boat projects a few years ago I'd rock up to Maplins (tried a few in Plymouth, London and southampton) with a shopping list of components and when they couldn't find something I'd say "well do you have an equivalent"? Not once did I speak to someone who could give me something I didn't know the part number for. They charged little electronics shop prices for mail order service. They were only ever good for when you were desperate and were prepared to pay double rather than wait for a delivery. Like the time in plymouth where my 12v laptop power supply stopped working and I went and bought another. The guy in the shop assured me it wouldn't work with my computer (which of course it did....).

No I won't miss 'em. Maybe their demise is an opportunity for little hobby electronics shops with actual knowledgeable staff

 

[STATUE]

I started missing them a couple of years ago when the prices seemed to go through the roof and the very knowledgable staff they previously had seemed to no longer be there.

I couldn't agree more. There was a guy in Maplins, Poole, Dorset, called Gerald, his knowledge was unsurpassed. I wrote to Maplins HQ saying so - then he disappeared !

I now use on-line RS Components. Last week I ordered £ 6.50 worth, it arrived within 24 hours with no carriage charges.

 

[maby]

...

No I won't miss 'em. Maybe their demise is an opportunity for little hobby electronics shops with actual knowledgeable staff

I think you would have to be very brave - or foolhardy - to start one of them these days...

 

[prv]

They charged little electronics shop prices for mail order service.

Sub-mail-order service, because mail order would have a much wider range of products.

Pete

 

[ashtead]

I keep hearing this complaint about the staff - perhaps I was just lucky with the particular branches of Maplins that I commonly use - the staff have always seemed friendly, enthusiastic and reasonably knowledgeable about their range of stock.

I think they were knowledgable about products but perhaps not the product you wanted to buy -certainly had some tecky types though as you say but customer centric personal skills were perhaps not as strong as other retailers?

 

[dunedin]

The target market sub segments of “electronics enthusiast” and “doesn’t buy online” is clearly a very narrow and declining base to maintain a business. And presumably they diversified into electronic toys because the hobbyists buying components didn’t spend enough to pay the overheads, but this wasn’t enough. Sad but inevitable

 

[penberth3]

...certainly had some tecky types though as you say but customer centric personal skills were perhaps not as strong as other retailers?

Interesting point there on company culture - I've always found Wilkinson's/Wilko staff to be happy and helpful, noticeably different to the average checkout experience. But Wilko's is a family owned business and might still think these things are important.

 

[elton]

I applied for a job a couple of years ago, when they opened a Maplin nearby. I got a refusal within a few hours. I assume they decided I was far too old; approaching 60, what could I possibly know Good luck thickheads.

 

[tony_lavelle]

I keep hearing this complaint about the staff - perhaps I was just lucky with the particular branches of Maplins that I commonly use - the staff have always seemed friendly, enthusiastic and reasonably knowledgeable about their range of stock.

Of my two nearest Maplin branches, Bromley is useless but Orpington has excellent, helpful and knowledgeable staff.

 

[maxi77]

Like many I used to use them a lot but when I moved further from their shop online became easier, but their website was a real pain, coupled with a company discount at RS. Then along came CPC which sold everything they did with a wider range and a website that was much more customer friendly.

 

[Seajet]

I used them online for the odd electrical / electronic component like connectors etc, never toys; yes I will miss them.

 

[oldgit]

Sometime in the past some genuis whizz kid(s) decided on bright new future for Maplins
Expand and move to expensive prime sites, import snazzy junk and load the company up with debt, why not.
They screwed their suppliers with ever extending delayed payment from the start, even deducting from outstanding invoices goods that were returned by customers, wether faulty or not.
Good riddance. to them and their business practices.

Many prior warnings about companies barely staying afloat and now with Brexit and interest rates about to rise, the tide finally has gone out and we are about to find out who has no knickers.
Only UK growth was personal spending, now on the decline and with a 5-6% council tax rise on its way, suspect its not going anywhere but down.


Of course our on the ball pension overseers will have been actively looking after the staff pensions !

 

[LadyInBed]

Very much so, I used them a lot.

And me.
First Tandy now Maplin, where will it end?

 

[RichardS]

And me.
First Tandy now Maplin, where will it end?

What about Radio Shack? Or are you too young to remember the really good old days?

Richard

 

[Heckler]

Was a useful source for miscellaneous electrical and electronic bits, but recently too expensive and had become more of a toyshop than a serious electronics supplier. Fine except toys were expensive and poor quality. Staff used to be good but last few visits were more interested in playing with the stock than selling it!

Nail on head! My findings as well