17-12-2016, 11:31 AM
The demise of Maplin to me started around 15 years or so back, and coincided with the sale by the founders to what amounted to a vulture capitalist group. Once they started charging stupid prices like 20p per resistor etc, that was the end of it for me.
Nowadays I get better service from ebay vendors rather than big chains that sell tat. Proper prices for parts rather than inflated rates. I suspect that Maplin's componant price structure is based on the premise that hobbiests are seen as a pain in the arse rather than a customer, and most Maplin stores parts range consists of a couple of items on the shelf and a referral to order online from HQ if you want more than five of any one item. Not a great way to do business, I don't see a long term high street life span for Maplin the way they are going.
Nowadays I get better service from ebay vendors rather than big chains that sell tat. Proper prices for parts rather than inflated rates. I suspect that Maplin's componant price structure is based on the premise that hobbiests are seen as a pain in the arse rather than a customer, and most Maplin stores parts range consists of a couple of items on the shelf and a referral to order online from HQ if you want more than five of any one item. Not a great way to do business, I don't see a long term high street life span for Maplin the way they are going.
