UK electronics retailer Maplin is close to administration (UK bankruptcy)
For the Americans out there, Maplin is sort of like Radio Shack.
So are Toys R Us UK:
I used to use Maplin loads 10 years ago… Especially when I used to live near one in Cardiff. Used to just pop in and buy loads of stuff.
I don’t use it as much nowadays as the internet is too competitive, and I don’t have time to actually visit stores (kids etc).
Sad days tho. Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.
Not surprised, frequently the most expensive place to shop - haven’t used it in years. Having high street stores for that kind of business these days is madness, there just isn’t the call for it. Their catalogues now look like some sort of tat shop. CPC aren’t far behind I would’t think - they have turned into tat pedlars.
Toys’r’us - again nearly always the most expensive place and some of their ‘unknown’ brands toys are truly trash. Out of the handful of time we’ve shopped there for giant rc cars etc for the boy, they have always broken. One claimed to be able to pull a massive weight , yet it didn’t last 4 hours!
It’s what happens when businesses don’t adapt to the climate and turn to selling tat to try and bail them out.
The quality of their components was just terrible and expensive. Even years ago I would just order from RS and wait for next day delivery over going to Maplins down the road.
When I was based in the UK these were the only stores I actually wanted to go into (outside of grocery shopping) and I was shocked how bad they looked on the inside. Prices and items aside, the interior design and how goods were presented was just bad.
I really like the staff though, they had a knack for electronics and some I met were also into ham radio.
Looks like talks have fallen through and the collapse has become an actuality. Contrary to what the CEO would of course say, I do not feel Maplin has a place in the high street with marginally better variety than other similar high street tech stores, unjustifiably (outrageously in some instances) high price, and quality and durability of some products similar to low quality Chinese product bought for a tenth of the price.
Toys R Us UK went into administration this morning too.
Here in North Wales, Maplin was/is the only shop I can walk into and buy electronics supplies.
I haven’t been in years though. The closest store is in Llandudno, 30 minutes each way.
Maplin charge £19 for a single 18650 battery and Llandudno doesn’t have any in stock . . .
Like everyone else I buy from RS, Farnell, Amazon, Mouser, Digikey, Gearbest, Bangood . . . Just so much easier and the generally better quality.
I remember I used to be able to buy electronics and parts from local hardware stores, Tandy, Halfords, but these disappeared and we were left with Maplin. I, too, shop at the stores you’ve listed.
what is a ‘tat shop’?
Tattoo shop?
What is tat: anything that looks cheap, is of low quality, or in bad condition
I’m doing some side work (M.E. rugs) at a SEARS up in Boca Raton, FL that’s now being liquidated and closing on 4/8/18 and it’s depressing as hell being up there for 8-10 hours at a stretch.
Bring on the Zombie Apocalypse.
Chris
It’s a shame, really, because Maplin used to have good stuff. At the expensive end on prices, but it could still be worth it if you wanted something immediately, or they happened to be doing a deal.
Unfortunately, in recent years I’ve had the impression that they were trying to compete in too many areas at once, thereby becoming a jack of all trades, but master of none. I haven’t bought much there for 4 or 5 years now.
I’ve been in the market for a mid-range multimeter recently, after my Maplin Precision Gold one started going wonky on me after a good 15 years of use. I liked it, I went straight in there to get another one, but no dice. Just cheap tat or expensive but high quality Flukes I can’t justify the budget for.
In a similar vein, electronic parts are cheaper on EBay or AliExpress, computer parts are cheaper from Amazon, tools, torches and home electrical stuff are cheaper from a whole range of suppliers on the Internet, both in the UK and abroad. Maplin just ended up falling between all the stools for me.
What’s happening over there?
Last week KFC ran out of chicken, then gravy, and now this!
We in the colonies feel for you.
I actually visited one of their stores years ago and was fairly impressed, but that was probably before the above mentioned late stage decline, sounds similar to what happened to the shack over here.