Talk:Maplin (retailer)/Archives/2015

Electronics?

I think there should definitely be an entry regarding their stock, and moving away from specialising in electronics, which they definitely don't do now. You used to be able to buy all sorts of electronic components from the shop and they used to specialise in this. Now, they're targetting far more at the general market (and pretty much selling stuff that will make money rather than specialist components) - a perfect example is selling paddling pools and inflatable snowmen. With regards to Maplin being the "only place to get certain lines" in the comment above, this is blatantly no longer the case, Maplin are now mainly selling generic computer and electrical parts that are available everywhere (and often cheaper!) Davetibbs 12:47, 25 August 2007 (UTC)

Clearly, you have not grasped the point made, I once again state that certail products are only READILY available at Maplin. Sure, you can get everything they sell on line ( and cheaper as you say ) but that would require a wait for delivery. Hence, READILY. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.152.209.131 (talk) 22:38, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

rubbish

Rubbish. i work in maplin electronics. we still sell individual components like resistors, motors, ICs and we also still do electronic "self-solder" kits like FM radios as well as cable by the metre. These are readialy stocked in all stores in my area

As for skills, no formal technical training is given but IMHO at job interviews applicants with superior techincal knowlege will be treated more favourably.

As for the new image, yes we do seem to be becoming more mainstream. maybe we should add a section about the change of logo too? from a harsh red/blue to welcoming blue/white

No, your reply is rubbish. I worked in Maplins 12 years ago and so the change of direction/stock is blatantly obvious to someone like myself. You used to be able to buy tons of individual components, kits but these have long been made "special order" items and replaced with cheap Chinese crap (inflatable snowmen?) which they can flog on for a quick profit. Maplin would rather you bought a 4 gang extension lead or an AV lead at 3000% markup than a 28p IC, especially if you're going to quiz the salesperson about it for 10 minutes. It has long been Maplin policy that only one "technical" person is needed in any one store (presumably, so all the temporary staff can just ask them any questions) which is why most of the people in my local store are not technical in the slightest. It's basically turned into what Tandy used to be before they were taken over by carphone warehouse. If you want electronics components now, you have to go to RS. Shame - but I guess it's all made OK by their "welcoming" logo, right? Davetibbs (talk) 14:29, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

Whilst I'd agree with Dave, this conversation seems to be getting away from the primary purpose of this talk page which is for discussing changes to the article rather than the subject itself. Adambro (talk) 14:35, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

While Maplin's do not sell a lot of the electronics they used to, and indeed do sell a lot more "cheap Chinese crap", in my experience pretty much the only general retail outlet where you can get capacitors or relays in various shapes/sizes. The above reply smacks of a pissed off customer who wonders why he can't get something he bought in the same shop a decade before; so Maplin's have changed, but the dictionary definition of accuracy has not, and your assertions are not accurate. The smaller Maplin's don't carry much of this stuff anymore, but the larger stores do still do individual components and the kits. Maybe not to the same extent anymore, but I had no trouble getting several electrolytic capacitors and a relay today. It seems to me that the above poster doesn't really know much about Maplin's today other than that it's not the same as 12 years ago. Wouldn't hurt if they could stock more than 2 of every component though. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.205.110.52 (talk • contribs) 19:21, 31 May 2008

They do stock a handful of third party kits but the massive selection of maplin's own kits are long gone. The "projects and modules" section used to be a large section of the catalogue. Components wise the range has shrunk considerably and seems outdated (for example surface mount parts are completely lacking) and expensive.

Currently the history section of this article paints a very misleading picture of maplin by talking about the growth of the electronics hobbyist section of their buisness but making no mention of it's decline. Unfortunately I don't have any idea where to go searching for suitable information to fix that. Plugwash (talk) 15:36, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

Staffing

Yes, Maplin do seem to recruit from the same "pool" as other retailers, but this isn't always a bad thing. Yes, Maplin do need some knowledgeable staff, but at the same time they need staff who can deal with customers effectivly and efficiently. A delicate balance is needed, something Maplin have not yet discovered. Also, they insist on bragging about recruiting internally. This does not happen, certainly from my point of view.

"Also, they insist on bragging about recruiting internally. This does not happen, certainly from my point of view"

I got promoted from a sales assistant to a store manager in under 5 years. There are many other similar stories like this. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.16.153.191 (talk) 01:47, 28 June 2009 (UTC)

Romanian Store

Anyone who worked for Maplin remember a store listed on the internal lists and in the catalogue that was based in Romania? I'm reliably informed that no such store existed, and that it was some sort of a tax dodge? Can anyone confirm? Davetibbs (talk) 07:52, 14 April 2008 (UTC)

The store you mention was Maplin Store number 040. The physical EPoS system resided in NEI Bucaresti which was part of NGH (Network Group Holdings) a company at the time owned by Saltire, which also owned Maplin.

The purpose of the EPoS system was twofold. Firstly it was there so that NEI would have visibility of Maplin's new products which NEI may wish to import into Romania and sell through it's store network. It's other purpose was to keep the NEI EPoS system developers up to date with any code changes made to the Maplin EPoS system. This was because the NEI EPoS system was originally based on the Maplin EPoS system and translated and re-coded to operate in the Romanian environment.

Talk of a tax dodge is a simple case of idle gossip. If it is believed that this section of Maplin's history is relevant to the main page I would be happy to add this to the article. HO Photographer (talk) 12:38, 25 November 2009 (UTC)

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BetacommandBot (talk) 14:11, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Comparable UK Competitors

Okay, I know not all companies can be comparable (they all need to fit into their own niche) but as RS has already been mentioned, I think Farnell should too. Maplin, RS and Farnell all supply electrical/electronic components that we all love to solder, any others worth a mention? 80.42.203.61 (talk) 15:13, 4 April 2012 (UTC)

Afacit since tandy shut down Maplin doesn't really have any direct competitors in the high street electronics retail buisness. RS are the only other Electronics supplier i'm aware of with a widespread physical prsennse but from what people tell me (haven't tried myself) they aren't all that friendly to hobbyists. Afaict Farnell are a pretty big operation but only have one trade counter at their head office in leeds.

As for mail order in the UK the biggies seem to be RS and Farnell, there is also Rapid and a load of smaller vendors that are probablly not individually notable. Plugwash (talk) 15:57, 2 July 2012 (UTC)

getting out of the kit buisness

Does anyone remember (and possiblly have a source for) when maplin got out of the kit buisness and started only reselling third party (mainly velleman) kits? 130.88.108.187 (talk) 15:37, 2 July 2012 (UTC)