As a bit of a luddite - if I can go to a shop instead of buy on line I will do - you would have thought I'd be exactly the sort of person Maplin needed. But to me they became an irrelevence at least 10 years ago when I made up a shopping list of about a dozen components (I.C.s), went to the shop and found all but one were discontinued.
Over the years I popped in occasionally (whenever I went to Merry Hell, sorry, Merry Hill) but even if I was after something not discontinued it was seldom in stock, the only things in stock were the things I think of a Tandy's rejects.
So sorry for all those employed by Maplins - I think I read it is around 2000 people - but I think Maplins have reached the end of their story and it is time to close the book.
TTFN,
Jon