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David G4EBT · 26th Aug 2017, 12:35 pm

For some time now, Maplin's have run an online website that they call an 'Outlet Store' which is a quite separate strand of their business from their main website & stores. They use the 'outlet store' for end of line items and for de-stocking. Unlike the normal website, you can't have items delivered to store for collection - you have to pay delivery. The outlet-store website currently has 240 pages of items across all categories, with 30 items per page listed, so that's some 7,200 items that are on borrowed time.

A couple of weeks ago I wanted two ABS project cases (120 x 65 x 36mm), which I put on my watch list. I've been away in Ireland till yesterday so it wasn't convenient to order them. I've just checked the website - all gone. Couldn't find any supplier with just the right sized case, so have ordered the nearest I could find from China. These are what I was after:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABS-PLASTI...19.m1438.l2649

Here's the 'when it's gone it's gone' Maplin outlet site:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/maplinelectronics/

It makes no commercial sense for Maplin to stock electronics components - low value, low turnover, and in inexorable decline. With so many stores, (217 at June 2017) if they stocked such things as resistors, caps, diodes, pots etc in any depth they'd have more in the shops than at the warehouse. Trying to compete with Premier Farnell many years ago almost put Maplin under. They're having a clear-out of kits, projects and modules. This link might be of interest:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/maplin-elec...=p4634.c0.m322

It's had chequered fortunes and several owners over the years since it was established in the back bedroom of Doug Simmons house in 1972. (Doug was a BT engineer). It was last put up for sales in March 2014 and expected to fetch £100 - £200 mill. It actually went for £85 mill in June 2014. Seems to be on an even keel right now and they're expanding the ranger of items, but only on high margin high turnover 'here today-gone tomorrow' stuff. They seem to do well on batteries.

Maplin's history is worth a read - at least, I think so:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maplin_Electronics

Hope that's of interest.

26th Aug 2017, 12:35 pm	#9
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,763	Re: A pleasant surprise at Maplins For some time now, Maplin's have run an online website that they call an 'Outlet Store' which is a quite separate strand of their business from their main website & stores. They use the 'outlet store' for end of line items and for de-stocking. Unlike the normal website, you can't have items delivered to store for collection - you have to pay delivery. The outlet-store website currently has 240 pages of items across all categories, with 30 items per page listed, so that's some 7,200 items that are on borrowed time. A couple of weeks ago I wanted two ABS project cases (120 x 65 x 36mm), which I put on my watch list. I've been away in Ireland till yesterday so it wasn't convenient to order them. I've just checked the website - all gone. Couldn't find any supplier with just the right sized case, so have ordered the nearest I could find from China. These are what I was after: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABS-PLASTI...19.m1438.l2649 Here's the 'when it's gone it's gone' Maplin outlet site: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/maplinelectronics/ It makes no commercial sense for Maplin to stock electronics components - low value, low turnover, and in inexorable decline. With so many stores, (217 at June 2017) if they stocked such things as resistors, caps, diodes, pots etc in any depth they'd have more in the shops than at the warehouse. Trying to compete with Premier Farnell many years ago almost put Maplin under. They're having a clear-out of kits, projects and modules. This link might be of interest: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/maplin-elec...=p4634.c0.m322 It's had chequered fortunes and several owners over the years since it was established in the back bedroom of Doug Simmons house in 1972. (Doug was a BT engineer). It was last put up for sales in March 2014 and expected to fetch £100 - £200 mill. It actually went for £85 mill in June 2014. Seems to be on an even keel right now and they're expanding the ranger of items, but only on high margin high turnover 'here today-gone tomorrow' stuff. They seem to do well on batteries. Maplin's history is worth a read - at least, I think so: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maplin_Electronics Hope that's of interest. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.