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Where To Get Sets and Parts For discussions about swapmeets, rallies, NVCF and BVWS, car boot sales, antique and charity shops, dealers, newspaper adverts, the local tip and just about any other source of equipment (other than eBay). |
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24th Feb 2018, 9:31 pm | #141 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
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Re: Maplin stores
What is their connection to Maplins?
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26th Feb 2018, 9:10 pm | #142 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 1,351
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Re: Maplin stores
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26th Feb 2018, 11:34 pm | #143 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 2,181
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Re: Maplin stores
Quote:
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28th Feb 2018, 7:57 am | #144 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 1,780
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Re: Maplin stores
Just on the news that Maplins is in receivership.
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28th Feb 2018, 9:49 am | #145 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Maplin stores
I was at Maplins in central Brum yesterday. I asked the guy at the counter if he feared for his job and he said: "Absolutely not! Somebody will definitely come and buy Maplins."
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28th Feb 2018, 10:16 am | #146 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
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Re: Maplin stores
I think some staff have only ever worked in Maplin and think that they are some invincible force. That's extremely naive as history has shown. Even the largest of company can fall pretty quickly.
Also the first thing anyone will do when they buy Maplin is work out how to make it profitable and that means closing any non profitable store pretty instantly. Then refocusing the business on efficiency. That's never good news for the staff. Especially when the retail job market is pretty shriveled already. Last thing you want is to be chucked on the job market with hundreds of other people at the same time as that reduces your chances of getting a replacement job. Life lesson I have learned a couple of times: always have an exit plan. Be the rat leaving the sinking ship. Be the James Bond villain escaping the slowly exploding lair. |
28th Feb 2018, 11:19 am | #147 |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Newport, South Wales, UK.
Posts: 278
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Re: Maplin stores
It probably won't happen, but it would be nice to see some local managers take over their shops and run them profitably.
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28th Feb 2018, 11:56 am | #148 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,995
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Re: Maplin stores
I seriously doubt any of the 'local managers' would have the ability to raise the cash needed; given what's happened you're going to find landlords, suppliers etc. mandating some seriously good (and so seriously expensive) credit-insurance be held by anyone continuing to run the business, if only to prevent them losing out if some time down the line 'maplin 2.0' went under.
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28th Feb 2018, 11:57 am | #149 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 9,431
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Re: Maplin stores
Quote:
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Frank |
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28th Feb 2018, 12:02 pm | #150 | |
Hexode
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Newport, South Wales, UK.
Posts: 278
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Re: Maplin stores
Quote:
Anyway, it's official now. Maplin are in administration. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43223175 |
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28th Feb 2018, 12:09 pm | #151 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,150
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Re: Maplin stores
Well I for one will NOT be making a beeline to hoover up any bargains that might be around, as I've been in that situation more than once over the years and I feel for all the staff who have in all probability been told very little more than we know ourselves.
Also let's not forget toys r us who have also gone into administration on the same day. |
28th Feb 2018, 1:38 pm | #152 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 4,976
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Re: Maplin stores
I recall in the not too distant past when Maplins used to stock fairly serious stuff - high quality toroids, Elna Cerafine electrolytics, Eminence high power drive units (for electric guitar etc).
But they dumbed down progressively, to drones and toys, and alas have paid the price. But I have to say that on the odd occasion recently that I have visited the Oxford store, the staff have been superb - knowledgeable, polite and friendly. |
28th Feb 2018, 2:04 pm | #153 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Wimbledon, London, UK.
Posts: 1,465
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Re: Maplin stores
Quote:
Colin. |
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28th Feb 2018, 2:16 pm | #154 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,927
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Re: Maplin stores
I have also used the Oxford store occasionally, and while I can't agree that the staff were particularly knowledgeable, they were friendly and eager to help. I have the greatest sympathy for anyone losing their job and wish them well.
Maplins seem to have suffered from an identity crisis for many years now, with no idea who they were trying to sell to. They seem to have stocked product lines almost at random. |
28th Feb 2018, 3:39 pm | #155 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Solihull, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 4,872
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Re: Maplin stores
Deciding that they needed a Maplin on every High Street was also a mistake; very costly and quite unnecessary. People will travel to reach a specialist retailer. Shops with more staff than customers are expensive to run.
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28th Feb 2018, 4:11 pm | #156 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 18,710
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Maplin
It looks like the end of the road for this brand, will it be missed?
Years ago I used to have a wander around my local one, but rarely bought anything, to be honest I would just tut at the high price-tags. These days I don't even do that, the staff members poised at the entrance waiting to "meet & greet" somehow seem a deterrent.
__________________
-- Graham. G3ZVT |
28th Feb 2018, 4:34 pm | #157 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 1,764
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Re: Maplin stores
I think the management have a lot to answer for. My local store was small and had a MINIMUM of 4 staff members on the shop floor chatting, as tumbleweed blew down the aisles...
Pretty basic stuff. I use the past tense here as I won't be going back regardless of whether they rise from the flames. |
28th Feb 2018, 5:10 pm | #158 |
Octode
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,719
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Re: Maplin stores
Be sad to see them go as now Bardwells has closed in Sheffield I can think of nowhere locally to buy a resistor or plug etc... unless someone knows better!
It does seem that they went down exactly the same route as Tandy, selling much the same sort of stuff. Believe it or not it is now 18 years since the Tandy shops closed. Peter |
28th Feb 2018, 5:20 pm | #159 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 710
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Re: Maplin stores
Sad times Ifound them very handy for certain bits and pieces local too.
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28th Feb 2018, 5:23 pm | #160 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,150
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Re: Maplin stores
We still have Hardings in Cheltenham for bits n pieces, so hopefully they will pick up a bit of business to help them along.
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