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Old 24th Feb 2018, 9:31 pm   #141
AC/HL
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Default Re: Maplin stores

What is their connection to Maplins?
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Old 26th Feb 2018, 9:10 pm   #142
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Default Re: Maplin stores

In the news today:

https://a.msn.com/r/2/BBJBFgn?m=en-gb
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Old 26th Feb 2018, 11:34 pm   #143
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Originally Posted by dseymo1 View Post
It's incomprehensible to me why so many websites - not only Maplin's - are so bad.
There must surely be a de facto standard by now for translating a website query into an SQL search or similar.
The obvious workaround is to use an internet search engine. Type 'Maplin 1uF 16V' into Google, and it returns the best matches, which are easily sorted manually by the brief extracts provided.
That was the problem, up till the latest Maplin web sort out. The staff at my local store told me that they had more chance of finding a component by doing a google search than by a Maplin online search.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 7:57 am   #144
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Just on the news that Maplins is in receivership.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 9:49 am   #145
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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."
 
Old 28th Feb 2018, 10:16 am   #146
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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.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 11:19 am   #147
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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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Old 28th Feb 2018, 11:56 am   #148
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Default Re: Maplin stores

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It probably won't happen, but it would be nice to see some local managers take over their shops and run them profitably.
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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Old 28th Feb 2018, 11:57 am   #149
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Default Re: Maplin stores

Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBungle View Post
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.
Very true statements.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 12:02 pm   #150
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Quote:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dai Corner View Post
It probably won't happen, but it would be nice to see some local managers take over their shops and run them profitably.
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.
I meant as independent shops rather than under the Maplin name. I think this happened to some Woolworth stores?

Anyway, it's official now. Maplin are in administration.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43223175
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 12:09 pm   #151
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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.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 1:38 pm   #152
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Default 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.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 2:04 pm   #153
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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.
Could this be because they are all drop-outs from science courses in the local universities? (Perhaps especially Oxford Brookes).
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 2:16 pm   #154
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Default 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.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 3:39 pm   #155
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Default 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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Old 28th Feb 2018, 4:11 pm   #156
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Default 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.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 4:34 pm   #157
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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.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 5:10 pm   #158
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Default 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
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 5:20 pm   #159
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Sad times Ifound them very handy for certain bits and pieces local too.
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Old 28th Feb 2018, 5:23 pm   #160
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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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