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Thread: Maplins in trouble

  1. #1
    montesquieu Guest

    Default Maplins in trouble


  2. #2
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,786
    I'm Martin.

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    Yes I saw that. There is one round the corner from me, opened in around '93, although I'd bought stuff mail-order from their catalogue previously. Been in there many times over the years, always handy if you need something right away. And always seems to be busy when I go in. They are pricey compared to the internet though. They do seem to have a viable business and brand name, just cash flow issues, so I'd be surprised if it doesn't work out somehow.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  3. #3
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

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    I'm Grant.

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    used to get a fair amount out of maplins in livingston. it was overpriced mostly but I liked to give them trade as I was good to have a shop to go to.
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  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Notts

    Posts: 2,743
    I'm Geoff.

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    The writing has been on the wall for years. The demise of Tandy in the UK, and more recently, Radioshack in the US was a sign of things to come. Ebay, and the simplicity and low cost of buying items direct from the far east is the last nail in the coffin. I can't see Maplin making it to summer let alone beyond 2018. They might have had a fighting chance if their online presence was a bit more inspiring and price competitive.

    Geoff

  5. #5
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

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    I'm Martin.

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    They are swimming against the tide but my theory is that in an all-internet world will generate a demand for solid retail stores, providing they can properly and consistently serve the niche market they attract. Like John Lewis for example. It's a big world now, even a niche market can be tens of millions of people.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Notts

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    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    They are swimming against the tide but my theory is that in an all-internet world will generate a demand for solid retail stores, providing they can properly and consistently serve the niche market they attract. Like John Lewis for example. It's a big world now, even a niche market can be tens of millions of people.
    I don't think you can compare the business models. John Lewis is a company with high ethical principles and a reputation for quality customer service. I buy from JL when I can, especially where they offer a good warranty (including accidental damage coverage). My last big screen tv, notebook and tablet were all bought from JL. Maplin is a completely different business model. In my experience, many of the staff are not knowledgeable about the products they sell and the products in store are not competitively priced. The number of items carried as stock is pretty small, and often of pretty poor quality.

    Ultimately, I think the problem is down to poor management and a failure to find a "market niche".

    If I am not in a hurry I will order something on international ebay, or if I want something urgently, from ebay uk suppliers.

    I will be sorry if yet another UK high street store ceases trading, but if I were a Maplin employee, I wouldn't be booking a summer holiday for 2018!

    Geoff

  7. #7
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

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    I'm Martin.

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    All you say I agree with but my thrust was that Maplins could potentially become a John Lewis within its market. Not that it is now, but it may have that potential. It is nothing like as strong a brand as JL but it is a recognised, longstanding and untarnished one. Surviving the transition to an internet market is going to be the key for a lot/almost all of retail businesses. This is only the start I suspect.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  8. #8
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Notts

    Posts: 2,743
    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    All you say I agree with but my thrust was that Maplins could potentially become a John Lewis within its market. Not that it is now, but it may have that potential. It is nothing like as strong a brand as JL but it is a recognised, longstanding and untarnished one. Surviving the transition to an internet market is going to be the key for a lot/almost all of retail businesses. This is only the start I suspect.
    I will concede that Maplin may have had the potential to become a strong niche player, especially after rivals like Tandy bit the dust. I fear that this opportunity has passed but time will tell!

    Geoff

  9. #9
    Join Date: Aug 2017

    Location: Hertfordshire, U.K.

    Posts: 298
    I'm Graham.

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    I used to buy a lot from Maplin when they offered a choice of product, such as interconnects and connector plugs and sockets but for the last couple of years their range of stock seems to have diminished to just the cheapies. If I want quality, I have to go online. They used to stock a range of audio hi-fi such as speaker cable, speaker stands (I bought both from them ten years ago) speaker drivers, etc. but not any more. Their stock nowadays is a lot of cheap Chinese made novelty items or unknown branded disco stuff.
    GrahamS - It's not what you hear that counts, it's what you think you hear........

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  10. #10
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

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    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by GrahamS View Post
    I used to buy a lot from Maplin when they offered a choice of product, such as interconnects and connector plugs and sockets but for the last couple of years their range of stock seems to have diminished to just the cheapies. If I want quality, I have to go online. They used to stock a range of audio hi-fi such as speaker cable, speaker stands (I bought both from them ten years ago) speaker drivers, etc. but not any more. Their stock nowadays is a lot of cheap Chinese made novelty items or unknown branded disco stuff.
    I used to buy Audax drivers from them, the good ones too. Still have some tweeters boxed up somewhere. But that was 25 years ago. I don't imagine they sell anything like that now.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

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