Anyone found bargains at the Maplin Closing Down Sale? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: FrankE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 10:43:56 am
content: They're advertising "Everything at least 10% offUp to 20% off EntertainmentUp to 30% off Household & DIYUp to 30% off Toys & Hobbies30% off DJ Gear & Lighting30% off Batteries & Power"I still can't think of anything I need that much that I'll shlep to Maplin.

author: rt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 10:57:38 am
content: No.They seem to have taken away (or sold) the drones and other high value items and are now trying to sell of the tat.Even at 10-30% off they are still more expensive than other options.As has been pointed out before they were sometimes useful when you needed something today in an emergency and you could justify the markup.Otherwise unfortunately they didn't have a business model except taking money from the uninformed.rt

author: FrankE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 11:12:32 am
content: I can't disagree with any of that.DJ gear & LightingLike, seriously? Most of my mates are DJs and the number of them that would buy anything from Maplin tends to f'all.I'm comparing some of their Led Lenser prices as I need to replace a stolen one. Some are nearly competitive, their P7QC price seems to be cheaper. I need a couple of metres of mic cable.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 11:21:02 am
content: 'nuff said:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/03/14/maplin_prices_still_higher_in_closing_down_sale/

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 11:27:30 am
content: Besides, losing warranty means lost value. Just a 10% discount isn't enough to cover that in my book.

author: FrankE
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 11:54:39 am
content: My local store is ten minutes walk and still I can't be bothered.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 12:17:17 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on March 20, 2018, 11:27:30 amAccording to their website, they're promising a 12 month guarantee.https://www.maplin.co.uk/clearance-shop

author: fourtytwo42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 01:10:16 pm
content: IMOP they long since stopped selling anything of interest to an engineer (components etc) so I have not even bothered to look

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 01:11:34 pm
content: NO

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 01:24:30 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on March 20, 2018, 12:17:17 pmProblem is who with? If there is no commercial entity in 12 months, who the hell are you going to go back to?

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2018, 10:42:16 pm
content: Usually the storage racks are more interesting in a bankruptcy then the stuff on them!They got no stock I cannot get from a proper supplier cheaper, so the question is will they sell the shop fittings?Regards, Dan.

author: Billy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 10:57:47 pm
content: I'm a regular visitor to my local Maplin, mainly because it's next to my wife's favourite clothes shop.I've been in a lot since they started reducing stuff. I got a couple of BBC Micro:Bit things for about £12 each, not exactly a bargain but it is the sort of thing I would (and did) impulse buy if it's in my hand at the right price but I'd never bother to order online. I grabbed some Servisol switch cleaner and circuit cleaner aerosols, about £3.50 / £4.00. Got some random components, Pi accessories and stuff, again not terrific bargains but reasonably priced. I also grabbed a Maplin N27GG bench power supply, a.k.a. Manson SSP-7080, they're down to £48 now - I got the last one in my local, wish they had two!I've seen them selling stock at ridiculously high prices throughout their closing down sale, the shop is busier than it's ever been and I'm convinced that they're finishing up with some tidy profits. I've been a long time critic of Maplin, they seem terribly mismanaged to me and their category managers/buyers have been letting them down for years. I honestly don't know how they've lasted as long as they did.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 11:33:22 pm
content: Hammond instrument cases at 25 percent the usual price and quartz crystals.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 03:21:28 am
content: I've long since stopped caring about any of these going out of business sales. Inevitably some company will come in and take all the high value stuff for sale elsewhere, then they usually jack up the "regular" price and have a sale price that's hardly if any cheaper than the previous regular price. It's a waste of time.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 06:33:35 am
content: From my experience, the best time for bargains is when the company is in trouble but before bankruptcy is announced.Here in Aus it was like that for Dick Smith Electronics and Masters Hardware.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 08:10:40 am
content: Best time is at the stock auction once they’re completely closed!

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 09:36:59 am
content: Maplin last year came up with a crackpot scheme to have manufacturers pay them to stock their product (in the way WHSmiths try to have publishers pay for position on their shelves, one of the reasons independent electronics mags have all but vanished and the shelves are full of 'Knit yourself a laser battle Alpaca in only seven hundred instalments' type magazines*) and also to supply things on 'approval' I.E. they only pay when they sell it.That was one of the biggest flags for me that Maplin were dying and it was just a matter of time before they sank.I suspect if any companies were stupid enough to go along with that scheme then whatever stock they had provided will have been clawed back 'title of goods only passes when invoice paid' etc.*As cool as a laser battle alpaca sounds, I wonder if there's any scope for a coding and/or electronics course that way?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 09:49:36 am
content: That course would work but if deagostini get involved then you'd have to build your own oscilloscope first. First issue comes with a free bag of sand.

author: Chris56000
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2018, 11:36:53 pm
content: Hi!Not withstanding our nearest Maplin in Cannock Retail Park had a notice on the door to say the final closing date still was unknown, all me and my friend Steve found there on a visit last night was over–priced tat and not much of that!I couldn't even find replacements for the packet of three 'Coil' magnifying loupes I'd bought from their Shrewsbury store before the closure was announced (mislaid one and dropped hot solder on another, hence needing replacements!!! The cardboard packet said "Made in China" on 'em but they had "Coil England" moulded on their rims!!) – let all any useful tools, gear or parts – what would anyone want with 100–off packs of resistors, each between120k and 1M?!The vultures had already been with a vengeance!Chris Williams

author: StillTrying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 12:16:21 am
content: I think they should have been a lot more forward-looking, and shut down about 15 years ago.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 11:01:03 am
content: WEnt to Telford yesterday, daft prices reduced to slightly less daft prices, they've bagged up all the components into selection packs and have attached till printout lists to them, they're selling off fixtures and fittings too.Cables are now by reel only and thyey won't cut to length for you.Sad end really but long overdue.I doubt we will get a replacement but it does leave an opening for an entrepreneur if they can work out how to do it and make a profit without letting the vulture capitalists get inviolved.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 11:55:23 am
content: Might actually have a look at my local one now. Only for the fixtures.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 12:54:20 pm
content: The Raaco style component drawers looked good (I've already have a few from years ago and haven't got space for more) as they were flogging them off complete with components for about £40 but I don't need more components that'll sit there forever, the rest of the storage was cardboard 'bin' style stuff and the shop fittings. Definitely worth a look if that floats your boat, the cables might be worth a look at if you can find a place for a whole reel, it's about 2/3rd the price of CPC

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 01:18:53 pm
content: Yeah went down to Hounslow one. Nothing left there now of value. Was in there for about 20 secondsGoing to Ikea this afternoon instead to buy me a new desk instead.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 01:25:18 pm
content: I have a local Maplin store but cannot be bothered to visit it, even if things are discounted. As others have stated, Maplin are so expensive that even discounted prices are likely no bargain. Looking at their web site proved as much to me. The days of selling all the stock well below trade price, just to be rid of it seem long gone. These days, experts are brought in who try to recover every penny that they can for the shareholders or parties that are owed money. These people have no interest in selling stuff dirt cheap to get rid of it, they find suitable buyers in the trade for the big ticket items and sell off the other 'tat' for as much as they think they can get away with. I know some recycling companies that specialise in both buying the big ticket items at a discount and/or or buying all the tat, in bulk, to sell off on eBay. Maplin is not a source of bargains....... yet.Fraser

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 02:11:29 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on April 13, 2018, 01:25:18 pmAnd fair play to them, they are meant to do that, no matter what you may think of shareholders I applaud their efforts in selling off to recoup money for creditors, it isn't a nice situation to be in to be exposed to a client's banruptcy if you can only hope for pennies on the pound.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 03:29:25 pm
content: Absolutely !I was just explaining why a company going insolvent does not mean there are amazing bargains to be hadFraser

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 07:51:50 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on April 13, 2018, 03:29:25 pmSame thing happened to me locally with Radio Shack. When the corporate stores were closing, I grabbed a bunch of stuff for next to nothing. When the privately owned Radio Shack near me was closing, the prices weren't near as good as anything that didn't sell was being shipped to a central location for processing. I did pick up a couple of things that the prices were acceptable on but that was it.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2018, 10:03:27 am
content: Was in Wombledon this morning. Nice sets of component drawers with components... but I don't have space for the drawers and the components are LEDs and Fuses and the like... not really my thing.

author: Avacee
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2018, 10:23:38 am
content: Went into the local shop and the prices on the shelves were higher than the website - possibly the latest discounts hadn't been applied yet.The boxed goods were still more expensive than other places. Some items don't seem to have been reduced at all, typically those with a set price across the UK.So pretty much no bargains though I did buy >£10 (to get free-shipping) of solid core breadboard wire (£0.60->£1.20 for 10m) via the website which will keep me going for a long time.Went back just now to browse components and the "STEM Components->Electronic Components" section on the website seems to have been removed now.