Author Topic: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin" (now CLOSING stores)  (Read 55357 times)

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Offline VK3DRB

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #75 on: February 21, 2018, 11:23:24 am »
No one is going to war with China... China is slowly disowning NK over it because they know it...

Multi-sourcing is stupendously expensive so people won't do it. There is no economic sense in not going for the cheapest source if the probable return is good enough, which it more than is.

Don't ever say there won't be war. The nuclear clock is now 2 minutes to midnight, thanks mainly to the rogue nuclear nations of China, USA, Russia and North Korea.

The Sumitomo electronics plastics plant fire was a single source (almost) for electronics component plastics. It burned down in the late 90's, causing global chaos (esp. DRAM chips). More than one source means competition, too. Competition is healthy, as has been demonstrated time and time again. And the cheapest source is not necessarily good - cheapest could mean slavery, no work safety, oppression of workers, environmental vandalism and crap quality.

We should be supporting our local vendors and in particular our local manufacturers wherever possible, else you may just be part of the problem. Not just for electronics either. Pay a little more, get much better quality and service. A big tax hike on imports will help our local manufacturers.
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #76 on: February 21, 2018, 11:50:42 am »
I call bollocks on the first point. Doomsday clock is just a big PR stunt.

The DRAM shortage lasted about 3 months while new supply chains were established. I was in the middle of this as I was selling custom built PC kit then. It didn't drive the prices up that much either, perhaps 10% and there was literally zero trouble getting RAM anywhere in Europe. Also even if you were multi-sourcing, that sort of volume has a lead time. Look at how hard it is for Apple to shift hardware. They have to multi-source from more than just China for example. It's not end of world.

A big tax hike on imports in countries with developing service economies and manufacturing skills gaps like Aus and UK will just end up with a massive facepalm, unemployment and further degradation of society into a mire of stupid.

The problem is everything is a race to the bottom. Competition actually drives prices down which is what has happened to Maplin. They can't compete with anyone. And before that they had a high street monopoly on overpriced, low quality electronic components. If I was to pop into Maplin a project BOM would be 1.5x the nearest competitor at the very least and they have no stock. This has never changed either; going back 20 years they had fuck all in stock. Even Tandy (our local Radio Shack) was better.
 

Offline Cerebus

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #77 on: February 21, 2018, 02:33:15 pm »
If they sold coffee or kebabs it might work.

"Quad NAND kebab please Squire. Wiv all d' trimmings, generous with d' angry pixie sauce."
Anybody got a syringe I can use to squeeze the magic smoke back into this?
 

Online Simon

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #78 on: February 22, 2018, 07:42:00 am »
I have waited 8 years for this and am now pleased. Sorry for the staff but the company is a con. I never really had any use for their crap and told them that I welcomed the ultimate demise of them and their business model when I bought a dodgy digital caliper off them that cost me more to return in multiple attempts than the thing cost in the first place. It was marked down from 30 pounds to 15 and never even worked. the one I have came from lidl, works fine and cost 8 pounds........ Maplin makes ebay look like jesus christs own table sale at the summer fete........

Good ridance
 
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Offline trysTopic starter

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #79 on: February 22, 2018, 10:03:11 am »
Maplin makes ebay look like jesus christs own table sale at the summer fete........

Now you've brought that up.

It would be wonderful to meet Jesus Christ in person, wouldn't it? One day we will.

He doesn't need calipers.
 

Offline Cerebus

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #80 on: February 22, 2018, 11:13:24 am »
Maplin makes ebay look like jesus christs own table sale at the summer fete........

Now you've brought that up.

It would be wonderful to meet Jesus Christ in person, wouldn't it? One day we will.

He doesn't need calipers.

The very quickest way to get banned on here is to spout one's religion in a way that seems evangelistic or promotional.

Anyway, we all know that it's Maat you'll meet someday, and if you heart weighs more than her feather you'll be given to Ammut as a light snack. Who needs calipers when you've got a feather and a crocodile...

Spout religion on here, however, and you're likely to meet Osiris fate at the hands of Set (lets just say it doesn't end well, with Osiris in 14 pieces and his willy inside a fish).
« Last Edit: February 22, 2018, 11:15:03 am by Cerebus »
Anybody got a syringe I can use to squeeze the magic smoke back into this?
 

Offline trysTopic starter

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #81 on: February 22, 2018, 11:20:43 am »
That's why I started my response with 'Now that you've brought that up'.

Each to his or her own.

Live long and prosper etc.
 

Offline Monkeh

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #82 on: February 22, 2018, 11:48:32 am »
Maplin makes ebay look like jesus christs own table sale at the summer fete........

Now you've brought that up.

It would be wonderful to meet Jesus Christ in person, wouldn't it? One day we will.

He doesn't need calipers.

The very quickest way to get banned on here is to spout one's religion in a way that seems evangelistic or promotional.

Anyway, we all know that it's Maat you'll meet someday, and if you heart weighs more than her feather you'll be given to Ammut as a light snack. Who needs calipers when you've got a feather and a crocodile...

Spout religion on here, however, and you're likely to meet Osiris fate at the hands of Set (lets just say it doesn't end well, with Osiris in 14 pieces and his willy inside a fish).

Which all still seems more logical than the contents of your average bible..
 

Offline trysTopic starter

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #83 on: February 22, 2018, 12:04:19 pm »
I was in Office Outlet this morning (formerly Staples I think). It struck me that Maplin's target is (or should be) closer to customers going there than trying for the Toys R Us type customers (toy ride-on cars etc) that they seem to have gone for in recent years.
 

Online Ian.M

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #84 on: February 22, 2018, 12:27:25 pm »
There just isn't the volume to support a highstreet electronics component store.    If you shed about 3/4 of the locations, and reimagined it as a specialist arts, craft and maker store it *MIGHT* be viable to retain and even expand the components, module, tools and T&M side of the business.   As is - its just another seller of gadget tat with the remains of a component business tacked onto it.

I'll be sad to see it go as its loss will make electronics as a hobby much less accessible to children - its difficult to order parts online if you are underage or don't have a credit or debit card, and not everyone is lucky enough to have parents of above average intelligence committed to supporting their child's hobbies.
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #85 on: February 22, 2018, 12:36:14 pm »
I think if Hobbycraft started selling Arduino crap they'd destroy them overnight though.
 

Online Simon

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #86 on: February 22, 2018, 01:05:04 pm »
as has been said before, given the huge variety of parts and requirements no high street retailer can cope. Hec I had to order a uCurrent part directly from TI as even the big distributors don't carry it.
 

Offline BravoV

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #87 on: February 22, 2018, 01:11:47 pm »
as has been said before, given the huge variety of parts and requirements no high street retailer can cope.

Just curious about UK market, how much do you think the salary that is "reasonable" for a guy that works at the shop, that has decent knowledge on the store's stuffs and inventory, and also able to communicate and maintain good relationship with the walk in customers ? Realistically.

Offline Cerebus

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #88 on: February 22, 2018, 01:17:25 pm »
I couldn't put a figure on that salary but I can say that the figure would be higher than any retailer would be prepared to pay.

Retail pays next to nothing, I'd imagine that the guy who sweeps our road every few weeks gets paid more than any non-managerial retail staff.
Anybody got a syringe I can use to squeeze the magic smoke back into this?
 
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Offline mc172

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #89 on: February 22, 2018, 01:30:11 pm »
Just curious about UK market, how much do you think the salary that is "reasonable" for a guy that works at the shop, that has decent knowledge on the store's stuffs and inventory, and also able to communicate and maintain good relationship with the walk in customers ? Realistically.

Maplin is just another generic retail shop with generic retail staff. The knowledge of inventory is inherent to the job, just like people working at Asda or Screwfix end up knowing the inventory because they take stock checks and restock the shelves. Salary-wise, well, those are all pretty much minimum wage jobs.

If I ever go to Screwfix asking for something and I find that it's out of stock, I'll ask whether they have anything similar. They end up looking through the catalogue, which is pretty much what you'd expect. Maplin is just the same - the staff just refer you to the catalogue or go through it themselves, hoping to find something.

Someone who knows a bit about electronics is over-qualified and should find a better job than working at Maplin.
 
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Offline Towger

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #90 on: February 22, 2018, 01:46:44 pm »
Maplin makes ebay look like jesus christs own table sale at the summer fete........

You have never seen the markup they have on Irish prices vs those in the UK, a good ~30% taking exchange rates and VAT into account.  I have also complained over this and their excuse is that it costs more to ship items over to Ireland. :blah:  I in turn pointed out that their shops in Northern Ireland have standard UK prices and it costs more to ship from their Manchester (?) warehouse up there.  At one stage they did their own deliveries, the van probably came Manchester ->  Hollyhead -> Dublin -> Belfast and back again.   |O

I'll up your Jesus with an American dressed like a Leprechaun opening a Scientology Base in Dublin  >:D  https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=104985811&postcount=59
 

Offline 4CX35000

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #91 on: February 22, 2018, 01:48:38 pm »
PMSL. The taxpayer bails out the pension scheme, of what, the 16-17 year old schoolgirls who work the counter, or their 18-21 year old shop manager?  :-DD

I'm pretty sure minimum wage zero hour contracts don't come with a pension scheme.

But it has to be said it must be a much easier job than customer service at McDonalds or KFC.


Those 19 year old workers will be entitled to the state pension via there NI contributions. Also the NEST pension is available now, but the employee can opt out of that. Also I suspect the contracts are not Zero Hour but temporary casual labour contracts which are mainly driven by statutory law than the employer. The law says they are allowed so much break time for every hour they work, so much holiday pay for every hour they work, so much pay (Minimum wage) per hour and have the right to refuse work and tell the employer to 'Get Lost' and walk if they are asked to do something which they do not agree with. Many companies have gone down this route in recent years, take or leave it employment.



 

Offline Towger

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #92 on: February 22, 2018, 01:49:02 pm »
Retail pays next to nothing, I'd imagine that the guy who sweeps our road every few weeks gets paid more than any non-managerial retail staff.

Ans he would have a better pension to.
 

Online grumpydoc

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #93 on: February 22, 2018, 02:59:06 pm »
Retail pays next to nothing, I'd imagine that the guy who sweeps our road every few weeks gets paid more than any non-managerial retail staff.

Ans he would have a better pension to.
Tesco "sales assistant" - about £7.60/hr
Binman - about £8.50/hr

Not much in it.
 

Offline Towger

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #94 on: February 22, 2018, 03:18:46 pm »
Ans he would have a better pension to.
Tesco "sales assistant" - about £7.60/hr
Binman - about £8.50/hr

Not much in it.
[/quote]

Are the bins still collected by the council or have they all been privatised?  I am sure a traditional council bin man (if they still exist) would have all sorts of additional shift rates and allowances.
 

Offline Cerebus

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #95 on: February 22, 2018, 04:19:29 pm »
Retail pays next to nothing, I'd imagine that the guy who sweeps our road every few weeks gets paid more than any non-managerial retail staff.

Ans he would have a better pension to.
Tesco "sales assistant" - about £7.60/hr
Binman - about £8.50/hr

Not much in it.

10.6% less or 11.8% more depending on the way around that you work it or, if you prefer, £33.75 more a week - enough for a night in the pub and a decent curry afterwards, worth having. Either way, it demonstrates that retail really is at the bottom rung of the ladder, as we suspected.
Anybody got a syringe I can use to squeeze the magic smoke back into this?
 

Offline KJDS

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #96 on: February 22, 2018, 08:00:05 pm »
Most Binmen in the UK are on job and finish, so are paid a fixed wage regardless of how quick they walk or run. Most of them run. If it wan't for a fixed rate, they'd amble, which all sane folk would do.

Offline bd139

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #97 on: February 22, 2018, 08:02:19 pm »
Same reason I always charge by the hour.  :-DD
 

Offline trysTopic starter

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #98 on: February 23, 2018, 11:10:40 am »
They run to get the shift finished quicker, according to a neighbouring binman. They work in teams, and if they muck in together, start early, work quick, they can be done by about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. He also only does a four day week.

I've not asked him about his views on Maplin.

Incidentally, I reckon they just have too many stores. I've got four stores that I can get to within about 20 minutes or so. They also always seem to have as many staff as customers.
 

Offline donotdespisethesnake

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Re: Maplin "Insurers cast doubt over future of Maplin"
« Reply #99 on: February 24, 2018, 09:49:10 am »
That might explain why they just drive past without stopping to pick up the things they should be collecting. |O
Bob
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