FW: The demise of Maplin

["Keith Doxey" <keith.doxey@xxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

This is a copy of a letter I have just sent to Maplin.

I will post the reply should I ever receive one.

Keith

>  -----Original Message-----
> From: 	Keith Doxey [mailto:keith.doxey@xxxxxxx]
> Sent:	19 October 2000 19:42
> To:	magazine.editor@xxxxxxx
> Subject:	The demise of Maplin
>
> Sir,
>
> I feel I have to write to express my dismay at some of the recent
changes
> taking place at Maplin.
>
> I have been a customer since 1978 and had always found the service to
be
> excellent. Each year eagerly looking forward to the next catalogue
release
> to see what additional components had been added to the ever
increasing
> range.
>
> Recently however, my views have changed and I regret to say, not for
the
> better. The latest catalogue is a complete shambles with minimum space
> given to what used to be Maplins core activity, namely the supply of a
> wide range of top quality electronic components at highly competitive
> prices.
>
> After failing to receive my trade copy of the latest catalogue I rang
to
> enquire why it had not been sent. I was informed that I had not spent
> sufficient money during the life of the previous catalogue. I pointed
out
> that this was due in no small part to the components I wished to order
> being discontinued and that this had directly caused the loss of
orders
> worth in excess of £500.
>
> A look at the latest catalogue will reveal that the entire section
devoted
> to components, cable and anything else that used to be Maplins core
> business is thinner than the first catalogue I received in 1978. The
1978
> catalogue is proclaimed on the Maplin website as being a milestone in
> Maplins history by being the first to be printed in colour. This
latest
> catalogue could become a headstone in Maplins history if it continues
down
> the same route as Tandy by concentrating on ready made consumer
> electronics which can be bought from numerous other retailers on many
high
> streets and retail parks.
>
> Moving to the website I have to say that I find it extremely
unfriendly to
> use. I personally don't want a website full of pretty pictures until I
> reach the product I want. I want to order components. Without
navigating
> all the menu options I find this impossible. Trying to find a common
> component such as a 741 OpAmp I entered "741" in the search
box. This
> returned ZERO results. The description for the component when
displayed
> via the menus is "LM741CN" . Entering this as a search
criteria also fails
> to produce any results. Anyone who has a reasonable amount of
electronics
> experience will know that a 5 volt voltage regulator will be some
> variation of 7805, again entering 7805 produces nothing.
>
> I run a popular website dedicated to furthering the cause of Home
> Automation in the UK. For the last 4 years I have had a page that
praises
> the service offered by Maplin. I have recently been working on a range
of
> projects for other Home Automators to build and it was my intention to
> include the Maplin stock codes in the parts lists. I am no longer able
to
> do this having discovered that in the latest catalogue most of the
parts I
> had used are now discontinued. I will now be removing the reference
from
> my page as I feel the service offered by Maplin is no longer aimed at
the
> true electronic hobbyist.
>
> Several of my friends also feel the same about the direction that
Maplin
> is heading and are seeking alternative suppliers for the parts they
need.
> I sincerely hope that those with the power to make the decisions
realise
> what they are doing to a company that was once the preferred supplier
for
> many individuals and companies. I hope that Maplin returns to what it
did
> best.
>
> I would be grateful if you could also pass my comments onto any other
> relevant people within the Maplin organisation.
>
> Regards
>
> Keith
>
> Keith Doxey
> INDIGO ELECTRONICS
>
> World of DIY Home Automation
> http://www.diyautomation.co.uk

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