Suppliers eh? What are they like?

[Fraser, Colin J]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tony Allgood [mailto:oakley at techrepairs.freeserve.co.uk]
> Sent: Monday, September 04, 2000 1:31 PM
> To: Synth DIY
> Subject: Suppliers eh? What are they like?
> 
> The new Maplin catalogue came through my letter box this morning. This
> really is bad news, the once great supplier of electronic stuff of all
> sorts, actually has a catalogue so small it fits through my 
> tiny letter
> box. The semiconductor section is a hoot. As an example; it 
> has only two
> analogue switches for sale. Maplin seem to be more interested 
> in selling
> the computer hardware side of things, and most of those have no price
> attached.

Everything I have tried to buy from Maplin in the last few months has either
been on back order, or more often discontinued.
I have been buying the vast majority of the parts I use there since I first
picked up a soldering iron.
Now it has come to the point where I won't even waste my time trying.

It's truly sad to see them reduced to being a second rate Dixons wannabee,
in the name of profitability.
I just hope their demise doesn't indicate a general down turn in electronics
as a hobby - if Farnell, Rapid etc. start introducing large minimum order
quantities, it could get very hard for the home constructor.

Colin f