Another Storming Success from Maplins !!!!

[axeman010]

Is there no limit to these people's inadequacy ?

Just found out that the 48W LCD Solder Station - N16CH
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&DOY=2m1&ModuleNo=98133&criteria=

which I have bought, has no spare tips available for it and as yet they have not been able to source them (para phrased from their help line)


BUYER BE WARE 

Axeman.

[gez]

Is there no limit to these people's inadequacy ?

No, it's limitless.

http://www.rapidonline.com/

The connoisseur's choice of supplier! 

[Torchy]

If theres nothing wrong with the station youve bought then how are they inadequate ? Just because they dont sell spare tips ? Do you go back to the same garage that sold your car for your tyres, or get them cheaper somewhere else ? How come you didnt check the availability of spare tips before you bought it (there's no mention of spares on the Maplin website).

IMHO there's too much Maplin bashing going on here. The way the domestic electronic hobbyist market is going, youre lucky theyre there at all. I use three branches of Maplins (Gateshead, Newcastle and Middlesborough) and dont have any problems with what they have in stock. If they dont have it I shop elsewhere. The sales assistants are just that - sales. They dont have to be EE's to put resistors in a bag, and they arent there to answer questions on circuit design or building.

How much bitching have we seen about the demise of RatShack ? Endless complaints about them while they sold components, then more whining when they stopped. Online is fine but you pay for postage and packing, and stuff can take a week or more. Maplins/Bardwells/ESR are very handy for small purchases that you need in a hurry. No need to slag them because you didnt research a product you bought from their shop.

[axeman010]

Fair point Torchy - although I have to say in my defence that it was an Xmas present.

To counter your point would you buy a car from a Butchers ? Surely you want them to know something about the products they sell ?

I agree with you that it is good to have a store that does stock some bits, but its such a token offering these days  as to be so irritating that IMHO it makes them worse than useless. I have had many occasions where the parts I have asked for by product number are not what they have given me. So Unless you want to check every single part one by one incur the anger of the people in the queue who want to buy a radio controlled car for little Billy who is screaming next to them, then you have to plan to go back to replace the bits that are wrong !

I do fondly remember the days when the staff could identify the parts, could read resistor codes and even though they might not have been EE it was a main part of their business and they were at least interested !

Apologies and rant over !

Axenman.

[MartyMart]

One thing did "vex" me at the beginning of december..... went into Maplin in Kingston
to find all their "electronic" shelves empty , questioned the staff as I needed some 9v
clips and a few other bits ..... " they are removed for the xmas stock, dont know when they
will be back, probably in the new year"   !!!

You can't expect much else really 
I then found that even "RS Components" had cheaper ( and better ) 9v clips  !!
I do like their BimBox enclosures though .....

MM

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

The only time I have ever recommended Maplin, is when someone in the UK wants a 15V *AC output* transformer for one of my Frostwave boxes. N57AT is their number.
If anyone can find an alternative source in the UK please let me know! (should be able to beat UKP8.99 )

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

On the tip front, Plato http://www.platoproducts.com/ have a pretty wide range of substitute tips - it's what they do - I use Plato subs on my Hakkos.
If it's true that Maplins are selling irons before sourcing tip supplies, they are a hell of a lot stupider than.... almost anyone.

[JonFrum]

I bought a  Weller soldering station from my local DIY electronics shop. When I went needed a new tip and went back, they had an end cap full of Weller tips, but I couldn't find mine. I showed someone the station I bought on the shelf, and asked for a tip. The salesman said "oh, we don't carry tips for that model".  Huh??? They had the entire rest of the series 1-12, excepting my #3. I had to make up an order for tube amp parts just to make it worth while to pay the shipping charge. Needless to say, I understand the frustration - if you sell the tool, sell the necessary accessories.

[MartyMart]

For four years, I've been using a very cheap "Draper" 25w soldering iron from "Wicks" !
The replacement tips in Maplin, with a fine point, fit perfectly
So far it's 2 x Irons @ £5.99 and 3 x Tips @ £1.99 .... not bad for four years use

MM.

[MetalGod]

I've been using the same Antex 15w iron for, err, lets just say 'many' years 

Maplins are pretty rubbish for the most part - I use the Gateshead & Newcastle branches when I need parts in a hurry and they rarely have the quantity I want ("er, yeah, we have three of those in stock" - what kind of stock control system does this place have?)

I always check my order too since they can't tell the difference between 4700pF and 0.22uF mylar caps