Conrad Electronic UK, conrad-uk.com worse than global conrad.com

Icm76

I occasionally see questions about Conrad Electronic (they're a bit like Maplin, but based in Germany) and people want to know if they're legit and any good. I've always thought Conrad were mediocre for price and service, but unfairly criticised for Euro plugs etc. and particularly useful for items not available in the UK. However, as of January 2013 they're much worse, here's why:

• UK buyers are blocked from ordering for delivery to the UK via conrad.com (which carries the full range of items.)
• UK buyers are forced to use conrad-uk.com which doesn't list many of the items, and the items that are available tend to be 12%-16% more expensive than conrad.com.
• 'In Stock' products ship from Germany anyway!

I emailed Conrad to complain about not being able to buy from conrad.com and ask why many parts are not available from conrad-uk.com. They replied with some spiel about restructuring the business and "legal reasons" that restrict UK buyers, and also then said that the UK now gets local service and the postage cost will be lower.

The slightly lower postage cost will only make up for the increased prices on a smaller order and doesn't in any way make up for not being able to buy the items that you want.

The last order I wanted to make with Conrad I wasn't able to get 90% of the products that I had chosen (because conrad-uk doesn't have it) but I ordered anyway because I paid for 48hr shipping of 'In Stock' items and alternative UK dealers previously told me that the same items weren't in UK stock at all and would have to ship from the central EU warehouse. Conrad faffed about for over a day before despatching so 48hr delivery really means 3½-4 working days in this case.

Overall I'm unimpressed by any aspect of this and it's unlikely that I will buy from them again. Now that it's no longer possible to buy the full range of items inc. those that are special order only with UK dealers, the best incentive to buy from Conrad has gone.

TL : DR version:

• Conrad lost 90% of my business on the last order because they stopped selling the full product range to UK customers.
• Conrad-UK is unlikely to get my future business because the available goods are now more expensive than genuine UK retailers and Conrad-UK still ships items from Germany (it's not really the local service they claim)