Maplins excessive markups (aka Robbing gits)

kwikbreaks

Over in the tech board I've often seen Maplin recommended. My view is that they are robbing gits and nothing should be bought unless it's on special and even then a careful check on alternate sources is essential to avoid being ripped off.

Last year I bought a small halogen heater for my caravan from a local store. I paid slightly over the odds at £14.99 for the convenience.

I saw one in a Tooltime newsletter the other day at (iirc) £11.99 although there was probably a post charge too.

A quick check on eBay shows one at £9.49 delivered.

Todays Maplin newsletter features the exact same thing (visually at least at £29.99 - http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/1200w-halogen-heater-a33jt

How can they stay in business when they are such robbing gits?

Exile_geordie

Maybe because people dont research their purchase before they do so? Like yourself.

Its not robbing its called making money.

London50

They are not robbing anyone, they have stated a price for an item {offer to buy} anyone then has the choice to purchase or not. While I agree that the prices they seem to set seem to be far higher than some other places we all have the choice {as you did with your purchase} as to buy from them or to take your cash elsewhere.
It is good that these days we all have the chance to shop around for the best deal without too much hassle but there may be times {for many reasons} that the ease to buy {at a dearer price} rather than the better deal.
Like all companies they can only carry on trading if people are buying and {as with the supermarkets these days} it finally catches up with them and they suffer. Just vote with your feet and choose carefully before forking out hard earned money :0)

philatio

Dunno about the price, but I do know that anything I've ever had from there has turned out to be total tat.

lovinituk

So with your logic, Tooltime are 'robbing gits' too. In fact with that reasoning anyone who is not the cheapest in the country are robbing gits!

Perhaps you should read up on 'free market economy'.

kwikbreaks

lovinituk wrote: »

So with your logic, Tooltime are 'robbing gits' too.

Not at all. It's the percentage difference between the lowest price that I've seen offered with minimal effort and theirs - over 3x dearer. The same applies to many items. Those little usb bluetooth dongles at about £2 from Amazon or eBay are vastly dearer in Maplin too.

Exile_geordie

When Amazon and Ebay have a high street presence and the overheads that go with them then you can compare.

kwikbreaks

.. and the little local shop I got mine from? I may even have got the price there wrong on reflection - I think it was £12.99.

Perhaps "Robbing Gits" is being taken too literally - I'm well aware they can offer stuff for sale at whatever price they choose without breaking any laws. I just think that they really are taking the mickey with what they charge.

lovinituk

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I just think that they really are taking the mickey with what they charge.

Why? The only fool is the customer who chooses to pay the higher prices. No one is forcing any one to pay the higher price.

I don't know why you are picking on the retailer when it is the customer who has free will in making a decision where to purchase from.

If people are too stupid or lazy to look for a cheaper alternative then they only have themselves to blame.

bargainbetty

They do have the convenience of being on the high street as well. If you can wait for the delivery of another provider, then fine, but on the couple of occasions I've needed something urgently, they are there and generally have a decent stock of basic bits.

As for it being tat, that will always depend on the brand you buy. If you bought a BT phone from them and it didn't work, would you blame Maplins or the manufacturer? Their basics are usually fine.

I do only use them in emergencies though, because I can find things cheaper online IF I have time to do it.

tomtontom

kwikbreaks wrote: »

.. and the little local shop I got mine from? I may even have got the price there wrong on reflection - I think it was £12.99.

Perhaps "Robbing Gits" is being taken too literally - I'm well aware they can offer stuff for sale at whatever price they choose without breaking any laws. I just think that they really are taking the mickey with what they charge.

Then why did you choose to buy from there?

There's only one person looking like Mickey Mouse here, and it's not Maplins!