Maplin Electronics

Trundling along North Street I'd almost given up looking for Maplin's and headed to P.C. World when a man asked me for directions. I couldn't help him and said in passing that I was looking for Maplin's, he promptly gave me directions and I was soon in this Aladdin's Cave of electrical components.

Being slightly out of the city centre this electronics shop is vast compared to my other experiences of Maplin's. You can get loads of little bits from transistors, to hard drives and a cacophony of wires to larger goods such as disco lights. Everything is here to enable you to vamp up any gadget you may have lurking in the house. Despite the size the layout is well devised, staff are able to find things quickly and can offer what seems to be knowledgeable advice on what you need, although I am no expert.

This place is my mecca. Maplin to me is like a shoe shop to the wife! I have spent many hours just wandering around here playing with gadgets and boys toys, the disco lights area is a favourite but I do get funny looks when I'm doing my Saturday Night Fever routine.
If you need anything electronic you will find it here, from a tiny resistor to a great big speaker they will have it! The only thing that stops this place from being 5 star is they can be pricey on componenets compared with Farnells and CPC but if you need it today and need any advice this lot will sort you out :)

From big chain stores like this place, you wouldn't always expect such a personable service, as I received from the chaps in here. Well, all I can say is that as brief as my visit was it was memorable and I was given perfect service. As I walked in, with a mission in mind, I was welcomed by one of the fellows at the counter. I said my hellos and continued to search for the item I'd trawled across town for. (Yes, it's in an out of the way location, but don't give up -it's right off New York Road and easy to spot once you've crossed.)

The item in question was a female to female ethernet adaptor, for the purposes of system linking Xboxs. Yes, I am indeed a geek, but when you've experienced the joys of shooting zombies with four of you in the same lobby (perhaps even using the headphone set like proper nerds) you can judge as you please. I'm telling you, it's the shiznit. Where PC World failed (that's a review for later) Maplins triumphed.

In the end, I asked one of the members of staff. Before even escorting me to the items, with a gleam in his eye, he asked was I linking PCs? Nope, Xboxs. Left For Dead 2. System Link funzies. Well, he directed me straight to the adaptors, and away we went! Even better, I had been told by my housemate to merely get a female to female, and had we gone for that we'd have gotten nowhere fast. As soon as we arrived at the section, he told me to hang on as he'd a feeling I'd need a slightly different adaptor to make it work - no bother, his colleague has some sort of degree in networking. He came back a couple of minutes later and underlined that, yes, I would need this *directional one (*directional isn't the word. I've forgotten the word, but it's not the standard one!) otherwise the Xboxs wouldn't talk to each other.

Oh, OK, cool. I said I'd take both, just in case, and he assured me that which ever didn't work I could bring back to the shop no problem. Feeling 100% assured he was doing nothing but be totally helpful, I bought both (no real price difference in either, mind) and took them gaily home. Sure enough, like the stars they are, it was the non-standard one that worked -nothing happened with the basic one. SO! My ramblings cut short after such verbosity: Trust the dudes at Maplin. They're ace, and I'm well pleased. We'd have been stuck without their prowess.

Also, at a glance, the prices are cheaper than PC World, staff nicer and less 'sales' focused, and the store is a lot more relaxed. Don't go PC World. Go Maplins. YES!

Much better than the other Maplin, this! I needed some stereo speaker wire and connectors and the dude that got it all for me was friendly, speedy and helpful. He recommended crimpy things instead as they're much cheaper than the terminal thingies but Hot Steve wanted me to get the more expensive ones. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks I'm made of money


Anyway, Hot Steve also needed a mouse for his laptop and after going to Curry's and PC World in town, and finding a very poor selection, it was a veritable treat to find a whole shelving unit devoted to them in Maplin. So everyone went home happy.

A real Aladdin's cave of electrical stuff. From components for hi-fi and video etc. to elctronic toys, sat navs, audio video etc. The staff are pretty knowldgeable and the selection is vast - the only problem is trying to get served which is why this review is missing a star. There is so much useful stuff here that it's well worth a visit, but don't expect someone to pop up and help you straightaway.

Nice friendly staff always willing to help.


I pop in often for componants transistors, resistors, magnet wire etc and they have a pretty good range but tend to only stock about 2 of each componant which is annoying so ring before setting off if you are after large quantities!


Still gets a thumbs up from me!

Every time i go to maplins there never seem to be enough staff in and the cables and CDs are twice the price of asda.

never actually visited a maplin, always tend to go for currys or the big pc world because maplins is an old name to me, like somewhere my mum would say to go ( if you get what i mean, not sure i explained it too well, like when we were kids my mum would go to woolies or lewises or maplin!? iam i just digging a hole? lol ) will definatly have to go & have a look around, my kids are always after some new gadget or a lead or wire for it!