http://www.maplin.co.uk

I've used maplins a few times for quick component buys. They are not always the cheapest, but they are great for one off electronics items and some components.

A bit on the pricey side. Good selection and service, but packaging needs to be better. Often i've ordered alot of electronic components and they have been unlabled and thrown together in the same bag, making it hard to sort out.

They're rubbish. They never seem to have anything in stock at their High Street branches, couldn't even get some 1K resistors just last week, had to go over to RS at Bow just for a bag of resistors.

They started out as serious suppliers of electronic components but now most of their marketing seems to be centred around power and kids toys and cheap shoddy rubbish.

The LIDL of suppliers.

Quite handy if you need a computer lead a bit quick though, and that's about the only positive thing I can say about them.

think you're being a bit harsh.
the service there is always seems to be great, and price seem to be very reasonable. Cables especially are very good value, especially compared to other high street companies i.e pc world, comet.
considering their vast range of products they do very well to stay competitive.
Maplin shame the likes of PC World, i don't think you'll find a better electrical store.

No, I'm not being harsh at all.

They started as being serious suppliers of electronic components, to maybe rival the likes of Farnell and RS. They used to have a magazine with electronic building projects, some of which were quite good, I built one of their 2 x 150W slave amps once. And an audio frequency generator. And some other stuff.

But all they sell now is stuff that appeals to Joe Public.

Still, they're doing well, and being a business, they're only there to make money after all.

The staff are courteous, I'll grant you that. All I'm saying is they should stop trying to promote themselves as serious suppliers of electronic components, is all, cos they ain't.