"Sylvain VAN DER WALDE" wrote in message
news:...

"Peter Lynch" wrote in message
...
I've just been on their website, looking for a transformer to power
my latest and greatest piece of futility (that's the DIY angle).

Looked up the mains transformer section and got a real surprise.
All their toriodal transformer range is listed as "discontinued" :-(
Just out of interest I looked up variants:
Their total stock holding of PCB mounted mains transformers come to 7
(5 of one type, 2 of the other)
So far as traditional mains transformers goes, most of the voltage
ranges only have single-figure stock levels. the only range that
has what I'd've thought of as practical stocks is the sub-miniature
range.

OK, putting aside any views of "they're not a serious vendor anymore,
they're only interested in selling toys" that people may have. Does
this paltry offering reflect lack of demand or is it just another
symptom of their decline?


They're opening a new store in Camden, London. What does that suggest to
you?
Don't ask me. I don't know.

Sylvain.

Pete

--
.................................................. ........................
. never trust a man who, when left alone ...... Pete Lynch
.
. in a room with a tea cosy ...... Marlow, England
.
. doesn't try it on (Billy Connolly)
.....................................

Sylvain VAN DER WALDE has brought this to us :
"Sylvain VAN DER WALDE" wrote in message
news:...

"Peter Lynch" wrote in message
...
I've just been on their website, looking for a transformer to power
my latest and greatest piece of futility (that's the DIY angle).

Looked up the mains transformer section and got a real surprise.
All their toriodal transformer range is listed as "discontinued" :-(
Just out of interest I looked up variants:
Their total stock holding of PCB mounted mains transformers come to 7
(5 of one type, 2 of the other)
So far as traditional mains transformers goes, most of the voltage
ranges only have single-figure stock levels. the only range that
has what I'd've thought of as practical stocks is the sub-miniature
range.

OK, putting aside any views of "they're not a serious vendor anymore,
they're only interested in selling toys" that people may have. Does
this paltry offering reflect lack of demand or is it just another
symptom of their decline?


They're opening a new store in Camden, London. What does that suggest to
you?
Don't ask me. I don't know.

Sylvain.

They got into the electronics enthusiasts market and as that
deteriorated, tried to move into commercial component supply,
completing with the likes of Farnell and RS. They didn't compete very
well and then moved into the 'toy' market, but retaining some relics of
their component business. Now it seems they don't know quite what they
are trying to be. Shame really, they were the first good national
source for electronics parts -better than Tandy/Radio Shack.

--

Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

They got into the electronics enthusiasts market and as that
deteriorated, tried to move into commercial component supply,
completing with the likes of Farnell and RS. They didn't compete very
well and then moved into the 'toy' market, but retaining some relics of
their component business. Now it seems they don't know quite what they
are trying to be. Shame really, they were the first good national
source for electronics parts -better than Tandy/Radio Shack.

Now that CPC have made it much easier for the public to buy from them
direct, Maplin are being very badly squeezed. However, it's hard to feel
too sorry for them; they've had several chances over the years to create
their own distinctive place in the market, and missed every one.

More worrying is the effect CPC is having on its own sister company
Farnell. As the two companies gradually merge their inventories, the
Farnell people will have to work hard to keep their company separate and
distinct. I don't mind a few "engineer toys" in the Farnell monthly
promos, but when I'm buying components from the Farnell catalogue,
components are *all* I want to see.

By the way, there is a list of UK suppliers of electronic components and
related items, at:
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/in-prac/components.htm

The list gives particular emphasis to the way suppliers deal with
individual hobbyists. Comments, corrections and recommendations are
always welcome (bearing in mind that there is some DIY content, but it
isn't meant to be a DIY list).


--
Ian White

In article ,
Ian White wrote:
By the way, there is a list of UK suppliers of electronic components and
related items, at:
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/in-prac/components.htm

Very useful list, thanks.

The list gives particular emphasis to the way suppliers deal with
individual hobbyists. Comments, corrections and recommendations are
always welcome (bearing in mind that there is some DIY content, but it
isn't meant to be a DIY list).

I think it's a bit out of date as regards RS. At one time it was difficult
for the individual to buy from them. This isn't the case anymore -
provided you have a credit card.

--
*Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Ian White" wrote in message
...
Harry Bloomfield wrote:

They got into the electronics enthusiasts market and as that
deteriorated, tried to move into commercial component supply,
completing with the likes of Farnell and RS. They didn't compete very
well and then moved into the 'toy' market, but retaining some relics of
their component business. Now it seems they don't know quite what they
are trying to be. Shame really, they were the first good national
source for electronics parts -better than Tandy/Radio Shack.

Now that CPC have made it much easier for the public to buy from them
direct, Maplin are being very badly squeezed. However, it's hard to feel
too sorry for them; they've had several chances over the years to create
their own distinctive place in the market, and missed every one.

More worrying is the effect CPC is having on its own sister company
Farnell. As the two companies gradually merge their inventories, the
Farnell people will have to work hard to keep their company separate and
distinct. I don't mind a few "engineer toys" in the Farnell monthly
promos, but when I'm buying components from the Farnell catalogue,
components are *all* I want to see.

By the way, there is a list of UK suppliers of electronic components and
related items, at:
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/in-prac/components.htm

The list gives particular emphasis to the way suppliers deal with
individual hobbyists. Comments, corrections and recommendations are
always welcome (bearing in mind that there is some DIY content, but it
isn't meant to be a DIY list).


--
Ian White

That's an interesting list. I currently order most of my stuff from Maplin
and RS, but I will try some of the others. Have you considered adding Edmund
Optics at http://www.edmundoptics.com/UK/ to the list? They are the only
supplier of optical components I know of that's geared-up to sell to
hobbyists, although their prices are sometimes scary.

In article ,
Simon wrote:
That's an interesting list. I currently order most of my stuff from
Maplin and RS, but I will try some of the others.

I did, but now mainly use Rapid. I don't spend a fortune with them as it's
just a (sometimes) paying hobby. They are generous with their catalogue -
unlike RS.

--
*Generally speaking, you aren't learning much if your lips are moving.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
That's an interesting list. I currently order most of my stuff from
Maplin and RS, but I will try some of the others.

I did, but now mainly use Rapid. I don't spend a fortune with them as
it's just a (sometimes) paying hobby. They are generous with their
catalogue - unlike RS.

Paper catalogues tend to be cyclic:

1. "We've just printed a new edition, but you can't have one in case
somebody wants one."

2a. "Here is your paper catalogue, and please tell your friends."
2b. "Here is your paper catalogue, and please tell your friends."
2c. "Here is your paper catalogue, and please tell your friends."

3. "We've run out. There won't be any more until the next edition."

Loop until cynical.



--
Ian White

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Simon wrote:
That's an interesting list. I currently order most of my stuff from
Maplin and RS, but I will try some of the others.

I did, but now mainly use Rapid. I don't spend a fortune with them as it's
just a (sometimes) paying hobby. They are generous with their catalogue -
unlike RS.


I find that strange, I've never had any problems getting catalogues out
of RS

CPC on the other hand ...

--
geoff

On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 00:28:05 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Simon wrote:
That's an interesting list. I currently order most of my stuff from
Maplin and RS, but I will try some of the others.

I did, but now mainly use Rapid. I don't spend a fortune with them as it's
just a (sometimes) paying hobby. They are generous with their catalogue -
unlike RS.

At our local trade counter they are generous with catalogues on
CD-ROM. I can scarcely pick up the box containing the multiple volume
paper catalogue we get nowadays.

The "Radiospares" Catalogue used to be a folder about the size of a
book of log tables that hung on a nail in every electronic workshop,
and the company penetrated the market by issuing enough of them such
that a service engineer always had one within his reach without
getting up off his seat.

In those days components were typically re-marked RS and it was
commonly speculated that semiconductor manufacturers sold their
in-spec devices under their own brand name and their out of spec
devices ...

DG

Simon wrote:
Have you considered adding Edmund Optics at
http://www.edmundoptics.com/UK/ to the list? They are the only supplier
of optical components I know of that's geared-up to sell to hobbyists,
although their prices are sometimes scary.

Thanks - I'll have look.


--
Ian White

On Fri, 27 Oct 2006 08:53:46 +0100, in uk.d-i-y Ian White
wrote:

By the way, there is a list of UK suppliers of electronic components and
related items, at:
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/in-prac/components.htm

The list gives particular emphasis to the way suppliers deal with
individual hobbyists. Comments, corrections and recommendations are
always welcome (bearing in mind that there is some DIY content, but it
isn't meant to be a DIY list).

"The Maplin catalogue is available in major magazine shops and shows
VAT-inclusive prices. There is also a CD-ROM."

You have to buy their catalogue, at about £3.50 and its revised
quarterly I think. I tried their early CD version and it was hopeless.
The website 'more details' generally brings up an almost illegible scan
of a complete catalogue page. And of course 'bigger image' just brings
up the same size one in a separate window... duh!!

Well done for list, extremely useful, thanks.

Phil
The uk.d-i-y FAQ is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/
The Google uk.d-i-y archive is at http://tinyurl.com/65kwq
Remove NOSPAM from address to email me

Harry Bloomfield verbally sodomised in
:

Sylvain VAN DER WALDE has brought this to us :
"Sylvain VAN DER WALDE" wrote in
message news:...

"Peter Lynch" wrote in message
...
I've just been on their website, looking for a transformer to power
my latest and greatest piece of futility (that's the DIY angle).

Looked up the mains transformer section and got a real surprise.
All their toriodal transformer range is listed as "discontinued" :-(
Just out of interest I looked up variants:
Their total stock holding of PCB mounted mains transformers come to 7
(5 of one type, 2 of the other)
So far as traditional mains transformers goes, most of the voltage
ranges only have single-figure stock levels. the only range that
has what I'd've thought of as practical stocks is the sub-miniature
range.

OK, putting aside any views of "they're not a serious vendor anymore,
they're only interested in selling toys" that people may have. Does
this paltry offering reflect lack of demand or is it just another
symptom of their decline?


They're opening a new store in Camden, London. What does that suggest
to you?
Don't ask me. I don't know.

Sylvain.

They got into the electronics enthusiasts market and as that
deteriorated, tried to move into commercial component supply,
completing with the likes of Farnell and RS. They didn't compete very
well and then moved into the 'toy' market, but retaining some relics of
their component business. Now it seems they don't know quite what they
are trying to be. Shame really, they were the first good national
source for electronics parts -better than Tandy/Radio Shack.


Yeah, never heard of them.

--
Phil Kyle™

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