Failure of Peats

watty

The failure of Peats was inevitable due to renting expensive premises and the fact they are no competitor to Maplin (which is doomed too) and never fully made transition successfully to selling specialist Hifi & PC parts (for which they were horribly overpriced). I was in their shop once I think in 1970s. TBH I'm amazed they lasted till now. I used to window shop at their store in Blanch a few years ago. Never bought anything in it.

Maplin will not last as they can't compete with online for components (x10 price and falling variety) and they become a purveyor of junk "Big Boy's Toys" and overpriced poor quality tools and electrical accessories. I think they have lost the plot on PC upgrades/Self builds and the market of P.A. & DJ stuff is too niche and they don't do it well enough.

Add high rents in Galway, Dublin x 2, Cork, Dundalk and Limerick and I can't see them lasting.

PauloMN

It's a shame about Peats tbh. In the '80s when I was building kits etc., I used to like the main store in Parnell St., and there was nowhere else really in Dublin that had a similar setup.

The outlets they had in the likes of Blanch SC were just too small, and they never could match the Parnell St. store. They were no different to Currys/Dixons etc.. Waste of time frankly - I was surprised to see these "mini" Peats shops when they first opened.

I'll be sad to see them gone. It's a pity they couldn't have survived by going online. Only about two weeks ago I bought a set of headphones online from an eBay Peats store - I didn't even realise up to then they sold online. I wonder was it just a recent thing, to clear stock in the knowledge they were shutting up shop?

Hope all 75 staff get work elsewhere, although in this climate it'll be tough.

Molloys Clondalkin

Glad this got its own thread
Watty your spot on
and the sad part is Maplins and some of the other "cataloge" companies are going the same way.
charging 200per cent plus on items is crazy and I refuse to do business with them.
I was only in Peats once in my life when my dad brought me in when I was 12 he said.
"See these big windows thats to see you coming"
Never forgot that.

pixbyjohn

Does anyone remember the "Radio Shack" shops in Ireland. I was in the one in Dun Laoghaire and one in Sligo, also the one in Batchelor's Walk in Dublin. They didn't last long. I don't think there is enough business for hobbyist type component shops in Ireland anymore.

Fuzzy Clam

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Does anyone remember the "Radio Shack" shops in Ireland. I was in the one in Dun Laoghaire and one in Sligo, also the one in Batchelor's Walk in Dublin. They didn't last long. I don't think there is enough business for hobbyist type component shops in Ireland anymore.

Yeah, they were franchises I think. The one on Batchelor's walk was owned by Don Moore. Was only in it once or twice, same with Dun Laoghaire.
Bought quite a bit from Peats over the years as in the original shop. I recall they used to have a pile of of old stuff in the middle of the floor which was useful for scavaging old parts from for cheap. There was a Shure mic for about 50p or a quid and when I got it home, all that was wrong was a loose wire inside:)
The "not quite legal" radio stations in Dublin of the 70's and 80's owed a lot to Peats.

Big Tone

Peats is about to re-open a good few of their shops again!

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/electrical-store-peats-reopens-rathmines-shop-in-reversal-of-decision-to-cease-trading-3089179.html

snowman707

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Does anyone remember the "Radio Shack" shops in Ireland. I was in the one in Dun Laoghaire and one in Sligo, also the one in Batchelor's Walk in Dublin. They didn't last long. I don't think there is enough business for hobbyist type component shops in Ireland anymore.

They had 1 in Limerick, lasted about 6 months I think , was in it once and some american sales guy talking utter bulls&1t, thought i was a green horn .. maybe I was, but not with my wallet

watty

Big Tone wrote: »

Peats is about to re-open a good few of their shops again!

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/electrical-store-peats-reopens-rathmines-shop-in-reversal-of-decision-to-cease-trading-3089179.html

It will likely be throwing good money away though and just delay the inevitable.

Capt'n Midnight

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Does anyone remember the "Radio Shack" shops in Ireland. I was in the one in Dun Laoghaire and one in Sligo, also the one in Batchelor's Walk in Dublin. They didn't last long. I don't think there is enough business for hobbyist type component shops in Ireland anymore.

The one on Georges St was very expensive.

Anyone remember Clifford's ?


For most electronic components Radionics and Farnell can be cheaper than Peats or Maplin ever were 'cept you have to come back tomorrow to pick up the parts and they don't open at weekends.



http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/survival-scheme-for-electronics-firm-peats-27-jobs-saved-3174750.html

Mr Justice Peter Charlton said he was happy to approve the scheme taking Peats World of Electronics out of examinship after hearing all conditions set down in an independent accountant’s report for its survival had been met.

These include that two of its Dublin stores, the original Peats of Parnell Street and another in Rathmines are to continue trading.

Fuzzy Clam

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Anyone remember Clifford's ?

Yes indeed. Bought a few bits from him before he closed down. A couple of valves and an old frequency generator I think.

PauloMN

watty wrote: »

It will likely be throwing good money away though and just delay the inevitable.

It would seem so :
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/electronics-retailer-closes-again-29528321.html