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Maplin and Peats Robbing the Irish Public

  • 23-11-2011 03:31PM
    #1
    Markdub2000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 114 ✭✭


    What on earth is with these two stores, they should be reported to the NCA!

    A cheap scart lead, not the one with the Iron filings in the cover 15euro in Maplins for a 1.5meter!

    F-Connector 2.99!!

    F-Connector joiner 2.99!!

    Satellite Cable 2.50 a meter!!

    Absolutely daylight robbery!

    Compare it to current trade prices on these items:

    F-Connector 8euro = bag of 100

    F-Connector joiner 11euro bag of 100

    Satellite Cable 12euro = 100 meters

    Scart lead 2.50euro

    My god, they should be shut down!


«134

Comments

  • #2
    mickdw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,998 ✭✭✭✭mickdw


    Typical hardware seem to charge €1 for connectors. I thought that was a rip off. 2.50 is madness.


  • #3
    elaverty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 399 ✭✭elaverty


    T hey can charge what the like,,why should they be reported,,if someone is a big enough Muppet to pay those prices its there tough,,,

    YOU DONT HAVE TO BUY IT,,,


  • #4
    asif2011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 185 ✭✭asif2011


    They sell computer components which are a rip off too. People that go there either don't know any better or need a part immediately and are willing to pay the price. I've gone in there out of convenience before but I choose to do that... not that I liked paying their prices...


  • #5
    steveon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,905 ✭✭✭steveon


    There 3 times the price here than the UK as per always and now with a 2% vat increase we can expect the shops to sneak in a further 1-2% hoping we wont notice...I personally stopped buying things in Maplins ages ago ...


  • #6
    pa990
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,882 ✭✭✭pa990


    steveon wrote: »
    There 3 times the price here than the UK as per always and now with a 2% vat increase we can expect the shops to sneak in a further 1-2% hoping we wont notice...I personally stopped buying things in Maplins ages ago ...

    HA
    try 3 to 4%


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  • #7
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    I have stopped buying in Maplin as they are now so expensive.

    Also more and more gadget porn junk and AudioFool stuff.

    Peats hasn't been useful for parts or accessories for maybe 5+ years. A niche High St shop trading on 1970s to 1990s reputation.

    No wonder more people are shopping online.


  • #8
    Owen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,678 ✭✭✭✭Owen


    I buy components in Maplin - as in transistors, resistors, capacitors and the likes for electronics project. They're handy as I can walk in the door and pick something up. Prices for everything else in there (Bar 100 AA batterys rated at 1500 mAh for 19 euro) are madness.

    Peats aren't the worst though, when I wanted the Logitech Screenplay Director media drive, they were 150 Euro when every other bricks and mortar store in Ireland wanted 199.


  • #9
    muincav
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 810 ✭✭✭muincav


    elaverty wrote: »
    T hey can charge what the like,,why should they be reported,,if someone is a big enough Muppet to pay those prices its there tough,,,

    YOU DONT HAVE TO BUY IT,,,

    Think the OP was just highlighting a fact and well done to him, at least he is doing something about it instead of name calling...;)


  • #10
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    You can buy 10 to 50 transistors for similar money, 1 week to 10 days delivery.


  • #11
    steveon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,905 ✭✭✭steveon


    watty wrote: »
    You can buy 10 to 50 transistors for similar money, 1 week to 10 days delivery.

    Totally agree as i said unless Im seriously stuck i now bypass them, even there website is the UK one and prices they are never what you see in their stores.


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  • #12
    JRH
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 142 ✭✭JRH


    Maplin are pretty much a convenience store ... expect to pay for what you want right now ... if you only buy the special offers though they can reasonable value ... a lot of items seem to rotate between full price and special eg here in galway the 43 element trifold aerial is reduced from 82 to 35 every couple of weeks ...
    as for connections ,cables etc all are on e-bay for a fraction of maplin price ...
    many of their gadgets are also on e-bay.. eg maplin were selling this for about 55 a while back :rolleyes:
    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/2-4G-Wireless-Keyboard-Mouse-Touchpad-2-4GHz-iPazzPort-/280758987117?pt=UK_Computing_ComputerComponents_KeyboardsMice&hash=item415e8a296d


  • #13
    Jackasaurus rex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 225 ✭✭Jackasaurus rex


    shops like peats have large margin on components like fuses and resisters and all that to try make up for the shoddy margin on higher price items like tvs and mp3. the reason that lots of shops like peats try push accessories with laptops and cameras and all is because they often make better money off a case and card than off the camera itself.


  • #14
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    They don't have a shoddy margin on anything unless they are being ripped of by Wholesalers. Which is actually very common in Ireland.

    It's not uncommon for Irish wholesale to even be on a poor margin too by stupidly buying from UK Wholesale. Often manufacturers appoint a UK wholesaler as sole distributor for Ireland & UK.

    You can often get the same thing 30% cheaper from Dutch or German retailer inc Courier (often less than UK parcelforce) than Irish Discount prices.


  • #15
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    steveon wrote: »
    Totally agree as i said unless Im seriously stuck i now bypass them, even there website is the UK one and prices they are never what you see in their stores.

    If you are seriously stuck, I'm in Limerick too Steve.


  • #16
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,102 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    Markdub2000 wrote: »
    What on earth is with these two stores, they should be reported to the NCA!

    A cheap scart lead, not the one with the Iron filings in the cover 15euro in Maplins for a 1.5meter!

    F-Connector 2.99!!

    F-Connector joiner 2.99!!

    Satellite Cable 2.50 a meter!!

    Absolutely daylight robbery!

    Compare it to current trade prices on these items:

    F-Connector 8euro = bag of 100

    F-Connector joiner 11euro bag of 100

    Satellite Cable 12euro = 100 meters

    Scart lead 2.50euro

    My god, they should be shut down!

    I work for Peats. We certainly don't charge €15 for a cheap Scart lead, nor is satellite cable €2.50 per metre. F-connectors and joiners aren't the prices you've quoted either.
    watty wrote: »
    They don't have a shoddy margin on anything unless they are being ripped of by Wholesalers. Which is actually very common in Ireland.

    It's not uncommon for Irish wholesale to even be on a poor margin too by stupidly buying from UK Wholesale. Often manufacturers appoint a UK wholesaler as sole distributor for Ireland & UK.

    You can often get the same thing 30% cheaper from Dutch or German retailer inc Courier (often less than UK parcelforce) than Irish Discount prices.

    There are plenty of products which do in fact carry 'shoddy margin'. Apple products are notorious for this. Apple set the prices and you as a retailer can do nothing about it. You can only hope to sell some accessories to make up for the lack of any worthwhile margin on an Apple product.

    Laptops, hard drives and other products don't carry nearly as much margin as people like to think. There's been plenty of times where it's been technically dearer for me to buy something at staff price than the retail price.

    I'm not going to go all out here and outline our pricing on various different things. Suffice to say I felt I had to comment as I believe ALL of the prices quoted by the OP in the first part of his post are from Maplin and not Peats.


  • #17
    Jackasaurus rex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 225 ✭✭Jackasaurus rex


    watty wrote: »
    They don't have a shoddy margin on anything unless they are being ripped of by Wholesalers.

    I dont think its always the case. I think the likes of peats cant afford buy as much stock as a multinational and as such they wont get as good a price on it. but they still have to try compete with the harvey normans and currys and such.


  • #18
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    So Peats ARE getting ripped of by the suppliers.


  • #19
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,102 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    watty wrote: »
    So Peats ARE getting ripped of by the suppliers.

    In some cases yes Irish suppliers do charge more than they should. I recall one time being asked for a specific NAS (network attached storage) unit for a customer. I priced it with a continental supplier and it was x price. I rang a big Irish supplier and they were just over €100 more. When I asked why there was such a huge price difference for exactly the same item they were unable to give me a satisfactory answer. Situations such as this weren't isolated.
    I also think it's not fair to compare a trade business to one which deals with the public- it's not the same.

    Also as I've already stated I believe ALL of the prices quoted by the OP in the first part of his post are from Maplin and not Peats.

    I've mentioned on various forums here on Boards over the years why some shops are more expensive than others and I don't feel like repeating myself again. If you wanted to search you'll see plenty of long posts from me on the subject.

    Edit: I thought your username was familiar to me and it seems you just don't like us:

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=922667
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1448963
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=52858725
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=54362510
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=59679711
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=60753961


  • #20
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Nothing Personal. I think the ENTIRE Irish Retail sector has a problem now with Online ordering so much simpler than 1960s Mail Order. I think a lot of it is an extra layer of Irish "so called" wholesalers and also some UK distributors charging Irish Trade almost the UK Retail price.

    It's crazy how much stuff is Priced in Euros and goes through UK to Ireland and suffers currency hedging twice.

    Tesco and Lidl charge far more here on many products (than other markets) than the extra Irish operating costs justify (Obscene Property rents and higher VAT, electricity, phone etc).


  • #21
    Vanbis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,724 ✭✭✭Vanbis


    I was in Maplins recently looking for a 3 Phono to SCART. They had them €18.00. I went to Tesco and picked one up for €7.00.

    Harvey Normans, the sales assistant never heard of them and said they only stocked standard cables. :rolleyes:


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  • #22
    Kintarō Hattori
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,102 ✭✭✭✭Kintarō Hattori


    What has annoyed me about this thread is that it's misleading, plain and simple. The OP stated:

    A plain 1.5M scart cable was €15... here we have one for €4.99.

    An F connector was €2.99, here we have it for €1.

    An F connector coupler was €2.99 yet here we have it for €1.50.

    Sat cable was €2.50 pm, yet here we have it for €1.

    Now I am not by any means saying that we are the cheapest around. Our prices however are very far removed from those claimed in the original post. That is what irks me.


  • #23
    dharn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,574 ✭✭✭dharn


    the op would be shocked at the prices some manufacturers charge for a scart lead that will do much the same job as the maplins /peats one, im talking hundreds ,they claim brilliant speed gold plated connections ...much snake oil i think


  • #24
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,460 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Kintarō Hattori wrote: »
    What has annoyed me about this thread is that it's misleading, plain and simple. The OP stated:

    A plain 1.5M scart cable was €15... here we have one for €4.99.

    An F connector was €2.99, here we have it for €1.

    An F connector coupler was €2.99 yet here we have it for €1.50.

    Sat cable was €2.50 pm, yet here we have it for €1.

    Now I am not by any means saying that we are the cheapest around. Our prices however are very far removed from those claimed in the original post. That is what irks me.

    I agree you can't put Peats and Maplin in the same Bracket. Maplin are pricing themselves out of the market.


  • #25
    stanley1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,528 ✭✭✭stanley1


    priced a roberts wm201 at peats, they were looking for €299, got it on ebay for €152 including postage.


  • #26
    Mr Keek
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 497 ✭✭Mr Keek


    completely agree, went to Maplin looking for 15 meter of Twin /Shotgun cable for a PVR and 6 F Connectors, they told me tht the cable could not be got unless you work for Sky and offered me 30 meters of single cable and the connectors for €43.

    I got my cable and the connectors in a local electrical parts store in Galway for €6.90, they even gave me a little bit extra free cable too.

    That's just one example, have plenty more. Ill never be gracing their stores with my presence again.


  • #27
    carbsy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,098 ✭✭✭carbsy


    dharn wrote: »
    the op would be shocked at the prices some manufacturers charge for a scart lead that will do much the same job as the maplins /peats one, im talking hundreds ,they claim brilliant speed gold plated connections ...much snake oil i think

    Brilliant speed scart cable eh? :D


  • #28
    MrSneeg
    Closed Accounts Posts: 104 ✭✭MrSneeg


    Kintarō Hattori wrote: »
    What has annoyed me about this thread is that it's misleading, plain and simple. The OP stated:

    A plain 1.5M scart cable was €15... here we have one for €4.99.

    An F connector was €2.99, here we have it for €1.

    An F connector coupler was €2.99 yet here we have it for €1.50.

    Sat cable was €2.50 pm, yet here we have it for €1.

    Now I am not by any means saying that we are the cheapest around. Our prices however are very far removed from those claimed in the original post. That is what irks me.

    GOOD GOD!


  • #29
    Guy:Incognito
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,227 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    Markdub2000 wrote: »
    What on earth is with these two stores, they should be reported to the NCA!

    Reported for what? A private company can sell the goods they own for any price they want. If they want to sell a 10c f connector for €100,000 its their choice.


    They are hardly alone. http://www.powercity.ie/?par=30-70-19015&pages=1&prod=19015&brands=FLEMMING &image=
    http://www.powercity.ie/?par=30-70-FCONN&pages=1&prod=FCONN&brands=FLEMMING&image=


  • #30
    Markdub2000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 114 ✭✭Markdub2000


    Sorry but -

    2 phono to headphone jack 1.5m lead

    Maplin 10euro
    Peats 15euro
    Power City 3.99


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  • #31
    Sir Oxman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,490 ✭✭✭Sir Oxman


    dropped into Peats looking for a sata to molex power adaptor - none in stock but priced at 1.49 each
    Maplins around the corner had them - at 8.49 - I was actually sickened! ;-)

    I walked out (as you would)

    Is there anywhere in Dublin that does this small item and actually has it in stock at a reasonable price??????


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