From: theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk   
      
   Jeff Layman  wrote:   
   > On 30/11/2025 18:28, Cursitor Doom wrote:   
   > > On Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:15:34 +0000, Jeff Layman    
   > > wrote:   
   > >   
   > >>    
   > >   
   > > IIRC it was called Tandy in the UK. When I lived in Germany, there was   
   > > Conrad. They were very good stockists of components and certainly a   
   > > lot better in that regard than Maplin in Britain. I wonder if Maplin   
   > > are still going? I can't be bothered to look.and care still less.   
   >   
   > Still around, but nowadays found in some Jessops and London Camera   
   > Exchange shops, as well as online.   
      
   Not the same Maplin.  They sold out to private equity, who loaded them up   
   with debt and then they went bust in 2018.  The bits got dismembered and the   
   outfit that now owns the name just slaps it on stuff from China like many   
   other brands.   
      
   In the bankruptcy sale, some enterprising folks bought out their stock for   
   pennies and have been dribbling it out via ebay.  Some of the Maplin branded   
   stuff is new-very-old-stock.   
      
   Theo   
      
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