Maplin Electronics

I must disagree with the other qypers. Admittedly, I do have an unfair advantage on the staff being an Electronics Engineer, but I am not writing about their experience but the way I have heard them fob customers off with either a poxy can’t be bothered excuse or wrong information.
After trekking to Warrington today for some electronic components for a project, I approached a member of staff for some bits I couldn’t find. I have never come accross such an uninterested chap in my life, I think his previous job was a chicken farmer.
In future if I’m desperate and need the bits on the day I’ll drive to CPC in Preston, the staff here are both helpful and knowledgeable (and have the bloody stuff in stock).

Great range of stock and very very helpful staff. a lot of available parking too — reasonable prices, in keeping with their competitors. And if they don’t have what you want, they’ll recommend places which might.

If you’re looking for electronics, this is the place! They have electronic everythings and, mostly, the staff to advise you.
They stock everything you may need from high-​end music centres, diagnostic equipment and radio masts to batteries and solder, odd plugs and bits of wire.
I went here with my son earlier this year as we could only get 3 channels on our freeview digibox. One of the assistants stopped us from buying all sorts of amplifiers and things and sold us a digital aerial for under £20. This completely cured the problem — he explained that the Winterhill transmitter has been turning down the analogue signal steadily for quite a while to encourage people to be ready for the changeover next year, so that there isn’t a sudden mad rush for digital equipment.
In the past, I have bought cd players and other music items from Maplins when they have special offers on as they are even cheaper than Richer Sounds at times, but you have to know what you want in this case as the assistants will want to sell you their choice and your tastes are likely to differ.