Maplins Electronics RadarBox

[CoastGuardJon]

Hi all, for anyone, who like me is looking to buy (thanks for the pointer Mike) a RadarBox in the next 7 weeks or so, register as a subscriber to Maplins Newsletter, and you get £25 off voucher, and free delivery on any purchase over £35.

https://www.maplin.co.uk/Subscribe_Email.aspx

Better than a kick up the rear end!

[Allocator]

Maplin selling RadarBox - that's excellent news!  I wondered how long it would be before they started stocking them.

I hope that they stock them in the stores as well as selling them by mail order - there's no stock showing using the store locator search, but with Maplin stores all over the UK, this has to be a good thing :-)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=226607

[AirNav Support]

This has been a recent development and for those is the UK you will know how big Maplins are , it shows how RadarBox is has become a respected and popular product.

The first and only ADS-B Receiver device to be sold in such a major electronics store in the UK.

[rocket]

Good for the product yes.

Good for the customer who wants technical advice on the product???

To be able to offer both a £25 discount voucher and free postage on the Airnav RadarBox Maplins must be getting a much better deal than the average specialist retailer.

[drskeptical]

For what it's worth, I agree with Rocket. I am not so sure Maplins are the right people for a product like this.
Only time will tell.

Andy

[rocket]

Want to buy one?

   
Product availablity: AirNav Radar Box (N76GJ)
Note: Stock figures may be up to 24 hours old. We do recommend that you contact the store and reserve stock to avoid disappointment.
 
 Maplin Store (click for more details)   Stock Level   Distance away
 
 Stevenage   0   4.5 miles
 Stevenage Roebuck   0   5.3 miles
 Luton   0   8.5 miles
 Harlow   0   19.8 miles
 Watford   0   21.7 miles
 Milton Keynes   0   22.1 miles
 Enfield   0   22.3 miles
 Bedford   0   22.7 miles
 Cambridge   0   23.5 miles
 Cambridge (Beehive)   0   24.3 miles
 

There are none locally to me that I could purchase as a customer.

[AirNav Support]

They are not getting a special deal. For the customer as you say its a great plus point. Many customers we getting enquiring don't have any radio or electronics knowledge and are a bit afraid to go down to radio shop or electronics and shop and buy the kit.

While Maplins is a electronics shop it has vast reach on the high street in the UK. The post above is a bit silly, there may not be close to you but they have many stores which will reach out to a large audience.

Overall Maplins is not our only dealer so its win win for customer and I don't think dealers should be too worried as Maplins attracts a different customer base.

[nortonbeak]

According to the Maplin site, the RadarBox is available web only.

[rocket]

I do not accept that my concern is "silly" as you put it.

If this product is available web only, how are they going to be able to provide demonstrations or any meaningful support whatsover?

[tarbat]

Well, I think it's excellent news that someone like Maplins is now selling Radarbox.  They have branches across the country, in areas where there are no other radio shops (eg Inverness).

And as for the concerns from another dealer about the lack of demonstrations.  Well, I bought my Radarbox without a demonstration, since my nearest dealer is a 200 mile journey away in Edinburgh.  Not everyone lives near to a radio shop!!

The best demonstration is the free download of the Radarbox software, including a DEMO mode.

And as for support, doesn't Airnav provide excellent support, regardless of where you've bought the Radarbox?

[DaveReid]

IMHO, anything that increases the user base of Mode S receivers has to be a good thing.

[Typhoon]

I cant see what the problem is, this forum is full of advice and infomation for anyone to find, and as for it being 'web only' sales thats the way things are going these days, If I remember correctly, I bought my unit over the web, and by chance from 'Rocket Radio' and as far as a demo, all I had was the free download from AirNavs site which was enough to convince me to buy. Ive had problems but sorted them out, not had to keep ringing for customer support or anything, others may have problems, but customer support from AirNav on this forum seems very good indeed.

[rocket]

OK, I have clearly seen things very wrong here, it is only me that thinks like this.

[sidskeg]

Mark

It is probably only you that thinks like this : you're a dealer and most of the rest of us are consumers.
However, I see your point. You are now selling against a very large national chain which is effectively discounting the box, in a roundabout way. And if they haven't negotiated a volume discount, their buyer should be fired.
Rest assured though, that many (myself included), given the choice, prefer the instant gratification of buying in real-time i.e. in a shop and from someone who knows their product i.e. not a large national chain.

Sid

[DaveReid]

You are now selling against a very large national chain which is effectively discounting the box, in a roundabout way.

Perhaps Maplin are selling it at a loss and hoping to make it up in volume :-)