what's the purpose of component distributors ?

[Adam S]

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

 

[David L. Jones]

On Oct 9, 9:28 pm, Adam S <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote:

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

With the global internet market these days, on the surface appears
there appears to be little purpose to having local distributors.
Although I have to admit to often getting better technical product
support if I go through the local distributors (who aren't technical,
but have the contacts with the manufacturer). This can be important on
high spec components like $500 FPGA chips or some beta silicon that
often need lots of technical support, sometimes talking directly with
the chip designers themselves.

It's also a guaranteed way to get genuine parts in volume, esp if the
manufacturer doesn't sell direct.

And it's also handy for the finance department who only have to set up
accounts with a couple of distributors instead of dozens. This can be
a big deal in some companies.

Dave.

 

[John Tserkezis]

Adam S wrote:

Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Yep, we used to buy from Arrow only if the parts in question were not
available from anywhere else. And then it was only a pricing issue.

For some reason, everywhere I've worked always discouraged overseas
purchases unless there was simply no other option (no-one was selling them here).

--
Linux Registered User # 302622
<http://counter.li.org>

 

[kreed]

On Oct 9, 9:28 pm, Adam S <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote:

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Your lucky to get that, I have found most australian distributors
really couldn't give a stuff. Recently we e recently had to purchase a
quantity of touch screens for a project, we tried the distributor, the
person would "ring back" - never bothered even after 2 further
attempts. We went straight to the makers website (ELO) in US, and
after a bit of searching, soon found a distributor there who didnt
have the frequent US racist ("we dont ship outside US") policy and got
what we wanted within 14 days.

Similar story with some opto interruptors - couldnt find anything
really suitable here, 20 mins on mouser website, found and ordered,
following monday it was on my desk and the job was done that day.

Several others seem to have this attitude, or are just generally hard
to deal with, long delays, people who dont seem to know exactly what
you need, high prices, long delays - its like having teeth pulled.
Colleages who deal in much larger volumes than me seem to have similar
problems with delays.

As crazy as it sounds, sometimes even ebay is more productive for
certain things !

No wonder the local electronics industry is so fucked up. I should
have gone into the building trade when I left school

 

[Bob Parker]

On 10/10/2007 00:11 kreed wrote:

On Oct 9, 9:28 pm, Adam S <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote:
I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Your lucky to get that, I have found most australian distributors
really couldn't give a stuff. Recently we e recently had to purchase a
quantity of touch screens for a project, we tried the distributor, the
person would "ring back" - never bothered even after 2 further
attempts. We went straight to the makers website (ELO) in US, and
after a bit of searching, soon found a distributor there who didnt
have the frequent US racist ("we dont ship outside US") policy and got
what we wanted within 14 days.

Similar story with some opto interruptors - couldnt find anything
really suitable here, 20 mins on mouser website, found and ordered,
following monday it was on my desk and the job was done that day.

Several others seem to have this attitude, or are just generally hard
to deal with, long delays, people who dont seem to know exactly what
you need, high prices, long delays - its like having teeth pulled.
Colleages who deal in much larger volumes than me seem to have similar
problems with delays.

As crazy as it sounds, sometimes even ebay is more productive for
certain things !

No wonder the local electronics industry is so fucked up. I should
have gone into the building trade when I left school

These days when I need parts for prototypes etc for the company I'm
doing work for, I automatically go first to the Digikey then Mouser
websites in the US, make up an order and send it off to whoever has the
best price/availability.
OK, so freight's the killer but I always have exactly what I need
within a few days without wasting time trying to get things locally, and
time's money as they say.


Bob

 

[Phil Allison]

Adam S"

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country.

** Says a damn lot about how dopey YOU are and very little else.

Non-stocked items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and
none have seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching.
They rather employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers
into a database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days
for the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.

** Locally based importers do not need to stock a single item.

They just lie in wait, like hungry sharks, for YOU to order some ...

At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for overseas
stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.

** Those on-line sellers are likely breaking legal agreements they have with
the component makers. Hence there is NO maker's warranty on whatever
TOTAL SHIT is packed in the box you finally get.

Could sell you seconds, returned stock or BLATANT FAKES - anytime.

It happens - a lot.


When it does YOU have SFA chance of getting a refund since the purchase
was made OVERSEAS and hence is not covered by Australian consumer or trade
law.

Dickhead.




...... Phil

 

[Frank]

can you give us a example? how much does it cost roughly?



These days when I need parts for prototypes etc for the company I'm
doing work for, I automatically go first to the Digikey then Mouser
websites in the US, make up an order and send it off to whoever has the
best price/availability.
OK, so freight's the killer but I always have exactly what I need
within a few days without wasting time trying to get things locally, and
time's money as they say.


Bob

 

[Suzy]

"Adam S" <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote in message
news:470b65f1$0$31115$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a database
as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for the quote.
Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't understand who pays
their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for overseas
stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Good points Adam. My pet hate is that supposedly "technical" stores like
Jaycar clutter their ads with such nonsense as farting ashtrays. I know,
someone will say "lighten up"...

 

[Andy]

Adam S wrote:

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Yep! Just recently had about $500.00 worth of components on order with
Arr0w. Originally the 6-8
weeks delivery was no problem as there was no rush on the job at that
time. After I had placed
the order, the customer decided they now needed to rush the job
through. I ended up purchasing
another lot of parts via Digikey and delivery was 1 week - excellent
service.

When the Arrow shipment finally arrived, I did the sums and it was
actually more cost effective to
in this instance to purchase direct from Digikey and, as a bonus, get
1week delivery.

The other peeve with Arrow was the fact they charged the credit card
immediately I placed the
order, not on delivery of the goods.

Just for your information, I was speaking with the local X-ON rep
recently and she told me they
purchase quite regularly through Digikey. She said they were happy to
add any parts we required
to their orders but we would pay a "small loading fee". I dont know
how much "small" is, however
on a few low value, special components, this option may be viable as
the freight charges are the
killer on small orders. I have never done this through X-ON and would
be interested to hear from
anyone who has.

Andy

 

[David L. Jones]

On Oct 10, 12:50 am, Bob Parker <bobp.deletet...@bluebottle.com>
wrote:

On 10/10/2007 00:11 kreed wrote:



On Oct 9, 9:28 pm, Adam S <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote:
I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Your lucky to get that, I have found most australian distributors
really couldn't give a stuff. Recently we e recently had to purchase a
quantity of touch screens for a project, we tried the distributor, the
person would "ring back" - never bothered even after 2 further
attempts. We went straight to the makers website (ELO) in US, and
after a bit of searching, soon found a distributor there who didnt
have the frequent US racist ("we dont ship outside US") policy and got
what we wanted within 14 days.

Similar story with some opto interruptors - couldnt find anything
really suitable here, 20 mins on mouser website, found and ordered,
following monday it was on my desk and the job was done that day.

Several others seem to have this attitude, or are just generally hard
to deal with, long delays, people who dont seem to know exactly what
you need, high prices, long delays - its like having teeth pulled.
Colleages who deal in much larger volumes than me seem to have similar
problems with delays.

As crazy as it sounds, sometimes even ebay is more productive for
certain things !

No wonder the local electronics industry is so fucked up. I should
have gone into the building trade when I left school

These days when I need parts for prototypes etc for the company I'm
doing work for, I automatically go first to the Digikey then Mouser
websites in the US, make up an order and send it off to whoever has the
best price/availability.

Why don't you go to Farnell or RS first? Delivery is same day or next
day.

I always check Farnell first, then Digikey or Mouser etc.

Dave.

 

[Adam S]

John Tserkezis wrote:

Yep, we used to buy from Arrow only if the parts in question were not
available from anywhere else. And then it was only a pricing issue.

The problem is mobs like Arrow ad Avnet are swallowing up the once
reliable and friendly smaller distributors. There are less people to
turn to these days.

 

[kreed]

On Oct 10, 12:50 am, Bob Parker <bobp.deletet...@bluebottle.com>
wrote:

On 10/10/2007 00:11 kreed wrote:



On Oct 9, 9:28 pm, Adam S <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote:
I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a
database as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for
the quote. Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't
understand who pays their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for
overseas stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

Your lucky to get that, I have found most australian distributors
really couldn't give a stuff. Recently we e recently had to purchase a
quantity of touch screens for a project, we tried the distributor, the
person would "ring back" - never bothered even after 2 further
attempts. We went straight to the makers website (ELO) in US, and
after a bit of searching, soon found a distributor there who didnt
have the frequent US racist ("we dont ship outside US") policy and got
what we wanted within 14 days.

Similar story with some opto interruptors - couldnt find anything
really suitable here, 20 mins on mouser website, found and ordered,
following monday it was on my desk and the job was done that day.

Several others seem to have this attitude, or are just generally hard
to deal with, long delays, people who dont seem to know exactly what
you need, high prices, long delays - its like having teeth pulled.
Colleages who deal in much larger volumes than me seem to have similar
problems with delays.

As crazy as it sounds, sometimes even ebay is more productive for
certain things !

No wonder the local electronics industry is so fucked up. I should
have gone into the building trade when I left school

These days when I need parts for prototypes etc for the company I'm
doing work for, I automatically go first to the Digikey then Mouser
websites in the US, make up an order and send it off to whoever has the
best price/availability.
OK, so freight's the killer but I always have exactly what I need
within a few days without wasting time trying to get things locally, and
time's money as they say.

Bob

Agree fully. The freight cost (like every other cost associated with
your operation) will ultimately be passed on to the end user anyway,
and if they wants the job done quickly and properly, in my experience
they usually dont mind the extra cost.

 

[Joe G (Home)]

On-line sellers
===========

What happens if there is a problem with parts purchase from on-line sells?
and technical assistance is needed.... or a bug is found in the silicon?....
do they offer overseas tech support?
Who pays the freight back to get the parts inspected?

If the data sheet is incorrect or needs interpretation or better
understanding - do the on-line sellers offer this tech service?

Do the on-line sellers advise you of obsolescence? ... So they can prevent
you from designing in an obsolete part?
It's often said.... it is more probable to design in obsolete parts from
on-line sellers becuase the stock may have been siting on the shelf for a
while.

During the life time of some parts they are improved and may have a
different revision or a new silicon spin - does the on-line seller - sell
the older "buggy" stock first before
supplying fresh new "working" silicon.

Do the on-line sellers offer product change notifications?


JG

 

[MisterE]

"Adam S" <not.valid@nosuchaddress> wrote in message
news:470b65f1$0$31115$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...

I'm finding it difficult to understand the reason for existence of
component distributors like Arrow and Avent in this country. Non-stocked
items seem to impose 2 to 3 months delivery lead times and none have
seemed to catch on the idea of online part number searching. They rather
employ a guy sitting at a phone and have them type numbers into a database
as I spell them out. Then I'll usually wait another 3 days for the quote.
Could they get any more inefficient than this? I can't understand who pays
their wages.
At the cost of about A$50 extra I can in a few minutes search for overseas
stocked items and have them on my doorstep 4 days later.
Anyone else have similar opinions ?

There are some wierd tax bullshit that goes on. I work for a large company
that has 30,000 employees. Basically we cannot purchase from anyone that is
not australian based and not working with Australian dollars, this is a
company that turns over billions. There are some sort of import tax reasons
behind it, but paying rediculous prices for distributors ends up cheaper. I
don't know why exactally, but last time I brought over seas for a $300
electronics part, the tax and other charges added, we ended up paying nearly
$600 AUD.

We specifically goto people and tell them how we want to order and buy, and
pay them to order for us just to get parts in a week instead of as you say,
waiting 1 week for a quote and 2 or 3 months for parts that are apprently in
stock in tiwan etc.

 

[MisterE]

When the Arrow shipment finally arrived, I did the sums and it was
actually more cost effective to
in this instance to purchase direct from Digikey and, as a bonus, get
1week delivery.

The other peeve with Arrow was the fact they charged the credit card
immediately I placed the
order, not on delivery of the goods.

I once rang arrow to do an order and said they didn't have those parts no
more and couldn't get them. I then explained how I just made an order with
those same parts and could they try to get them. A few clicks on the
computer later it was "oh ok yeah I think we can get those for you". This
was a $13,000 order too. I have had similair experiences with breamac and
others.