Stupid mouser UPDATE!

[TitanDiddly]

Mouser Electronics sells electronics components and was a favorite with hobbyists who used non-mainstream components, aka, not at Radio Shack. This was because they had good prices, and you could get first class(letter) shipping for something under a buck. Sweet, huh? A company that is honest with shipping prices, even on small orders.

I went to place an order today for 5 voltage regulators. For those of you unfamiliar with electronics components, weight is nil in quantities under, say, 25. Turns out they have a flat-rate first-class shipping now, at 5.95. Their priority service with DC was less expensive. For a fist-sized box that probably weighs less than 2 ounces.

Thanks a lot for joining the horde, Mouser.

 

[TitanDiddly]

UPDATE:

I did the only thing a rational dork could do: I wrote a letter.

Mouser,
I used to get all my components from you for any project I was doing. I was always happy that you didn't gouge shipping prices on small orders, had no minimum order, and had all the parts that I needed, and more. You even sent me a paper catalog, which was very nice. I was very happy getting all my components from you. It's been a little while since I placed an order, and today I see that you've put in a new flat price for first-class mail at 5.95. I was more than a little disappointed to see this, as your honest shipping prices always sealed the deal for me. I realize that with the cost of packing and handling the shipment, and all the logistics, you probably even lost money on orders like mine. I appreciated that you were willing to do that, to make future customers out of students such as myself.
I'm sorry if I'm complaining about something I have no right to complain about, but I just thought that I'd let you know that your old policy was much better for hobbyists, and that we appreciated it. I'm sorry to say that won't be shopping with you anymore. With the new flat fee, Mouser isn't a good deal anymore.

Best regards,
Ned Funnell

 

[tm37]

Hobbist are probly about 3% of there bussiness so I am sure they will not care that much.

I order in large quanities (usually 100 minimum of a component ) and typically digi Key is the cheapest.

However For us it's the fact that Digi-Key is usually the fastest and seeing as the orders are usually under $200 it is not worth it to shop around to save $30

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: tm37
Hobbist are probly about 3% of there bussiness so I am sure they will not care that much.

I order in large quanities (usually 100 minimum of a component ) and typically digi Key is the cheapest.

However For us it's the fact that Digi-Key is usually the fastest and seeing as the orders are usually under $200 it is not worth it to shop around to save $30

No way it's close to 3%.

What I've been told is that business do it (did it) because people like me tend to get jobs that involve purchasing components on a much larger scale.

 

[Sphexi]

Last I heard, the component business (those stupid drawers) at Radioshack was under 1.5% of their overall sales. Even though it is all really high margins (something like 85%+ profit margins) the sales are so low that it barely effects their bottom line. On the other hand, it takes up so much space in the store that could be stocked with better selling items that it's almost not worthwhile to keep it around.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: Sphexi
Last I heard, the component business (those stupid drawers) at Radioshack was under 1.5% of their overall sales. Even though it is all really high margins (something like 85%+ profit margins) the sales are so low that it barely effects their bottom line. On the other hand, it takes up so much space in the store that could be stocked with better selling items that it's almost not worthwhile to keep it around.

Radio Shack is pretty much out of the component bussiness in my area.

 

[tm37]

Originally posted by: TitanDiddly

Originally posted by: tm37
Hobbist are probly about 3% of there bussiness so I am sure they will not care that much.

I order in large quanities (usually 100 minimum of a component ) and typically digi Key is the cheapest.

However For us it's the fact that Digi-Key is usually the fastest and seeing as the orders are usually under $200 it is not worth it to shop around to save $30

No way it's close to 3%.

What I've been told is that business do it (did it) because people like me tend to get jobs that involve purchasing components on a much larger scale.

In today's world the engineers and production people spec out what they want and then PURCHASING picks the vendor. Seeing as you can buy the same resistor anywhere the lowest bidder usually will get it. So that bussiness model is going away. Purchasing agents care about price and service TODAY not what they got back in college

 

[NutBucket]

Eh. For quantities of less than 5 you should be hitting up manufacturers for free samples.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Eh. For quantities of less than 5 you should be hitting up manufacturers for free samples.

Funny thing is, I already hit up National- everything was fine until they wanted $13.50 for 5 of them, due to 'high requests' for LM7812s. Yeah right.

 

[NutBucket]

Well, think of how many college students/hobbyists request 78xx/79xx series parts!

The best company for free samples is Maxim.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Well, think of how many college students/hobbyists request 78xx/79xx series parts!

The best company for free samples is Maxim.

Looking them up now.
Edit: Apparently they don't carry LDO linear regs in 12v, only to 5v, odd.

Do you think your average ATX PSU will have 7812s in it? I know they've got 7805s, but I've got enough 5v regs. Thanks!