[Boatanchors] Parts - was RS rant

[Glen Zook]

I purchase parts from Mouser at least once a month and sometimes more.  However, I find that the website is often difficult to navigate with a lot of parts just not showing up using the "filters".  What I have found that works best is to use their "hard copy" catalog (which is updated several times a year) to get the basic information and then use the website to check availability and current price.  

Also, the terminology used by most people is, unfortunately, not the terminology used by the suppliers in a lot of situations.  For example, what most people call "rubber feet" are "technically" called "bumpers".  Therefore, if one does a search on "rubber feet" nothing is shown.  But, "bumpers" will bring up choices.

Just looking through the catalog has allowed me to "find" a lot of things that I needed but didn't know the "technical" term!  Mouser will send a "hard copy" catalog if you ask.  Of course, for those who do order parts on a regular basis, a new catalog "shows up" in the mail every so often.

Being on the north side of Dallas, Texas, and the fact that Mouser is on the south side of Fort Worth, makes "overnight" delivery a standard accomplishment.  One thing is that if you do not specify a certain carrier then Mouser uses UPS.  Unfortunately, anything that goes through the UPS Mesquite, Texas (Dallas area), hub, gets VERY rough handling, I now specify FedEx Ground.  The packages get much better treatment and the shipping charges are a little bit less than UPS.
 
Glen, K9STH


Website:  http://k9sth.com


________________________________
 From: Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com>
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2012 7:04 AM
Subject: [Boatanchors] Parts - was RS rant
 
Hi,

I have finally found parts that I want/need available at Mouser. I had
been trying to wade through "navigation" - aka roadblock - software
search tools at Digikey. When I finally found a couple of the things I
want, Digikey had them listed as being out of stock with waits estimated
up to 90 days! Very discouraging.

Mouser's roadblock software yielded a little more easily AND they have
the parts I want at prices I think are reasonable - even surprisingly
low! I made one phone call to them just for a little help with their
'roadblock' and that young lady on the phone acted as if the survival of
the company depended on my little purchases! It's really hard to find
service like THAT! I will be back at Mouser as my first stop.

The search tools on those sites is maybe akin to all those "software
menus" on the latest, "greatest" radios. Lots of crap to wade through to
find the button you want. I thought the front panel of a Kenwood 820 was
"busy"! <evil grin>