[Elecraft] Parts availability

[Lou Mecseri]

My friend's refrigerator fan died. No replacement or substitute (one 
they tried was 80dB loud) available. Replacement cost, and he is lucky, 
$2,000 fir a new one.

Super efficiency is a dangerous thing for society and for business. At 
the same time, maintaining complete part replacement is damaging to 
profit. You figure, what is the right balance?

73 Lou KE1F

On 10/18/2021 21:36, Alan Bloom wrote:
> Recently I tried to order some electronic parts for a project I am 
> working on.  In the old days (like, a year ago) I would just get on 
> the Digi-Key web site, order what I want, and it would arrive in the 
> mail in a few days.
>
> These days, there are a LOT of parts on the Digi-Key web site that 
> show no availability.  I wanted to buy 10 standard, run-of-the-mill 
> LM358 op-amps in an 8-pin DIP package.  This is a 25 cent part that 
> has been around for decades.  They had none in stock in that quantity, 
> from any manufacturer.  I ended up ordering a couple in the 
> old-fashioned TO-5 metal can package for *10 bucks each*. At least 
> they did have some of those in stock.
>
> I also wanted to buy a ceramic capacitor assortment.  They listed 6 
> assortments that would have worked for me, but all were out of stock.
>
> Manufacturers with "just in time" parts ordering systems are in a 
> world of hurt these days.  Fortunately I don't think Elecraft ever 
> went down that path.
>
> Alan N1AL
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