Mouser vs. DigiKey? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Wil_Bloodworth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 07:02:05 pm
content: I've ordered a couple of times from DigiKey but I know that Mouser is "the other" option. Which do you prefer and why?Thank you,- Wil

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 07:17:55 pm
content: This was been beaten to death in this forum, you can find exact same topics. Long story short, assortment and shipping time/ cost. But recently both started cancelling orders on a pretence of "export compliance". So pick your poison.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 07:20:10 pm
content: Digi-Key has the best service and you pay for that with higher pricing but they seem to have lowered their margins a little lately. Their website is crappy, the categories are still silly and they aren't fixing that. Order fulfillment and shipping is usually very fast. Not sure how their new 10/2022 mega warehouse is affecting things. They don't seem to stock more.Mouser has better prices, and shows order dates and expected dates if a part is out of stock.Their website saving a project bom is great for finding old orders and part numbers you have previously purchased. Sharing a cart for builds that other people are interested in is cool too.They have crappier shipping integration - so parcels take longer to come in despite being fulfilled quickly, and they charge $20 for shipping if under $100 order.I just alternate between them depending on who has what.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 07:24:26 pm
content: I switched to Mouser after DigiKey decided to break their search and included marketplace crap that could not be disabled by default.I'm very happy with Mouser.

author: Wil_Bloodworth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 08:18:49 pm
content: Quote from: floobydust on November 28, 2023, 07:20:10 pmThey have an Economy Shipping option that is $4.99 so I'm not sure where you're seeing that $20 minimum.- Wil

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 08:28:13 pm
content: Quote from: Wil_Bloodworth on November 28, 2023, 08:18:49 pmBoth companies have different policies for buyers in the uSA versus Canada, probably more favorable policies for Canada. For example, they used to offer free shipping to Canada but not the US, so maybe that minimum is to qualify for free shipping to Canada.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 09:02:16 pm
content: I've had terrible service from Mouser recently- cancelling orders after multiple-day "export review" delays, but no problem ordering the same parts from Digikey.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 07:01:40 am
content: I started my new position in September. Getting my digikey account set up, and connected to the existing credit account, took an hour. Mouser never finished, and hasn’t replied to follow up emails for over a month…

author: ArdWar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 07:36:28 am
content: DigiKey got free shipping for overseas orders over $150, while Mouser areusuallycheaper per items. I'd just put the same cart on both and see which one is cheaper. Both work fine with my payment option so there's no problem switching.Availability can also be a factor. Certain uncommon parts sometimes are only available in one of them, or if available often have ridiculous price difference between them to the point that it's worth to split the order and pay the customs twice.It's always worth to shop around.

author: HalFoster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 06:51:19 pm
content: I personally have always liked Mouser and have used them for both work and home projects. Kind of upset me recently though - for the first time ever they send the incorrect part. That was not an issue, filed a return and within 10 minutes received an email stating that the return was approved and that "I had to take no action, just destroy or dispose of the parts and a refund for the full amount of purchase would be posted to the original method of payment." That was great - I chunked the parts (just 4 capacitors) in the spare parts bin and threw away the box. The next morning I had an email from Mouser saying that they needed a picture of the parts and the box they were sent in??? Long story short, it took several emails before they agreed to the refund as originally promised - but without refunding the overnight shipping which was more than the parts themselves. Not wanting to waste any more time on it I just let it go at than point.The moral of the story, at least as applies to Mouser, is that at work I was finishing the POs for a $890K cable build project - which included about $105K worth of circular connectors, pins and back shells which were available from both Mouser and DigiKey for pretty much the same price. Guess which one lost the order and which one got it. Not much in the grand scheme of things, I suppose, but it made me feel better. And served as a reminder that pissing your customers off rarely works out to the benefit of a company.Hal

author: TomWinTejas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 08:25:20 pm
content: Quote from: Wil_Bloodworth on November 28, 2023, 07:02:05 pmI prefer Mouser as I live about 30 miles from Mouser and with regular shipping it always arrives the next business day. Apart from dealing with having to file annoying ITAR compliance paperwork with each order rather than them keeping something on file, which probably isn't Mouser's fault, I haven't had any issues with them.

author: rfdes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 08:58:52 pm
content: I use Digikey ONLY because they offer totally free shipping. The caveat is you must send a check via mail. No credit allowed. I can purchase a 0.10 resistor and have it shipped to me free. They choose the shipping method. Of course you have the slightly longer delay due to the postal service. I have no idea if this free shipping is for US purchases only.

author: Wil_Bloodworth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 09:37:14 pm
content: Quote from: rfdes on November 29, 2023, 08:58:52 pmI was not aware of that. Good to know!How do you get to that option on the website?- Wil

author: rfdes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 10:09:15 pm
content: Quote from: Wil_Bloodworth on November 29, 2023, 09:37:14 pmHi -You will not find it on their website,as I think they don't advertise this perk. I personally usually create an online 'cart' and make sure that I take into account any tariffs, etc. Then I usually cut and paste into an order form/letter. Honestly, once they receive the order via mail they seem to be just as fast as when you order online. As mentioned you have no say as to which shipping carrier is used. In my case they typically ship via USPS. I attached a pdf order form that can be filled out and mailed in with a check.Good luck.Jim

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 10:49:49 pm
content: Quote from: ArdWar on November 29, 2023, 07:36:28 amThat’s not how it works. Rather, the terms vary by destination country. For example, for many (most?) countries in Europe, the minimum order for free shipping is just $50. (Same for mouser and Farnell.)

author: humidbeing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 10:56:09 pm
content: Quote from: floobydust on November 28, 2023, 07:20:10 pmThis is patently false. I've made three orders recently with Mouser. All under $100. And the cheapest shipping option was around $5

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 11:02:18 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 29, 2023, 07:01:40 amDigikey is weird. I had to create a new customer number when I moved, and every time I log on I have to select which one I want...(the NZ address is out of date and seems unrelated to shipping address, or maybe I just didn't order anything from them in the last two years)

author: ArdWar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 11:21:59 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on November 29, 2023, 10:49:49 pmYeah, at least it works that way for me and Mouser never offer free shipping to me for *any* amount of order. Well I never order above $3000 so who knows if the limit is higher than thatThe moral is that it's worth to compare price, the services are pretty much identical provided that your accounts clear.One (probably anecdotal) more weird thing is somehow TI shop managed to ship to me duty free, which is nice but weird nonetheless. Feels like the tax man is going to bust my front door at any moment now,it was never this easy.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 02:58:19 pm
content: Quote from: Wil_Bloodworth on November 28, 2023, 07:02:05 pmWell I guess I should share with you with 3rd option which no one here knows about. ChipDip. You go on their site, place an order, shipping fee is about 1 buck. Then you pick up your order at your local super market. Shipping time varies from same day to a week later, depending how far they have to ship it.I ordered recently BFU550AR, NPN, 12В, 50мА, 11ГГц, AEC-Q101 [SOT-23-3], 4 transistors to increase sensitivity of UV-K5(radio. $1.60, shipping $1.10. Order placed on 21st november, I received it 26 november.

author: Wil_Bloodworth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 03:25:08 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on December 01, 2023, 02:58:19 pmWow. Awesome option. Thank you!I was only able to find some Russian website though. Can you post an actual URL to the site... or is this Russian only?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 03:30:13 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on December 01, 2023, 02:58:19 pmHow is that useful to the OP? They don't ship to USA, and even if they did, there's no way for an American to easily pay for anything in Russia.Quote from: Wil_Bloodworth on December 01, 2023, 03:25:08 pmIf you feel like moving to Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia or Kyrgyzstan first...

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 05:44:27 pm
content: Quote from: Wil_Bloodworth on November 28, 2023, 08:18:49 pmQuote from: humidbeing on November 29, 2023, 10:56:09 pmTo Canada, I'll say it another way that perhaps people can better understand-Mouser:"Free shipping on most orders over $100 (CAD)"Mouser Shipping Ratessays nothing but it's $20 if your order total is < $100. You'll find out at checkout.Digikey:"Free delivery on orders to Canada of $100 CAD or more.""A delivery charge of $8 CAD will be billed on orders less than $100 CAD."Newark:"Free shipping on orders over $200 CAD. Flat-rate shipping of $11.99 CAD on orders under $200 CAD"Oh and also UPS SUCKS US to Canada, FedEx is way better.

author: eleguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 07:42:34 pm
content: In hobby and personal projects I use both and would give similar score to them. Sometime one is cheaper over the other. Typically "the next order" comes from the place I can get all or at least most of the parts so that the minimum order level for a free delivery is fulfilled.

author: Randy222
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 07:57:00 pm
content: I used RS before they were RS, part of a 4pack of e-commerce sites to buy from, Newark being another. I get stuff that has lowest overall cost to me.rs-online.com

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 09:02:18 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on December 01, 2023, 02:58:19 pmYou'd be wrong.QuoteActually I walked from my apartment to their store on Prospekt Mira, which took about 40 minutes. But it's also very close to an orange line station.They do have components, and I bought some 595 shift registers and some resistors and LEDs. They have a lot of cool electronic toys too. It was no problem to find a staff member who spoke English.But for SBCs and related accessories I found onpad.ru better. Their prices were a bit cheaper and they had a two hour delivery service with COD. It was possible to pick up an order made online from their location in Fili (not all that close to a station on the crappier light blue line) but you couldn't go in and browse.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 09:03:37 pm
content: I saved thousands of dollars buying expensive ($10...100) ICs in dozens from Arrow vs Digikey or others. Not sure if they serve individual buyers though, i have a company account with them.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 09:14:36 pm
content: But in general it may be needed to shop around for good pricing. For years i am buying Cypress EZ -USB chips from Future Electronics. Just checked and Future still selling them for CAD 13 vs CAD 23 at Digikey. No brainer, especially if you need a dozen of them.

author: liaifat85
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2023, 09:38:18 am
content: Both are reputed organizations. You can choose any of these.