TI free samples: they cut me off! How to get back on the gravy train? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: superUnknown
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:32:30 pm
content: My last sample request was denied!"REVIEWER COMMENTS :You have recently placed more orders than our current sampling policy will allow. Please see TI.com to view purchase options from an authorized distributor. Email questions to: ti_store@ti.com"Any ideas how to get back in their good books?

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:38:44 pm
content: Spend some money.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:38:56 pm
content: Try buying some components with money?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:39:41 pm
content: Design one of their ICs in a product that will be mass produced (which is what they try to achieve with their free sample program). If you're a design engineer considering their parts for use in one of your products, then a single phone call to your sales rep or distributor should resolve this. If you're a hobbyist, then I suggest being less greedy and paying for your parts. You may be able to get some more free samples if you wait a couple of months or so before requesting more samples.

author: Rufus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:41:50 pm
content: Quote from: superUnknown on October 21, 2013, 11:32:30 pmMaybe you shouldn't have sold them on ebay.

author: grego
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:56:35 pm
content: Quote from: Kryoclasm on October 21, 2013, 11:38:44 pmWhat he said.Don't abuse the sample system and this won't happen.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2013, 11:58:57 pm
content: Quote from: superUnknown on October 21, 2013, 11:32:30 pmPlease don't ruin it for the rest of us.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 12:56:00 am
content: How many samples have you gotten?

author: kizzap
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 01:04:59 am
content: As everyone here has already said, stop abusing the system. If you had a legitimate need to use the samples, then call TI, and get in touch with a local rep, because they will be more then able to help you out, not only with sample chips, but also in support in the use of the things.We as hobbyists areEXTREMELYlucky that some chip manufacturers are willing to part with chips at no cost to the end user like they do. Some hardly care that they are being used by hobbyists, however the idea is that those samples are to be used in product development, which will turn around back in the positive for the IC manufacturer when the product goes public. Hobbyist uses one chip = net loss.I was writing a post slamming the abuse of the sample system, but halfway through I changed my mind. I don't care/kinda hope people do abuse the sample system. It has a number of benefits.First it would mean that the manufacturers will cut the supply of "free samples". I would never believe that they would cut off the supply to honest businesses, but I can guarantee that they will be vetting those people who have legitimate uses for the chips and will be able to supply better product help to those customers.Secondly Hobbyists would learn to understand the true cost of a project, and will learn to look after what parts they have. It's too easy atm to just 'order another sample' for that $5 chip that I just blew up because I didn't pay attention to what I was connecting where.-kizzap

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 01:09:35 am
content: I've heard of companies investigating free sample abuse and sending an invoice for the cost of the parts.Dunno what happened after that though.Seriously superUnknown, don't abuse the free samples.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 01:32:14 am
content: After a strange lock-up with my account, Microchip corrected it, and for some reason I can order 5x ANY chip, and add 5 chips each time, and do 15 orders a month, haven't ordered a sample from Microchip after that, some friends tried to convice me to abuse it, and I told them, you can abuse the system, till the day no one can order them anymore, so why abuse the system?Defunct National blocked the @ua.pt domain some times due to abuse, and then the real research students had to email them(because getting some parts was impossible via Mouser), funny...

author: superUnknown
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 01:51:33 am
content: Yes mom, I promise to be a good boy.Surprisingly, I do use TI's samples for work on bona-fide-for-profit-projects. I do buy TI parts, mostly through Digikey. Again, I ask is it as simple as dropping them an email? Has anybody else been cut off?

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 01:57:05 am
content: Try an email or a support ticket.

author: Mike S
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 01:57:34 am
content: The only "free" samples I've gotten were some linear LED driver chips from ON Semi, but they charged me $20 to ship 10 of them. I must be doing it wrong.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 02:00:23 am
content: Quote from: superUnknown on October 22, 2013, 01:51:33 amOf course. I order one sample for work, and along with that, about 20 other things I want to play with at home.

author: chrisbrown
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 02:05:56 am
content: Quote from: Mike S on October 22, 2013, 01:57:34 amSome companies are better than others. ON will charge you shipping, Fairchild won't even talk to you unless you're a business. On the other end, we all know TI is outstanding. Maxim and ST are good too but shipping is a little slower.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 05:56:39 am
content: As an electronics hobbyist who is literally penniless, it makes me so sad seeing people abuse the free samples system. For me there's nothing more useful than being able to order the occasional part from TI or Vishay that I can't get hold of otherwise, please don't take advantage!

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 07:23:08 am
content: The only free sample I've requested for hobby work was 4 OKW collet knobs (nice knobs BTW) and the main reason was that the only supplier I could find had some ludicrous minimal quantities and/or postage (about €20 IIRC for 4 knobs) - I noticed that OKW would supply engineering samples so ordered a couple.In general I'd echo the comments above - be (reasonably) honest about being a hobbyist and don't abuse the system otherwise you'll mess it up for everyone in the long term.

author: miceuz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 11:42:04 am
content: I've ordered a pile of samples from TI and must say they are freaking awesome - you get parts faster than if you buy them from digikey. But I've never lied to them - I always write that parts will be used for a small open source design, no thousands of orders per year, and I always use the samples ordered and post my stuff on the net. Got into a small love affair with them after I built a CAN bus shield for a Stellaris launchpad solely from TI parts (including 5V regulator) - received a couple of t-shirts and some marketing swag after that.The message you got means that you have used your limit, there is no big problem, you just have to wait a week or two, they reset that. On the other hand, you can try writing them and explaining what you want to do, from my experience TI is very hobbyist friendly

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 03:51:57 pm
content: I normally order around once every one or two months, and they have never cut me off. ADI, Linear, MCP, are all pretty good with occasional sample orders.

author: philpem
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 10:13:01 am
content: I don't really bother with the "free samples" system these days, for several reasons:1) Parts I just can't get. What point is there in designing in a chip I can only get from (using Maxim as an example) Maxim-Dallas Direct on a 30-week lead time? If one of my designs goes to production, I'll need production quantities. Having to design out a part because2) I can afford the parts. They're for my own use, the manufacturers won't get anything out of it. Why should I abuse the samples system?I think Dave (@EEVblog) did a mini-rant on this, actually... I've probably just restated what he said.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 12:00:04 pm
content: Dave's rant:

author: dennisyuki
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 12:31:07 pm
content: As a noob hobbyist in electronics and just now learning about the free sample program, what would be good parts to sample from TI?

author: madshaman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 01:10:43 pm
content: Quote from: dennisyuki on October 24, 2013, 12:31:07 pmProbably a part you're considering for one of your designs.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 01:52:25 pm
content: Sometimes no stock at the distributors also means that the part is going to be a bear to source for production, though.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 09:01:03 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on October 24, 2013, 01:49:19 pmThat's how it works here. I haven't asked for a sample IC for years.I did get some enclosure samples from a distributor at no charge, but that started off with me asking the manufacturer aboutbuyingthe samples.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2013, 09:16:06 pm
content: Quote from: dennisyuki on October 24, 2013, 12:31:07 pmIt depends what project you are doing and whether you need a TI part for it.If you have no need for them, why abuse the system? If you have a need, you already have the answer.

author: tld
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2013, 05:23:22 am
content: Quote from: dennisyuki on October 24, 2013, 12:31:07 pmThat's the wrong way to go about this I think.It's not supposed to be "what can I get?"But "I need X, where can I get that?"If you don't know what you need from them, you don't need anything from them (yet anyway).When you need a sample, you'll know.tld

author: calin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2013, 05:02:00 am
content: Well .. best sample I ever got. One radial fuse from LittleFuse ... I could not find the damn thing anywhere else ... the sample has fixed my old Tek FG504 function gen .. Beauty.Seriously... be nice.. do not abuse the sample programs.