UK equivalent of Digikey? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: cyberfish
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 12:47:37 pm
content: Does anyone know if there is a company like Digikey in the UK?I have been using Digikey all my life, and recently moved to the UK. Digikey does ship to the UK, but charges £12 (~$18 USD) for that.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 12:49:44 pm
content: Farnell has free delivery (usually next day) if you spend £20.Mouser delivers for free (3 days normally) if you spend £50. Select FedEx and you can pay the VAT at checkout, no handling fees or delays with customs!

author: cyberfish
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 12:53:40 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on March 13, 2015, 12:49:44 pmAwesome thanks! Farnell looks exactly like what I need!

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:09:03 pm
content: Digikey also do free delivery for orders over £50, and unlike Mouser that includes VAT.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:15:58 pm
content: Farnell has the lowest limit as people has said, but it can be more expensive and generally doesn't have quite the range of Mouser and digikey.But then back in January Farnell did a very good "get an order for free" deal, what ever I ordered in January (up to £250) they gave a voucher for the same amount to spend in February so I ended up ordering just under £200 worth and got £192 voucher which actually worked (only restriction was it couldn't be used on test and measurement stuff).There are also RS online and Rapid as alternatives though RS online is pretty pricey and Rapid doesn't have the same range.Conrad(UK) is often cheaper for some items but they always charge postage so it evens out.Also it pays to shop around. For instance, when I bought my ERSA nano soldering station I got it much cheaper by going directly to the UK importers than buying it from Farnell or Conrad.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:17:09 pm
content: I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Mouser seem to me more like four working days rather than the two or three. I used to be able to order Friday and have delivery Monday morning. Now it's more like Wednesday or Thursday :-(Both Digikey and Mouser ship FoC for orders over £50.Farnell are OK, but they frequently ship the wrong things, although they do tend to correct errors very quickly when informed. Their stock control is pretty bad too, probably as a result of shipping the wrong things. Frequently they show in stock on items that aren't, but they do inform you of that, although if you're in a hurry it's usually too late to do anything about it.Farnell also offer re-reeling for free, Mouser ISTR is $5 a reel.The selection at Farnell is not as good as Mouser or Digikey.At a push, I use RS sometimes too, they have very similar terms to Farnell, ie £20 minimum for free next day shipping.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:21:54 pm
content: My last order from Mouser was 11 March 2015 at 16:10, the package arrived this morning at around 10:00. That's 42 hours from order to components in hand.I love MouserOn the matter of Farnell fucking orders up, I had some wrong value resistors in a correct value bag from them once. I check each and every thing they send me now. I have never had such problems with Mouser.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:27:57 pm
content: I use Farnell all the time. I don't think I've ever had a wrong order from them, and delivery is almost always next day thanks to UPS.

author: cyberfish
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:33:21 pm
content: Thanks for the suggestions!Does anyone know how long it takes for Digikey to ship?I guess a good strategy is to use Farnell below £50, and Digikey/Mouser above £50. How much does Mouser charge below £50?I'm surprised how low the minimums are. In US and Canada Digikey's free shipping threshold is $200, and I have only hit that a few times over the years. Though shipping there is only $8, so it's not too bad.I am just a hobbyist right now, so shipping wrong things is probably not that big of a deal if they fix their mistakes, but that's good to know!I've only received 1 wrong item from Digikey ever, over about 50 orders. It was a completely different chip than the one I ordered.

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:35:00 pm
content: Quote from: cyberfish on March 13, 2015, 01:33:21 pm£12.

author: rolycat
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:38:19 pm
content: Yet another useful supplier is CPC. Although part of the Farnell group they are more of a general trade and domestic parts supplier. Their electronic component selection is more limited but usually cheaper. Minimum free delivery value is lower than any of the others, although it has just gone up to £10.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:52:26 pm
content: Quote from: cyberfish on March 13, 2015, 01:33:21 pmIt's about three or four days, they use UPS, but you will need to call up UPS to pay the duty fees, which is a PITA. It takes about ten minutes to navigate through their call centre system to get the right option and pay with a credit/debit card.Typically if I'm in a hurry I track the package and when it's released from customs I call up right away and pay the charges. They give you a six digit reference which you give to the driver to release the package. If you don't call up, you get a note telling you there's duty to pay. Typically my UPS drivers don't like hanging about while you pay the duty either.You are right, the minimums are quite low but I suspect there is some competition.Interestingly, the deal that I run with Fedex for my own shipping, it's significantly cheaper to send stuff to the US and Canada than it is to Western Europe (about £10 vs £14 for next day delivery).The minimums generally are a good excuse to stock up on stuff that you don't really need...

author: cyberfish
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:59:34 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 13, 2015, 01:52:26 pmAh that's unfortunate. The place I live in has a reception that receives all packages, so it would take me a few extra days to get the package if I have to receive the note first.Is Mouser the same? Or do they ship from within Europe?

author: 8086
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:01:24 pm
content: Quote from: cyberfish on March 13, 2015, 01:59:34 pmAs per the first reply, if you select FedEx at Mouser, you can pay the VAT at checkout, which means there is no waiting for customs or having to pay extra fees. They ship from the US.

author: cyberfish
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:04:00 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on March 13, 2015, 02:01:24 pmI see! Thanks!

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:08:40 pm
content: There are two reasons that I tend to use Mouser over Digikey.Firstly Mouser use Fedex so the customs nonsense can be dealt with much more seamlessly.Secondly Mouser take Amex, helping to maintain my frequent flyer miles: when you're purchasing production sized quantities, you can rake in quite a fewThere used to be a third reason, that of the quicker delivery, but that seems to be about the same as Digikey's UPS service now.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:19:17 pm
content: Digikey no longer mess about with VAT on delivery, so are basically the same as Digikey now. This has been the case for at least a year or so.Other similar suppliers not mentioned above:http://uk.rs-online.com/web/- often good prices but watch out for packaging options - if you don't specify "production" you'll get parts in individual bags. Website very gradually improving from its appalling prior incarnationswww.rapidonline.com- good prices on jellybean items, horrible websitewww.anglia-live.comFuture and Avnet also have online stores that work well to UK, Not sure where they ship from, but no slower than Digikey

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:26:36 pm
content: not directly relevant to EU situation , but i too use mouser more often than digikey.i find that mouser has lower prices than digikey on small quantities ( 1-50 pieces ).once you go to larger volume then digikey becomes cheaper.so it seems that mouser has a lower 'handling fee' for cutting strips of parts off reels.

author: 22swg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:35:30 pm
content: Been using Farnell for years not had a problem with them ..

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:48:25 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 13, 2015, 02:19:17 pmYou're right, I just looked at a recent invoice, VAT is indeed included, some time between Dec 2013 and Feb 2014 it changed according to my invoices. If you're VAT registered, Mouser seem to be able to ship without the VAT at all. It's all swings and roundabouts, but it is one less piece of paperwork for the VAT return.Totally agreed regarding RS, I have no idea why they keep shipping in arbitrary pre-decanted quantities. Regarding parts selection, it's behind Farnell quite some way, but yesterday I got lucky with an order, they had stuff that Farnell was going to have to ship from their US Newark stock.Which brings me on to another comment about Farnell: when searching avoid ordering from their extended items, these come over from the US and incur a £15 shipping charge irrespective of order value, and will take a few more days to arrive. Sometimes the same item will show up in the UK and the US, with the US price sometimes a lot lower than the UK price :-(RS have an 8:30pm cut off, Farnell are 8pm for next day delivery. However, if you want re-reeled stuff, with Farnell it's about a 4pm cut off.As is common with most suppliers, if you're ordering large lithium batteries or aerosols, they sometimes take a day or so longer.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:49:46 pm
content: Quote from: 22swg on March 13, 2015, 02:35:30 pmThere are those who have, and those who will...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 03:48:42 pm
content: I second RS-components. Every now and then I also order from Distrelec (www.elfaelectronics.com). They carry many brands which are not available from Farnell and RS and they aren't expensive.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 03:58:05 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on March 13, 2015, 02:49:46 pmThis isn't like losing data without a backup, or getting a major electric shock, which happens to us all eventually.People who have bad experiences bitch and moan about them a lot more than people who have good ones.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:00:10 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on March 13, 2015, 03:58:05 pmOf course, but it's no fun when you have your slot for assembly only to have the wrong part sent. It's another "learning experience" in manufacturing. I do an initial visual check and my assembler tests the jelly bean RLC parts as they come in. I order them with sufficient time to make at least one backup order if necessary. Most of the time, on a 120 part BOM listing, something is wrong, usually it just wasn't in stock when they said it was, but occasionally it is the wrong part that's sent :-(So while it's not life and death, it can have financial implications if you can't make your assembly slot. Not having stock means you ain't earning any money!Regarding Avnet and Arrow, occasionally I have used them but both are strange outfits to deal with, they seem to be stuck in a time warp. I can't remember which it was, but a few months ago I tried to order some parts but the UK arm had no idea about the stock in their US arm, so I had to order with the US outfit. One would have thought an amalgamation of inventory systems would be massively to their advantage. In any event, they seem to be geared up more for large organisations with procurement departments.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:05:29 pm
content: Depebnding on your location and requirements, RS might have another advantage. They have sheds around the country, you can order over the web, and pick them up from the shed thenext day, zero delivery charges.But you can't do that with a small proportion of their parts, sigh.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:11:09 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 13, 2015, 06:05:29 pmDo you no longer need a business account/trade card to even gain access?

author: Ian Wallace Digi-Key UK
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:37:59 pm
content: Digi-Key does have representation now in the UK, there are three of us here working with customers and manufacturers.Digi-Key is evolving into a hybrid distributor to support all types of customers including engineers and purchasing professionals.The stock and sales support for the UK still comes form Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The company is evolving and we now have 1.1 million stocking lines. (FYI - We have our European hub in Munich.)Delivery from the US is typically 2 working days to the UK, potentially a little more depending on location. (Friday orders are typically with you by Monday)For orders in GBP, we do now include the VAT for an efficient process.The Digi-Key UK team will be at ES Live in May and the Engineering design show Coventry in October.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:38:29 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on March 13, 2015, 06:11:09 pmJust order over the web and pay by credit card. I'm not a business

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 06:49:10 pm
content: Quote from: Ian Wallace Digi-Key UK on March 13, 2015, 06:37:59 pmHello IanTwo questions for you.If I am VAT registered, can I put my VAT number in somewhere in my account, and have nil VAT applied, or is it treated as a UK purchase for HMRC purposes?Any chance any time soon you'll be taking Amex to satisfy my air miles fetish?Cheers, Howard

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 07:05:07 pm
content: Quote from: 8086 on March 13, 2015, 01:21:54 pmThat's good news, my last three not so good!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 09:33:12 pm
content: I regularly order from DK and Mouser - I've had a couple of Mouser orders take a day or two longer than expected, but usually 2 days from either.Another one for the list I used recently as they had Fluke input jacks in stock -TME in PolandNot looked too hard at product range or pricing

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 09:48:48 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 13, 2015, 09:33:12 pmTME have delivered next day to me twice in the last month, £7 UPS shipping. The only problem is that you have to register to order, you have to confirm the account within 24 hours, but I missed the first email and had to wait a couple of days to get my account opened as a result. In the meantime I set up another online account and used that instead.

author: akis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2015, 09:56:34 am
content: Yes Farnell do mess things up, you have to look and measure to make sure , for example I ordered 12 PNP and 12 NPN transistors and as I was measuring for beta I got a short, and discovered that in the PNP bag there was an NPN (or the other way round, I cannot remember).But they have free shipping at £20 orders.I have ordered from Mouser and the quality is better, for example some complementary power transistors from Farnell (dozens and dozens, not just one or two) had consistently much lower beta than those from Mouser and could not be matched at all, all from same manufacturer. But it is £50 for free shipping.

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 15, 2015, 09:01:36 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 13, 2015, 09:33:12 pmI have used TME too. I think they got a nice product range, and the shipping is cheap and fast.Tha package actually was here at 10 - Not 1:11 as the tracking shows. Maybe the driver emptied his scanner at that time?

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 15, 2015, 09:22:54 am
content: I normally use Farnell at work and on the whole they are a great distributor. In the past I've had the odd incorrect items shipped, and more recently I've had a few orders that didn't get shipped the same daybut they are good to deal with and will often give me a good discount on my orders.I've started using RS a lot more though now, purely because the ParcelForce van arrives at work at 07:45, so I can get on with my work early in the day. RS have really started driving their prices down, particularly on a lot of the parts I happen to use.I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but I logged in to the website with 10x Luxeon K's (~£28 each) sitting in my basket but didn't order. A few weeks later I get an e-mail informing me that those particular LEDs had been price cut down to £10 each if I clicked the link in my e-mail, so I ordered. Next day, the price is back up to £28.I do despise the packaging sometimes though - a few years ago, I ordered 5000x BC548's. I received 5000x small antistatic bags each with one transistor in it

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2015, 10:32:38 am
content: I use mainly TME (shopping for 3.5Euro within the country) and Farnell. Sometimes Elfa for some exotic stuff, but their prices are high. RS Components doesn't want to sell to private people (that is: those who don't have an official company registered). Why? No clue.MARITEX also has nice offers on some stuff and some interesting positions in their catalogue.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2015, 11:30:00 am
content: Quote from: poorchava on March 15, 2015, 10:32:38 amYou surprise me. I fall into that category, and use them regularly.Order over the web usng a credit card. If appropriate, have it delivered to one of their sheds to avoid delivery charges.

author: Thomas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2015, 11:59:33 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on March 13, 2015, 09:33:12 pmHey, that looks promising. Good range and prices on lab cablesThanks for the heads-up!