Futurlec - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 12:16:06 am
content: Can you guys tell me if this is common business practice?...Ordered something from Futurlec recently. A couple days later they told me that a couple items were no longer in stock. They were also going to charge me $40 to ship several back issues of Silicon Chip. So I decided to cancel the order. The amount they refunded me was less than the original order. Not a large amount, but enough for me to be irked by it. They cited exchange rate differences between the time of order and refund.Huh? I was just cancelling the order.Is this common?

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 12:34:07 am
content: Were you billed in Baht or US$?How much are you out?And which issues of SC were you after?

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 05:25:23 am
content: Never been in your situation so won't comment on this. They can't be really bad, once they have sent me wrong parts and when I've emailed them the right ones arrived in three days - no questions asked. I then enquired what to do with wrong parts, can I pay for them as spending money for shipping was a bit of waste even I didn't need the parts at the time. Their answer was don't worry, just keep them.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 05:56:46 am
content: I don't like the practice of bagging companies more than anyone else, but I've had some pretty poor experiences with them. Last order (which will be the last) I got 50odd fake mosfets and a pile of caps that didn't even look right from the outside. Completely worthless order that took a very long time to arrive.Nope, this is what drove me to thoroughly believe in ordering from decent dealers (e.g. element14/digikey.)That does sound really dodgy though, what company actually accepts the money before they've checked the order? Sounds like they've taken the money before even settling on a final price (for the shipping.) For credit card or paypal, western companies normally take an authorization first, then get all the parts together, then at that point charge your card or accept the paypal cash as they're about to put the order in the mail.If ordered from Futurlec.com.au, that is through the website that is registered with an ABN, you can always deal with them through the department of fair trading if you can be bothered (depends on what it's worth really.)

author: Kevin.D
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 10:37:34 am
content: This is a coincidence ,I was just going to ask others about what Futerlec was like, because I ordered from them a couple of weeks ago ,and when ordering I made a mistake in my email address on the order form . They never answer any emails when I query my order and when you look up your order status it just says "order entered" .This company seems to get mixed reviews from what I read on a search of google turned up,some seem to have good service from them whilst others have problems with them .It's a shame because they got some good prices ,Particularly on smd to through hole adapter boards and some passives components .

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 12:45:32 pm
content: What good is a cheap price for nothing? If you don't receive your order a 90% discount is a 100% loss if you don't receive it.About 1/3 to 1/2 of google searches of order from them lose money, while the other half saves. Its almost like a Ponzi scheme or roulette for orders.There are so many legitimate distributors, and then there is eBay, why risk Futurlec?

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 02:19:14 pm
content: Okay, thanks for the input. It was only about $1...so yeah, I have nothing to really bitch about, I just hate getting taken advantage of. The only reason I was buying from them was because they carry backissues of Silicon Chip and I don't know of any distributor of it in the States.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 12:40:33 am
content: Quote from: MikeK on February 16, 2013, 02:19:14 pmWhat issues are you after? I have quite a few packed away from the past couple of years or so, I'll have a look if the issues you are after aren't from too many years ago.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 02:38:13 am
content: Well, I had ordered a bunch of issues to check it out. Going through the index, though, the only project I was really interested in was the frequency counter from Dec'12 and Jan'13, which Futurlec still has in stock.

author: RCD
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 03:07:37 am
content: I have used Futurlec on and off over the last ten years or so... Mostly for PCB orders, but also small parts. Success rate is has been imperfect, but they have always made it right in the end. Shipping has ALWAYS been slow. I have found better choices, and stopped using them.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 03:28:55 am
content: Quote from: MikeK on February 17, 2013, 02:38:13 amI don't think I have any that recent. I'm away from home atm, I'll have a look what I have on monday and reply in this thread. If there are any that you are interested in you can have them.

author: alexig
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 03:46:02 am
content: I've ordered from them a few times and it's all been good. The only problem for me has been when items are out of stock and they are trying to source them, they don't email you telling you this - you have to chase them up.

author: cwalex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 04:09:05 am
content: If you are considering ordering from futurlec it might be worth checking price/availability withhttp://www.taydaelectronics.comTayda have been really good with the few orders I have made and the price is pretty good but I don't think they carry some of the stuff futurlec carries.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 04:58:49 am
content: Thanks.No worries about the magazine, though...I'm sure EPE will reprint the frequency counter article before too long.It was funny looking through the index and seeing how many SC articles do get reprinted in EPE or Nuts & Volts.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 09:25:01 am
content: Bought adaptor boards and nibblers from them in the past, shipping IS slow but everything arrived fine.

author: pb57
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 09:28:11 am
content: Quote from: alexig on February 17, 2013, 03:46:02 amI ordered some components from them 15.01.2013, checked status on the order yesteday. Not shipped. Sent an email about this.And got this answer today:Our apologizes for the delay, the DB102G 1A 100V Bridge Rectifierare currently on back-order. We do have some DB103G and DB104G's in stock. These are the same with a high voltage rating. Would these be okay and we can ship your order during today.So I would recommend and check order status earlier than I did now.Since they do not let you know about this.

author: uprightsquire
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2013, 09:43:39 am
content: They are (or were when I used them) super slow. I've been using tayda as mentioned above to get basic components. shipping is super cheap, but arrives in a week.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 06:17:24 am
content: They Carry Brand name Capacitors and they are cheaper than Mouser or DigiKey but I needed to make an order 2 weeks ago and the capacitors I needed were only available in big quantities.I had a problem were one item worth $1 was back ordered. I told them to ship the rest and when they delivered the back ordered item they charged me $10 for shipping so I had to refuse the package. I called customer service for that reason and it ended in a screaming match with the lady telling me to refuse the package.I ordered again after that and had no problems but you have to really check and make sure that what you order is in stock and it ships all together.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 02:22:46 pm
content: For many years, folks complain that many shipped parts are also counterfeit. I wouldn't buy from them to save money, they are often not authorized distributors, so there is no supply chain tracking for quality assurance.http://www.electro-tech-online.com/general-electronics-chat/40154-futurlec-com-pcb-manufacturer-screwed-me-over.htmlhttp://www.resellerratings.com/store/Futurlec

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 08, 2013, 02:53:17 pm
content: Bad reputation of Futurelec aside, how did you guys manage to navigate their online store without giving up?A year ago or so, i decided purchasing some stuff in varying quantities from FutureLec. The way their filters work made me scream, with their constant demand of excessive mouse-clickerydoo...

author: kitiri
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 09:12:52 pm
content: Found this topic while looking for infos on futurlec...I realize I should have done this search before ordering on their site!I ordered parts that were stated as "in stock" more than a month ago and nothing happened, when asked when they alwayssend you the same message:Code:Dear <insert your name>A new shipment of <insert your reference> will arrive at our warehouse in 5-7 days when we will be able to dispatch your order.Should you have any further enquiry, please feel free to contact us.Best RegardsAmpFuturlec[url=http://www.futurlec.com]www.futurlec.combut nothing arrives, quick to take your money but that's all...titiri

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2013, 11:23:42 pm
content: Order processing is slow, but they are cheap... Quality of parts is Ok for the price.Same experience as TTP, one wrong part, and got a replacement quickly.

author: cellularmitosis
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 09:36:08 pm
content: I must unfortunately add my own tail of futurlec woe to this thread.I really like the idea of futurlec: a limited selection of parts which makes it easier for the hobbyist to make reasonable choices from a background which is less informed than a professional.Unfortunately, their lack of order fulfillment is just ridiculous. I placed an order of over $90 in parts 17 days ago and the status page shows it still hasn't shipped yet... No word from them on why. These guys are almost as bad as dx.com...

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 05:36:48 am
content: Quote from: cellularmitosis on January 22, 2014, 09:36:08 pmThey did this to me, too. I had to send an email to every single contact listed before I got a response. They said some items were out of stock, so they were going to wait until they were in stock, and ship everything then. When were they gonna tell me about this, then? I told them to ship what they had, and send the rest when it comes in. That was back in November, so I'm thinking I won't ever see them, but at least I got the bulk of my order.I think it was sales@futurlec.com that eventually responded. Not sure if anyone even checks the others.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 07:00:42 am
content: Try ann@futurlec.com

author: cellularmitosis
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 07:53:28 am
content: Interesting. I finally emailed them to ask what was up, and they did end up replying same day. It turns out one part was on back-order the entire time, and it will be arriving in 2 more days... erg.I think they could do a lot to improve their reputation if they proactively emailed you about the fact that your stuff likely won't ship for another 20 days because of x y or z...

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 07:54:46 am
content: Quote from: cellularmitosis on January 23, 2014, 07:53:28 amYeah ... but they don'tUsual procedure is to find what you want somewhere else, then if all else fails - order from Futurlec, then email them with the order details to find out what's in stock, then sort it out with them. Royal PITA.

author: kayvee
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 08:01:43 am
content: My experience with them shows they are hopeless for low volume line items, those that would be typical for hobbyists and development purposes.For production line items where one is ordering $200 plus per line item they are reasonably good, cost and delivery wise.

author: Greg Robinson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 10:34:29 am
content: For what it's worth, I've had similar experiences with Element14 too.Frequently I will order parts listed as being in stock 6-7 working days, and then receive an email with updated ETA's sometimes months away. Often these ETA's will pass without any correspondence, and no updated information.I've even had them cancel items from my orders without informing me, no suggestion of alternative items, no email, phone call, nothing.My experience has also been that emailing them requesting updated ETA's once the original has passed is fruitless, they seem to evade the inquiry entirely.As a repairperson, this is extremely frustrating, often I will have quoted a client and given them an ETA based on the advice from Element14, only to have the part required cancelled from my order. Often, finding an alternative (reputable) source is not cost effective, and the client will decline the revised quote, and I am lumped with esoteric or expensive parts in my inventory that have already shipped and I've been billed for, for a job that I'm no longer doing, and I am unlikely to use said esoteric parts in another job.I will say that overall, my experience with Element14 is good, but these letdowns, leaving me in the lurch, are extremely frustrating, and often difficult if not impossible to resolve with them. Multiple calls and emails often get nowhere.

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2014, 01:43:52 pm
content: I placed two orders on 2-5 and 2-9. The 2-5 order shipped two days later, but the 2-9 one was still unshipped. I used their contact form to ask about both and got a response the next day about both. The one that was held up is because they are having trouble sourcing one item on it so I told them to substitute it. They are at least responsive, I will give them that for my requests.