Futurlec - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 12:46:34 am
content: I've read some mixed opinions of Futurlec, but I thought I'd take my chances, especially since their stuff is so cheap. I've come to regret this decision.First, I got no sort of order confirmation, so I waited a week or so, and noticed that their payment had been taken out of my account, but I still didn't have any confirmation, or shipment notice, so I sent an email to customer support. I never got a response, so I sent another, and no response. This time, I CC'd every email they have listed on their contact page saying that I either expect product, or a refund. Which one is up to them.I'll go ahead and add my opinion of this site: Don't waste your time, go somewhere else.

author: olsenn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 01:16:28 am
content: I've had plenty of success with Futurlec, and likely so will you. You will receive your order eventually. The only problems I've noticed with the site is that sometimes when a part isn't available, they will substitute without your confirmation (only for very similar parts though) and they sometimes take a very long time to arive

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 02:07:22 am
content: I've only ordered from them once.Their stuff is cheap which is great but they were horrible as far as communication goes. I don't remember getting any sort of confirmation, or a shipping notice. After a couple weeks I contacted them and they said that something in my order had been backordered and they were waiting for a shipment to come in from China or somewhere. They weren't even going to bother to tell that my order had been put on hold. Eventually my stuff did come in but it took a month or more.So I'd say don't bother ordering from them if you care about communication and customer service or need your stuff right away. If you can wait for a month to get your stuff then go for it.

author: GEuser
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 07:21:42 am
content: I ordered once , not again .It was only a small money order like 10 bucks , took over 2 weeks to get here , but the main issue for me was looking at the site I assumed since it says a NSW branch that it'd come from there , but nope Taiwan I think , so feels just like a reseller imo , I coulda ordered them direct off the bay from overseas and it might have took quicker ...

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 09:38:39 am
content: I found them next to useless and would only use them for something not available elsewhere. Zero communication & long delays seem to be the norm with those guys.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 09:53:53 am
content: I'd happily order from them again, and I have, three or four times now.The last order was just yesterday.If you want something in a hurry, then PAY MORE AND GO TO YOUR LOCAL ELECTRONICS RETAILER!Don't pay 1/4 the price, then complain that it takes two weeks to arrive, what do you expect?

author: metalphreak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 09:58:25 am
content: They sent me the wrong value for a reel of resistors. Emailed them and they said they'd send the correct ones out. Never arrived. Pretty much the same price at local places anyway, so I haven't gone back since.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 03:09:11 pm
content: Quote from: AmmoJammo on November 04, 2013, 09:53:53 amI expected an order confirmation, a shipping confirmation, or even a bloody reply to my emails. Having none of these, and $50 less in my bank account, I think you could imagine why I'm a bit upset about the situation.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2013, 06:38:48 pm
content: Quote from: rexxar on November 04, 2013, 03:09:11 pmIts in your junk emailThe order confirmation email is automated, you will ALWAYS get this, the order shipped email probably isn't automated, but I've gotten one for my last 3 orders.You can also log into your account on their webpage, and view the status of your order, and what you've ordered.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2014, 09:32:48 pm
content: heh, here's an update to me defending futurlec.4th May, 2014, placed 2 orders. (realised after placing the first order, that I didn't order half the stuff I needed)3 weeks later, realised one order hadn't shipped.So, I contacted them, they told me one item wasn't in stock.Checked the webpage, it showed it as being in stock....Asked them about this, nothing...Anyway! Item still shows stock, order still hasn't shipped, and now, they don't even reply to emails.Although, it should be noted, that they don't charge your credit card till the order is picked (or sent?) so to the guy complaining that his bank account is down $50, and he doesn't know if he's getting his order.... CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL!

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 01:51:32 am
content: I have had good luck with TaydaElectronics. Fast shipping (within one week), great prices and what appears to be legit parts. Less selection than Futurlec but better consumer experience.

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 03:19:51 am
content: Quote from: PedroDaGr8 on August 10, 2014, 01:51:32 amSame here. You definitely get what you pay for in parts (the resistor leads are the thinnest I've ever seen), but super cheap, and fast shipping mostly anywhere. I use them for my stock of parts I don't mind blowing up

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 03:26:42 am
content: One more sample point for Futurelec: ordered a bunch of SMD breakout boards; everything arrived on time, no worries.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 03:47:04 am
content: Over 3 or 4 orders from Futurlec, I have had generally bad experience.They have lots of nifty stuff on their website, but any similarity to what they actually stock and sell is purely accidental.Their communication about out-of-stock, back-orders, shipping dates is effectively non-existant. Worst vendor by far.I would NOT do business with them again. There are plenty of other more legitimate sources for most of those products.

author: wagon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 05:26:58 am
content: I believe Futurlec are based in Thailand. I've ordered off them once, they were slow, and one part they said was in stock wasn't. Don't ever order off them if you're in a hurry. As mentioned by someone else, buy it locally. The prices elsewhere aren't that bad. Is your frustration worth it?

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 09:43:43 pm
content: I didn't mind waiting 2 months for the order to be packed and delivered.But I didn't expect them to show stock of something that wasn't in stock... makes me wonder if their "out of stock" items are actually out of stock!I needed some LM2678 regulators, specifically two 5volt, and two 12volt... the cost of these items from RS Components, with free postage, is still the same cost as my entire order from Futurlec, that also included 25 linear regulators, and some strip board!

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 10:34:04 pm
content: I've ordered only one part from them, due to they being the only place I could find a MC3356 FSK receiver IC. My experience was such that yes, it took a while (arriving 2-4 weeks after I ordered the part) but I did get it and since they were the only supplier I can't complain too much.

author: grantbob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 11:11:25 pm
content: I'd use them again if I wasn't in any hurry. I ordered some stuff early this year and after a few weeks I hadn't even heard if anything shipped or not so I emailed them and was told one item was out of stock but should be in the next week. They got it and things finally shipped. One of the protoboards I ordered got broken during shipping (they just put everything in a padded envelope and hoped for the best). I emailed about that and they shipped out another. Everything seems to be decent quality. Just took forever.I guess they are based out of AU. My credit card was hit for a currency conversion fee for going from USD to AUD (wish they'd mention that on their web site). Then all the stuff shipped from Germany to the US. Odd.-grantbob

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2014, 11:27:19 pm
content: I bought off them a few times a few years ago.Got what I ordered albeit 3-4 weeks later.( Actually IIRC correctly once I didn't get what I ordered and asked for a replacement and they did ship it free and I got to keep whatever they sent instead. Wasn't much though).I would say good for a hobbiest on a budget.The places I have had trouble with are (although none serious) :Digikey, Jaycar. Dell. Ali Express. Shipping packing issues.Element 14. wrong components.TEquipment. Fluke had to come to Australia via a reshipping address after they took my money. Initially they offered me some home brand replacement instead.Places that I haven't had a problem with yet are:TME, Franky Tong, RS, EBay ( how long is that going to last) , Mouser.

author: kenys
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 08:54:23 am
content: I will not buy from Futurlec anymore.http://www.futurlec.com/Delivery.shtmlI'm waiting for an order of $400 for over a year.I contacted with Bee from Futurlec, asking for the money back or resend the product. No answer.AVOID!!!

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 11:20:46 am
content: Go away kenys, with your one post, I doubt what you are saying.Nobody orders $400 from futurlec without either a previous buying history or buya significant order like this withoutusing registered post or courier.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 02:14:12 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on November 27, 2014, 11:20:46 amI have 3 or 4 orders in my history with Futurlec, and that is enough for me to say "NO MORE"They have a nice website and an impressive range of components, boards, etc. etc.I would do business with them regularly based on that.But they have zero concept of customer service. Or honest business practices for that matter.IME, only one particularly clueless amateur eBay seller equals their apathy.And they don't seem to give a fat flying fig about whether something is in "stock". Maybe they don't even know what that means.Dunno what is the remark about "using registered post or courier". They ship however they please.And providing a tracking number would require them to actually communicate with the customer, which they avoid at any cost.

author: nuno
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 04:36:06 pm
content: I've done a dozen or so orders with them through a period of some 4 years, although none in the last 2 or 3 years. I've ordered both components and (for twice) PCBs and always used the cheapest shipping method possible (registered airmail).In general things ran roughly smooth, more or less in line with what I was expecting (it's not a "reputable" distributor like Mouser or Digikey and others; not including Farnell here as they once failed me *BIG* time). The negative experiences were:1) Once they've hold my order for a long time (maybe 3 weeks, can't remember) because of lack of stock of a component, and did not warned me; I had to contact them to know what's up.2) Sometimes they'll send you the tracking number, most of the times they don't. I asked for it a few times, and they gave it to me.3) One order got lost somewhere, it was a $4 total order or so and I had no "real" need for the parts so I just let go. This was before I knew they had tracking numbers, otherwise I would have asked it.4) One thing they do which causes me problems is that they charge the credit card not when you order but when they prepare the order and ship. This causes me problems because my stupid bank closes for about an hour or 2 around mid-night and, due to them being on the other side of the world, sometimes the card charge gets attempted in that time window and refused (then they report it to me and I ask for them to retry at another time and things move on).Communication with me as a customer is usually good, where they fail is in "preventing the need for communication" by irregularly sending tracking numbers and "order shipped" emails, and by having hold the order due to lack of stock *without* warning the customer.Orders always take near 2 weeks to get here (Europe), but that's expected time for registered air mail from outside Europe (once it took 3 days!).I started to use them less and less because I found other sources not much more expensive in or around Europe, so avoiding having to deal with customs (which can easily add another 1 to 3 weeks).It's the only PCB manufacture service I used from Asia and I have no complaints, I liked how they ship the PCBs: 1 layer of paper between each PCB pairs, wraped in a layer of a tick plastic (forming a kind of a box) and then bubble wrapped (compare that with OSHPark PCBs loose inside a bubble envelope). They will "check" your drawings for "manufacturability", I don't know exactly what it means.As far as I understood they're an Australian company which ships from Thailand.They don't pack as professionally as a Mouser or so but I think they pack decently, which is something that immediately reveals the kind of "quality culture" inside. The most extreme case of bad packaging I had was with Cool Components from the UK, where they sent me 125 ATmega328 all loose inside 2 plastic bags inside card boxes; don't know what was worse, if the severely bent pins or black epoxy dust from chip rubbing through thousands of miles. I only opened the packages and saw the problem after the "return period" and they refused to straiten the issue, it was my 1st and last order with them. Curiously, from the more than a dozen companies I've bought electronic components and stuff, the only 2 where I closed the account because of having failed me BIG time are from the UK, Cool Components and Farnell (I have bought from other UK companies without relevant issues).

author: kenys
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 27, 2014, 09:53:09 pm
content: Quote from: HackedFridgeMagnet on November 27, 2014, 11:20:46 amThat is your problem. I only tell my very BAD experience with Futurlec, but you are free to believe me or not.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 06:12:53 am
content: Quote from: kenys on November 27, 2014, 08:54:23 amFuturelec don't charge your credit card till the items are in stock, and the order is ready to ship...Nice try dumbass.

author: nixfu
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 07:15:15 am
content: Nothing wrong with Futurlec at all the times I have used them over the last few years.It seems to me that they have very fair prices for the hobbiest, but you just have to be willing to accept it takes a few weeks to get the order via regular post from the Far East or wherever.

author: kenys
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 28, 2014, 07:56:58 am
content: Quote from: AmmoJammo on November 28, 2014, 06:12:53 amYou're right, I was a dumbass for trusting in FUTURLEC.