RS Components (UK) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: John80
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 01:53:52 pm
content: Hello to everyone!I was wondering... the prices indicated at the RS web site (UK) include VAT or not? I was not able to find anything about this...

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 01:58:57 pm
content: Quote from: John80 on February 05, 2011, 01:53:52 pmNope, theyexcludeVAT. I have a friend who works at the main site in Corby, Northamptonshire (just round the corner from meIt would be helpful if theytoldtheir customers of this, but I suppose they assume it is "industry norm" to expect to have to add VAT on top. The world is full of stupid, lazy people, who aren't capable of putting a simple "ALL prices EXCLUDE VAT" notice on things. A little bit like how supermarkets are too lazy to put a "this product is already cooked, and ready to eat" label on foods (esp meat products). They want you to eat it, and take a chance

author: onemilimeter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 02:10:07 pm
content: Quote from: John80 on February 05, 2011, 01:53:52 pmIt's does not include VAT...

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 02:14:56 pm
content: Small world, I live near Bedford.RS state all prices exclude VAT in their terms and conditions which you should read before buying from them.I like RS, because I have a business account I get free delivery.

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 02:25:33 pm
content: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=aboutRS&file=conditionsJust a few keystrokes, to save yourself having to ask.

author: onemilimeter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 02:36:15 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on February 05, 2011, 02:14:56 pmYa... tiny world... I want free delivery too... Is it difficult to apply a business account?

author: glossywhite
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 02:39:58 pm
content: Quote from: onemilimeter on February 05, 2011, 02:36:15 pmWhy not try it and see?

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2011, 04:36:21 pm
content: I don't know, I didn't apply for it, my previous employer did so I could put the parts on the shopping list which he would order them with the company credit card, that he would remove afterwards. This means I still have to pay for the parts but I get them delivered for free.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2011, 10:44:55 pm
content: I just applied for an account and gave them my credit card number, can't remember being asked if I was a business (which I'm not). I think there is a minimum order value for free delivery of about £30 but delivery charges are not too bad.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2011, 06:22:35 pm
content: Quote from: FreeThinker on February 07, 2011, 10:44:55 pmThere's no limit to the amount I can order to get free delivery. I could order a single transistor if I want but I don't take the piss. I don't normally spend £30 but I always put in a reasonably size order.

author: PStevenson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 04:11:05 pm
content: I personally use Rapid electronics because it has the facility to add the VAT or disclude it at the touch of a button. however they did fail me which the lack of a firewire chip I needed. but otherwise they are a good place and unbelievably quick aswell. my last order was for a few thousand parts, ordered at about 3:40 in the afternoon and they arrived at my house at 8 the next morning - and I hadn't paid for a special delivery. so use them if you can!

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 07:01:08 pm
content: I second Rapid. Very good service. They might not have as vast a range of parts the RS or Farnell do, but on the other hand, they will do smaller minimum quantities.RS wanted me to order a minimum of 100m of a certain cable, Rapid would do 25m.I use Rapid for run of the mill parts and any specialist parts that they don't have, I'll buy from RS, Farnell or Mauser.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 09:22:59 pm
content: Rapid are very cheap but I only use them if I'm placing a large order and they have the bits I need, otherwise I used RS for reasons mentioned above.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2011, 10:46:10 pm
content: Quote from: Kibi on February 10, 2011, 07:01:08 pmFarnell do many cables by the metre.I rarely use RS because their parametric search still sucks, although their pricing nowadays has improved on semis etc.

author: Zad
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 06:50:04 pm
content: I love Farnell because they are local, but at times they really exasperate me. It isn't all their own fault, admittedly. I got an order today which I placed yesterday afternoon (hurrah for free delivery) but instead of UPS using a local depot in Leeds, 8 miles away as the crow flies, the packages (2, sent from the same building at the same time) were sent via UPS's hub in Preston, 50 miles away, making an 8 mile trip a 100 mile one.This bit should probably be in thread about excessive packaging, but it seems relevant here. I think they sent 2 packages because I ordered a flux pen, which must have special "This Way Up" shipping information associated with it. Hence the markers on the box. The £4:62 pen was shipped all on it's lonesome:Impressive packaging, they clearly didn't want that little honey getting damaged. And yes, that's the orientation it arrived in...The other package is the usual story, I ordered an NXP LPC1768 micro, which came in an entire waffle pair to itself rather than the compact containers Analog Devices, Microchip etc use. ( I think we have covered this before). That meant it had to be sent in a much larger box with lots of fresh air and brown paper. Interestingly, the box isn't quite big enough for a full waffle, so it got distorted and slightly damaged in transit.(Unexpanded links so I don't bore uninterested people even more)http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd237/Zadpics/EmptyBox1.jpghttp://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd237/Zadpics/EmptyBox2.jpg

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 10:33:05 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on February 05, 2011, 02:14:56 pmsmall world indeed, I'm in Rushden even closer to Corby, as it happens Hero and myself actually know each other.It seems standard that companies like this do not include VAT as they assume that their customers are all VAT registered companies. Farnell are just the same, even on Rapid online you have to tick the box to have price shown with the VAT so no point in pointing the finger at RS, it's an industry practice and I dare say a way of making stuff look cheaper

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 11, 2011, 11:18:03 pm
content: Quote from: Simon on February 11, 2011, 10:33:05 pmWell, both RS and Farnell are explicit in their terms of supply that they're B2B suppliers (RS use the phrasing "not intended for use by consumers", Farnell "assume the customer is ordering for use in their business", or words along those lines), so it's only that they follow the standard (as you say) B2B practice of quoting ex-VAT prices. It's not so much to make things look cheaper, but rather because the vast majority of their customers will be claiming the VAT right back so the quoted price is actually the real price.I can't off the top of my head think of any business supplier I use (for anything, not just electronics) that does include VAT in their prices; it's not the done thing, just like I've never had a client assume that my charges include VAT, etc.Quote from: Zad on February 11, 2011, 06:50:04 pmThat looks like the same flux pen I ordered a while back; it arrived exactly the same way. My guess at the time was that it falls into a 'hazardous contents' category so a) they ship such items separately from the other stuff that might get wrecked if the pen is damaged during shipping and leaks, and/or b) their couriers have regulations regarding packaging of such things (e.g. the stickers).Speaking of excessive packaging, looks like on Monday I'll be taking delivery of a box containing five resistors, five capacitors and four PCB header strips. I'm hoping that the rest of the bits (still showing as pending, which is unusual) are coming from a different distribution centre, otherwise I'm going to be baffled by the logic of using UPS to ship £3 worth of parts weighing approximately the square root of bugger all...

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2011, 07:44:22 am
content: I take all paperwork for deliveries at work as part of inspecting all received goods and all prices are quoted ex vat on the goods received notes and delivery notes if the supplier puts the price on. If I have to reject something the vat is added on automatically after in a seprate box and there is a seperate total that is price+vat + any return delivery charges that are also put down ex-vat