Jameco "blew it" according to their management - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 05:33:06 pm
content: They're just now realizing that adding a "free" catalog to the order caused the shipping price to increase by about 5 dollars?I only just recently figured that out and previously it had caused me to cancel several transactions and go elsewhere because the shipping was too much.http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/email/corner/we-blew-it.html?sp_rid=NjMxOTUwMzg0MTMS1&sp_mid=9226342&spMailingID=9226342&spUserID=NjMxOTUwMzg0MTMS1&spJobID=285060769

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 06:21:00 pm
content: Did you read it all? They incorrectly counted the weight of the catalog in the shipping when they didn't intend to. They want the catalog to ship free, so they put the weight of the catalog in their system to zero, but someone or something caught the mistake and "corrected" the weight, when they wanted that weight to be wrong.shit happens. complaint fixes nothing.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 07:09:48 pm
content: Quote from: Rigby on June 17, 2014, 06:21:00 pmYes, I did read it all. I'm not sure what you mean by your second statement.This was in an e-mail sent out to people who had purchased things from Jameco before how they've formed a management taskforce to fix the major issues they've had with customers and were soliciting suggestions.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 07:11:57 pm
content: Are they going to offer refunds or credit for past over charges?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 07:14:05 pm
content: Interestingly they didn't say anything about that.I sent a suggestion that they audit their product specs and datasheets because I seem to on every visit find a datasheet for a completely different item attached to a product or see things like an item being specified as "common cathode" but the datasheet says "common anode"Stuff like that

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 07:32:14 pm
content: I am surprised that Jameco is still in business. Between Digikey product range on one hand and sparkfun, adafruit, Chinese ebay sellers and the internet driven maker movement, they look outdated, a left over from the 80s.

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 10:03:00 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on June 17, 2014, 07:32:14 pmI agree. I used Jameco a lot in the 80s, and also Digikey which was about the same size as Jameco and pretty much a direct competitor both mostly selling to end users. Digikey grew to a much larger company selling to industry as well as end users. Jameco seems to have stuck with their same look and feel and size.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2014, 11:51:44 pm
content: I actually got a reply from their VP thanking me for the suggestions and said this was the first he had heard of the issues with wrong datasheets or wrongs specs being shown.

author: Rigby
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2014, 12:50:16 am
content: Jameco is great for clearance stuff. I bought 3.5 metric moops of 0.1" pitch 5x7 led matrices for $0.99 per piece.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2014, 01:25:10 am
content: Quote from: Rigby on June 18, 2014, 12:50:16 amA "metric moop" is 1.20034 times an "Imperial moop",or am I thinking of a "customary moop"?

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2014, 01:51:44 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on June 18, 2014, 01:25:10 amDon't forget there are US Imperial Moops and UK Imperial Moops as well.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 04:55:24 am
content: Quote from: zapta on June 17, 2014, 07:32:14 pmI find they are really competitive on certain jellybean parts. To wit, and I pulled these parts randomly:2N7000https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_119423_-1Jameco @ 100: 5 cents. Digikey @ 100: 17 cents.2N3904https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_178597_-1Jameco @ 100: 3.5 cents. Digkey @ 100: 11 cents. Sparkfun @ 100: 40 cents! Adafruit @ 100 : 18 cents.TIP102https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_32977_-1Jameco @ 100: 35 cents. Digikey @ 100: 59 cents.TIP120http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10001_10001_32993_-1Jameco @ 100: 29 cents. Digikey @ 100: 41 cents. Adafruit @ 100: 75 centsAnd their shipping has always been about as much as Digikey's to me, which is to say it has been very reasonable. I've never gotten hit with the catalog shipping "bug".

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 05:18:32 am
content: I used to buy from them when they were 'james electronics'. recently, I have driven there (not far from where I worked) and asked them who their buyers are (almost like that, not exactly)it seemed the response indicated that larger customers are their business, not one-sey two-sey orders from hobbiests. they dont' stock enough for me to place a project order entirely thru them. whereas, with mouser or digikey, I can often get a whole project's parts at one place. its rare that james, er, I mean jameco has parts no one else has (that I would need). still, I like being able to drive there, do a will-call pick up and its easy as pie.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 03:47:23 pm
content: Quote from: linux-works on June 19, 2014, 05:18:32 amHere is Jameco ad in Byte magazine from the late 80's. 13" VGA monitor + controller for $650 ($1300 adjusted for inflation).https://archive.org/stream/BYTE-1988-07#page/n357/mode/2up

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 03:52:13 pm
content: QuoteOne of the distributors (Digikey I think) put itself on the market, with a confidential memo about its businesses / business model, some 5 - 10 years ago.I am going to say that 10% of their orders make up 90% of their profits. And it is easy to figure out what those orders are.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 03:56:13 pm
content: Quote from: dannyf on June 19, 2014, 03:52:13 pmHow competitive are digikey prices for really large quantities? I always assumed that once companies go to mass production they look for less expensive sources.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 06:41:44 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on June 19, 2014, 03:56:13 pmMany manufacturers quote their prices on their website so you can always figure it out. Let me pick a part out of my head - TLC5940. TI:http://www.ti.com/product/tlc5940/samplebuyTI says $1.20 in thousands.Digikey says $1.35 for 2,000http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/TLC5940PWPR/296-35975-2-ND/1676573Obviously they want to make money. And they can probably ship a lot faster than TI on this.A fancy part from Analog:http://www.analog.com/en/analog-to-digital-converters/ad-converters/ad7760/products/product.html$24.90 in thousands$32.75 in thousands at Digikey, but they don't even have a thousand in stock.http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/AD7760BSVZ/AD7760BSVZ-ND/996708

author: Davesaudio
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 08:38:28 pm
content: Well, If you buy enough from Digikey you get to see the wrong-bin problem often enough.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 08:46:05 pm
content: Quote from: Davesaudio on June 19, 2014, 08:38:28 pmOne I sampled 3 of a TI part and they sent me one (the work order said 3 too). That was my worst problem with them. What was yours?

author: SirNick
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 09:41:44 pm
content: I once ordered Triacs and got LM1875 30W audio amplifier ICs instead. I opted to keep them, since I've used a few in the past, and probably will use a few more in the future. They sent the Triacs for free. (I think I ordered like three of them, so not a big loss to them.)Another time, I ordered a fuse holder that claimed to be a mini fuse holder, but in fact was a standard size fuse holder in a compact form factor. They corrected the description on the site and offered to credit the cost of the parts, but I opted to just use standard size fuses in my project. (Again, something like qty 5.)The only other problem I've had is regarding their online ordering system not catching parts that can't be shipped via USPS Priority Mail, so I got a phone call the following day to work out alternate arrangements.In every case, the problem was dealt with quickly and easily. No mistakes would've been better, but just barely -- as the way a company handles mistakes goes a long way toward building report.

author: mamalala
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 09:51:59 pm
content: Quote from: JoeN on June 19, 2014, 06:41:44 pmEver ordered samples from TI? If so, compare the packaging of what you get from DigiKey and TI. Compare the whole paperwork as well. That includes the address from where it is shipped.Greetings,Chris

author: mathsquid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 10:02:45 pm
content: Quote from: Davesaudio on June 19, 2014, 08:38:28 pmThat's been my (admittedly anecdotal) experience. I have placed exactly one order with Digi-Key, and they shipped me the wrong part. I contacted them and they overnighted an identical wrong replacement part to me. It was a 4-conductor trrs cable. I ordered one with a 3.5mm plug, but they shippedonetwo with a 2.5mm plug. It was annoying, but their service was very good.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 11:54:31 pm
content: Quote from: mamalala on June 19, 2014, 09:51:59 pmI actually noted that I have sampled TI parts in a later post, and Digikey fubared the order a little bit:Quote from: MEDigikey ships for several manufacturers. TI, Atmel, Renesas, Micrel, Cirrus, Intersil, Zilog and probably some others too. I know that Mouser ships for SiLabs and Fairchild, probably some others as well. AMS, Linear, ADC, Maxim, On, Freescale, Microchip always drop directly from their warehouse. This is based on my being in the USA. Other people may or may not receive samples from other distributors. That is my data on this subject.

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2014, 11:57:18 pm
content: Quote from: AcHmed99 on June 19, 2014, 10:03:14 pmThe TI price is noted for a thousand and I have always assumed if you are buying a lot more than that you can negotiate it, of course. I've seen parts inside of consumer-level pricepoint products that I have "torn apart" as Dave says that simply couldn't be there even at the 1000 part advertised price, since the one part would be 20% of the MSRP for that device. An old XM receiver I tore down had several expensive parts inside it.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2014, 01:46:29 am
content: Quote from: mamalala on June 19, 2014, 09:51:59 pmAll my TI samples and boards arrived pretty quick. I recently ordered some samples from Intersil and they were sent in 3 different packages, 2 from Malaysia and 1 from Thief River Falls, Minnesota.The Malaysian packages were sent Fedex International Express and the US package was sent Fedex Express. The Malaysian packages arrived 2 days before the US package.What I also found interesting was how 2 chips in the same family came from different locations.2x ICL7106 Multimeter controller with LCD driver - Malaysia2x ICL7107 Multimeter controller with LED driver - US2x ISL21009CFB850Z 5V Precision Reference - Malaysia

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2014, 03:06:26 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on June 20, 2014, 01:46:29 amI once did a samples order with On. They charge $12 for shipping so I figured why not max out the order if they are charging. You can do 10 line items, so I did. Added some items I didn't "need" but figure I can use sometime. The surprise was that 10 items came in six separate packages, half of them international, but only from two actual locations. Can't figure out why they didn't combine those shipments.. Obviously the $12 did not cover six rush shipments, three of them international. My guess is they charge the $12 just so you show you have a little skin in the game and eliminate completely non-serious people who can't even pay a few bucks for the parts. I'm only semi-non-serious so I will pay that. The motor drivers are certainly worth it.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2014, 07:16:05 pm
content: Quote from: JoeN on June 19, 2014, 04:55:24 amI will have to keep this in mind but is there a higher likelihood of getting seconds, rejects, or counterfeit parts? I have been burned by this in the past when ordering BC series transistors.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2014, 10:49:09 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on June 21, 2014, 07:16:05 pmFairchild 2N3904 @ Tayda $0.02 eachhttp://www.taydaelectronics.com/2n3904-npn-general-propose-transistor.html

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2014, 01:26:04 am
content: Everybody I know that has used Jameco has been badly burned by fakes, counterfeits, pulls, incorrect parts, poor communcation etc

author: retrolefty
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2014, 02:21:07 am
content: I recall buying $5 and $10 'grab bags' of stuff. Kind of fun and I always thought the few I bought were a lot of fun for the bang. But yea, I always considered them 'gray market'/surplus type sellers back in the early 80s.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2014, 02:52:21 am
content: Quote from: JoeN on June 19, 2014, 04:55:24 amIt's not much of a comparison, since DigiKey is the most expensive distributor. If you are shopping by price, you really need to check findchips.com. Usually Arrow is the cheapest for transistors, and unlike Jameco, you know what you are getting.For the parts you mentioned, Arrow's qty 1 prices are: 2N7000 $0.05, 2N3904 $0.02, TIP102 $0.31, TIP120 $0.22

author: JoeN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2014, 06:00:22 am
content: Quote from: edavid on June 22, 2014, 02:52:21 amThanks, I have priced ICs out there before and used different distributors, but I never tried it with discretes and obviously I should have.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2014, 08:55:53 am
content: Quote from: edavid on June 22, 2014, 02:52:21 amThis is one of those cases where it is important where you live. In general Arrow is very unpleasant to deal with if you aren't in the US. Arrow thinks it is a good idea to make it extra hellish for international customers to order. Like excessive line item fees. I think it is now "only" something like $5 per line item, once it was $10. You mentioned four transistors, that would be four line items, or just $20 in line item fees alone.A sales representative will haunt you if you still dare to order. And of course they come up with US export restrictions.Shipping costs are excessive, too, if you live in Europe. $36 or $62 minimum shipping costs to most places in Europe. Once they were adding a random $10 energy handling fee on top of that, just to make it clear they really don't want international orders. I think they dropped that energy handling fee now, it maybe just looked too ridiculous.Anyhow, I'd rather buy from a funny smelling guy in a back alley out of a car boot than try Arrow again.