Buying electronic components in UK for domestic use? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 12:20:42 pm
content: Hi,I am in UK.I have now bought two DAB radios (from supermarkets) and neither of them work on the switch mode mains adapter that they were supplied with. ( too much distortion/noise) .They do work on battery. So I want to buy a small mains transformer, rectifier, smoothing caps, voltage regulator etc etc so that I can wire this into the battery connections, then I don’t have to keep buying batteries for them.However, I cannot order from farnell or RS, because they rely on distributors to deliver, and at domestic addresses, this doesn’t work (ive tried it before). Basically, I am at work when they deliver, so they just return it to farnell/RS.So I need royal mail delivery….cricklewood electronicshttps://www.cricklewoodelectronics.com/..is the only one in UK I know that does royal mail delivery…do you know of any others?…now that maplins and Tandy has closed down, its getting difficult.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 12:44:18 pm
content: Can you not have RS deliver to where you work?

author: gmb42
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 01:34:57 pm
content: I've definitely had Farnell\CPC deliver to work, and I'm pretty sure RS as well.

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 01:53:33 pm
content: sorry this is forbidden for personal deliveries at my workplace.

author: StillTrying
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 02:24:05 pm
content: Quote from: treez on February 16, 2020, 12:20:42 pmWas it lidl, that big bin they have by the exit is to put the rubbish in that you've just bought, to save having to carry it home.ebayDoes the package have to fit through a letterbox, I don't think it's worth making a 6V DC supply just for a small radio, with so many adapters available some must be quiet enough for a DAB radio.www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6V-Roberts-R9993-radio-power-supply-replacement-adapter/361192991681

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 02:29:08 pm
content: Rapid?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 03:09:29 pm
content: Amazon:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003BEZ7HIDeliver to Amazon locker. Bosh.

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 05:20:34 pm
content: Farnell will use UPS, with the tracking number you can divert the delivery to a UPS Access Point. All done via the UPS website.RS will generally use Royal Mail Parcel Force, if you are not in they will leave a card for you to collect the parcel from the local dept.I have never had a delivery from RS, Farnell, or anyone else returned to the sender. All delivery companies will normally hold onto things for up to a week before looking to return them.I get deliveries all the time from these people to my home address, which is my company address. I also use UPS to ship quite a number of things to the UK (and to destinations all over the world), quite a chunk of UK deliveries are to domestic addresses. Never had one returned undelivered in 4+ years of using them.

author: ocset
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 05:38:34 pm
content: QuoteThanks, but yes, if you are always there to receive it, then its fine...they will deliver....when they come for the 3rd time to deliver and you are again not there...they get fed up.I do confess ive lived in a lot of addresss, and have tried to order farnall/RS to most of them.......i'd say i have a 20% success rate of receiving the stuff.Whenever ive ordered from RS they use the umm..one with yellow and green vans...cant remember the name.The worst was a delivery to my flat in cambridge......they posted the card for me to pick it up from near Bar hill...and the package had obviosly been abused...when i opened it, all the ferrites were smashed to bits..........i must admit, when i lived in places where it was easy for the delivery van to park near me, then it was better....unfortunately, where i live now, theyd have to struggle to park...then struggle to find my flat which is down a dark passageway...up a dingy flight of stairs...then along a walkway and above a shop....ive no hope of getting UPS etc here.......Royal mail are the only ones who will do this............................If you live in a nice big quiet road, where its easy for them to park near your house, then yes i am sure the UPS etc deliverers will not mind coming to your door repeatedly, even if you often are not there.

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2020, 05:50:42 pm
content: Quote from: treez on February 16, 2020, 05:38:34 pmWell I'm not here all the time. For UPS I can re-direct to a local Access Point with the UPS App (or website) and pick it up. These are normally things like local newsagents/shops - they never even try to deliver to your door if you re-direct to the access point.For everything I've ordered from RS have come royal mail for as long as I can remember.Looks like you're stuck with something like an Amazon Locker service or a service such ashttps://parcelly.comto act as a receiver for you.

author: alanb
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 04:59:28 pm
content: https://www.bitsbox.co.uk/deliveries by post. Postage cost capped at £1.90 I think.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 05:07:52 pm
content: Quote from: treez on February 16, 2020, 05:38:34 pmCity Link. They went bust years ago, RS use the post office now.

author: Flump
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 08:37:22 pm
content: https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/https://www.esr.co.uk/

author: unknownparticle
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 08:34:39 pm
content: Must be an area issue because both RS and Farnell deliver to my home address without a problem. On the occasions I haven't been around the courier just cards me with options for redelivery.

author: mpbrock
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 01:07:11 pm
content: I agree I get bits from Farnell / RS / Rapid all the time to my house address, the problems more my 5 year old daughter opening the packages before I get back!

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2020, 08:49:54 pm
content: I use Digikey,RS, Rapid, Mouser, Minicircuits, Farnell, CPC, Conrad all to my home address. Generally there is someone in the family around but when there hasn't been its been redirected to a fairly nearby shop which has a collection service (a bit of a pain but not too bad as its open to around 7pm I think).