Getting parts - Any trustable Ebay stores? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 03:40:29 pm
content: Hey all, a first post here regardingparts acquisition:While looking for a new version of the$15 AVR LCR component checker, I stumbled upon this supplier:http://stores.ebay.com/Tayda2009For one-stop shopping on Ebay, who do you trust (recently) when ordering low-cost components?

author: katzohki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 03:52:13 pm
content: I would not trust ANY store on ebay for genuine components.That being said, if you don't care whether stuff is genuine or necessarily even good then I guess you could go for it. Looking at the negative feedback, it seems a lot of criticism of that store relates to fake ICs and very slow shipping. I'd say that's what you can expect buying components off ebay.So why not use Digikey? Or Mouser?

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 03:57:47 pm
content: I needed some 1mm pitch ribbon cable. This guy sold me a 100-ft roll for a fair price. As far as I can tell, it's authentic new-old-stock.http://www.ebay.com/itm/160783598681

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:05:30 pm
content: Only way to get 99,9% of time genuine components and what you ordered for is to use one of those large distributors that deal with components...Why do i say 99,9% of time? Because mistakes happen. Even our official Guru: Dave Jones has had hes fair share of those... (EEVblog #133 comes to mind in quick search...)Personally i order in cheap stuff from ebay sellers sometimes. Things id like to try out, but dont want to pay too much in case its totally crap/can use it after all in project i have in mind...

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:09:54 pm
content: Quote from: katzohki on February 12, 2015, 03:52:13 pm^ thisIf you care about the quality and reliability of what you're buying and who you're buying it from, then get off of eBay.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:13:24 pm
content: I have used Newark before, but it's hard to beat the price for that AVR LCR component checker... (I'm looking for one with the AVR in a socket, so i can use my PICit 3 to update it).After looking at some ebay stores and the listed quantities of items are sold, there's got to be a few reputable sources for basics like thin film resistors, 555's, LM3xx, 2n2222/3904 etc..

author: KD0CAC John
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:15:40 pm
content: I've repaired gear that the manufacture got screwed by suppliers & counterfeit parts .In ham radio , I picked up a highly rated contest rig , Kenwood TS-850Sat and there earlier ver. had counterfeit electrolytic's , which is an know issue for decades in almost everything .So I would give / or take a bunch more points from the 99% .

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:32:38 pm
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 12, 2015, 03:57:47 pmSay that's not bad.. so his "all items" link would behttp://www.ebay.com/sch/stanley8334/m.html?_nkw=He's got that "Top Rated Plus" logo thingy, so it must be worth something, right?

author: katzohki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:49:45 pm
content: There's a HUGE grey market for electronic components. There are a few categories that grey market electronic components fall into:1) Actually counterfeit - Older die that is packaged to look like something better. e.g. You think you are getting a LM6162 opamp, but really inside it is LM741.2) Off Brand - Labeled or relabeled as a better brand. e.g. You think you are getting Nippon Chemicon capacitor when really it is relabeled off-brand low quality knockoff.3) Low quality knockoff - common for both ICs and discrete components, usually the specs are far inflated and over-exaggerated for what you really get. e.g. 0.5% resistor tolerance is actually 5%.4) Pulls - This can be a useful thing if youdesperatelyneed to get your hands on an out-of-production IC, but is really irritating when you are trying to build something new. Not guaranteed to work really. They remove ICs from scrapped electronics and sell them - really dodgy if they are sold as new.5) Back Door Knockoffs - Sometimes they will run the production line after hours and sell your products as their own brand. Other times they will take your production documents and try to rip off the product and sell it. Occasionally you can get a decent knockoff, but a lot of the time they will use far cheaper / less accurate components to stretch the profit.I would venture to guess that 90% of these rip-offs wind up in eBay as well as other importers like Alibaba and other direct from Asia sites. Hopefully this gives you an idea as to what the dangers are. Like I said, if it doesn't matter to you then that's ok.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 04:53:12 pm
content: I haven't heard anything bad about Tayda, and in fact they are often recommended. Why not deal with them direct? I take every opportunity to avoid giving money to eBay.http://www.taydaelectronics.com/

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:08:05 pm
content: I found anothersellercalled "hylbuy" - but he's not a store...http://www.ebay.com/sch/hylbuy/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1At least with an ebay store (like the one I mentioned 1st), you can select by category and remain in that store.How can someone go wrong with beginner items like this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-Prototyping-PCB-Circuit-Board-Stripboard-94x53mm-C-/260848705026?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0and since they accept PayPal, they don't get my credit info and if the circuit traces start lifting, I can complain for a refund - right?Naysayers I know the cautions, but there's YouTuber's likeJulian Ilettmaking videos of ebay budget wondersalmost every week. There must be more.. not everything's a red light.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:11:48 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on February 12, 2015, 04:53:12 pmI am however a novice (when it comes to buying on-line), but doesn't buying via eBay give us extra levels of protection?

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:19:06 pm
content: Bear in mind that your eBay "guarantee" is that you will receive something resembling what was in the listing, not that it will be any good. You typically have a short period of time for returns and a little longer to file an "item not received" claim.My experience with eBay sellers that offer "Buy It Now" new items and have good ratings with lots of feedback is that they will generally back their products and offer refunds or replacements if there's a problem.Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 12, 2015, 05:08:05 pm

author: katzohki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:21:29 pm
content: Yes, there are some things you would probably be fine on. Proto boards, wires, connectors etc.You asked what people thought about buying components on eBay and we gave you our opinion, so I wouldn't really say any of us are "naysayers." Things I would particularly stay away from are electrolytic capacitors, critical ICs and anything with the word "precision" in it.I don't have much hate for eBay and I have even bought some precision RF stuff, but the guy was able to provide the operating spectrum so I could tell he know his stuff. It's mostly components I worry about, and not everything on eBay. I am genuinely curious as to the answer to this though; why don't you want to buy through Digikey, Mouser or Newark etc?

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:33:55 pm
content: Quote from: katzohki on February 12, 2015, 04:49:45 pmYou totally missed #6, which is New Old Stock. Like the item I quoted above, there is some quantity of perfectly good components out there, that may be a few years old, but they were excess from a production run back then. A couple of weeks back I purchased (locally) several boxes of reels of older passives, LEDs, and molex connectors. Probably 30k parts in total for $50. Nothing at all wrong with them, but they are excess detritus from a while back. These types of deals may be useful under the right circumstances.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:53:29 pm
content: Quote from: katzohki on February 12, 2015, 05:21:29 pmYup, I've slaved over motherboards repairing fine examples I should have uploaded to badcaps.net and I have an account at Newark and Digikey in the past...But in registering credit details at say five of these more "local" giants, won't I just be a sitting-duck with 5 times more credit leak risk?

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 05:56:54 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on February 12, 2015, 04:53:12 pmWell, I will say something bad about them... their customer service is non-existent... they just ignore email. I would still order from them, but they are not any better than a random eBay seller.

author: JohnnyBerg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 06:19:29 pm
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 12, 2015, 05:33:55 pmAnd #7: reel leftovers. Often only parts of the reels in pick and place are used, and the leftovers are sold to highest bidder.Futhermore, do not underestimate the importance of locations like Shenzen.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 06:40:33 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 12, 2015, 05:53:29 pmJust don't store your CC information when you place the order. Besides, CC companies are usually very good about charge reversals when your information is compromised. I'd much rather buy from legitimate places and deal with the .001% chance that your CC information might leak out, which will be cut off and refunded after one 5-minute phone call, than to have to deal with all of the shady crap on eBay, including being promised genuine parts and sent fakes, or sent nothing at all, or having something blow up on you for no reason, or be DOA, etc. Your chances of getting screwed are infinitely higher on eBay than a CC leak on a real distributor's website...

author: katzohki
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 06:43:05 pm
content: That's true. I wouldn't say old new stock is grey market though. At least not "problematic" grey market at any rate. I love old-new stock. Did you know you can still buy old new stock DeLoreans?Reel leftovers are fine too, but I would want the seller to be upfront about it.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 07:01:52 pm
content: Quote from: suicidaleggroll on February 12, 2015, 06:40:33 pmAs I understand it, eBay just arbitrates the goods and skims $$ off the top. I'd really be paying with PayPal, so the odds on menot hearingin the news about a PayPal leak (and taking swift protective action), are even smaller (I'd think..)On the credit theme, it seems Jameco accepts Paypal on International orders (which is OK, I'm north of the border)Someone mentioned using a pre-paid Mastercard to buy from Digikey athttp://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=8040.0That certainly helps avoid being a Target (funny, they just abandoned my country - maybe nobody trusted them..)

author: jarrodhroberson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 07:27:42 pm
content: The problem with Digikey, Newark, Mouser, etc is the shipping on small orders is insane!I have a fairly huge stock of discrete components sourced off of ebay. Nothing I do is critical. I can live with a couple of dead components from a pack of 50/100/1000 that cost less than two of the same thing plus shipping from somewhere reputable.That said, I buy things like microcontrollers from legit sources just because. I try and buy things like Arduino UNO boards from Ardunio to help fund the development.DC/DC voltage converters for low power projects for < $1 per can not be beat and I can get 10 for the price of the components of one.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 07:41:27 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 12, 2015, 07:01:52 pmYou're missing the point. I'm not talking about the chances of your CC information being leaked on Paypal being higher, I'm talking about the chances of you getting generally screwed on the sale being higher on eBay. This includes the very very low chance of your CC information being leaked, but also includes simplynot getting what you paid for(or thought you were paying for), which is the main problem with eBay and lowlife knockoff vendors who don't give two shits what damage or injuries their fake products might cause, as long as they make a buck.Not only are you increasing your chances of getting bad/defective product by MANY orders of magnitude by buying it on eBay, you're also supporting the knockoff/fake industry, which is bad for everyone.In general, the chances of your CC information being leaked by ANY reputable online vendor (I'm including Paypal here as well) is so low it's practically zero, and even if it DOES get leaked, your CC company will take care of the problem and reverse all charges immediately with one 5-minute phone call, so it's pretty much a non-issue.The question here isn't which avenue is more likely to get your CC information stolen, it's where are you more likely to get screwed on the sale, and the answer is eBay without any question. If you want to take the risk that the product you bought will be DOA, defective, fake, etc., then go ahead and save a buck and buy it on eBay. If you don't want to take the risk, thendon't buy it on eBay. It's as simple as that.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 07:58:50 pm
content: I guess that depends on where you live. I almost always use Mouser because they're 400 miles away and I get next day or 2 day delivery most of the time by USPS or UPS Ground. Shipping is about $7 either way, unless there's a heavy item. Chips and bits rarely go over the minimum charge.If I'm feeling really cheap and not in a hurry, they offer "Economy Shipping" for around $4, which is about what I'd pay in sales tax for $50 worth of stuff from Radio Shack. At Mouser, I pay no sales tax. No telling how long that'll continue though. Newark already charges State Sales Tax, which is why I don't buy from there.Funny thing about that "Economy Shipping", about 2 days after I order, my stuff goes flying overhead on the way to Atlanta which is about 400 miles in the opposite direction from Mouser. There it sits for 4 or 5 days until the delivery service decides to bring it to my local post office, who delivers it the day after they get it. How can it be that much cheaper with all that extra travel and handling? Who knows.Quote from: jarrodhroberson on February 12, 2015, 07:27:42 pm

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 08:49:10 pm
content: Quote from: jarrodhroberson on February 12, 2015, 07:27:42 pmOK, now we know about risks and fakes.Sir Jarrod, could you share some eBay store names or sellers you typically source from?My objective was to have a list to share at the bottom of the thread (and of course, for me to cut the risks).

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 08:50:27 pm
content: OK, Mouser is in Fort Worth, DigiKey is in Minnesota, and Newark is in Chicago-land. Mouser is probably the closest to north Florida, but not by all that much.About eBay... eBay is a collection of independent sellers. Each seller is different from every other seller. I think it would be a less than fair move to paint all eBay sellers with the same brush. I sell on eBay (no electronics or parts), primarily at Christmas, and I know the provenance of everything I sell. So not all eBay sellers are trying to scam unwary buyers. There are some bad apples, and I'm sure there are bad ones on every site.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 08:54:21 pm
content: Quote from: jarrodhroberson on February 12, 2015, 07:27:42 pmIn the US, DigiKey has free shipping if you order by mail and prepay by check.Arrow has $8 flat fee shipping.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 09:05:46 pm
content: For Digikey - shipping from MN to WA by first class mail is only a few dollars as long as the total weight is less than 8 oz. - which for electronics components it usually is. Digikey ships very fast and only takes 2-3 days to get to me in Western WA.That, said I've ordered hundreds of things from eBay including many electronic components and so far have had no issues with counterfeit components. In fact the only fraudulent eBay seller I've every had to deal with was the recent too good to be true cheap Agilent power supply much discussed on this forum.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 09:09:20 pm
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 12, 2015, 08:50:27 pmnot exactly, eBay stores seem to be a step up from sellers requiring $ignificant investment and time (not one man ops, typically). A bad reputation would blow that away... That brings us full circle then, to the original store question... so I there's only one? - tayda2009

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 09:45:08 pm
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 12, 2015, 08:50:27 pmNote - all of my comments in this thread about eBay are only referring to people/stores selling "new" components and electronic trinkets for significantly less than should be possible. This is primarily what people are talking about when they mention buying ICs, DC/DC converters, and other small boards on eBay, and is what I was responding to.99% of the time these parts are coming from China, and 99% of they time they're designed poorly, running parts out of spec, and/or are using fake components with grossly exaggerated claims that will most likely cause them to not work at all or fail prematurely, and possibly damage other equipment or you. It's like buying counterfeit phone chargers at the flea market for $1 that electrocute you if the humidity in the room gets too high.Buying authentic used equipment (test equipment, amps, etc.) from regular people on eBay is significantly less shady, and is more like buying on Craigslist, but with astronomical fees. There's still the chance that something won't work correctly, but you're probably not going to get a knockoff/counterfeit item like you will if you buy a $1 new "50W" DC/DC converter, or $2 50-pack FTDI chips, etc.

author: JohnnyBerg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 09:54:55 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 12, 2015, 09:09:20 pmAs said, look at somevideo's of Julian llet, he gets a lot of stuff from good ebayers like Alice and the Good and Cheap Supermarket and others.He also has a mailbag section ..

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 10:34:18 pm
content: Quote from: mtdoc on February 12, 2015, 09:05:46 pmShipping by First Class Package is very cheap and usually pretty speedy, about the same as Priority Mail. I'm pretty sure the weight limit is now 13 oz. with a 3 oz. minimum charge. I've shipped a lot of stuff by First Class, most falls under the 3 oz. minimum, I think the last time it was like $1.90 or so. Add 75 cents for packaging and it makes for some pretty cheap shipping.This is one area I think Mouser comes up short, because they don't offer 1st Class Package as a shipping option.

author: dannyf
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 10:37:21 pm
content: QuoteAgreed wholeheartedly. I think one's life is much happier if s/he expects less-than-genuine parts from ebay purchases.

author: kingofkya
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 10:47:07 pm
content: Just an fyi tayda2009 has a website.http://www.taydaelectronics.com/I have used em before but... be aware the capacitors are going to be chong/chang whatever crap and likely fake nichicon ones. Also almost all the transistors are no name brands or obsolete old stock so. But on the upside they ship really fast via dhl.QuoteOR if your making a public project and want to see how bad quality for something can go.

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2015, 11:01:45 pm
content: I've had a lot of success buying from Chinese suppliers on eBay recently. Did I get a couple things that were crap? Of course. But things like headers, connectors, motors have all been good. I've been buying the Arduino Pro Mini clones for $2.50 ea. Every single one has been good. As far as I can tell the uCs have are legit.I use these parts to have on the shelf for prototyping. For that purpose. I'm very happy. Would I use these channels for production units? No. But I might well source stuff through Alibaba for production.Other good parts on the cheap have been the standard through hole microswitches. 100% quality. And even better, they put out perfect square waves with no discernible contact bounce. I could have paid 5-10x through Mouser or Digikey, but why?Things that have been bad have been due to faulty design of the PCB/schematic. That doesn't matter much to me since the price of a stuffed board plus a sensor is so much less than the same sensor as bought from a domestic supplier.Would I buy ICs, caps, transistors, etc and expect to get good quality? Of course not. Just use common sense, buy samples before you buy bulk, and you will save a ton of money.I have found the well-rated Chinese suppliers to be extremely reliable. Just read the reviews. The good ones are not hard to find. Just keep in mind you'll largely get what you pay for, sometimes better, and it's all fair enough.And lastly, the only eBay sellers I've had real issues with were *Americans*.(I am American, so I get to point that out.)

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 02:14:04 am
content: I did a bit of reading and found a buyer with some experience:http://www.sciencetronics.com/greenphotons/?page_id=855(those behind filtered internet can view it in the PDF attached..)

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 03:10:33 am
content: A site called "The Find" has a way to get parts (many links to eBay sellers). Try these searches:http://www.thefind.com/hardware/info-2n3055-power-transistorhttp://www.thefind.com/search?query=lm555http://www.thefind.com/search?query=2n3904or a personal fave...http://www.thefind.com/search?query=LM350k+steelWould you think the lowest price is a knock off?I digressed a bit... let's see what linked list we can summon in a few more days. Any more seller/store's worthy of mention? or shame?

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 03:59:32 am
content: Quote from: rdl on February 12, 2015, 10:34:18 pmminimum First Class Parcel is currently $1.93 (unless you are shipping thousands of identical packages each day). That rate is about to go up in April to (IIRC) $2.04. Those are commercial rates. People shipping over the counter at the post office will pay a bit more.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 04:12:18 am
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 13, 2015, 03:10:33 amNo, Alltronics is an old time surplus dealer. The photo shows an 87 date code, which is probably when they got the parts.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 06:43:25 am
content: Quote from: edavid on February 12, 2015, 05:56:54 pmTaydaIt could be an off day (for them) or I am lucky. On one of my order, I had ordered two precision OpAmps and one came DOA. I contacted them on their site, I received a reply very quickly (next business day, 12 hours difference means same day he/she got the email.) A short exchange to verify my side of the story and I was credit via store credit exceeding the cost of the OpAmp for my trouble. I was very pleased with how quickly they responded and how professional they handled it.Their inventory is small. But for their low price and quick response, they are my go-to guy for things. If they don't have it, (stuff beyond typical voltage regs, op amps, pin-headers...) I will hunt eBay/Mouser...eBayeBay is like stores in any city. Some stores are good, some stores are horrible, and most are in between. $ makes the world go round. The better eBay sellers are more expensive. It would be as inappropriate to try to put all the stores in say San Francisco into a same group.As you get to know the sellers, you will form your own "go-to" guys on eBay. Bare in mind however: I understand eBay sellers sell their ID as well. I suppose if something like Waldorf Astoria can change hands, why can't eBay seller ID change hands.As for my experience with eBay overall, a mixed bag. Most are average no thrill experiences. Some very good and some very bad. I have more excellent experiences than I have horrible ones. I have had problems before, but most got resolve rather reasonably.It is a matter of expectation. eBay is like flee market / cat street like thing. It is not the same as shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue or Tiffany. It is someone sitting at a "virtual table" with all his stuff, you come, you see, you paid, you leave, you try, you fix, you joy or you cry.Mostly, it is with exaggerated capabilities. So scale that expectation. 300 lumens? Let see how much others are charging for a 300 lumens led... do the research.With the right expectation, horrible experiences would be limited. I think my "disappointing transactions" is a small percentage of my total transaction dollars. Just to put on a perspective what I meant "horrible": Thus far, this are the top two worst, so I made out pretty good so far:> One "close out" sale, $29.00 for a 3.5" 2TB drive. Ordered one, thinking about ordering more but decided against it since this was a seller I have not buy from before. My reservation was correct. A few days later, item was marked as shipped. Click on it, the seller is defunct. A few weeks later, I got a small envelop (still unopened today) with what feels like a stick of chewing gum folded to the size of a stamp.> once I won a very low bid. I was give a story about out of stock. I was refunded but not full! The shipping was not refunded and of course being "out of stock" there was nothing shipped to begin with, I got $2.10 back out $3, I think. I am annoyed at myself. I got the dealers a mixed up and mistakenly given them a good review. I was unable to change the review.I did not include those times when I simply got suckered. They were selling something that I didn't know I could have got it cheaper elsewhere - like 1/2 the price. I got careless and thought it was something else. (Damn it, I didn't know they have single-pack! I have always brought and only seen box of 4 in them... ) That is personal stupidity/carelessness, I can't blame the store on that.Good luck - never submit a big order on the first go! Buy one little things, then more little things until you get a level of comfort. Take good notes. Note the bankcard creditor name. that will give you more info on if this one is selling under different hands.Rick

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 02:10:20 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on February 13, 2015, 06:43:25 amRick Law, nice overview sir! That part about the chewing gum - how sad..At least they had to spend some coin sending it.But do you ever get tempted to open it for maybe, sad stories or apologies?

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 03:09:47 pm
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 13, 2015, 03:59:32 amYes, that's what I said. I do almost always ship through eBay though, so that probably is the commercial rate, even though for me it's only a single package and not thousands.I checked pricing at USPS.com and a 3 oz. 1st class parcel is $2.32, 13 oz. is $4.12, so $1.93 is a pretty decent discount vs. the price at the post office.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2015, 08:44:14 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 13, 2015, 02:10:20 pmTempted to open it, yes. But I left that intact to remind myself the truism:"When a deal is too good to be true, it is!"When the going price for a 3.5" 2TB drive was $150, $29 buy-it-now was too good to be true.The seller went defunct before I received the stuff so there was no avenue to follow. It was (if I recall) before paypal has purchase protection and ePacket, and it was between Christmas and New Year. I think the site was set up to catch the Christmas purchases.They even send it with tracking number - I suppose so they can for as long as possible claim "we shipped the stuff." But a 3.5" HDD is a good bit bigger than the size of a stamp and wont fit in a small envelop. So each time I am temped to just click-buy on a super great deal, I just feel the bump in that envelop between my figures and that cools my heel. It feels like the gummy toy out of a bubble gum machine, hence the folded stick of chewing gum description came to mind.

author: Bryan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2015, 12:13:07 pm
content: Quote from: Cliff Matthews on February 12, 2015, 03:40:29 pmNot the greatest selection of parts, but good service, prices and Canadian so you can save on shipping. I have used them quite a bit.http://www.dipmicro.com/store/

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2015, 11:05:29 pm
content: Quote from: Bryan on February 14, 2015, 12:13:07 pmThanks! I think I'll visit and spend a few hundred loonies (they're about 90 minutes from me).The store location in Niagara Falls, is it well stocked?

author: jarrodhroberson
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 08:39:05 pm
content: I have no idea where everyone gets this $1 shipping rates.10 ATtiny85 DIP8 $12 of parts, the shipping offered is out of line.

author: ion54
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 08:58:20 pm
content: Cliff, I'm in Canada too and ordered parts from Tayda multiple times. Cannot comment on the IC and transistors, but got knobs, pots, resistors, some crystals, switches, etc. All shipments were very fast, less than 2 weeks, and parts were decent quality. I would buy from Digikey or Mouser or Element 14 when the cost is about $200 and then the sipping is free, but buying parts for $10 and paying $8 for shipping does not work for me.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 09:17:17 pm
content: And Newark charges State Sales Tax also (if you're in the US).The Priority Mail looks about right, but the rest are ridiculous. Especially when you consider that those could ship via First Class Parcel and their cost would be under $2.50Quote from: jarrodhroberson on February 19, 2015, 08:39:05 pm

author: Jeroi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 09:44:55 pm
content: I have done fairly lot protoboards with ebay sellers that sell old stock and usually you can see from the chip that date code there is several years ago but that does not matter much in prototypes because you want cheap parts and look the part costs in distributors later on when board goes to main production. Thing is just order 10times more to be sure that single one works out of the batch because usually you can buy 10 for single or so when dealing with ebay sellers. My smd parts has been what they say, usually 1% resistor are within 1% tolerance and smd Tantalums have been there also but when board goes to production, you need to have trust worthe dealer that can supply ALOT parts and ebay sellers can't do that and are not trust worthy businesses.

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 11:59:14 pm
content: I'm thinking that most of the big-name supply houses look at First Class as an unacceptable ship method. The recent package I received from DigiKey could have been sent First Class, other than the tacky flux required a cold pack. This time of year, they might have gotten by without it, but for the serious buyers, that's the norm. The box they used was over 50% material used for void fill.The $5.61 is a curious number, as it appears on none of me USPS rate charts. I wonder how they came up with that.Quote from: rdl on February 19, 2015, 09:17:17 pm

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2015, 12:16:55 am
content: As far as I know, the only difference between First Class and Priority is the lower cost and weight limit for First Class vs. the supposed 2 Day Delivery for Priority (2 Day is not guaranteed, only 1 Day). I have no idea why so few offer it, especially those that already ship by Priority. It's not like they have to add yet another carrier.