Sourcing and selling ICs with the ongoing chip shortages - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SoWizard
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 02, 2021, 11:38:23 am
content: Hey everyone - long time lurker, first time poster.We're about to launch a new consumer product and preemptively purchased 5,000 pcs of our MCU (a Nordic chip) since we were about to get stock. Unfortunately towards the end of our firmware development we hit a brick wall with the limited FLASH forcing us to upgrade to an MCU with more FLASH.We now have 5,000 MCUs on our hands that the original distributor won't take back. I'm sure there are companies out there who would be grateful to get their hands on these ICs (lead times are well over 52 weeks and they're unavailable on all the standard Octopart distributors) but we're unsure of how to find 'em. Anyone else been in the same situation before?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2021, 11:48:32 am
content: There are plenty of chip brokers out there, but chances are they will make more profit out of it than you.Ebay is always an option.Maybe someone should set up a "parts wanted" list, though they'd probably get spanned to death from dodgy brokers.Perhaps we could set up a chip exchange thread here ?

author: SoWizard
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 02, 2021, 12:37:44 pm
content: Any reputable chip brokers that you know of? I have contacted one I've talked to before but with no luck. Seems like they buy chips at very low prices (maybe units that didn't pass all tests during manufacturing) and sell at extortionate prices.We're happy to not make a profit on these, we're just looking for a better home otherwise they'd continue sitting in our lab until we find a better use for them. They're nRF52811-QFAA and nRF52810-QFAA - if anyone is interested, HMU.It would be great to setup a thread. I guess if it gets overwhelmed with chip brokers then we could always shut it down.

author: kylehunter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2021, 03:17:23 pm
content: Quote from: SoWizard on September 02, 2021, 12:37:44 pmAre you located in the US?

author: Mangozac
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2021, 10:20:18 pm
content: Quote from: SoWizard on September 02, 2021, 12:37:44 pmThat phrase seems like an oxymoron at the moment

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2021, 11:09:39 pm
content: I know that DigiKey have the Marketplacehttps://www.digikey.com.au/en/resources/marketplaceBut not sure what the process is on getting on there

author: SoWizard
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 12:03:14 am
content: Quote from: kylehunter on September 02, 2021, 03:17:23 pmSydney, Australia. Happy to talk to anyone though.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2021, 10:57:42 pm
content: Put 1000pc on ebay for $2500 OBO or something, offer worldwide shipping, see if anyone shows any interest.I can't see it being worth much more than that but who knows:https://www.taobao.com/list/item/650972682436.htmhttps://www.taobao.com/list/item/649490217548.htmQuote from: ANTALIFE on September 02, 2021, 11:09:39 pmGood question, I thought it was just Rochester but looks like they have a number of small stores as well. Their cut:"How does Digi-Key make money from our products and partnership? Digi-Key takes a 25% commission from the sale price of each order."