Farnell / Element 14 UK Venting warning - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 02:01:54 pm
content: <Vent On>just had a call from Farnell UK. I put some things in the basket a few hours ago - and gone to do a few other things.Then... Phone Call ...This is Farnell - "you left some things in your basket - an Arduino development Kit - can we help you complete the purchase"(It was not an Arduino development kit but an ANT+ Development kit with Arduino headers)Me" no - and I'll be nice and remove them from the basket right away!"So morale of the story - DO NOT leave things in your Farnell Basket if you do not want to get disturbed. I have left things in my Farnell basket - and never had a call before.So Farnell must be VERY desperate and collecting scraps where they can.But when they did not deliver my Circuit Studio upgrade it was IMPOSSIBLE to get a response from them over 2 months.I thought (and was pretty certain) that my profile even said "Do Not Call" - but the sales guy claimed it did not. I have for certain NEVER clicked it ON.</Vent Off>So go check your Online Account settings and don't leave things in Farnell's / Element14 baskets.I feel better now but it is darn spooky to get called up for things left in a shopping cart and I do not appreciate it. Maybe some people do like it but I do not.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 02:10:54 pm
content: That's what the new GDPR laws are for. They're not allowed to use data collected for different purposes than it was collected for. Sounds like they tripped already.That being said, leaving things in your cart can sometimes cause shops to give discounts to get you to pull the trigger.

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 02:43:43 pm
content: Quote from: kaz911 on June 06, 2018, 02:01:54 pmI noticed this yesterday. I think something turned it back on or it was a new option that is opt-out as mine had it set for phone contact as well. Phone + letter was turned on. Email was turned off.I've never had them call me up about my basket though and I regularly leave stuff lingering in there for weeks.Whilst we're grumbling about Farnell, I ordered some parts yesterday well before the 8pm next day delivery. I received the order confirmation with an estimated delivery date of today. Did it arrive? Nope. I got an email this morning at 8am saying it has been delayed 24 hours. If they had told me yesterday then I would have made other arrangements for the parts. Oh well.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 06:41:53 pm
content: That poor sod who has 0123456789 as a phone number(i do not think that one really exists)In every shop where I had to register privately I entered that as phone number, and nowhere yet did that not work.Reading posts like this gives me ample reason not to stop that practice...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 06:56:18 pm
content: When using the ATM deposit feature they request a phone number. I enter 0000000000, as I already get notifications around 30 seconds after the transaction anyway, and see no reason ( other than adding to the amount of SMS spam I get) to enter it again.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 07:44:12 pm
content: If they would email me about an open basket BEFORE the order deadline for that day, that would actually be useful as I often do an order in bits throughout the day, but I've only ever seen an email a day later, which is pretty pointless.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 07:49:45 pm
content: I think they should automatically add items that you “obviously” forgot after you placed your order already.The number of times after I placed my order I realised I forgot a $0.03 part! In NZ the min order for free shipping is $45 so that can be a pain.

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2018, 08:01:49 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on June 06, 2018, 02:10:54 pmGDPR is just silly a lame intent for covering what realy goes on, for decades CIA FBI NSA etc collects all yourFarnell cart data, buy the wrong component at the wrong time and you may face prison time.

author: station240
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 04:28:19 pm
content: Quote from: kaz911 on June 06, 2018, 02:01:54 pmThe Element14 website completely died on tuesday for about 2 hours, I'd imagine there are quite a few abandoned baskets after that incident.Naturally it broke on me at the point I had to login just to pay for the stuff in the basket.Ordering process still acting sketchy, says anything from the UK warehouse is 'back ordered', but then shows an expected shipment date of 5 days after the order.Their marketing is a pain in so many different ways, if there is a sale on something that might interest you, good luck finding it.

author: chris_leyson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 04:39:09 pm
content: I've been less than pleased with Farnell lately, ordered some parts which showed up as in stock and next day delivery. I even checked again when I placed the order, they still showed up as in stock and next day delivery. A hour or two after placing the order I get an email telling me out of stock and on 10 week lead time. It's happened two or three times lately, never had the same issue with RS or Mouser.

author: bob225
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 05:09:46 pm
content: cpc/Farnell is a pita at times, I would rather use RS or rapid electronics, Now mouser, 1 mistake cost me £60, due to mouser listing a item incorectly

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 06:48:41 pm
content: I also got a call about "things in my basket". Then they cancelled an urgent order without even telling me, saying the amount was too high (only £1000) and they wouldn't accept my order, despite having been a reliable customer for years...morons. I buy elsewhere if I can.

author: kaz911
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2018, 08:26:35 pm
content: I ended up buying the dev boards as they wore in stock.But next time it will be digikey.<Vent On>ONE DEV board had someone stand on it....So 6 Pin Headers very bent (about 45 deg)</Vent Off>well - then I contacted farnell who said : Send us pictures and we arrange for a replacement..<Vent On>I did - but have not had a response since.</Vent off>When do I learn to stay away from Farnell...