TI Samples - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 03:38:46 pm
content: Well, from about a year months back, I have been ordering samples around every other month, and quite honestly putting "Individual" for the company and "Hobby" for use. I would order a few one-off chips that I thought would be fun to play with. I tried ordering again yesterday, a single TL431 in an SOIC package, and simply requested Ground shipping. Within 10 minutes, I was notified that my request was rejected. Fair enough, I thought, and just let it go. I can buy them from Digi-Key, no problems. This morning, however, I was enjoying my coffee, and the door bell rang. It seems that they have sent me 2 TL431s with FedEx priority overnight. Anyone else have the same "problem?"

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 05:38:00 pm
content: TI is nuts sometimes. A few years back they were selling their TTL Logic Data Book (the one that's over a thousand pages) for only 10 cents with free shipping. I ordered one. They charged my credit card 10 cents. I ordered on Friday afternoon, they shipped on Monday, and it was delivered before 10:30 am on Tuesday by FedEx.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 05:40:37 pm
content: It's subsidized by calculator sales from the educational division

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 06:42:19 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on March 13, 2014, 05:40:37 pmAH yes. The overpriced Nspire that our school district REQUIRES!

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 07:10:08 pm
content: Yeah, I'm a little bit confused by TI sometimes too. I am happy to choose ground shipping and wait a few days *AND* save TI some money in the process in order to do my part to keep the sample program alive... however, I always get it overnight.. and I am in Canada...I'm not as big a user of the sample program as echen said he was. I think it's been over 6 months since I last ordered a sample from TI, so I never seem to get rejected... but I just don't really need things overnight either

author: Dongulus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 07:35:08 pm
content: Quote from: echen1024 on March 13, 2014, 06:42:19 pmNever heard of this, I just looked it up.Sheesh, and I thought the TI-89 was overly complicated. I'll stick with my TI-83 any day.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 08:39:43 pm
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on March 13, 2014, 07:10:08 pmI've been using TI less and less as there is a quite zealous Linear salesperson in my area. He seems to not mind giving out products to students, and will notify me of any new products. ADI is also quite good. On average, I order samples every other month to every 3 months.I remember a post a while back about someone who seemed to order every day and got cut off.

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 08:56:51 pm
content: TI's (excellent) sample service is run by Digikey.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2014, 09:03:53 pm
content: Quote from: fcb on March 13, 2014, 08:56:51 pmYes. It ships from thief river falls, the boxes are the same, as are the packing slips.

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 04:08:05 am
content: Quote from: rdl on March 13, 2014, 05:38:00 pmI'm still seriously miffed that I didn't hear about that when it was current. *mutters darkly*

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 06:16:45 am
content: Quote from: baljemmett on March 14, 2014, 04:08:05 amA partly substitutehttp://www.ti.com/lit/sl/scyd013b/scyd013b.pdf

author: Gribo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 07:35:15 am
content: They ship the samples overnight even to other countries. I don't know about individuals, but as a company, we get samples within 3-4 days.

author: TMM
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2014, 12:33:45 pm
content: They ship Fedex overnight to my private address in Australia. Usually arrives in under a week. I try not to abuse their system (i.e. won't order 5 ICs @ $20 list price each)I put my University as the business, with my @student.xxx.edu email and they never deny anything. There's no option for hobby/education in their drop down list of applications so i just put whatever is most suitable (usually 'Industrial/Test Equipment' or similar).