CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Herald1360 · 26th Apr 2017, 7:27 pm

Most recent overkill for me was 10 small SMD chips in about the first 2" of a 2' long antistatic tube. The tube was then bubble wrapped and came in a box like a two foot long shoebox! A small brown envelope would have been fine or even firmly taped to a postcard!

ColinTheAmpMan1 · 26th Apr 2017, 8:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Ah yes, the airbags used for packaging. We used to have a wonderful fun-filled five minutes jumping on them at work and making them explode when a parcel arrived with them inside.

I do hope you unpacked everything that you wanted from those parcels and didn't just jump on them before opening!

Colin.

Dai Corner · 26th Apr 2017, 9:21 pm

CPC used to send me their 4000 page catalogue when I ordered for them for work, spending hundreds of pounds a month. We called it 'the bible'. Unfortunately, now I'm retired and only place the occasional personal order I only get the small catalogues. They make good bedtime reading though.

Biggles · 26th Apr 2017, 10:01 pm

We did, Colin. I always thought it would be a good idea to fill the bags with helium then they would be cheaper to post, as the parcel would be lighter.
Alan.

MrBungle · 26th Apr 2017, 10:06 pm

I'd rather they put crisps in there

Biggles · 26th Apr 2017, 10:16 pm

One supplier used to put a little complementary bag of sweets in with the goods. There was always a bit of a scramble among the technicians to find it first if a parcel arrived. I can't remember who it was. May have been CPC.

Diabolical Artificer · 27th Apr 2017, 5:36 am

I find Farnell's search engine ok, CPC's terrible, though it looks the same engine. RS's is good but lot's of their stuff is OOS, which is a shame as RS is a more vintage tinkerer friendly.

I save the air bags for re - use and had saved quite a few up in the shed. One day I heard bangs coming from the shed, went to investigate and found my daughter and her pain in the a**e friend in there. Her friend had happily popped my stash of air bags, bless her. She's painted my soap with nail polish, but that's another story. She's a bit like the child in the popular ditty, "My Brother" .

To me old packaging is precious ( though I don't go around hunchbacked rubbing my hands muttering under my breath) I hoard it to re use, my shed is full of boxes and don't mention my padded envelope stash. It's a bit mad really. To employee's at CPC et al it's a free unlimited resource so you can understand when they're a bit liberal with it.

Still, wrapping each R is CPC policy like a lot of sweet makers these days they wrap each sweet in a multipack individually, another thing that drives me nuts, makes me roll my eyes and knash my teeth. : ) Still havn't heard back from CPC, re packageing.

Andy.

dsergeant · 27th Apr 2017, 7:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

One supplier used to put a little complementary bag of sweets in with the goods. There was always a bit of a scramble among the technicians to find it first if a parcel arrived. I can't remember who it was. May have been CPC.

Chas Hyde, sadly no longer around. At one time they were nice chocolate ones with special ones at Christmas, but that didn't last either.

Dave

jamesperrett · 27th Apr 2017, 1:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBungle

Does anyone know the import duty/VAT situation for Mouser/Digikey? Occasionally they are the only places that have stock I want.

I prefer Mouser over Digikey as Mouser take care of all the import duty and VAT before it reaches you. I haven't ordered from Digikey for a few years now as the last time I tried, I had all sorts of problems with customs duty and VAT payment.

MrBungle · 27th Apr 2017, 3:32 pm

Thanks for the info. I'll do a mouser order next time I need something and see what happens

Diabolical Artificer · 30th Apr 2017, 5:27 am

Digikey do too. No problem with customs.

Andy.

'LIVEWIRE?' · 30th Apr 2017, 9:02 am

The only time I used Mouser, the shipment took quite a while to arrive. From memoey it was routed from their US HQ to Paris, and then to their UK distribution centre for onward delivery. A direct flight from the USA to London would have been quicker and more efficient, IMHO, but that's the way they work, or did a couple of years ago.

MrBungle · 30th Apr 2017, 10:10 am

I order a things from Tayda in Thailand occasionally. Takes 8-10 days but I'm quite impressed as you can track it in Thailand and in the UK.

They are completely dishonest when it comes to customs though and all their jiffy bags are pre-printed with "$7 component samples" even if you spend £30.

Have ordered some parts from Mouser. Fingers crossed.

Wendymott · 30th Apr 2017, 2:42 pm

I too order from CPC and I am not now amazed at the waste of packaging.... some bean counter somewhere.... has it in his / her head that one size fits all.
It is ridiculous shipping "AIR"........those giant bubble bags...they are not even useful for reuse...Normal bubble wrap "YES" those airbags NOOOOOOOOOOO.

stevehertz · 30th Apr 2017, 6:45 pm

The packaging - like it or not - is all to do with money. Based on the overall order profile (small orders, big orders etc) someone has worked out that that is the cheapest, and overall, the 'best' way to store and ship. It may look like a 'waste of money' to the guy buying a few components - or even - as has been pointed out, the guy buying loads of diodes, but rest assured, it will be the best way for them, the most profitable.

vidjoman · 30th Apr 2017, 8:22 pm

I'm sure they will have a contract price based on the box size and annual quantity of items for carriage which will be much cheaper that you or I would have to pay.

stevehertz · 30th Apr 2017, 8:52 pm

Your point being..

McMurdo · 30th Apr 2017, 9:02 pm

CPC are owned by the Farnell group, and they in turn are all owned by US giant 'Avnet'. But Farnell's distribution centres are in Leeds and Belgium, and CPCs is in Preston in Lancashire. Sometimes stuff from CPC comes in a Farnell bag with CPCs sticker over it and vice versa.

Lots of stuff from the big suppliers I find are out of stock, RS being perhaps the biggest culprit. But it's hard times for electronics suppliers. Rapid's change of owner (now part of German firm Conrad) is mixed blessings for me. Conrad's huge inventory is available with free delivery if part of a Rapid order, and it arrives quickly.
One of the few TV parts companies I use from time to time is Wiltsgrove, now that CHS has gone.

Radio Wrangler · 30th Apr 2017, 9:09 pm

The post office did it I suppose.

Once upon a time we paid for postage based on weight. It was simple.

Then some new genius put in charge of things did some theorising and decided to also charge based on the other three physical dimensions as well. So now your package has to pass through holes in a template to prove it isn't too big for a specific cost of service. There are several costs and each has maximum dimensions and a maximum weight.

Now, say you are a packaging manufacturer. Is there any point in making a package any smaller than the smallest size? If you did, it wouldn't save on postage costs. Is there any point making packages between the larger sizes? Nope!

So in an attempt to make more cash from larger packages, the sizes of ALL packages have now been quantized up to the maximum of each cost band.

There is a theory which says that smaller things usually outnumber larger things. Increasing the bulk of the smaller things could well rob all the profit from cashing in on the smaller number of large but low density items.

In changing how market is approached, it is well to understand that the market will change in response to the new approach.

Perhaps we should all have bought shares in bubble wrap and air pillow firms?

Just a quck edit... I forgot about the increased cost of having to check the dimensions of every package posted to catch anyone cheating.

David

MrBungle · 30th Apr 2017, 11:20 pm

I've noticed stuff from the Far East is always priced based on weight and thought it quite sensible.

A few years ago I wrote some software for a large well known retailer that analysed couriers and royal mail and came up with the cheapest delivery cost to the retailer for each transaction. Rather complicated. Was even down to approximate volume calculation and packaging selection.

Royal Mail rarely won.

26th Apr 2017, 7:27 pm	#21
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. Most recent overkill for me was 10 small SMD chips in about the first 2" of a 2' long antistatic tube. The tube was then bubble wrapped and came in a box like a two foot long shoebox! A small brown envelope would have been fine or even firmly taped to a postcard! __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

26th Apr 2017, 9:21 pm	#23
Dai Corner Hexode Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Newport, South Wales, UK. Posts: 278	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. CPC used to send me their 4000 page catalogue when I ordered for them for work, spending hundreds of pounds a month. We called it 'the bible'. Unfortunately, now I'm retired and only place the occasional personal order I only get the small catalogues. They make good bedtime reading though.

26th Apr 2017, 10:01 pm	#24
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. We did, Colin. I always thought it would be a good idea to fill the bags with helium then they would be cheaper to post, as the parcel would be lighter. Alan.

26th Apr 2017, 10:06 pm	#25
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. I'd rather they put crisps in there

26th Apr 2017, 10:16 pm	#26
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. One supplier used to put a little complementary bag of sweets in with the goods. There was always a bit of a scramble among the technicians to find it first if a parcel arrived. I can't remember who it was. May have been CPC.

27th Apr 2017, 5:36 am	#27
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,662	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. I find Farnell's search engine ok, CPC's terrible, though it looks the same engine. RS's is good but lot's of their stuff is OOS, which is a shame as RS is a more vintage tinkerer friendly. I save the air bags for re - use and had saved quite a few up in the shed. One day I heard bangs coming from the shed, went to investigate and found my daughter and her pain in the a**e friend in there. Her friend had happily popped my stash of air bags, bless her. She's painted my soap with nail polish, but that's another story. She's a bit like the child in the popular ditty, "My Brother" . To me old packaging is precious ( though I don't go around hunchbacked rubbing my hands muttering under my breath) I hoard it to re use, my shed is full of boxes and don't mention my padded envelope stash. It's a bit mad really. To employee's at CPC et al it's a free unlimited resource so you can understand when they're a bit liberal with it. Still, wrapping each R is CPC policy like a lot of sweet makers these days they wrap each sweet in a multipack individually, another thing that drives me nuts, makes me roll my eyes and knash my teeth. : ) Still havn't heard back from CPC, re packageing. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

27th Apr 2017, 3:32 pm	#30
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. Thanks for the info. I'll do a mouser order next time I need something and see what happens

30th Apr 2017, 5:27 am	#31
Diabolical Artificer Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Sleaford, Lincs. UK. Posts: 7,662	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. Digikey do too. No problem with customs. Andy. __________________ Curiosity hasn't killed this cat...so far.

30th Apr 2017, 9:02 am	#32
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. The only time I used Mouser, the shipment took quite a while to arrive. From memoey it was routed from their US HQ to Paris, and then to their UK distribution centre for onward delivery. A direct flight from the USA to London would have been quicker and more efficient, IMHO, but that's the way they work, or did a couple of years ago.

30th Apr 2017, 10:10 am	#33
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. I order a things from Tayda in Thailand occasionally. Takes 8-10 days but I'm quite impressed as you can track it in Thailand and in the UK. They are completely dishonest when it comes to customs though and all their jiffy bags are pre-printed with "$7 component samples" even if you spend £30. Have ordered some parts from Mouser. Fingers crossed.

30th Apr 2017, 2:42 pm	#34
Wendymott Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,795	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. I too order from CPC and I am not now amazed at the waste of packaging.... some bean counter somewhere.... has it in his / her head that one size fits all. It is ridiculous shipping "AIR"........those giant bubble bags...they are not even useful for reuse...Normal bubble wrap "YES" those airbags NOOOOOOOOOOO. __________________ Should get out more. Regards Wendy G8BZY

30th Apr 2017, 6:45 pm	#35
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. The packaging - like it or not - is all to do with money. Based on the overall order profile (small orders, big orders etc) someone has worked out that that is the cheapest, and overall, the 'best' way to store and ship. It may look like a 'waste of money' to the guy buying a few components - or even - as has been pointed out, the guy buying loads of diodes, but rest assured, it will be the best way for them, the most profitable. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

30th Apr 2017, 8:22 pm	#36
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. I'm sure they will have a contract price based on the box size and annual quantity of items for carriage which will be much cheaper that you or I would have to pay.

30th Apr 2017, 8:52 pm	#37
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,831	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. Your point being.. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

30th Apr 2017, 9:02 pm	#38
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. CPC are owned by the Farnell group, and they in turn are all owned by US giant 'Avnet'. But Farnell's distribution centres are in Leeds and Belgium, and CPCs is in Preston in Lancashire. Sometimes stuff from CPC comes in a Farnell bag with CPCs sticker over it and vice versa. Lots of stuff from the big suppliers I find are out of stock, RS being perhaps the biggest culprit. But it's hard times for electronics suppliers. Rapid's change of owner (now part of German firm Conrad) is mixed blessings for me. Conrad's huge inventory is available with free delivery if part of a Rapid order, and it arrives quickly. One of the few TV parts companies I use from time to time is Wiltsgrove, now that CHS has gone. __________________ Kevin

30th Apr 2017, 9:09 pm	#39
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,876	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. The post office did it I suppose. Once upon a time we paid for postage based on weight. It was simple. Then some new genius put in charge of things did some theorising and decided to also charge based on the other three physical dimensions as well. So now your package has to pass through holes in a template to prove it isn't too big for a specific cost of service. There are several costs and each has maximum dimensions and a maximum weight. Now, say you are a packaging manufacturer. Is there any point in making a package any smaller than the smallest size? If you did, it wouldn't save on postage costs. Is there any point making packages between the larger sizes? Nope! So in an attempt to make more cash from larger packages, the sizes of ALL packages have now been quantized up to the maximum of each cost band. There is a theory which says that smaller things usually outnumber larger things. Increasing the bulk of the smaller things could well rob all the profit from cashing in on the smaller number of large but low density items. In changing how market is approached, it is well to understand that the market will change in response to the new approach. Perhaps we should all have bought shares in bubble wrap and air pillow firms? Just a quck edit... I forgot about the increased cost of having to check the dimensions of every package posted to catch anyone cheating. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

30th Apr 2017, 11:20 pm	#40
MrBungle Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: CPC, components out of stock - packaging overkill. I've noticed stuff from the Far East is always priced based on weight and thought it quite sensible. A few years ago I wrote some software for a large well known retailer that analysed couriers and royal mail and came up with the cheapest delivery cost to the retailer for each transaction. Rather complicated. Was even down to approximate volume calculation and packaging selection. Royal Mail rarely won.