CPC and Farnell

[Boulevardier]

Does anyone understand the relationship between CPC and Farnell? I thought they had merged to be the same company. I've been looking for fuses for a Fluke 79 III DMM, and CPC don't list any. But googling for them brings up Farnell as a supplier on a Farnell website.

Mike

[duncanlowe]

They are the same company, yes. But they have different offerings. CPC tend to be cheaper but have a more limited range. I guess to drive corporate users towards the Farnell site. I have ordered stuff from CPC that has arrived with Farnell labels on the package and searching Farnell for the stock number (on the packaging) shows it was the same thing but significantly more expensive from Farnell.

[Chrispy57]

Like Duncan, I have been irritated by "variable" pricing, not only between CPC and Farnell for the same item, but within the various CPC catalogues and brochures.

If an item is featured in one of the brochures as a discounted item and you are unaware of that fact and search for, then order said item via the website or catalogue/phone route, then you will be charged the higher price. (Same stock number with a couple of extra digits on the end in the brochure.)

This has always seemed unfair, and somewhat of a sleight of hand by CPC, rather than offering a genuine discount on a particular item to its loyal customers.

Cheers
Chris

[Red to black]

I gave up with CPC more than ten years ago for pretty much the same reasons as well as incorrect stock levels shown on the website only to find out you were on several months back order! plus quite a few other things such as being put on 'stop' if you ordered towards the back end of the month, various accountancy problems entirely on their part ...etc...etc
The final kicker for me was when things went quiet for a few months and they revoked my 'few grand' credit facility. Their loss, not mine as their competitors got the business instead, doubt I would ever order anything else again from them!.
I wouldn't mind but they used to be spot on for spares in the early days but they the turned into a 'glorified Maplins' and started selling 'tat' and less spares and components, never bothered with them since, no loss!

[Boulevardier]

Thanks for the views/advice. Farnell are indeed expensive! I am trying to get hold of a fuse for my Fluke 79 III (the 440mA one - Fluke part no. 943121). CPC don’t have it at all, Farnell are showing it at £13.55 + VAT + £9.95 delivery, and RS are showing £4.95 + VAT + £4.95 delivery. There are UK ebay sellers offering them much cheaper, but I don’t feel like risking possibly fake fuses in an expensive multimeter. If anyone has good (or bad) experience of these cheaper sources for these fuses, it would be good to know.

What’s galling is that I’ve just spent the whole evening selecting parts and putting together an order with CPC that's over their free-postage minimum on the assumption that they have these fuses. I might have to do the whole damned thing again with an order to RS that will include the fuse...

Mike

[GrimJosef]

I don't understand the CPC/Farnell business model either. CPC are often cheaper, but not always. But their stock levels of many items are comical. Or, at least, it would be funny if it weren't so sad. I've seen stock levels below their minimum order quantity ! Worse still (for them) if you order a quantity larger than their stock level as part of an order which gets you free postage, instead of making up the order using stock out of their bedfellow's warehouse (which would keep you happy and cost them next to nothing) they send you the two missing resistors weeks later and at the cost (to them) of a dedicated delivery. Simply ridiculous.

The sooner CPC hold stock at sensible levels, the better.

Cheers,

GJ

[Uncle Bulgaria]

If I have a number of things to get, I compare numbers between Farnell, CPC and RS. It's bizarre how often something like a connector is £12 at one and £3.95 at another. For the small quantities or something more peculiar, the smaller specialist suppliers of valve bits are usually a better bet.

I have been aerated by the general practice of sending a large cardboard box, filled with plastic cushioning, for a few capacitors or resistors that would have fitted in an envelope. Invariably, they're individually plastic wrapped as well, creating enormous waste. Meanwhile the things I get of my grandfather's generation come in cardboard or paper.

[Diabolical Artificer]

It's an odd relationship, feels like two brothers running a shop on the high street, one the height of professional trading whilst the other brother takes stock from the back and flogs it down the market from a suitcase. Brother one has a easy to use website with a parametric search and up to date stock situation , brother two's website is run part time by The Micky Mouse Club.

I stopped buying off CPC years ago but recently started again after they stocked some parts I couldn't get even from the big 3. They have a lower max buy for free shipping too. I'm currently reaching the seriously disillusioned state again after having two sets of components not delivered and due bog knows when and after receiving one hundred 600mw 1% resistors individually wrapped. It has been pointed out I could have bought said R's in 50's, but the website is like wading through treacle with a welding mask on. Lastly order one comes in a big box full of air bags, 2nd part of order comes in a padded envelope.

Orders from Farnell arrive the next day hand delivered by a smiling UPS courier, every thing you ordered is there, packaged sensibly. Go figure as the young uns say.

All this makes sourcing parts for our hobby a sometimes frustrating experience,especially if you throw RS into the mix. Happy were the days when a trip to the local component shop could get you all your bits and other bargains you didn't know you needed.

Andy.

[woodchips]

CPC started out life as a supplier of white goods spares, and branched out into general electronic and other components.

I have used them, with Farnell and RS, for near 30 years. Any complaints? No, not really.

My parcels are delivered by UPS, one reason I use them, and as the driver said, their parcels are easy to spot in the van, hence the large size of them.

Both CPC and Farnell have just been bought by someone, Mouser? And this has resulted in a shake up of the stock. But I have not had problems with mistakes in stock levels, other than the odd one or two, item or package.

CPC are my first go to supplier, but for more complicated items such as a 3 phase RCD then RS or Farnell will stock it.

The problem I find with the suppliers is the reduction in range. Unless it is for education, entertainment and similar type use then the manufacturing stuff is definitely harder to find. The semingly identical product also seems to be supplied by any number or presumably Chinese manufacturers and are not necessarily identical, anyone bought old HP low current LED displays lately? Now rubbish.

[Keith956]

My Dad used to buy from RS in the 60's, there was always a Radiospares catalog in the house. And so I continued in that tradition. They are great for placing an order at 6pm and getting it the next morning, with no delivery charge. Farnell on the other hand don't seem to manage next day delivery and charge for it, even if you've a trade account, if less than £40. Can't say I've ever used CPC though, I do occasionally use Cricklewood who stock stuff the others don't.

[emeritus]

I have had no problems with CPC/Farnell deliveries. I always use the standard delivery option and it has usually been coming two days later, and occasionally the next working day after ordering.

[peterpixel]

Re post #9, I've always been under the impression that CPC grew out of Combined Precision Components which grew out of AES(Amalgamated Electric Services) which was set up to service the supply of parts for the Philips/Pye etc group back in the 60s. It's been so long that this maybe my memory needing a boost. I've never had any serious problems with them or Farnell apart from the fact that CPC refuse to supply me with a catalogue these days as my requirements are much lower than they used to be. Peter.

[McMurdo]

I opened our first account with CPC in order to buy a replacement LOPT for an Amstrad CPC464 colour computer! Don't suppose they do those anymore!

Farnell bought CPC a few years ago, but they're run as seperate businesses with seperate warehouses. At one time, if you ordered something from Farnell which was out of stock at Farnell, , it might have arrived in a CPC bag with a cpc stock code, so some co-operation must've happened even if it doesn't now.

Farnell became Premier-Farnell after buying Premier Industrial, a USA company, and have since been taken over by Avnet, another USA supplier.

It's swings and roundabouts on prices. Sometimes one is cheaper than the other, usually CPC the cheaper but not always the case, so if you have any quantity, I'd recommend comparing them.

Long lead times on things is the main problem for me at the moment.

[factory]

Originally Posted by Boulevardier

Thanks for the views/advice. Farnell are indeed expensive! I am trying to get hold of a fuse for my Fluke 79 III (the 440mA one - Fluke part no. 943121). CPC don’t have it at all, Farnell are showing it at £13.55 + VAT + £9.95 delivery, and RS are showing £4.95 + VAT + £4.95 delivery. There are UK ebay sellers offering them much cheaper, but I don’t feel like risking possibly fake fuses in an expensive multimeter. If anyone has good (or bad) experience of these cheaper sources for these fuses, it would be good to know.

What’s galling is that I’ve just spent the whole evening selecting parts and putting together an order with CPC that's over their free-postage minimum on the assumption that they have these fuses. I might have to do the whole damned thing again with an order to RS that will include the fuse...

Mike

It's not branded Fluke but would this do instead?
https://cpc.farnell.com/siba/5021006...x35/dp/FF02436

David

[wireman]

So where did Element14 fit in?

My first order with Farnell didn't go so well, they stopped my order and made me pay by bank transfer as they would not take my credit card. Never happened before with any other purchase.

[duncanlowe]

I had (well with a friend so technically 'we' had) an account with Farnell back in the early eighties. At the time they only did trade, but by setting up a bank account in our names they allowed us an account. Essentially we resold with a small margin, to friends at sixth form college. I still have 'an account' with Farnell but pretty sure it's no longer seen as trade. I'm still in contact with that schoolfriend, though we haven't actually seen each other since the 1980s. I reckon there's £1.80 in our names somewhere!

At that time, there was no way RS would have dealt with us. But then at that time they were way more expensive than Farnell, so were not of interest.

CPC have been very up and down over the years. I reckon I've had an account for around 20 years. Had some real bargains when the clearance stuff was stupidly cheap.

I have had a number of occasions where I've ordered from CPC and the stuff arrives in Farnell labelled packets. I think to some extent CPC are used to do the clearance for Farnell.

But I have to agree, I've experienced rubbish stock delivery from CPC. I have some smart dimmers that have a list of compatible LED bulbs. CPC were selling some of the compatible ones, so I ordered quite a few, to keep me stocked up. Many (maybe 30%) of the first delivery weren't what was ordered, even a number of the replacements were also wrong. I think it took four deliveries to get what I'd ordered. Oh, and they were all filthy dirty.

[Boulevardier]

Originally Posted by factory

It's not branded Fluke but would this do instead?
https://cpc.farnell.com/siba/5021006...x35/dp/FF02436

David

Thanks David, I missed that and it looks right. Am about to order one on my CPC order.

Mike