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Where To Get Sets and Parts For discussions about swapmeets, rallies, NVCF and BVWS, car boot sales, antique and charity shops, dealers, newspaper adverts, the local tip and just about any other source of equipment (other than eBay). |
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30th Nov 2011, 7:58 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK.
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Parts from RS Components.
Got an RS depot about a mile from me and Maplin a few miles further on. Anyone trade even order small quantities to collect. Maplin seem to be reducing what used to be bread and butter items and more and more items are mail order only with postage below set sum.
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30th Nov 2011, 8:13 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK.
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
That's a change in policy. RS closed my account many years ago because I didn't spend enough! I used to go to the trade counter in Maple St, off Tottenham Court Road when they were Radiospares in the '50s
Peter |
1st Dec 2011, 1:21 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
I trade as a Ltd Co, and though I spend VERY LITTLE at RS, have no problem keeping the account open, but don't use a local branch as we don't have one nearby.
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1st Dec 2011, 7:26 pm | #4 |
Administrator
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Location: Cardiff
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
I've had an RS account for at least 10 years. I don't spend much, under £150 per year typically, but it remains open with free delivery.
The main thing I use it for is electrolytic capacitors for repairing PC motherboards. I always pay the invoices promptly rather than waiting the 30 days or whatever. |
1st Dec 2011, 7:41 pm | #5 |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
I've had an RS account for many years and it gets used about once per year. So far so good. I usually pay with credit card rather than charging to my account. Just seems easier.
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1st Dec 2011, 8:14 pm | #6 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Coventry, Warwickshire, UK.
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Was looking at not having account, but ordering and paying on line and collecting from local (less than a mile from home), depot.
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29th Dec 2011, 8:46 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,592
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Hi. We have a good R.S trade counter in Leeds. I used to use them a lot on cash sale purchases when I used to work for a large well known electrical appliance (nationwide) store before they made all their service staff (including myself) redundant this year. They had a trade account which they let us use. It probably isn't worth opening my own account now.
Many years ago, R.S had a mail order depot in Leeds called "Doram". It was really useful for people who wanted to buy components from R.S at retail prices. Unfortunately, that service closed down. I agree about Maplin being not so good on components anymore. We could do with more useful electronic component shops here (just like the "good old days"). However, Farnell now welcome the public to their trade counter! Cheers Mike |
29th Dec 2011, 8:59 pm | #8 |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Which is fine IF you live near Leeds.
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30th Dec 2011, 12:29 am | #9 |
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Location: Banffshire, Scotland, UK.
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Maplin, RS components etc
Why not just use the net and go to China, I recently ordered some 3.7 v lipo batteries and some RJ11 plugs and sockets ( from different companies ) and got them for roughly the same cost as the above companies are charging for post and packing The batts were £2.49 post free It baffles me how they can do it as it still has to use our postal service for the end hop I must admit I did wonder if they would ever arrive, but delivery time was on average in the order of 10 days I would prefer to use UK companies for the sake of employment in this country however I think quite a few make their money out of small order p&p charges Its probably not so bad south of where I stay but up here an IV ( Inverness )postcode is regarded like the sign of the devil, some companies refuse even to deliver goods to that post code, others supposedly mainland P&P free sudennly insist on a surcharge when you hit the checkout icon regards val33vo |
30th Dec 2011, 6:07 pm | #10 |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
The problem with going direct to China is that amongst other things, you circumvent approvals and safety & quality standards that are almost given as read with British suppliers like RS. That is OK if you put a capacitor in your garage wireless and it goes bang a few days later, but not so good if a fuse fails to do its job and burns someone's house down. Unfortunately not all foreign suppliers especially outside the EU have such conscientious approaches to making sure components (or finished goods for that matter) live up to their descriptions.
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Kevin |
30th Dec 2011, 6:36 pm | #11 |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
A friend of mine bought a lot of low voltage PSU's direct from China last year for use with a commercial product he makes. On arrival, they all failed the meet the EU regulations on electromagnetic noise. Think he got stuck with them.
As for RS, I love them. Never the cheapest, but if it's in stock on their website (and it usually is), it can be here the next day. As for Maplin, their "quality" threshold is awfully low. |
30th Dec 2011, 8:48 pm | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,592
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
I would prefer to buy more capacitors and resistors from R.S if I could, but their prices have certainly gone high. They sell components that look similar in size to the originals that you are replacing. The polypropylene caps that Farnells are selling are now the miniature ones, which don't seem to look right for replacements.
Doram Electronics were actually a mail order service once operated by R.S Components. Cheers Mike |
30th Dec 2011, 10:29 pm | #13 |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Problem is that the "CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY" with firms like RS ( and others ) due to
ISO /ETC traceability isues pushes price up for the likes of us . |
31st Dec 2011, 9:14 am | #14 | |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Quote:
Frankly I have a great deal of respect for the likes of RS and Farnell to remain in business considering the massive commercial pressures they face. Mike |
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31st Dec 2011, 9:33 am | #15 | |
Octode
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Newbury, Berkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,770
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Quote:
Those of that need them for our livelihood aren't so keep to undermine them by getting unaccredited tatt directly from China for our hobby use. Kill off RS and Farnell and you put another nail into small scale British product development activity as well as various repair companies. Maybe those that moan about the lack of UK technical activity, and yet always personally seek the lowest cost option should have a little think about that one ! My personal view is that I think it's time a tougher line was taken on downright dangerous rubbish being allowed into the country by the back door. This "stuff" leaks into the unsuspecting, non technical mainstream via auction sites and car boot sales. Most on here know enough to make a sensible judgement, that certainly isn't the case in the wider population. I also note the comments above about Chinese PSUs failing EMC tests. We had this problem, even though we bought through an accredited UK dealer. On opening one of the units up, we found blank spaced on the PCB where various ferrites were supposed to have been fitted (as I'm sure they were for the "proving" batch). The penalties for a UK company marketing a product not complying to reams of legislation are draconian, and can include a custodial sentence. I'm not particularly arguing about most of it (because most of it is sensible). What I am arguing for is a level playing field.
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Chris Last edited by evingar; 31st Dec 2011 at 9:44 am. |
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31st Dec 2011, 10:14 am | #16 |
Nonode
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Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Another vote for RS.
I've dealt with them for more years than I care to remember. I've had my own account for a very long time. I rely on them to supply high quality products for a reasonable price, when I need them. Considering my location, any company that delivers stuff tomorrow if I order it before 8 PM today is a company I will support. RS and Farnell don't exist to support the hobby market. It is not a big enough market to support any company of that size and if no hobbyist ever bought another component from them it would make no difference to them. Just think about the amount of money required to ensure that they have adequate stocks of the basic items to give the sort of order turnaround I've mentioned above. Not even Maplin, with at lots of retail outlets on high streets and retail parks across the country can do that. It's horses for courses. The big suppliers exist to service industry and it's a good thing that they do because many of us wouldn't be able to do the "day job" without them. I'm not knocking the smaller specialist suppliers and those who exist to support the dwindling hobby market in the UK. I buy from them as well. For my hobby needs, I can wait for a slower delivery, it doesn't matter if I finish a repair or restoration for myself tomorrow, this week or next month.
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Brian |
31st Dec 2011, 8:55 pm | #17 |
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Next Day up in Scotland as well,excellent.
David GM8JET |
31st Dec 2011, 11:21 pm | #18 |
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Location: Bristol, UK.
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Brian has made a good point about suppliers and hobbyists. Fortunately some are still willing to supply small users and hobbyists with the items they stock. Certainly the Farnell group is one I have used.
Unfortunately our problems arise in wanting things that the bulk users don't need, like valve mains transformers high voltage electrolytic capacitors etc. The serious problem I find is coloured flex or sleeving and that sort of thing. In the past it was available by the tens of meters or more, in a whole range of colours and sizes with no problem. Now if it is not red brown blue or yellow life is difficult as I have no one stocks it. I think there are some producers prepared to do a small batch occasionally. Unfortunately small to them seems to be measured in kilometers. |
31st Dec 2011, 11:24 pm | #19 |
Hexode
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlton Mackrell, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 315
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
I've had an account with RS for the last 10 years and cannot fault their service. I use them for my business and personal projects/repairs. There are other small specialist companies out there giving a good service that I support - mainly the ones that sell valves/obsolete semis etc. I used to work for a couple of component manufacturers that supplied RS so visited their Corby HQ frequently. The amount RS have invested in order processing and logistics must be staggering as the order picking is almost automatic: A plastic box with a radio tag moves around the warehouse and stops at each location that contain the parts on your order until completed then checked, packed, down a chute into containers straight on to a Parcelforce lorry.
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1st Jan 2012, 12:47 am | #20 |
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 96
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Re: Parts from RS Components.
Well, I used to purchase parts from a company called Radiospares who sent out a small yellow coloured catalogue.
Then it was RS Components who I had an account with and at times they shipped to wherever in the world I happened to be working, but haven't bought anything from them now for over 15+ years. Mik |