Good Electronic Components Company?

I'm looking for various components for experimentation, but I've noticed that eBay is not really a cost-effective source for small components (probably because of all the eBay fees).

What are some good online sources for electronics components, that take Paypal, and don't kill you on shipping or have Radio-Shack type prices?

Thanks!

Why would you want Radio Shack prices? They're a total rip-off. The only reason you shop at Radio Dump is because you need something in a hurry--or don't know any better.

I buy my parts from Mouser or Digikey, and sometimes eBay. However, they don't take paypal, and for your needs, the shipping is probably too much.

eBay fees aren't that much you know, and if they are, you're buying too little. It's usually the shipping that costs quite a bit. I'd find one of those Chinese parts distributors on eBay and make a $10 purchase or something for some parts in bulk. You can usually get some odd thousand resistors for pretty cheap in assorted values, or maybe some regulators or caps, etc. The other parts you can likewise get.

I picked up a full set of resistors/capacitors off ebay and go to digikey or mouser for the more specialized components.

You are going to end up paying a lot for small quantities no matter where you go, depending on the kind of stuff you make it might be a worthwhile investment to get a few IC assortments, diodes, transistors and such.  I picked up a few cheap ones as well and have the parts on hand to make almost all of the schematics I will run across online several times over.  Total cost was probbably ~40-50$.  It pays for itself just in avoiding the shipping for 2-3 parts.


I will also go to local places for parts when I need them fast, it can be hard to track down a good source however I have found a radio repair shop and a custom cable manufacturer to be quite well stocked when it comes to miscellaneous parts. Cost can be high but better than radio shack and probbably less than shipping. You may have to phone around a bit.

No, I said...

and don't kill you on shipping or have Radio-Shack type prices?

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They're a total rip-off

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Agreed. I have always considered them to be the "7-11" of the electronics industry - convenient, but it's gonna cost you!

eBay fees aren't that much you know

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Actually, the problem is that it's costing the sellers. I was having trouble finding some individual components on eBay, either they were overly expensive (worse than Tandy) or I couldn't find them at all.

Then I realized, that the seller has to pay eBay a listing fee for each item he puts in there (even if it does not sell), and that for many components, it is just not worth it for them to list it on eBay unless they know that particular component is popular enough to justify the fees.

I picked up a full set of resistors/capacitors off ebay..

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eBay seems to be good for buying generic items in bulk, but trying to get specialty items 1-up like semi's & IC's is another story.

...and go to digikey or mouser for the more specialized components.

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Neither of them appear to take Paypal (and when I looked at Digikey earlier on some specialty items, they also seemed a bit pricy?)

I saw SparkFun mentioned in a thread here a few days ago, and took a look at them - they do take Paypal. But their inventory appears rather limited, and seems to be geared more towards embedded-microcontroller development and specific apps.

...a few IC assortments, diodes, transistors and such. I picked up a few cheap ones as well and have the parts on hand to make almost all of the schematics...Total cost was probbably ~40-50$.

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That sounds interesting. Do you recall who you got those from - were they on eBay?

just in avoiding the shipping for 2-3 parts

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I wouldn't mind ordering various parts in one order from a good company to save on shipping, I understand it doesn't make sense to pay shipping costs on a single diode (unless perhaps it's an LD!)

As popular as Paypal is, I figure there ought to be some companies out their like Digikey that can take it. I would prefer a U.S. company (due to shipping times), but would consider an HK supplier if they had a good reputation & selection.

Simple components like stock capacitors, resistors and standard transistors are relatively expensive in small quantities no matter where you buy them. If you are into experimentation, i can recommend taking a look at futurlec.com

The sell a couple of 'value packs' with resistors and capacitors, giving you a bunch of often used values at bottom prices. I've ordered some of these packs before, and they contain good quality components with very usable values as well - they are not typical bags of odd-value overstock like you sometimes see auctioned!

Thanks, Benm!

I just pulled-up their site, and I'm in heaven! Lot's of stuff, their prices appear dirt-cheap, and they even take Paypal!

That's exactly the kind of companies I was looking for!

Now my only problem is, I may not get any sleep tonight - sooo much fun stuff to check-out - I feel like a kid in a candy-store!

BTW - I will have some real interesting info for you on that other topic shortly (as soon as I get a chance to put all of the technical details together) - I've been doing some heavy-duty research on that since last weekend!

I also have some sample thermal sensors on order.

Ah yes, I had forgotten where I bought my IC assortments or I would have posted it. I got them from futurlec.com, thanks for jogging my memory since I was hoping to go back there in the future.

You should also take a look at bgmicro.com for many more electronic parts and random items.

And just to ensure you don't get any sleep tonight or all weekend....

halted.com
alltronics.com
goldmine-elec.com
vakits.com
elexp.com
vetco.net
jameco.com
allelectronics.com

I am sure there are a few more in my favorites list if I dig around, but this should be a good start, and it is always interesting to look through all the random items.

seoguy said:

Thanks, Benm!  

I just pulled-up their site, and I'm in heaven!  Lot's of stuff, their prices appear dirt-cheap, and they even take Paypal!

That's exactly the kind of companies I was looking for!

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I'm glad to hear you like it!

I have ordered from them before, and they are a nice electronics dealer to work with. The only thing is, they ship from asia warehouses (bangkok mostly), so your order might take 2 weeks or so to arrive. No problem if you need some extra stock, but dont order if you need things in a hurry.

Ah yes, I had forgotten where I bought my IC assortments or I would have posted it. I got them from futurlec.com, thanks for jogging my memory since I was hoping to go back there in the future.

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I can see what you were talking about now, 691175002 - their price on those value packs is fantastic - I'm tempted to buy one of every one of those they sell!

TonyG, I was going to post if anyone else knew of any other good companies like that, but you beat me to it, thanks! (and no, I didn't get much sleep last weekend!)

I am sure there are a few more in my favorites list if I dig around...

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Bring 'em on!

it is always interesting to look through all the random items.

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Yes, most definitely!

The only thing is, they ship from asia warehouses (bangkok mostly), so your order might take 2 weeks or so to arrive.

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I wondered how their prices were so cheap for a U.S. company! ($4.90 for a DMM?!) Thanks for the heads-up, that's good to know.

Still plan on probably ordering from them...just have to add them to the list of things I am (impatiently) waiting to arrive from Asia!


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Edit: BTW, if any of you have any ideas to my post here -

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1236086512

please let me know, as one of the main reasons for asking that question was to figure-out what all to put in my order!

Thanks!

seoguy said:

Thanks, Benm!  

I just pulled-up their site, and I'm in heaven!  Lot's of stuff, their prices appear dirt-cheap, and [highlight]they even take Paypal[/highlight]!

That's exactly the kind of companies I was looking for!

Now my only problem is, I may not get any sleep tonight - sooo much fun stuff to check-out - I feel like a kid in a candy-store!

BTW - I will have some real interesting info for you on that other topic shortly (as soon as I get a chance to put all of the technical details together) - I've been doing some heavy-duty research on that since last weekend!  

I also have some sample thermal sensors on order.

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I don't see they do? :-/

Gotta hunt for it, and their cart is not PayPal-based, so you have to go through a few extra steps, but they do!

scroll down here...
http://futurlec.com/OrderingInformation.shtml

Thanks m8!

for any brits about like me i reccomend rs components, bulk buy only but still cheaper than maplin (radio shack type place) for example i need a handfull of tactile switches, at maplin 98p each ($1.50 ?) at rs £2 for 400 ($3) now thT IS A BARGAIN LOL