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Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

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Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#31

Post by MrFoof »

I’m still waiting after 7 weeks for a refund from Mouser. I ended up escalating to my business’s credit card issuer.

Ordered a $120 cable in which both vendors had recommended. It wasn’t what was required, so sent it back as an RMA, in all the original packaging.

Mouser refused to refund me, saying that there was a bag with my order number on it, and even though I sent back the original unopened product in its original packaging, that without the bag with my order number, no refund.

So they sent it back to me. I FISHED THE STUPID BAG WITH THE ORDER NUMBER ON IT OUT OF THE TRASH, and re sent it back in for an RMA. 5 weeks later, still nothing.

Ultimately it’s going to be 3+ months to get the money back from my card issuer. Mouser will never get my business again.

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#32

Post by JohnFen »

WalterBright wrote: post #19

When the cable guy came to add another outlet to my previous house, I watched what he did and chatted a bit about his tools. He was using Digikey tools. I then ordered identical tools. For my later house, I installed all the cables and outlets myself, with the Digikey tools. All I can say is two thumbs up for them. Quick and easy, and not a single bad connection. I did this because of my troubles soldering, which all…

> Ever since, I look at what the pros use and buy those tools.

One of the best pieces of business advice I ever got was to identify the core pieces of equipment that really impact the quality/efficiency of your work and go as high-end as you can afford on those. Then go as cheap as you can tolerate for everything else.

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#33

Post by mailey »

alibarber wrote: post #15
HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Digi-Key provides such a consistently stellar performance that I simply don't bother checking anywhere else first. Unless it's something I don't mind buying on Amazon.

I live in Finland and it is consistently both cheaper and faster to order from DigiKey in the States than anywhere else I’ve tried in Europe (>$50 for free shipping). If I can’t get the part locally (and of course accept the markup for that) then I can have it in my hand in 48 hours from DigiKey. And yes they handle all the customs and tax and stuff for you at the checkout.

You can also use one of these suppliers: https://www.tme.eu https://www.reichelt.com/

although shipping can take from 2 to 7 days (despite the proximity)

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#35

Post by exmadscientist »

reaperman wrote: post #30
TylerE wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sort of like how in the mechanical world you just order from McMaster-Carr.

Yes, actually a lot like that, because in the mechanical world you'd order from either McMaster-Carr or Grainger. They're largely equivalent in broad strokes, no one would fault you for favoring one over the other. In 2015 that was the exact same situation for DigiKey and Mouser. Small differences, both have great selection, great service, competitive prices. This would be like either Grainger or McMaster-Carr just s…

It's also interesting because all four of these companies cater to professionals. And as a professional you never want to be talking to customer service, even if it costs you extra.

I don't think I know how to contact Mouser CS, because I've never had to. And I buy a lot of parts. Enough that we've spent more on overnight shipping this year alone than the article's entire spend. I'm guessing that's related!

But I do know how to find Digi-Key's customer service, and I'm growing increasingly annoyed with them as a company. Not dropping them or anything rash. Just... annoyed. Their continued misadventures with their same-day shipping deadline have cost me a lot of money. So yay! Parties all around!

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#36

Post by lnsru »

Mouser is another middle man, I keep trying buying from manufacturers directly. While some don't accept small quantities and others refer to their preferred retailers it's worth it. The big distributors are expensive. There is no big deal saving 1/4 not buying from Mouser. As a distributor Mouser's fine, all of my orders arrived as expected. On other hand shit happens from statistical view alone when Mouser processes millions orders. Maybe sometimes an application engineer would be helpful, but support forums work out well (for me).

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#37

Post by ssl232 »

sschueller wrote: post #22

For small personal projects I have switched to LCSC in part because I can automate the BOM order when I generate the PCB gerbers all out of Kicad via gitlab pipeline. All I have to do is add the LCSC part numbers as an extra field in my Kicad schematic. If I order from JLCPCB I also get a shipping discount at LCSC. Mauser and digitkey are very expensive to ship here (Switzerland) so unless my order is larger it's not…

Care to share your GitLab pipeline? Are you using KiCad 7's new CLI interface?

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#38

Post by sschueller »

thrtythreeforty wrote: post #29
myself248 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm baffled that Mouser and Digi-Key haven't put the same effort into a Kicad pluggin to replicate that capability.

I suspect that the KiCAD userbase is still considered "small potatoes" and not worthy of this kind of development effort. Which is a shame if true. KiCAD is a gem of open source and holds a lot of mindshare with nerds and hackers.

Isn't Kicad the tool the CERN uses and also actively develops?

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#39

Post by bombledmonk »

myself248 wrote: post #26
sschueller wrote: post #22

For small personal projects I have switched to LCSC in part because I can automate the BOM order when I generate the PCB gerbers all out of Kicad via gitlab pipeline. All I have to do is add the LCSC part numbers as an extra field in my Kicad schematic. If I order from JLCPCB I also get a shipping discount at LCSC. Mauser and digitkey are very expensive to ship here (Switzerland) so unless my order is larger it's not…

I'm baffled that Mouser and Digi-Key haven't put the same effort into a Kicad pluggin to replicate that capability.

You mean like this? https://github.com/Digi-Key/KiCad-Push-to-DigiKey

Re: Why I'm done with Mouser Electronics

#40

Post by sschueller »

ssl232 wrote: post #37
sschueller wrote: post #22

For small personal projects I have switched to LCSC in part because I can automate the BOM order when I generate the PCB gerbers all out of Kicad via gitlab pipeline. All I have to do is add the LCSC part numbers as an extra field in my Kicad schematic. If I order from JLCPCB I also get a shipping discount at LCSC. Mauser and digitkey are very expensive to ship here (Switzerland) so unless my order is larger it's not…

Care to share your GitLab pipeline? Are you using KiCad 7's new CLI interface?

I am using kicad 7 but with kibot. I will post the pipeline tomorrow here as another comment as I can't do it via mobile.

Edit: I will probably do a complete write up on my blog as I changed a few things between 6 and 7. Should be posting it within a week at https://sschueller.github.io/

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