Chris Bolus wrote:
On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:47:17 +0100, David Billington
wrote:


Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

In article ,
David Billington wrote:


Thanks for the heads up - despite using electronics suppliers I never
thought to try them. Got exactly what I wanted from Farnell - at about
15 quid rather than the 75 or so for 'car' ones. Only difference is it
has Molex connectors rather than an automotive one.




That's good. I used to have an account with Farnell but as their printed
catalogues dried up, and they pushed more to the website I stopped
buying from them and switched to RS. I didn't have a RS catalogue but I
found RSs website vastly superior to Farnells and it still is by the
look of it.


I'm not sure there's much between them once you suss them out. They are
both slow if you have a slow connection or computer.



It was mainly that the printed catalogue had the data in it with the
component so I could make a decision quickly, I found the Farnell site
presentation poor and the data had to be downloaded if present. RS at
least had quite a bit of data on the webpages detailing many of the
components so was far quicker to get an order together.


I found using Farnells website a waste of time when it might
take an hour to get an order together that would take 10 minutes with
the printed catalogue.


I tend to use Farnell/CPC cost wise. And Rapid. RS tend to be a last
resort. ;-)


Must look at CPC as I haven't in awhile. Got a nice shiny new Maplins in
Bath now so for odds and ends I can pop in there and pick them up.


CPC *is* Farnells...

Maplins is useful and convenient, but not as cheap, and just doesn't
have the range of Rapid & CPC. Like Dave, RS is a last resort!

I'm aware of that but the last time I looked at a CPC catalogue its
content was significantly different to Farnell. I see CPC advertise on
TV now, not seen Farnell yet. I get the impression they are focused on
different market sectors. I know RS are not the cheapest but I use them
when they have the parts and I don't know a cheaper supplier or the part
is far easier to find on their site and my time is costing me. Will have
a look around CPC and Rapid site and see if they are useful.