Futurlec order experiance - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Sceadwian · 25th April 2007, 01:30 AM

Does anyone have experience with Futurlec orders? I placed an order with them on the 12th of this month. On the 14th my order was still showing 'entered' on their website status, so I sent an e-mail asking about status. They replied everything should be packed on the 16th... On the 19th I made a follow up e-mail wondering why I hadn't gotten tracking information yet and they replied the order was complete except for some tiny26's I ordered, but they had a slightly different version of the tiny26 so I told them that was fine. It's now the 24th and I haven't received tracking information or any kind of feedback as to what the delay is this time, I don't care why but the fact that they haven't notified me of whatever the delay is (normal or otherwise) is seriously starting to irk me. Anyone else have problems like this with furturlec? I've run across one other post warning about their shipping times but I've explicitly asked for a shipping date on three occasions now and it seems like they're trying really hard to blow me off. I've placed orders with Digikey and Mpja before and I always get immediate and informative e-mails even if there is a delay.
Anyone else have experiences?

justDIY · 25th April 2007, 04:00 AM

that delay sounds about right for Futurlec. They are very very slow in fulfilling orders. but their prices are so cheap on many things, it is often worth the wait. I've ordered many times, and usually wait about a month for delivery, but everything eventually made it.

not recommended if you're working under any sort of deadline!

Sceadwian · 25th April 2007, 04:07 AM

It's not the wait, it's the fact that they're stonewalling me in my requests for a shipping date. If they said three weeks or five weeks even, I could sleep well at night so to speak and plan around that approximate time and after two or four weeks I could ask again. But when they said 'monday' And come thursday I have to send another e-mail just to get an update, I begin to get upset =) There's no wonder their sales respondant only lists their first name on e-mails, they don't want nasty grams.

**3v0** · 25th April 2007, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justDIY

that delay sounds about right for Futurlec. They are very very slow in fulfilling orders. but their prices are so cheap on many things, it is often worth the wait. I've ordered many times, and usually wait about a month for delivery, but everything eventually made it.

not recommended if you're working under any sort of deadline!

I looked at the site a few times and what I was interested in could be found for less elsewhere. Not what I would call a fair comparison.
What sort of things are they cheaper on ?

mneary · 25th April 2007, 05:57 AM

I agree, sounds about right for futurlec.

It seems to be a totally different business approach. I ordered PCBs, and when I hadn't heard anything for 2 weeks I wrote. Got a response a week later said my order had fallen through the cracks, did I still want it? I said yes and the boards arrived about 2 weeks later.

AllVol · 25th April 2007, 07:57 AM

Futurlec was the first place I ordered from when I started buying online.
The first few orders were filled quickly, with no hassle. I was very pleased.

Then, on one order a certain high-dollar item I purchased, a development board, was defective. I never could get satisfaction. After a couple of communications, they completely ignored me.

I relented recently, and again ordered some parts from Futurlec. Again one of the parts was defective. At least this time they credited my credit card.

Their saving grace is the no minimum order, and their shipping and handling is cheaper, at least for me, usually four dollars. I do wonder why, however, when the package arrives, it has only 85 cents US postage on it.

gramo · 25th April 2007, 08:51 AM

I only used futurlec, although I'll be going through newark for PIC's now..

Sure some of their IC's ar slightly more, but the majority of their hardware and miniboards can't be beaten for price. I have one order for $200 with them at the moment, its been displayed as 'order entered' for around 3 weeks and the moment they ship it, the status will change to 'order shipped'.

GLCDs/LCDs/Keypads/Switch's/Protoboards/Mini boards (development boards for SD/MMC, stepper motors, heaps of things, Cable manufacturing parts/RF modules/ZIFF sockets/Connectors/SOIC to DIP adaptors are some of the low cost peripherals I buy from them.

One order took 1.5months ($300 order of random parts), but was definitely worth the wait when comparing the prices. Order in advance, or go through more of a middle of a middle man distributor like digikey/mouser

I dont know how many of these I have brought for $1.50

16 * 2 LCD's for $6.9

GLCD's for $22.9

Random things like those that make the wait worth it

**3v0** · 25th April 2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramo

... go through more of a middle of a middle man distributor like digikey/mouser

I would think it to be more the other way around. Are not DigiKey and Mouser much larger distributors then Futurlec.

Futurlec does have some good prices on some stuff. A 9 Contact Female PC Mount Connector is only 55 cents. The best I found elsewhere is 70 cents.

Whey I looked at crystals prices were good on common values but higher then on less common values.

What I do not like is that much of the time futurlec does not list the manufactures part number.

BeeBop · 25th April 2007, 12:50 PM

I agree, that is typical of them. I have ordered a lot from them. In a lot of cases their prices are hard to beat, however when something is back-ordered you only find out by contacting them. At the end of the day, they are still good though, and I would order again, even if not frequently, and never if I need the part right away.

I ordered a couple of PIC development boards from them. I don't like their boards at all; you have to use their programmers, and I think they suck.

justDIY · 25th April 2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3v0

Futurlec does have some good prices on some stuff. A 9 Contact Female PC Mount Connector is only 55 cents. The best I found elsewhere is 70 cents.

Whey I looked at crystals prices were good on common values but higher then on less common values.

What I do not like is that much of the time futurlec does not list the manufactures part number.

that's mainly what I buy from them, is connectors.

the best example I have is in their nock-off molex KK series connectors, specifically the crimp pin. if you buy 25 ten-packs of the terminal, they're 5 cents each. Newark has the second best price at 6.57 cents each, and mouser is 8 cents each. Take that up in quantity a little, 1000 crimp pins would cost you 4 cents each from futurlec, 6 cents each from mouser and 5.82 cents each from newark. the housings and headers are also discounted, but not as dramatic as those damn little crimp pins.

I also like futurlec's selection of ICs. they carry a lot of Maxim's harder to find parts, that the big guys only stock in qty 10000.

I think part of the trouble they have in providing shipping information is they're sort of a middle man. they have a supplier in Asia somewhere that does the shipping, and their offices are in Australia.

Optikon · 25th April 2007, 01:44 PM

Your ordering experience will be directly proportional to the amount of $$$ you spend.

TekNoir · 25th April 2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justDIY

that's mainly what I buy from them, is connectors.

the best example I have is in their nock-off molex KK series connectors, specifically the crimp pin. if you buy 25 ten-packs of the terminal, they're 5 cents each. Newark has the second best price at 6.57 cents each, and mouser is 8 cents each. Take that up in quantity a little, 1000 crimp pins would cost you 4 cents each from futurlec, 6 cents each from mouser and 5.82 cents each from newark. the housings and headers are also discounted, but not as dramatic as those damn little crimp pins.

Taking just a few seconds to search my past purchases, Jameco will sell you 1000+ Molex KK series .100" connectors for 2.9 cents each (actual Molex brand: Jameco part# 234923).

Their website is messing up for me at the moment and that was the only part number that I had available. I've purchase Molex off-brands (such as Leoco and ValuePro) from Jameco in the past for even cheaper than that.

TekNoir · 25th April 2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramo

16 * 2 LCD's for $6.9

GLCD's for $22.9

Random things like those that make the wait worth it

All Electronics Corp has 24*2 LCDs (w/HD44780) for 3.50$ each (CAT# LCD-107) and seven different graphic LCDs, all between 7.75$ and 18.50$, most around 11.00$

I have seen that specific prototyping board (777) for about 80 cents elsewhere, though I don't remember from where at the moment.

I have yet to find anything at Futurlec that I could not find for cheaper elsewhere. I would also rather deal with a company that has better customer support. Their "we'll get around to it when we choose" attitude throws me off by more than a little.

I shouldn't have to spend a month's salary to a small company just in order to not be at the end of the line and to be considered important.

AllVol · 25th April 2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optikon

Your ordering experience will be directly proportional to the amount of $$$ you spend.

If you mean better service the more you spend, Gramo should have gotten his merchandise next-day.

AllVol · 25th April 2007, 05:49 PM

In Futurlec's defense, I reiterate the "no minimum" and low shipping costs.

Another supply house, located just two states away, has a minimum estimated shipping cost of nearly eight dollars, and has a $15 minimum.

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25th April 2007, 01:30 AM
Sceadwian Experienced Member	Futurlec order experiance Does anyone have experience with Futurlec orders? I placed an order with them on the 12th of this month. On the 14th my order was still showing 'entered' on their website status, so I sent an e-mail asking about status. They replied everything should be packed on the 16th... On the 19th I made a follow up e-mail wondering why I hadn't gotten tracking information yet and they replied the order was complete except for some tiny26's I ordered, but they had a slightly different version of the tiny26 so I told them that was fine. It's now the 24th and I haven't received tracking information or any kind of feedback as to what the delay is this time, I don't care why but the fact that they haven't notified me of whatever the delay is (normal or otherwise) is seriously starting to irk me. Anyone else have problems like this with furturlec? I've run across one other post warning about their shipping times but I've explicitly asked for a shipping date on three occasions now and it seems like they're trying really hard to blow me off. I've placed orders with Digikey and Mpja before and I always get immediate and informative e-mails even if there is a delay. Anyone else have experiences? __________________ Curiosity killed the cat; That's why they have nine lives. Last edited by Sceadwian : 25th April 2007 at 01:38 AM.

25th April 2007, 04:00 AM
justDIY Experienced Member	that delay sounds about right for Futurlec. They are very very slow in fulfilling orders. but their prices are so cheap on many things, it is often worth the wait. I've ordered many times, and usually wait about a month for delivery, but everything eventually made it. not recommended if you're working under any sort of deadline! __________________ If you don't have a planet, what good are gold bars? want to contact me directly? gmail gordonthree check out my project website: http://projects.dimension-x.net Favorite numbers: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

25th April 2007, 04:07 AM
Sceadwian Experienced Member	It's not the wait, it's the fact that they're stonewalling me in my requests for a shipping date. If they said three weeks or five weeks even, I could sleep well at night so to speak and plan around that approximate time and after two or four weeks I could ask again. But when they said 'monday' And come thursday I have to send another e-mail just to get an update, I begin to get upset =) There's no wonder their sales respondant only lists their first name on e-mails, they don't want nasty grams. __________________ Curiosity killed the cat; That's why they have nine lives. Last edited by Sceadwian : 25th April 2007 at 04:09 AM.

25th April 2007, 05:57 AM
mneary Experienced Member	I agree, sounds about right for futurlec. It seems to be a totally different business approach. I ordered PCBs, and when I hadn't heard anything for 2 weeks I wrote. Got a response a week later said my order had fallen through the cracks, did I still want it? I said yes and the boards arrived about 2 weeks later.

25th April 2007, 07:57 AM
AllVol Experienced Member	Futurlec was the first place I ordered from when I started buying online. The first few orders were filled quickly, with no hassle. I was very pleased. Then, on one order a certain high-dollar item I purchased, a development board, was defective. I never could get satisfaction. After a couple of communications, they completely ignored me. I relented recently, and again ordered some parts from Futurlec. Again one of the parts was defective. At least this time they credited my credit card. Their saving grace is the no minimum order, and their shipping and handling is cheaper, at least for me, usually four dollars. I do wonder why, however, when the package arrives, it has only 85 cents US postage on it. __________________ All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.

25th April 2007, 08:51 AM
gramo Experienced Member	I only used futurlec, although I'll be going through newark for PIC's now.. Sure some of their IC's ar slightly more, but the majority of their hardware and miniboards can't be beaten for price. I have one order for $200 with them at the moment, its been displayed as 'order entered' for around 3 weeks and the moment they ship it, the status will change to 'order shipped'. GLCDs/LCDs/Keypads/Switch's/Protoboards/Mini boards (development boards for SD/MMC, stepper motors, heaps of things, Cable manufacturing parts/RF modules/ZIFF sockets/Connectors/SOIC to DIP adaptors are some of the low cost peripherals I buy from them. One order took 1.5months ($300 order of random parts), but was definitely worth the wait when comparing the prices. Order in advance, or go through more of a middle of a middle man distributor like digikey/mouser I dont know how many of these I have brought for $1.50 16 * 2 LCD's for $6.9 GLCD's for $22.9 Random things like those that make the wait worth it __________________ Spency. How many PC programs are developed with assembler? Then why use it with PIC's? PIC's and interfacing with other devices - a PIC Basic Guide @ digital-diy.net Last edited by gramo : 25th April 2007 at 09:20 AM.

25th April 2007, 12:50 PM
BeeBop Experienced Member	I agree, that is typical of them. I have ordered a lot from them. In a lot of cases their prices are hard to beat, however when something is back-ordered you only find out by contacting them. At the end of the day, they are still good though, and I would order again, even if not frequently, and never if I need the part right away. I ordered a couple of PIC development boards from them. I don't like their boards at all; you have to use their programmers, and I think they suck.

25th April 2007, 01:44 PM
Optikon Experienced Member	Your ordering experience will be directly proportional to the amount of $$$ you spend.

25th April 2007, 05:49 PM
AllVol Experienced Member	In Futurlec's defense, I reiterate the "no minimum" and low shipping costs. Another supply house, located just two states away, has a minimum estimated shipping cost of nearly eight dollars, and has a $15 minimum. __________________ All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.